This graduation season, we are proud to announce that Skaidrite Darius has received an honorary doctorate from the ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science.
From the start she thrived on this new technology that used abstract logic, and still relishes looking back at those early,
adventurous days with all card systems and low-level programming languages.
Canberra, Australia - 22 September 2020 - The Pearcey Foundation today announced Shane Hill, founder of Skoolbo as this year's recipient of the ACT Chief Minister's Pearcey Entrepreneur Award. The award was presented by Senator (retd) Kate Lundy representing the ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr at the Pearcey Round Table 2020 event in Canberra.
Guest blog by Bernie O’Shannessy
Following the invention and development of the transistor in the late1940’s in the USA, the CSIRO began research into semiconductors.
Guest blog by Jordan Green
On August 9th the Pearcey Foundation hosted a Conversation on the Role of the ICT Community in the Future Resilience and Self-reliance of
Australia.
Sixty years ago Australians designed and built two of the first transistorised computers called SNOCOM and CIRRUS. They were very advanced for their era.
Terry Cutler (1948-2020) FATSE PhD Econ History (UNSW), BA History (Melb Uni), passed away on 3 July in Melbourne. Terry was a remarkable contributor to the ICT sector. During 2008 he chaired the Australian Government's Review of the National Innovation System which culminated in the Report, Venturous Australia.
Guest blog by Barbara Ainsworth
A huge opportunity arose in the heady days of Australian rocket science research in the mid-twentieth century for female mathematicians. Job
opportunities for female mathematics graduates were not common apart from teaching but there was an alternative. In the 1950s a girl could
become a Computer, that is, a human computer who performs mathematical calculations rather than a digital, electronic computer.
Guest Blog by Sonja Bernhardt OAM
A gripping, masterly telling of a vastly important, but oft forgotten part of our technological history. This is a story of a monumental
technological and engineering feat that set the stage for international infrastructure and communications, yet today many do not even think
how or why it happened.
Dr Jenine Beekhuyzen, creator of the Tech Girls Are Superheroes campaign, was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the Queens Birthday Honours List for "service to information technology, and to women".
In August 1951, a conference was held at Sydney University’s Department of Electrical Engineering. It was the first computer conference ever held in Australia and only the ninth computer conference anywhere in the world.
John Deane and Arthur Sale where outstanding contributors to Australia's ICT. John was both a researcher in areas including smart wireless networks and a historian. Arthur was at the forefront of ICT acedemia in Tasmania for over 25 years.
In 1966 a bunch of students (undergrads and post-grads) at the Department of Elec Eng at Melbourne University built Australia’s first satellite. It was ultimately launched in 1970 by NASA. A member of the team of 8, who designed and constructed the satellite, […]
Currently, the Foundation is exploring a permanent location for many of the memorabilia of past ICT technology generations, We are
collaborating with various museums and industry groups who share this desire to establish a 'virtual museum' to capture our wonderful
contribution to technology in so many fields.
Hi everybody Graeme Philipson here. You know me as the author of a book on the Australian computer industry called ‘A Vision Splendid’. Many of you helped with that book or offered advice or information after it came out about things that were missing […]
Three outstanding members of the Pearcey family were recognised in the 2020 Australia Day Honours lists Members (AM) General Division, Order of Australia - Geoff Huston (Pearcey 2015 Hall of Fame), John O'Callaghan (2005 Pearcey Medal), and Peter Thorne (Member Pearcey National Executive)
The prestigious Pearcey Medal, which recognises a distinguished lifetime achievement and contribution to the development and growth of the ICT industry in Australia, was presented to Professor David Abramson.
The 2019 national awards were held in the evening of 14th November at the University of Melbourne. Presentations included the Pearcey
Medal awarded to Prof David Abramson, the Pearcey Hall of Fame awarded to Sonja Bernhardt and Bob Beaumont, and the Pearcey Entrepreneur of
the Year awarded to Craig McDonald from Victoria.
Professor David Abramson, Sonja Bernhardt OAM and Bob Beaumont were elevated to the Pearcey Hall of Fame at the annual Pearcey National Awards dinner held on Thursday 14th November 2019 in Melbourne.
Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of CSIRAC: Australia's first stored program digital computer and the world's fourth. Presentations by eminent speakers honour Dr Trevor Pearcey's legacy and catch a glimpse of what the future holds for Australian innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology in society.
Rod Tucker speaking at the inauguration of the Tucker Lab at Melbourne University
Canberra, Australia - 10 October 2019 - The Pearcey Foundation today announced Matthew Wilson, CEO of Penten as this year's recipient of the 2019 ACT Chief Minister's Pearcey Entrepreneur Award. The award was presented by Senator (retd) Kate Lundy representing the ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr at the Pearcey Round Table 2019.
The 2019 NSW ICT Entrepreneur of the Year award was presented to Ashik Ahmed, co-founder, CTO and CEO of Deputy. The award was presented at a special Pearcey Awards event at the NSW Startup Hub on 10 October 2019.
On Saturday 22 June 2019, the ABC Science Show had a special feature Recreating the first digital computer music. Presented by Carl Smith in the second half of the podcast (31 minute mark).
The 2019 WA Pearcey Entrepreneur Award was presented to Rob Nathan, at the 28th WAITTA Incite Awards held on in Perth on Friday 14th June 2019. The award was presented by Greg Italiano, the Government Chief Information Officer, at the gala presentation dinner at the Crown Perth.
Alison Harcourt (nee Doig) is an alumnus and past staff member of the University of Melbourne. At 89 years of age, she is still tutoring at the University in her speciality field of mathematics, namely Statistics. Alison was recognised in this year's Queens Birthday Honours list with an Order of Australia. The Pearcey Foundation honours Ms Harcourt for a lifelong commitment to mathematics.
One of Australia's great ICT pioneers Prof Barry de Ferranti passed away in late January 2019 at the age of 90. Barry had a great sustained involvement with Sydney University where he did his Science and Engineering Degrees (1946-50).
The Pearcey Foundation was proud to present many events and awards in 2018 including the National Awards, State Awards, Special Pearcey Day, 2018 Pearcey Oration and a Special ICT Heritage Event in Ballarat.
Dr Alex Zelinsky is to take up the position of Vice Chancellor at NSW's University of Newcastle in November 2018. Alex, 2013 Pearcey Medallist, is currently Chief Defence Scientist in Canberra heading up the Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group.
The prestigious Pearcey Medal, which recognises a distinguished lifetime achievement and contribution to the development and growth of the ICT industry in Australia, was presented to Dr Dennis Cooper.
Dr Dennis Cooper, Emeritus Professor Robin Stanton, and Dr Reg Coutts were elevated to the Pearcey Hall of Fame at the ACS National Awards dinner in Melbourne on Thursday 1st November 2018 in front of over 800 people.
Ken Kroeger, CEO of Seeing Machines, was presented the 2018 ACT Chief Minister's Pearcey Entrepreneur Award. The award was presented by ACT Chief Digital Officer Bettina Konti, representing the ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, at ACS Canberra's 25th Annual Conference on 4 September 2018.
Our 2005 Pearcey Hall of Famer, John O'Neil AO, passed away on 21 August 2018 aged 83. John was best known for his work at Control Data and close working relationship with the late Trevor Robinson AM, our 1999 Pearcey Medallist. We send our condolences to John's wife Dr Jo O'Neil and their family.
A very brave Australian stalwart of the ICT industry has left us. Brenda was a pioneer in promoting women in ICT by example. Based in Adelaide, she influenced our national and international reputation over a sustained lifetime of commitment including a two year role as President of the Australian Computer Society (2013-2015).
The 2018 NSW Pearcey awards was presented at a ceremony on November 1 at the NSW Startup Hub. Nick Molnar, co-founder and CEO of Afterpay was recognised as the 2018 NSW Tech Entrepreneur of the Year.
Dr Mark Andrich was presented with the 2018 Pearcey WA Entrepreneur Award at the WAITTA Incite Awards held on in Perth on Friday 15th June 2018.
The Father of the Internet, Dr Robert Kahn, accompanied by his wife, was in Melbourne as the guest of the Australian Digital Commerce Association. Visiting from Washington DC, he spoke at a luncheon on Wednesday 14th March 2018 at the Melbourne Town Hall.
Former WA deputy premier and 2012 Pearcey Medalist Mal Bryce 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, on the 3rd March 2018.
On Australia Day 2018, Robin Eckerman was recognised as a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for "for significant service to the telecommunications industry through roles in broadband infrastructure and network development, and to the energy supply sector".
The Pearcey Foundation's own chairman, Wayne Fitzsimmons, was awarded an OAM in the Queen's Birthday 2018 Honours List. Wayne was recognised for his service to information technology, covering a career lifetime in senior executive positions and helping to advance Australia's ICT capabilities.
24 July 2017 - Steve Baxter set to be the next Queensland's chief entrepreneur (SmartCompany
article)
4 July 2017 - US Award for Bill Caelli AO. Bill Caeli AO was awarded the Founders' Medal by the Colloquium for
Information Systems Security Education (CISSE). (ACS
article)
At a gala dinner held on Thursday 2 November, 2017 at Sydney's Star in Pyrmont, Emeritus Professor Mike Miller AO, Senator (retired) Kate Lundy and Helen Meredith were inducted into the Pearcey Hall of Fame.
At a gala dinner held on Thursday 2 November 2017 at Sydney's Star Pyrmont NSW, Emeritus Professor Mike Miller AO was presented the 2017 Pearcey Medal by Dr Tim Wark, Director of Product, Programs & Marketing of Data61 at CSIRO.
Press Release - Kate Lundy, Helen Meredith, Dr Mike Miller and Collis and Cyan Ta'eed recognised at the National Pearcey Foundation
Awards
Sydney, Australia - 2 November 2017 - The Pearcey Foundation today announced its National Entrepreneur of the Year, Hall of
Fame inductees and Pearcey Medal winner. The winners were presented as part of the ACS
National Digital Disruptor Awards
and Reimagination event held in Sydney on Thursday, 2 November 2017.
The presentation of the 2017 Pearcey Medal, Hall of Fame and National Entrepreneur of the Year Awards was held on Thursday 2 November in Sydney as part of the ACS 2017 National Digital Disruptor Awards GALA dinner program and REIMAGINATION Conference held at Sydney's Star, Pyrmont.
The 2017 NSW Pearcey Tech Entrepreneur of the Year was awarded to Airtasker co-founders Tim Fung and Jonathan Lui. Several other Awards were presented in a packed PowerHouse Museum on Tuesday October 24. The Pearcey award was presented by Chairman of Jobs for NSW and Chair of CSIRO David Thodey.
On Monday 28 August 2017, the Pearcey Foundation hosted a deep dive panel discussion "The Lucky Country Disrupted: Innovation, Collaboration and Competition in a 21st Century Australia". The event was part of the Vic Government Digital Innovation Festival and was held at the Hub in Melbourne.
Emeritus Professor Peter Poole passed away peacefully in Perth on 19 August 2017, in the company of his daughters, and three of his seven grandchildren. He was a pioneering leader at the University of Melbourne and elevated to the Pearcey Hall of Fame in 2010. Prof. Poole's legacy will continue to influence the ongoing activities of the School of Computing and Information Systems, and the University of Melbourne as a whole.
The 2017 Chief Minister's Pearcey Entrepreneur Award was presented by the Chief Minister, the Hon. Andrew Barr MLA. to joint winners as the judges could not distinguish between two highly qualified contributors to ACT's burgeoning ICT industry. The 2017 ACT winners were Phillip Williamson co-founder and Chief Innovator at Intelledox and Mark Riley, co-founder and CTO of ContentKeeper.
Sandy Plunkett is perplexed by how entrenched Australia's "waiting for government" mindset is
When economists Paul Frijters and Gigi Foster released a study in
2015arguing
Australia was a plutocracy where our richest amass their wealth by political connections rather than innovative endeavour, the struggling
tech startup community should have been all over the data.
Sandy Plunkett shares her perspective on recent industry events and calls out how money, fame, power and hubris inevitably brings with it bad behaviour
It is a sad day for Australia's ICT industry with the passing of one of Australia's early computer pioneers, Frank Hirst. After service in World War II, Frank completed his PhD at the University of Melbourne and in 1954 was appointed to head the university's newly formed Computation Laboratory.
