Advancements in Artificial Intelligence to save lives, time and money have shared the spotlight at the 2025 TasICT Excellence Awards.
Top gongs have gone to cutting edge firms building AI-assisted detection of bushfires allowing rapid deployment of fire fighters, as well as use of satellite imagery to predict and protect suburbs from bushfire.
And the new Metro Tasmania real-time bus scheduling app that allows passengers to see the arrival time of their bus has received top industry recognition.
A record number of nominations were received this year showcasing a thriving tech industry that contributes more than $1.7b to the Tasmanian economy annually and covers more than 12,500 employees.
TasICT CEO Russell Kelly said the impact of emerging Artificial Intelligence was a growing factor in nominations.
“Artificial Intelligence and automation are experiencing a massive uptake – it is taking Tasmania by storm and within a few short years AI will be used by most Tasmanian businesses to improve worker productivity and services.”
Best Delivery of an ICT Project – Indicium Dynamics & Sustainable Timber Tasmania – Fire Foresight Deployment: 24/25 Fire Season – The Fire Foresight project is Tasmania’s first AI-enabled, 24/7 digital bushfire monitoring system, developed by Indicium Dynamics and Sustainable Timber Tasmania. It integrates AI-powered cameras, IoT sensors, satellite data, and human verification to provide continuous situational awareness and early fire detection.
Best ICT Initiative or Industry Collaboration – Metro Tasmania, Ionata Digital, Loop Foundry, Department of State Growth, & Mattersoft – Real-Time Passenger Information System – The Tasmanian Government launched the Real-Time Passenger Information System to address declining public transport usage. In six months, the system processes 1.3 million daily location updates, enhancing passenger experience for Metro Tasmania users in Hobart, Launceston, and Burnie. The project, involving Metro Tasmania, Ionata Digital, Loop Foundry, Department of State Growth, and Mattersoft, led to a 600% increase in app engagement.
Top Tasmanian Tech Innovator or Start-up – Geoneon – leverages Earth Observation, AI, and Data Fusion to enhance climate resilience and disaster preparedness. Their solutions, including advanced vegetation mapping and bushfire risk indices, empower governments and organisations to make smarter decisions.
ICT Industry Rising Star – Coen Critchley – Wattle Hill Olives – Coen transformed Wattle Hill Olives into a data-driven, sustainable agribusiness using ICT. He implemented IoT sensors, automated irrigation, and AI for optimized farming.
Social Innovation ICT Award – Launceston City Council – Parks of Launceston: A Minecraft World – The City of Launceston has created downloadable Minecraft worlds mirroring three local parks to engage young people in city planning. Using accurate 3D modelling data, the Smart Cities team converted it into Minecraft environments with added details.
Contribution of a Tasmanian Woman to ICT – Kathleen Mackay – Chief Information Officer at the University of Tasmania, Kathleen has over 20 years’ experience in technology leadership. Kathleen actively contributes to industry and government committees, advocating for gender equality and inclusive leadership.
Development of ICT Employment Opportunities – TasWater Graduate Program – Since 2023, TasWater has expanded its Graduate Program to include ICT pathways, supporting Tasmania’s digital sector. Building on the success of the Summer Internship Program, the initiative now includes rotations for graduates in ICT, data science, cybersecurity, and computer science.
Best Use of ICT in Advanced Manufacturing – SOSUB – Southern Ocean Subsea Pty Ltd – Southern Ocean Subsea Pty Ltd (SOSUB) specialises in subsea and maritime technology, particularly Remotely Operated Vehicles for aquaculture. Their flagship product, the Apama Net Repairer, addresses costly net repairs by human divers, offering a more efficient and cost-effective solution.
Best Cyber Security Initiative – O’Grady Consulting Services and MEC Consulting Services – Privileged Access Management Project for the University of Tasmania – The University of Tasmania led a sector-first transformation in cyber security maturity by eliminating local administrative rights and adopting Just-In-Time access. The Privileged Access Management Project significantly uplifted the University’s security posture, aligning with key cyber security frameworks and setting a new standard for privilege management in higher education.
Inaugural Hall of Fame Award – Pieter Kolkert –Personally responsible for the mentoring and growth of hundreds of administration, sales and technical roles, Peter continues to serve as a mentor to many still today. Pieter has stepped back from his role as CEO of Intuit Technologies but is still actively involved in the success of this Tasmanian owned business.
President’s Award – Future Ready Program – Skills Solutions Australia – The Future Ready Program connects job-ready graduates with Tasmanian businesses and government organisations seeking skilled digital professionals. The program provides practical, real-world experience through tailored internships in ICT support, cybersecurity, software development, business analysis, and data roles.
