Welcome to

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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AUSTRALIA 4.0
ICT enabling Net Zero


Australia 4.0 is a constructive space for all stakeholders to discuss the challenges, opportunities and solutions for the transition of Australia to a Net Zero energy system.

Session Recordings and Reports:

2023
2024
2025

A series of hybrid national events:

First session focused on "Creating an Open Data Architecture" and was hosted by CSIRO in Sydney on September 3rd 2024.

Second session October 2nd 2024 focused on "Energy & Digital Skills" and was hosted by Engineers Australia in Canberra.

Third session October 29th 2024 focused on "Energy Information Decoded: AI enabled Energy modelling for Consumer Agency" and was hosted by Cremorne Digital Hub and RACE for 2030 CRC in Melbourne.

Fourth session February 14th, 2025 focused on "Powering the Future: Standards for Batteries and the Grid" and was hosted by Standards Australia in Sydney.

Fifth session April 4th, 2025 focused on "Data infrastructure, bandwidth and security for localised CER energy ponds" and was hosted by Electrification & Energy Systems Network of the NSW Decarbonisation Innovation Hub and University of Wollongong in Wollongong.

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Download the Australia 4.0 Communiqué .................. and White Paper
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This is our 27th 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.

Nominate now for Pearcey Awards


Heritage Projects - many activities including publication of 1st authoritative history of Australian computing, national oral history of Australian ICT, and an IEEE milestone for CSIRAC.

Latest News

2025Pearcey NewsPearcey Hall of Fame
UNSW Quantum Professor presented Hall of Fame
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Feb 14, 2025

UNSW Quantum Professor presented Hall of Fame

Prof Andrew Dzurak was elevated to the Pearcey Hall of Fame in November 2024. Unfortunately, Andrew was overseas at the time of the presentation and so the Chair of the Pearcey Foundation presented the certificate in person on Friday 14 February at the Diraq lab at UNSW Campus in Kensington, NSW.

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2024Industry News
Dr Ian Oppermann Appointments
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Dec 20, 2024

Dr Ian Oppermann Appointments

Congratulations to Dr Ian Opperman on his appointment as the Chair of the Federal Government committee for Data Standards for Digital ID and Consumer Data Right. Ian is Chair of our Australia 4.0 Committee and was our 2024 Pearcey Orator.

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Pearcey News2024Pearcey Events
2024 National Awards Gala
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Dec 1, 2024

2024 National Awards Gala

An evening of celebration and recognition, the Pearcey National Awards Gala incorporated the Queensland Entrepreneur Award, the National Entrepreneur Award, the Pearcey Hall of Fame and the Pearcey Medal. These most prestigious awards recognise outstanding Australians in the ICT sector for their entrepreneurial spirit, achievements and lifetime commitment to the betterment of our society through technology enabled change.

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Pearcey Hall of Fame2024
2024 Pearcey Hall of Fame
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Nov 19, 2024

2024 Pearcey Hall of Fame

Professor Svetha Venkatesh, Professor Andrew Dzurak and Jan Kornweibel were inducted into the 2024 Pearcey Hall of Fame at the Pearcey National Awards night on 19 November 2024 in Brisbane. The presentations were made by David Tudehope (2023 Pearcey Medallist) and the Honourable Kate Lundy (2017 Pearcey Hall of Fame inductee).

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Pearcey Entrepreneur Awards2024
2024 Pearcey Entrepreneur Award
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Nov 19, 2024

2024 Pearcey Entrepreneur Award

The 2024 Pearcey National Entrepreneur Award was presented to Ian Croser AM and David Gaul, founders of CEA Technologies. The presentation was made by Emeritus Professor Roy Green AM at the Pearcey Foundation National Event on 19 November 2024 in Brisbane.

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Pearcey Medals2024
2024 Pearcey Medal
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Nov 19, 2024

2024 Pearcey Medal

The prestigious 2024 Pearcey Medal was awarded to Professor Svetha Venkatesh at the Pearcey Foundation's National Event in Brisbane on 19 November 2024. The event also celebrated the 75th anniversary of Australia's first computer, CSIRAC, running its first software program in November 1949.

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Awards

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

National Awards • State Awards • Nominations

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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 

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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.

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