4 August, 2011 | 2011

PR2011: Brand Hoff awarded 2011 Pearcey Medal at iAwards dinner in Melbourne

PRESS RELEASE

Melbourne 4th August 2011: The Australian Computer Society, the Australian Information Industry Association, and the Pearcey Foundation tonight announced the national winners of Australia’s premier technology awards program, the 2011 iAwards. In the biggest field of the program’s 17 year history, winners were announced in four individual categories, 16 company categories and two distinguished achievement awards: the Tony Benson Entrepreneur Award and the Pearcey Medal for lifetime achievement in ICT.

The award was presented to Mr Hoff, founder and former CEO of Tower Software, by Dr Ian Oppermann, Director ICT Centre at CSIRO, and prominent supporter of these ICT industry awards’ programs. Dr Oppermann commented that: “Brand Hoff has been an outstanding business leader and exemplar entrepreneur for the whole of his career, focussed in the ACT. His pioneering efforts in records management systems positioned Australia as the world’s leader in the creation and use of this now pervasive technology. It is through individual efforts from people like Mr Hoff, that exemplifies how Australia can successfully innovate and so improves its productivity.” Mr Hoff is currently a board member of National ICT Australia (NICTA), Australia’s publically funded premier research group dedicated to the ICT industry. He is also Chairman of the Canberra Business Council amongst a host of directorships he also holds. Mr Hoff is a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society.

Two other outstanding contributors to the ICT industry were inducted into the Pearcey Hall of Fame during the evening:

Dr Ann Moffatt, whose career spanned across the UK as well as Australia, was recognised for her outstanding efforts as an ICT professional and for her dedication to recognising the role of women in ICT. In 1989 she founded Females information Technology and Telecommunications (FITT) a highly successful self help organisation for women in the ICT sector. From 1998-2000 she was a Board Member of the NSW TAFE Commission and was instrumental in formulating the Return project, providing computer skills to women throughout Greater Western Sydney to enable them to re-enter the workforce. Dr Moffatt is a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society and in 2006 received an honorary PhD from the University of Southern Queensland.

Dr Dennis Moore is considered to be the father of ICT in Western Australia being responsible for the first computer being installed at the University of Western Australia in 1965. He had a major influence in computing covering the State Government as well as the academic institutions of WA spanning more than three decades. Dennis successfully moved between academia, industry and government during his career and dedicated his professional career to promoting the role of ICT in our society and was recognised in 2006 for his sustained efforts by being awarded Member of the Order of Australia.

What are the iAwards? In 2011 three of the peak bodies associated with the information and Communications Technology industry (ICT) viz (the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and the Pearcey Foundation) have joined forces to hold the premier national ICT award event to recognize companies and individuals who have excelled in their field and deserve recognition at a national level.

About the Pearcey Foundation The Pearcey Foundation, a not-for-profit entity, was established in 1998 to recognize past heroes of the Australian ICT industry by awarding an annual Pearcey Medal to outstanding individuals across the industry. In so doing the Pearcey Foundation has sought to promote the ICT industry to the Australian community. Dr Trevor Pearcey, in whose honour this foundation was named, was the architect and leader at CSIRO of the team who, in 1949, constructed Australia’s first (and the world’s fourth) programmable digital computer, CSIRAC. Please refer to www.pearcey.org.au for more details on the Foundation.

About AIIA The Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) is the nation’s peak industry body for the technology sector. AIIA sets the strategic direction of the industry, influences public policy and provides members with productivity tools, advisory services and market intelligence to accelerate their business growth. AIIA member companies employ 100,000 Australians, generate combined annual revenues of more than $40 billion and export more than $2 billion in goods and services each year. Visit www.aiia.com.au

About the ACS The ACS (Australian Computer Society) is the recognised professional association for those working in Information and Communications Technology, seeking to raise the standing of ICT professionals and represent their views to government, industry and the community. A member of the Australian Council of Professions, the ACS is the guardian of professional ethics and standards in the ICT sector, committed to ensuring the beneficial use of ICT for all Australians. It provides both members and non-members with opportunities for professional education, networking and certification, as well as enabling them to contribute to the development of their profession. Visit www.acs.org.au for more information.

About the iAwards Over 17 years, the iAwards has become the premier technology awards platform in Australia delivering the most comprehensive awards program in the technology industry today. From 2011 the iAwards are open to both the companies at the cutting edge technology innovation as well as leading professionals across the industry. The iAwards are judged by industry, for industry and provide achievements with public recognition that extends across the ICT sector to government, community and beyond. They are strongly focused on promoting essential relationships between the ICT industry and vertical business sectors in every field to promote the value of our industry where it counts most. More information www.iawards.com.au