Electronics engineer and computer scientist Professor David Skellern AO has won the tech industry’s top honor, the 2025 Pearcey Medal.
Skellern led the development of the first chipset implementation of the IEEE 802.11a wireless networking standard. changing the way the people communicate.
Pearcey Foundation chair Wayne Fitzsimmons OAM said Skellern’s work had a “material impact” on the industry.
“As an outstanding scientist and academic, he led the team that gave the world the first universal Wi-Fi standard chip that is embedded in every computing device we use today,” he said.
“It was a truly remarkable invention that derived from the same organisation that delivered Australia’s first electronic digital computer, CSIRAC, demonstrating yet again Australia’s proven international leadership in ICT,” said Mr Fitzsimmons.
Skellern was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (A0) in 2012 for distinguished service to science and engineering.
With degrees and a PhD from the University of Sydney, he worked in radio astronomy and academia before co-founding Radiata.
As part of the Radiata team, he helped create the first chip-set implementation of the IEEE 802.11a WLAN standard, a breakthrough that transformed global wireless communications.
He holds multiple degrees, including a PhD from the University of Sydney, and spent a decade in radio astronomy followed by 16 years teaching electronics before co-founding Radiata in 1997.
After Radiata’s acquisition by Cisco in 2001, he held senior roles at Cisco and later served as CEO of NICTA.
He has chaired major research and technology organisations and continues to serve on several company boards.
As well as winning the Pearcey Medal, Skellern was inducted into the Pearcey Hall of Fame, along with Australia’s former chief scientist, Dr Cathy Foley.
“Dr Foley is a worthy inductee into the Pearcey Hall of Fame,” Fitzimmons said.
“She is committed to supporting the development of the Australian quantum industry and helping Australia realise the transformative potential of emerging technologies and meet the climate challenge.
“She is an inspiration to women in STEM and focused strongly on equity and diversity in the science sector.”
The Pearcey National Entrepreneur Award was won by Sam Kroonenburg, who along with his brother, built AWS training platform A Cloud Guru, which is now part of Pluralsight.
Kroonenburg also cofounded AI advertising platform Cuttable.
Sam Kroonenburg was awarded the Pearcey National Entrepreneur Award. Photo: Supplied
Jordan Green AM, chair of Pearcey’s Victorian committee, said Kroonenburg was well deserved.
“Sam built a global success from scratch right here in Melbourne that has helped millions of students grow their careers and advance the cloud computing technologies that we all rely on today, “ he said.
“What stood out for the Pearcey Foundation in recognising Sam for this year’s national award are his continuing efforts and passion for technology and building companies with Cuttable, and in funding new founders and guiding our tech ecosystem with Glitch Capital.”
The Pearcey Foundation also awards state awards throughout the year. The winners of these were:
NSW – Rory San Miguel, CEO and cofounder of site surveying company Propeller Aero
Victoria – Sam Kroonenburg, CEO and founder of AWS training company A Cloud Guru
ACT – Professor Lachlan Blackhall, founding professor of the Battery Storage and Grid Integration Progam at Australian National University
South Australia – Tim Stollznow, CEO and founder of point-of sale- SaaS company MyVenue
Tasmania – Roxane Bandini-Maeder, CEO and cofounder of climate startup Geoneon
Queensland – Dr Clarissa Yates, CEO and cofounder of Ketim Technologies, creating world's first blood-based predictive diagnostic test for post-partum depression
Western Australia – Chris Morrissey, CEO and founder of managed IT and cybersecurity services company Ever Nimble
There was no Northern Territory winner as the Pearcey Foundation does not have a chapter there.
The Pearcey awards are named after Dr Trevor Pearcey, who designed Australia’s first digital computer, CSIRAC.
The Pearcey Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation established in 1998 to raise the profile of the Australian Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry and profession.
