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In Memoriam
Professor Ariel Liebman was a key supporter of Australia 4.0. He worked at the intersection of ICT and the future renewable grid. Ariel was
going to moderate one of the Australia 4.0 sessions but, since he was to be overseas at the time, he arranged for other colleagues to
assist. Sadly, Ariel passed away after a brief illness on November 9th 2023 and will be sorely missed by his family, friends and
colleagues.
Dr Ariel Liebman was a Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems in the Department of Data Science and AI at Monash University. From 2020, he
was Director of the Monash Energy Institute, and in 2022 he set up and led the RACE for Networks Program in the RACE for 2030
CRC. The Program optimises the Australian electricity grid through customer engagement, distributed energy resources and network
integration.
Ariel’s active research in the Energy sector focused on optimisation and AI-based decision support tools for operation and planning of
smart-grids, microgrids and large-scale energy systems. Dr Liebman received his PhD in Physics (Quantum Optics) from University of
Queensland, Australia.
May he rest in peace and his memory be a blessing upon the community.
Ada Lovelace Day honours all the innovative women in STEM, commemorating their ingenuity that has changed the course of
history.
Proudly sponsored by the Pearcey Foundation.
The Monash University Faculty of IT is exploring the role of Australian women in early digital computing – and the opportunities in the
future. Join us for insightful speeches, a thought-provoking panel discussion and networking over a light lunch in our celebration ‘Australian
women in IT yesterday, today and tomorrow’
which will be opened by Professor Ann Nicholson, the first female Dean of our faculty. It will then venture into the life of Ada
Lovelace and how women can carry on her legacy of impact today and tomorrow.
Many of us recall Harry as the crusty but jovial former head of TRL – Telecom Research Labs, for many years. His passing on 31 July at age 93 marks the end of an era when Telecom Australia dominated all aspects of Telecommunications in Australia.
Max was a graduate of the University of Melbourne and spent four years at Weapons Research Establishment in Salisbury (South Australia) before returning to Melbourne to start Digital Equipment’s Australian operations in 1967. Max was pioneer in the recognition and retention of our computing heritage and an authority on early Australian-made computers.
One of Australia’s outstanding ICT pioneers, Brian Finn passed this week.
On June 3, 2022, the Graeme Philipson History of Computing Library was launched. The keynote was given by Dr Peter Thorne AM, Chair of the Heritage Committee project run by the Pearcey Foundation.
Pearcey Conversations online seminar 12 October 2021 celebrated Ada Lovelace Day with a look at some remarkable achievements that women have made in STEM.
One of Australia's foremost computer scientists passed away peacefully in Perth on the 12th September 2021. Recognised for his work in defining Information Engineering, when he presented the concept at the 1980 IFIPS conference in Melbourne. Clive was elevated to the Pearcey Hall of Fame in 2008 at a memorable ceremony in Sydney.
Reg Coutts, 2018 Pearcey Hall of Fame, was an ebullient character, well known in telecommunications and ICT circles, always self-deprecating, always positive and constructive about his colleagues. Reg was an effective, well-liked and respected leader in Australian ICT, whose sense of humour was infectious. Reg will be missed by many Australians - he made a real contribution to our great nation.
In August 1951, a group of scientists gathered at the University of Sydney to attend the first Australian conference on automatic computing machines.