Leadership Change in Queensland
The Pearcey Foundation today announced its long-serving Queensland chair Paul Gampe is stepping down after seven years of dedicated volunteer leadership and has been replaced by Rebecca McDonald.
A recipient of the 2009 Queensland Pearcey ICT Entrepreneur Award, Paul has played a pivotal role in strengthening Pearcey Queensland and championing the state's ICT entrepreneurs. During his tenure, he has helped ensure the Queensland Pearcey ICT Entrepreneur Awards continue to recognise and celebrate the innovators, founders and technology leaders shaping Queensland's digital economy.
Following Paul's decision to step down due to increasing work responsibilities, the Foundation has appointed Rebecca McDonald, recipient of the 2022 Queensland Pearcey ICT Entrepreneur Award, as the new chair of the Pearcey Queensland Committee. Rebecca also joins the Pearcey Foundation National Committee, which coordinates the Foundation's work across Australia.
"On behalf of the Pearcey Foundation, I want to sincerely thank Paul for his outstanding contribution over the past seven years," said Jordan Green, chair, Pearcey Foundation.
"Paul has been an exceptional leader and advocate for Queensland's technology community. His commitment has strengthened Pearcey's presence in the state and ensured the achievements of so many ICT entrepreneurs have been recognised and celebrated. We are incredibly grateful for his service."
Jordan welcomed Rebecca's appointment, saying the Foundation was excited for the next phase of Pearcey Queensland.
"Rebecca has already made a significant contribution as a member of our Queensland Committee. Her entrepreneurial experience, commitment to purpose-driven innovation and passion for supporting Australia's technology sector make her an outstanding choice to lead Pearcey Queensland into its next chapter."
Rebecca McDonald is a technology entrepreneur whose career has spanned software, property, government, international development and social enterprise. Early in her career she founded the wedding software company Cherish Me, before moving into property development, and later led the delivery of more than 4,000 social housing homes for the Queensland Government through one of Australia's largest housing programs.
Following firsthand experiences of the impact that limited access to education has on children, Rebecca founded Library For All, an award-winning technology non-profit providing culturally relevant digital books, digital libraries and literacy software to children in underserved communities around the world. In 2020, Library For All was acquired by Save the Children Australia, enabling the organisation to expand its reach across more than 17 countries.
In 2024, Rebecca founded Firm Foundations, a purpose-driven enterprise tackling Australia's housing crisis by using technology, data and strategic partnerships to identify underutilised land and accelerate the delivery of affordable housing in collaboration with governments, churches, communities and organisations.
Reflecting on Paul's leadership, Rebecca said:
"I've been incredibly fortunate to work closely with Paul over the past few years. He cares deeply about Queensland's technology community and has always gone out of his way to connect, encourage and champion entrepreneurs. The impact he's had, both personally and through the network he's built, has been enormous.
I'll genuinely miss working alongside Paul in this role, but he leaves Pearcey Queensland in a fantastic position. It's a privilege to continue the work he's started and help recognise and support the incredible technology entrepreneurs who are shaping Queensland's future."
Jordan Green also acknowledged the importance of volunteers to the Foundation's ongoing success.
"The Pearcey Foundation is a proudly volunteer-run national charity. Our success depends entirely on people like Paul and Rebecca who generously contribute their time, expertise and leadership to recognise excellence across Australia's ICT industry. Their commitment ensures Pearcey's legacy continues for future generations."
The Queensland Pearcey ICT Entrepreneur Awards have been recognising outstanding ICT entrepreneurs for more than two decades and remain one of Australia's longest-running technology awards programs.
Nominations for the 2026 Queensland Pearcey ICT Entrepreneur Award are now open and close on 14 August 2026. The Foundation encourages the community to nominate outstanding mid-career ICT entrepreneurs who have demonstrated innovation, leadership and impact within Queensland's technology sector.
The Pearcey Foundation is also seeking nominations for the Pearcey CICTA Rising Star Award, recognising outstanding early-career technology professionals who are helping shape Queensland's digital future. Nominations close on 22 September. Nominate a Rising Star today: https://cicta.org.au/rising-star-award.
