The recent 2006 iAwards was again a sensational success, demonstrating Australia’s bright future as a key player in the global ICT market.

The iAwards is AIIA’s lighthouse event, encouraging the entire ICT industry of Australia to come together to place ICT excellence and innovation in the spotlight.

Peter Kazacos thanks guest for attending the 2006 iAwards.

Yet, the role of the iAwards is not just to reward innovation. The iAwards recognises the value of an industry which contributes 4.6 per cent of Australia’s Gross Domestic Product and underpins productivity growth in many sectors of the economy.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in 2002-03 the ICT industry was responsible for generating more than $36 billion a year – more than the agriculture, forestry and fishing, defence and education industries; while investment in ICT returns around 40 per cent in additional value to industry.

This builds on previous research by the Department of Information Technology, Communication and the Arts which revealed that ICT contributed up to 85 per cent of productivity growth in the manufacturing sector and up to 78 per cent of productivity growth in the services sector over the last two decades.

It is important that the ICT industry’s vital contribution to Australia’s economy is acknowledged, and the iAwards is an essential vehicle for doing just that.

This year, iAwards winners spanned industries from healthcare to agriculture, from education to tourism and hospitality, and from finance to security.

“The iAwards is an essential vehicle for acknowledging the ICT industry’s vital contribution to Australia’s economy,” said AIIA’s Chairman Peter Kazacos at the 2006 iAwards.

Our healthcare sector, for instance, is increasingly reliant on ICT to improve the lives of all Australians, and two iAwards winners have been rewarded for their contributions to e-health.

Seeing Machines was acknowledged for the world’s first non-contact objective visual field test, which will significantly improve the ability of clinicians to diagnose and manage certain diseases, such as glaucoma, by providing reliable early stage detection. Meanwhile, Medtamic’s innovation, MD Analyze, will ensure surgeons have instant access to vital data enabling them to better provide treatment in line with industry best practice.

Imagine the accounting industry without MYOB? Craig Winkler, MYOB’s Chief Executive Officer was recognised for his contribution to not only the ICT industry, but to business in general as the winner of the CSIRO Tony Benson for Individual Achievement in ICT.

And this year’s Inspiration iAward for overall ICT excellence – Wotif.com – is another great example of ICT enablement that has changed the accommodation market for both hoteliers and customers with its website that acts as marketplace for hotels.

Recent OECD studies demonstrate that those countries that are both good producers and good users of ICT enjoy the greatest uplift in productivity growth from ICT. It is important to emphasise that it’s not enough for Australia to be just a clever user of ICT goods and services, we must also be a clever producer of ICT.

AIIA, through platforms such as the iAwards, is determined to demonstrate to government, media and industry that ICT is a driver of productivity, job growth, social advancement and economic prosperity for all Australians.

It is important that the entire ICT industry comes together to promote ICT success stories highlighted by the iAwards, and I encourage all AIIA members to nominate their innovative ICT solutions or services for recognition in 2007.

For a full list of iAwards winners, visit: www.aiia.com.au.

Peter Kazacos
Chairman
Australian Information Industry Association

About Peter Kazacos
AIIA’s Chairman, Peter Kazacos has more than 29 years’ experience in the ICT industry.
He co-founded KAZ in 1988 and has led the company over its 16-year history.

Peter was responsible for guiding KAZ from a small IT services company in NSW to one of Asia Pacific’s leading IT outsourcing and business process outsourcing service providers. KAZ has grown from 350 employees at its inception, through its listing on the ASX in 2000, to more than 3,000 employees today, as a fully owned subsidiary of Telstra.

Prior to establishing KAZ, Peter held a number of senior technical positions in the Australian IT industry with leading Australian organisations.

Peter has been Chairman of AIIA since November 2005.

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