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The Pearcey Foundation

The Pearcey Foundation is a non-profit organisation founded in 1998 in memory of a great Australian ICT pioneer Dr Trevor Pearcey. The Foundation operates broadly across the Australian Information Computing and Telecommunication (ICT) technologies sector, from celebrating achievements through national and state awards, to being involved in debate and public policy on critical national issues such as productivity, the digital economy and national infrastructure.

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This is our 27^th year of awards, focussed exclusively on outstanding individuals drawn from across our vast geography.

We present 12 awards each year, and have done so for a long time - recognising over 245 Australian ICT luminaries and entrepreneurs, as highlighted on this website.

Latest News

Jun 7, 2014

2014 SA Award

At a gala iAwards luncheon held on Friday 27 June 2014 at the Adelaide Convention Centre, the Premier of South Australia, the Hon. Jay Weatherill MP, presented the 2014 Pearcey SA Entrepreneur Award to Dr Henry Detmold.

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Jun 4, 2014

2014 Vic Award

The 2014 Victorian Pearcey Entrepreneur Award was presented to Bevan Clark and Guy King as part of the Victorian iAwards ceremony held on Wednesday 4th June in the Telstra Theatrette, Melbourne.

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Apr 29, 2014

2014 Benson Award

John De Margheriti was awarded the 2014 Benson Entrepreneur Award at the 2014 gala national iAwards event held on August 29th 2014 in Melbourne

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Dec 20, 2013

2013 Australia 3.0 Forum

On Thursday 8th August 2013 the ACS, AIIA and the Pearcey Foundation conducted a full day program on four key areas: Mining, Health, Government Services, and Infrastructure. This follows a three month long dialogue focussed around the opportunities, threats and systemic barriers for Australia's digital economic future culminates in the endorsement of a series of targeted communiqués by a plenary gathering of over 300 of Australia's most eminent IT industry leaders.

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Oct 23, 2013

2013 NSW Award

On 23th October 2013 the 2013 NSW Pearcey Entrepreneur of the Year Awards were presented by Mr Paul Toole, Parliamentary Secretary for the Deputy Premier, to joint winners Simon Clausen, founder of Startive Ventures and PC Tools, and Naomi Simson, founder of Red Balloon.

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Aug 8, 2013

2013 Pearcey Medal

Dr Alex Zelinsky AO was awarded the 2013 Pearcey Medal at the annual national iAwards gala event held on Thursday 8th August 2013 in Melbourne. He was appointed Vice-Chancellor at the University of Newcastle, NSW, in November 2018 and was named an Officer in the General Division of the 2017 Queens Birthday Honours List (AO), for "distinguished service to defence science and technology, to systems engineering and to education as an academic and researcher".

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Aug 8, 2013

2013 Benson Award

Leni Mayo was awarded the 2013 Benson Award at the 2013 gala national iAwards event held on August 8th 2013 in Melbourne.

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Aug 8, 2013

2013 Pearcey Hall of Fame

At the gala 2013 iAwards event held on Thursday evening 8th August 2013 in Melbourne, Dr Alex Zelinsky, Robert Elz and Dr Rod Tucker were elevated to the Pearcey Foundation's Hall of Fame.

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Jul 5, 2013

2013 Vic Award

The 2013 Victorian Pearcey Entrepreneur Award was presented to Leni Mayo as part of the Victorian iAwards ceremony held on Wednesday 5th July in the Telstra Theatrette, Melbourne.

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Jun 20, 2013

2013 Tas Award

At a gala State iAwards presentation evening on 20th June in the Henry Jones IXL Art Hotel, the Premier of Tasmania, the Hon Lara Giddings, presented Lawrence Howson with the 2013 Tasmania Pearcey Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

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Jun 19, 2013

2013 SA Award

The 2013 South Australia Pearcey Entrepreneur of the year award was presented to Dr Alex Grant, Director of the ITR at the University of South Australia at the SA iAwards gala presentation event held at KPMG boardroom (Pirie St) Adelaide on 19 June 2013.

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Jun 17, 2013

2013/14 ACT Award

At a gala event held on Tuesday evening 17 June at Canberra's Aboretum, Senator Kate Lundy presented the 2014 Pearcey ACT Entrepreneur Award to John de Margheriti.

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Dec 20, 2012

2012 Australia 3.0 Forum Report

On August 9, 2012, more than 100 leading thinkers in the fields of innovation, research and academia within Australia’s information and communication technology (ICT) sector gathered at the Crown Palladium in Melbourne.

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Nov 15, 2012

2012 ACT Award

The 2012 ACT Pearcey Award was presented to Dr Vikram Sharma on Thursday evening 15th November at the Boat House by the Lake as part of the ACS ACT Branch annual Canberra ICT Awards night.

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Oct 17, 2012

2012 NSW Award

The Pearcey NSW 2012 "Entrepreneur of the Year" Award was jointly presented to Mitch Harper and Eddie Machaalani (founders of BigCommerce) and Jo Burston (founder of JobCapital and other companies).

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Aug 9, 2012

2012 Pearcey Medal

Dr Mal Bryce AO, 2012 Pearcey Medallist, passed away at home in Perth Western Australia on 4th March 2018. Dr Bryce was a former WA deputy premier and has been remembered as "ahead of his time and a champion of innovation and technology" after the long-serving Labor stalwart died at the age of 74. Mal was accorded a State Funeral and a Memorial Service on Friday 13th April 2018 at the Curtin University Stadium in Perth Western Australia. A copy of the program for that service can be seen here.

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Aug 9, 2012

2012 Benson Award

Bevan Slattery was awarded the 2012 Benson Entreprenuer Award at a gala dinner as part of the 2012 iAwards event held in Melbourne on Thursday evening 9th August.

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Aug 9, 2012

2012 Pearcey Hall of Fame

Dr Greg Clark AC, Dr Mal Bryce and Dr Craig Mudge AO were elevated to the Pearcey Hall of Fame at a gala dinner held in Melbourne on Thursday evening 9th August 2012 in front of some 800 people. The award was made as part of the 2012 iAwards event and was presented by Mr Len Rust, a member of the Pearcey Foundation Executive Committee.

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Jul 12, 2012

PR2012: Jared Hill, CEO & Co-founder of insight4, wins 2012 Tasmania Pearcey Award

PRESS RELEASE: 12th July 2012 – Hobart. The 2012 Tasmanian Pearcey Award for younger ICT entrepreneurs was presented to Mr Jared hill, CEO & co-founder of insight4, a thirty man professional software services company based in Hobart. The award was made at an event held at the Henry Jones art house Hotel in Hobart as part of the 2012 Tasmanian iAwards event hosted by the Australian Computer Society (ACS). The award was presented to Mr Harrison by the Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, the Hon. David O’Byrne MP.

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Jul 12, 2012

2012 Tas Award

The 2012 Tasmanian Pearcey Award for mid-career ICT entrepreneurs was presented to Jared Hill, CEO & Co-Founder of eight year old insight4, a thirty man Professional Software Services company based in Hobart.

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Jul 4, 2012

2012 Vic Award

The 2012 Victorian Pearcey Entrepreneur Award was presented to Oliver Roydhouse as part of the Victorian iAwards ceremony held on Wednesday 4th July in the Telstra Theatrette, Melbourne.

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Jul 3, 2012

2012 Qld Award

The 2012 Pearcey Queensland Entrepreneur Award was presented to Neil Glentworth by Hon Ros Bates MP, Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts (DSITIA), at a gala dinner on 3d July held this evening at the Sebel Citigate as part of the 2012 iAwards program.

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Jan 23, 2012

2012 CSIRO ICT Executives visit CSIRAC

The new world of computer science met the old on 23rd January 2012 when senior executives from CSIRO's ICT Centre paid a visit to CSIRAC - Australia's first electronic digital computer.

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Nov 25, 2011

2011 Tas Award

The 2011 Tasmanian Pearcey Award for younger ICT entrepreneurs was presented to Mr Daniel Harrison, Founder and CEO of QikID, an early stage company focussed on the biometric identification technology for the mass market.

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Nov 11, 2011

2011 SA Award

The 2011 SA Pearcey Entrepreneur Award was presented to Matthew Michalewicz at a reception held at InnovateSA Board Room (19 Greenfell Street Adelaide) on Thursday evening, 17 November 2011.

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Oct 12, 2011

2011 NSW Award

The 2011 NSW ICT Entrepreneur of the Year award was presented to Simon Poole and Steve Frisken, founders of optical communications company Engana and now Finisar Australia by the Hon Andrew Stoner MP, NSW Deputy Premier in front of over 150 industry leaders. The event was held at NSW Parliament on Wednesday 12th October 2011 in Sydney.

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Sep 15, 2011

2011 ACT Award

The 2011 ACT Pearcey Entrepreneur Award was presented to Matt Bullock by Senator Kate Lundy, Senator representing the ACT and Parliamentary Secretary Prime Minister and Cabinet, as part of the annual combined ACS and Pearcey Foundation Awards held this evening at ‘The Boathouse’ in Canberra.

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Aug 24, 2011

Trevor Pearcey Portrait

At a small reception held on 24^th August 2011, at IDG's offices in North Sydney by Mr Davey Adams, current CEO of IDG Australia, officially passed to the Pearcey Foundation an important portrait of Dr Trevor Pearcey.

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Aug 4, 2011

2011 Pearcey Medal

The 2011 Pearcey Medal was awarded to Mr Brand Hoff AM. The Pearcey Medal is Australia’s most prestigious Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry award to an individual who has made an outstanding life-long commitment to the ICT sector.

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Aug 4, 2011

2011 Pearcey Hall of Fame

Brand Hoff AM, Dr Ann Moffatt and Dr Dennis Moore AM were inducted into the Pearcey Foundation's Hall of Fame at the 2011 iAwards gala dinner, held in Melbourne on the 4th August 2011. The presentation was made by Dr Ian Oppermann, Director ICT Centre, CSIRO, in the presence of the Governor of Victoria, His Excellency Alex Chernov and his wife Elizabeth and some 800 guests.

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Aug 3, 2011

2011 Benson Award

At the 2011 iAwards gala dinner held in Melbourne on the 4th August 2011, the 2011 Benson Entrepreneur Award was given to Lars and Jens Rasmussen. The Lars brothers accepted the award via a video from Google headquarters in San Fransisco in the presence of the Governor of Victoria, His Excellency Alex Chernov and his wife Elizabeth, some 800 guests.

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Jul 6, 2011

2011 Vic Award

The 2011 Victorian Pearcey Entrepreneur Award was presented to Dr Elaine Saunders as part of the Victorian iAwards ceremony held on Wednesday 6th July in the River Room at Crown, Melbourne.

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Jul 5, 2011

2011 Qld Award

The 2011 Pearcey Queensland Entrepreneur Award was presented to Janine Garrett and Bevan Slattery by the Queensland Minister for ICT, The Honourable Simon Finn MP, and Ms Natalie MacDonald, Director General, Queensland Department of Public Works, at a gala dinner on 5th July held this evening at the Hilton Brisbane as part of the 2011 iAwards program.

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May 25, 2011

Pearcey joins 2011 iAwards

Melbourne 25 May 2011: Three peak bodies of the Australian ICT sector today announced the consolidation of their respective national awards under the banner of the well known iAwards program, created by the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) in 1995.

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Dec 16, 2010

2010 Tas Award

The 2010 Tasmanian Pearcey Award for young ICT entrepreneurs was presented to Mr. Paris Buttfield-Addison and Mr. Jon Manning, co-founders of Secret Lab, by Mr David Bartlett, Premier of Tasmania in his role as Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology.

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Oct 21, 2010

2010 SA Award

The 2010 South Australian Pearcey Award was presented to Dr Anton van den Hengel, inventor of the Videotrace image modelling system and Professor of Computer Science at the University of Adelaide.

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Oct 19, 2010

2010 NSW Award

The 2010 NSW ICT Entrepreneur of the Year award was presented to Lars and Jens Rasmussen, founders of Google Maps and Google Wave by the Hon Eric Roozendaal MLC, NSW Treasurer and Minister for State and Regional Development in front of over 220 industry leaders. A further 9 entrepreneurs were inducted into our Hall of Fame. The event was held at NSW Parliament on Tuesday 19th October 2010 in Sydney in conjunction with National ICT Australia's NICTA @ NSW Parliament research showcase.

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Sep 22, 2010

2010 Pearcey Oration

The 2010 Pearcey Oration was presented by Dr Megan Clarke, CSIRO as part of the World Computer Congress 2010 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Merivale Street, Southbank Qld 4101, Australia on Wednesday 22nd September 2010

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Sep 22, 2010

2010 Pearcey Medal

The 2010 Pearcey Medal was awarded to Mr John Grant. The Pearcey Medal is Australia’s most prestigious Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry award to an individual who has made an outstanding life-long commitment to the ICT sector.

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Sep 22, 2010

2010 Pearcey Hall of Fame

Inducted into the Pearcey Hall of Fame for 2010 was John Grant, Brian Finn AO, and Emeritus Professor Peter Poole (Vale 2017)

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Sep 20, 2010

2010 Qld Award

Peter Ward, Founder and Chief Technical Architect of Wardy IT Solutions, was presented the 2010 Queensland Pearcey Award by Robert Schwarten MP, the Queensland Minister for Public Works and Information and Communication Technology. This award recognises and celebrates the achievements of Australia's ICT and Digital Media entrepreneurs; Peter’s achievements were acknowledged at a gala dinner in Brisbane on 20th September as part of the 2010 World Computer Congress (WCC).

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Sep 16, 2010

2010 ACT Award

Fullbright Scholar Dr Raymond Choo was presented the 2010 ACT Pearcey Award by Senator Kate Lundy, Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister & Cabinet, at a gala dinner held at 'The Boathouse' in Canberra on 16 September 2010.

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Sep 9, 2010

WCC2010 National debate on publically-funded ICT R&D in Australia - where is it headed?

Brisbane 9th September 2010: As part of the WCC 2010 being held during the week of 20th September 2010 at the Brisbane Exhibition & Convention Centre, six prominent research leaders will give their vision of the future direction of Australia’s publicly funded ICT R&D institutions.

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Jun 22, 2010

2010 Vic Award

The 2010 Victorian State Pearcey Award was presented to Mr Brett Paterson as part of the the Victorian ACS Fellows dinner on Tuesday 22nd June 2010 at the RACV Club in Melbourne. The event was sponsored by Multimedia Victoria, Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development and the Australian Computer Society.

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Nov 25, 2009

2009 Qld Award

The 2009 Queensland Pearcey Award was presented to Mr Paul Gampe at a dinner on Wednesday 25 November 2009 at the Sebel & Citigate King George Square in Brisbane. The presentation was made by Mr Paul Russell, Director of Enabling Technologies at Queensland's Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. Highly Commeneded Certifcates were also presented to Janine Garrett, Andrew Jessett and Andrew Eddie.

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Nov 18, 2009

2009 Pearcey Celebration of CSIRAC 60th Anniversary

The 60th Anniversary Celebration of CSIRAC was wheld at the Melbourne Museum, Nicholson St., Carlton, Victoria, Australia on Wednesday 18th November 2009.

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Nov 12, 2009

2009 NSW Award

The 2009 NSW ICT Entrepreneur of the Year was awarded to Ian Gardner, founder of online video and digital media specialist Viocorp.

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Oct 1, 2009

2009 Vic Award

The 2009 Victorian State Pearcey Award was presented to Mr Robert Murray as part of the the 2009 National Pearcey Event on Thursday 1st October 2009 at the Sofitel on Collins in Melbourne.

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Oct 1, 2009

2009 Pearcey Medal

The 2009 Pearcey Medal was awarded to Professor Murray Allen. The Pearcey Medal is Australia’s most prestigious Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry award to an individual who has made an outstanding life-long commitment to the ICT sector.

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Oct 1, 2009

2009 Pearcey Hall of Fame

Inducted into the Pearcey Hall of Fame for 2009 was Dr Murray Allen, Mr Harry Wragge AM, and Dr Barry Thornton AM.

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Sep 16, 2009

2009 ACT Award

The 2009 ACT State Pearcey Award was presented to Mr Michael McGoogan on Wednesday 16th September 2009 in Canberra at the Canberra Business Events Centre, Regatta Point. The award was presented by Mr Jon Stanhope MLA, Chief Minister for the ACT during the Business in Focus Month and jointly sponsored with the Australian Computer Society, ACT Branch.

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Awards

The Pearcey Foundation's annual awards recognise and celebrate outstanding individuals in Australian ICT.

National Awards • State Awards • Nominations

The Heritage Project

The Pearcey Foundation intends to extend the Heritage Project well beyond Phase One (the book) – with the aim to become ‘the’ central repository – hosting a ‘virtual museum’ of Australia’s computing artefacts, documents and oral histories from key players.

The Project

Kind Words

Australians have all too often seen themselves as observers rather than participants in the digital revolution, but that does not do justice to our history. The Pearcey Foundation plays a very important role in highlighting the real contributions Australians have made in the past, and in so doing will help inspire the next generation of Australian digital innovators.

Charlie Day
Former CEO, Innovation and Science Australia

The Pearcey Foundation’s project to document Australia’s achievements in the computer age is a critically important endeavour. A central repository, that documents the central role of our universities and CSIRO and the individual contributions of academics and entrepreneurs, will be an essential resource for future policy makers and for students, research workers and entrepreneurs.

Alex Zelinsky AO
Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Newcastle

Australians are a nation of storytellers. Stories make us laugh and they make us cry, they remind us who we are and they inspire us, and let us celebrate our successes and failures. Australia has much to celebrate when it comes to the digital age, from pioneering work in computer science through to innovative cloud services. The Pearcey Foundation Heritage Project will be an inspiration to future generations of Australians.

Founder
Australian Ocean Lab and Former Engineering Director, Google Australia

Initiatives

The Pearcey Foundation is actively involved in many initiatives to help promote and accelerate the Australian ICT industry.

Thought Leadership • Australia 3.0 • Australia 4.0 • ICT Heritage • Pearcey Institute

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In memory of

Dr Trevor Pearcey

The Pearcey Foundation Inc. was established in 1998 to raise the profile of the Australian Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Industry and profession. It was created in the memory of one of the greatest pioneers of the Australian ICT industry, Dr Trevor Pearcey.