The 2024 Pearcey Awards recognised pioneering tradespeople at a gala dinner in Brisbane on Tuesday night.
Professor Svetha Venkatesh has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Pearcey Medal for her pioneering contributions to sample recognition, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. This esteemed honor comes with induction into the Pearcey Hall of Fame.
Canberra defence pioneers Ian Crosby AM and David Gaul of CEA Applied Sciences were awarded the National Entrepreneur Awards, while trade veterans Professor Andrew Dzurak and ACS Fellow Jan Kornweibel were also inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Pearcey National Awards and Queensland ICT Entrepreneur Awards.
According to Pearcey Foundation Chair Wayne Fitzsimmons OAM, Professor Svetha Venkatesh is not just one of the world’s leading authorities on artificial intelligence, but a renowned expert in her field.
Fitzsimmons credits Venkatesh’s lifelong dedication to AI research with having a profoundly far-reaching impact across multiple disciplines, including public safety and security, mental wellness, autism studies, and healthcare.
As he noted, her role as an educator and mentor has fostered a legacy of generational expertise and innovation in AI, yielding a profound impact on both Australian and global spheres.
“The Pearcey Medal and Pearcey Corridor of Fame, Australia’s premier ICT honours, are selected annually through a nationwide peer-voted process, recognising the nation’s top talent.”
“Each of this year’s 12 recipients are pioneers and leaders in their respective fields, but it’s especially notable this year that we’re recognizing the extraordinary achievements of both Svetha and Jan, whose remarkable work has significantly enhanced the lives and opportunities for people with disabilities.”
“It’s an honor to recognize Svetha, Jan, and Andrew by enshrining them in our Hall of Fame.”
The occasion coincided with the historic moment of the first code run on CSIRAC, Australia’s pioneering digital computer, which boasted audio capabilities, featuring Peter Thorne, a key contributor to the project in the 1950s, and Helen McHugh, President of ACS, whose father collaborated with Trevor Pearcey on this groundbreaking system.
“CSIRAC, a pioneering computer, held the status of being the first laptop of its time.” Australia has long been comfortable with making calculated gambles. Although not all of them have been successful in this regard, CSIRAC did stand out.
While acknowledging the delayed returns on investments in knowledge and innovation, it’s crucial we remain proactive, not waiting for events to unfold but taking calculated steps forward.
Australian technology leaders gather for the 2024 Pearcey Awards gala evening, with former parliamentarian Kate Lundy, Australian Computer Society President Helen McHugh, esteemed fellow Jan Kornweibel, and Robotics Australia Chair Sue Keay in attendance. Photograph: Provided
Professor Svetha Venkatesh, an Australian computer scientist and academic, is being recognized as the 2024 Pearcey Medallist for her groundbreaking work in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and human-computer interaction. As the Director of the Institute for Data Engineering and Science at Macquarie University, Professor Venkatesh has made significant contributions to the development of intelligent systems that can learn from data and make informed decisions.
Professor Svetha Venkatesh, a renowned Australian computer scientist and entrepreneur, has made groundbreaking and impactful contributions to the field of image recognition in multimedia computing.
A pioneer in laying theoretical and algorithmic groundwork for identifying recurring and aberrant activities, as well as extracting meaningful insights from digital video data.
Born in India, Svetha completed her undergraduate research before pursuing a PhD in Computer Science at the University of Western Australia.
As a renowned expert, she currently serves as a distinguished professor and co-director of Deakin University’s esteemed Utilized Synthetic Intelligence Institute.
Svetha, as the pioneering founder of icetana AI, has showcased her impressive entrepreneurial acumen by spearheading this ASX-listed software company, which specializes in providing cutting-edge video analytics solutions.
Jan Kornweibel, esteemed Pearcey Corridor of Fame inductee, his contributions to the world of computer and information technology are nothing short of remarkable.
Jan Kornweibel started earlier than arriving at the IBM programming site at TAB in Perth.
As a member of TAB, she was also an early adopter, joining the West Australian PC Society and playing a pioneering role as an inaugural member of the Australian PC Society, which emerged from the merger of these two entities in 1967?
As a driving force behind the inaugural ACS Nationwide convention in Western Australia in 1989, Jan devoted 16 years to the WA Government Committee and has since maintained her commitment to mentoring young women in ICT, a dedication spanning over five decades as an esteemed member of the Australian Computer Society.
Jan is a relatable role model for young ICT professionals, particularly inspiring girls interested in the field. As a fellow and honorary life member of the American Chemical Society (ACS), she holds esteemed positions.
Professor Andrew Dzurak’s pioneering work in quantum computing and materials science has earned him a spot among the esteemed Pearcey Corridor of Fame inductees. With his groundbreaking research on spin-based electronics, he has paved the way for innovative technologies that promise to transform industries.
Professor Andrew Dzurak is a renowned global expert in quantum computing, and alongside UNSW colleague Professor Michelle Simmons AO, he has led the charge to establish Australia as a world leader in this field.
As founder and CEO of Diraq, a pioneering full-stack quantum computing company, he has spearheaded the development of innovative ‘quantum dot’ technology using expertise honed by his team at UNSW over two decades.
Prior to founding Diraq, Andrew served as the inaugural Director of ANFF-NSW (2007-2022), the New South Wales node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility, where he delivered a lecture on quantum computing at the University of Sydney in March 2019.
As a prominent figure, Andrew played a pivotal role as a key participant over two decades ago in establishing the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre for Quantum Computer Technology.
Nationwide honours entrepreneurial prowess: Trade stalwarts claim top prize.
Ian Crosby, AM, and David Gould, founders of CEA Applied Sciences, have been awarded the 2024 Pearcey National Entrepreneur Awards.
The two founders, both with a background as former naval officers, founded CEA Applied Sciences in 1983.
The vision was to establish a premier Australian hub for designing and developing cutting-edge electronics, tailored to meet the unique requirements of the Royal Australian Navy.
At that point, these essential supplies were largely imported from the US, but they failed to meet the Navy’s requirements.
As they brought their vision to life, Ian and David embodied the mantra ‘Options with Commitment’ by spearheading end-to-end development, production, and support within Australia, leveraging local engineering and manufacturing expertise.
State Pearcey Award winners
Throughout the year, the Pearcey Foundation concurrently hosted a series of national awards alongside the newly introduced Queensland Award on Tuesday.
The winners are listed beneath. No one from South Australia and Tasmania has taken home a prize in the past year.
Queensland – Andrew BateCo-founder and Chief Executive Officer at SwarmFarm Robotics.
ACT – Ian Croser AM and David GaulFounders of CEA Applied Sciences.
NSW– quantum know-how pioneer Prof Michael J Biercuk PhD of Q-Management
Victoria – Chris Piastri, co-founder and CTO of
WA – Peter van der MadeFounder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of BrainChip Inc.
