I was delighted to take part in the ninth annual iAwards in 2005, and to see the depth and diversity of innovation on display.

It is important to recognise all the nominees selected by the panel of judges. To be nominated is in itself recognition of great achievement and demonstrates the dynamic and inventive nature of the Australian ICT industry. For a full list of the winners and merit award recipients, click here.

It was particularly pleasing to see such an innovative indigenous health project take out the top honour with the Inspiration iAward.

The Inspiration iAward is presented to the ‘best of the best’ ICT innovation, with all iAwards winners from other categories considered for the award.

The iAwards Patron for 2005, Senator the Hon. Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Coonan presented the Inspiration iAward to Inchain and the Northern Territory Department of Health & Community Services for their innovative solution, MARVIN Consortium.

The MARVIN Consortium team were certainly inspirational and most worthy recipients of such a prestigious award.

According to J. Easterby-Wood, Manager of Interactive Communications and Development for the Northern Territory Department of Health, unlike most of the other finalists with a formal design and development team, MARVIN started its evolution in some of the most challenging, remote communities imaginable.

“A cast of hundreds of indigenous and non-indigenous crew have contributed to its overall development,” Mr Easterby-Wood said.

“Prior to MARVIN, some of these people had never been involved in any ICT activity and in many cases English is a third or fourth language, so for them being involved in best-practice awards such as the iAwards – and being recognised for their efforts – is inspiring and truly makes us feel as though despite (or indeed because of) the remoteness, the conditions, the challenges faced, it was something bigger than all of us and one of the few times you don’t mind standing up and saying 'hey we were there, we went up against the best of the best and held our own’,” Mr Easterby-Wood said.

MARVIN Consortium aims to bring ‘animation to education and learning to life’. MARVIN is a software application that allows users to combine captured audio, images and other content to develop presentations, and build scripted voice-overs that are narrated by animated characters. An unparalleled community resource development tool, MARVIN is part of a collaborative process with indigenous communities to provide information on health, welfare and community governance issues.

“Being nominated for an iAward was recognition of the technology we’ve created,” said Inchain’s Managing Director, Nick Russell. “But to be awarded such an esteemed accolade at a national program of such high standing as the iAwards is a significant milestone for the MARVIN Consortium project.”

MARVIN Consortium’s acknowledgement is clear demonstration of why ICT is such a crucial enabler across all sectors of the economy. Pioneering ICT transforms and increases productivity, building businesses, growth, exports and skilled job opportunities. The iAwards acknowledges the commitment of leading-edge Australian ICT companies not just to our own industry, but to all sectors of the Australian economy.

This year, for the first time an individual award was presented and appropriately, given his great service to the industry, named the CSIRO Tony Benson Award for Individual Achievement in ICT. David Merson, founder of Mincom, was the inaugural recipient of this award. This award will continue to highlight the role of inspirational leaders in driving the ICT industry forward.

Congratulations to Inchain and the Northern Territory Department of Health & Community Services, and to all the other worthy recipients of 2005 iAwards. On behalf of everyone at AIIA, I look forward to seeing your companies reap the deserved rewards from your 2005 iAwards win, and look forward to seeing many other worthy companies submitting their innovations in the 2006 iAwards.

John Price
Chairman
Australian Information Industry Association

On 12 May, an AIIA delegation met with the NSW Department of Commerce (DoC) to further negotiate the ProcureIT contractual framework for ICT contracting.

Austrade has recently launched a new online training module on the free trade agreements (FTAs) with the USA, Singapore and Thailand.
The module, which can be accessed at www.myexportcoach.gov.au, gives an overview of each FTA, explains what each FTA means for ICT companies, and outlines ways in which ICT companies can leverage opportunities arising from the FTAs.

By David Fisk