Above: Jordan Green AM and Prof Michelle Simmons AO speaking with Professor Duncan Maskell, Vice Chancellor of the University of Melbourne at the Victorian Pearcey Entrepreneur Awards 2023. 

The Victorian Pearcey Entrepreneur Award, an initiative of the Pearcey Foundation, celebrates individuals and teams who made outstanding contributions to Australia's Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.

This award honours individuals who are driving significant change, creating innovation, and inspiring others in the industry. The next Victorian Pearcey Entrepreneur Award will be presented on 4th September during the Pearcey Oration 2024.

Above: Jordan Green AM presenting at the Victorian Pearcey Entrepreneur Awards 2023, held at Melbourne Connect.

Jordan Green AM, a board member and secretary of the Pearcey Foundation, sheds light on the significance of these awards and the accomplishments of past recipients. '[The awards are] for people in the midst of their career who are leading the Australian ICT sector from the very front edge of the global stage.' The recognition is peer-based, with past award recipients selecting new honourees, ensuring that the community acknowledges those who have made substantial impacts. According to Green, 'The Victorian Pearcey Entrepreneur Award recognises an individual, or team, who has taken a risk, is making a difference and is an inspiration to others.' 

The list of past recipients is remarkable. Grant Petty, founder and CEO of Blackmagic Design, has created a multi-billion dollar advanced electronics manufacturing business in Port Melbourne, providing technology products for Hollywood and collaborating with Apple on the Apple Vision. Green highlights another recipient, saying, 'Bronwyn Le Grice, founder and CEO of ANDHealth, has changed forever how Australian medical innovation impacts the world,' focusing on digital medicine and digital therapeutics. 

Above: Didier Elzinga, CEO of Culture Amp, was honoured with the Victorian Pearcey Award last year. He subsequently won the prestigious Pearcey National Entrepreneur Award in October 2023.

Craig McDonald, founder and CEO of MailGuard, is another notable awardee. MailGuard is the only company globally included by Microsoft in its email security stack for Microsoft 365, offering superior protection in the highly vulnerable digital communication space. Green remarks, 'All the big tech giants are trying to make email safer, but it is Craig McDonald’s MailGuard that finds the threats the others miss and does it order of magnitude faster than any other solution.' 

In addition to their business successes, these individuals have positively impacted local communities through their innovative work and community engagement. A prime example is Jason Lohrey of Arcitecta, who developed groundbreaking solutions for managing vast amounts of data. His work was recognised by the USA Library of Congress, the world's largest library, which selected Arcitecta's technology to manage its extensive data collection. This recognition highlights the global impact and credibility of Australian innovation. 

Green also highlights the contributions of Alison Hardacre (Halaxy) and Dr Elaine Saunders (Australia Hears), who have transformed how Australians engage with advanced ICT in health services and products. These innovators have set a high standard for future recipients, showcasing the broad opportunities available in the tech industry and the essential role it plays in shaping society. 

Looking ahead, Green underscores the importance of acknowledging past achievements to build a better future. He states, 'It is only by properly knowing what has been achieved in the past that we can properly and sensibly move into a better future.' The Pearcey Foundation aims to inspire the next generation by showcasing the successes of these remarkable individuals, encouraging others to pursue innovation and excellence. 

Above: Jordan Green AM and Prof Michelle Simmons AO on the panel at the Pearcey Oration 2023.

The annual Pearcey Oration, another key event organised by the Foundation, serves as a platform to explore the opportunities, challenges, and changes brought about by technology. 'The Pearcey Oration is an opportunity to explore and consider how that is playing out; the opportunities, the challenges and the changes,' Green explains. Recent orators, such as Prof Michelle Simmons AO and Roger Taylor, Chair of the UK Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, have shared their insights on cutting-edge topics like quantum computing and the complexities and challenges of data. 

Ultimately, the Victorian Pearcey Entrepreneur Award and Pearcey Oration not only honour past achievements but also inspire future innovations. By highlighting the achievements of past recipients and creating a platform for exploring emerging technologies, the Pearcey Foundation plays an inspiring role in guiding the future of Australia's tech industry. As Green aptly puts it, 'The Pearcey Oration and the Pearcey Awards shine a bright light on the remarkable Australians delivering significant change for the betterment of society, globally.' 

The Pearcey Oration 2024 

As we look towards the future of Australia's tech landscape, the Pearcey Oration 2024 offers a crucial platform for exploring the transformative effects of technology on our society. Supported by Victorian Government, Digital Innovation Futures and Melbourne Connect, this flagship event is a highlight of Melbourne Connect Innovation Week. 

On 4th September at Melbourne Connect, Dr Ian Oppermann, a globally respected thought leader in the Data, AI, and Digital Economy, will deliver this year's oration. He will delve into Australia's digital future, focusing on the challenges and opportunities in equity, AI, privacy, and collaboration. Prior to the oration, the Victorian Pearcey Entrepreneur of the Year award will also be presented, celebrating local innovation and achievement. 

Find out more on how to attend this year’s Pearcey Oration.