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.
The 2010 Medal was presented by Senator Kate Lundy, Parliamentary Secretary Prime Minister & Cabinet, at the 2010 National Pearcey Event Dinner held on 22 September 2010. The dinner was in association with the World Computer Congress 2010 at the Brisbane Convention Centre in Brisbane, Queensland.
John and fellow finalists Brian Finn AO and Emeritus Professor Peter Poole were admitted to the 2010 Hall of Fame.
John Grant
John’s professional career started after graduating in 1971 with honours as a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) from the University of Queensland. Thereafter he spent nine years with the Brisbane City Council in various engineering roles. During the period he was involved in quarry management, he took responsibility for a project to computerise the quarry’s costing and management systems; this led him to a move into the ICT industry in 1980.
John joined IBM’s General Systems Division specialising in computing solutions for the local government and construction industries and then in 1982 joined Powell, Clark and Associates, a 16 person Brisbane-based software company and the forerunner to Data#3. From this time he provided application software solutions to a diverse range of customers across many industries throughout Australia. In 1984, Powell, Clark and Associates acquired an office-supplies retail and service organisation and formed Data#3.
John was one of the founding Directors and in 1996 was appointed Managing Director which position he retains today. Since Data#3 was listed in 1997 it has grown to be one of Australia’s largest listed ICT companies. John was elected to the Federal Board of the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) in November 2004. AIIA is Australia’s leading ICT industry association. His subsequent high visibility on the national ICT scene coincided with his election as AIIA Chairman in 2007. He was asked by Senator Kim Carr, Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry and Science to chair his National ICT Innovation Council. However, John’s interest in ICT industry issues commenced back in the mid 1990’s in Queensland.
Amongst other roles he has chaired the Queensland Minister’s (for ICT) Advisory Committee building wide consensus across this State’s diverse ICT sector, embracing academia, government as well industry. He also was the driving force in the establishment of the current ICT Workgroup which is an exemplar of industry-government cooperation in Queensland.
In addition to his professional interests, John has been an outstanding sportsman representing Australia in Rugby League at the 1972 World Cup and Queensland between 1972 and 1975. Today he maintains a keen interest in all football codes and sport in general. John is a member of the Australian Computer Society (ACS).
