Category Awards to Huawei, Utilibill, Internode, Herbert Geer, Optus, Tigerspike, Telstra, iiNet and Fetchtv
Michael Malone named 2011 Communications Ambassador, Kate Cornick wins inaugural Young Achiever Award
The winners of the prestigious 2011 Communications Alliance & CommsDay Awards were announced tonight at the Annual ACOMM Awards Dinner in Sydney. Attended by more than 500 industry leaders, the evening’s keynote address was delivered by Senator Stephen Conroy, Minister for Communications, Broadband and the Digital Economy.
“The ACOMM Awards represent the pinnacle of achievement for the Australian communications industry and I congratulate all the winners and finalists in the 2011 ACOMMS,” said Communications Alliance CEO John Stanton.
“Our 2011 Communications Ambassador, Michael Malone, is recognised as one of the industry’s leading entrepreneurs and innovators. Michael is a true pioneer of the Australian internet industry, launching an internet access business from his mother’s home years before the industry had even recognised the emerging importance of the internet phenomenon. Michael has transitioned that youthful experiment into one of Australia’s leading telecommunications companies and remains a force for progress and reform.
“Our inaugural Young Achiever, Kate Cornick, has rapidly established a respected position for IBES and the research it undertakes. Kate is a passionate advocate for the digital economy and we will all watch her career with interest and probably a touch of envy,” Mr Stanton commented.
The winners of the 2011 ACOMM Awards are:
- Communications Ambassador – Michael Malone for his role as one of the industry’s leading innovators.
- Young Achiever – Kate Cornick in recognition of her passion for the industry and contribution to the Institute for a Broadband Enabled Society’s success.
- Innovation - Large Company – Huawei for its Single Radio Access Network solution for mobile operators.
- Innovation - SME – Utilibill for its Business and Operations Support System which consolidates up to 15 disparate systems for telcos into one solution.
- Innovation in Content Delivery – Tigerspike for its Phoenix Digital Publishing Solution which enables seamless delivery of content to multiple personal media devices.
- Services to the Industry - Professional Services – Herbert Geer for its high quality legal services across the spectrum of complex industry issues.
- Environmental Responsibility - Internode for its commitment to energy efficiency throughout its operations.
- Community Contribution - Telstra for its assistance to emergency services and customers during and following the Queensland floods and Cyclone Yasi.
- Partnerships for Growth – iiNet & Fetchtv for the launch of the country’s first national IPTV service.
- Commitment to Customer Service - Optus for its dynamic and customer-centric social media presence.
The industry’s top honour for individual achievement, the 2011 Communications Ambassador Award is presented to an individual who has made a significant and demonstrable contribution to the Australian communications industry. This year the Award was presented to Michael Malone.
Michael Malone is highly regarded as an innovator and influencer in the communications industry. As Managing Director of iiNet, the business he co-founded 17 years ago, he has been a strong advocate for communications competition, the legal provision of online content and the NBN.
The winner of the inaugural Young Achievers Award, Kate Cornick, is Executive Director of the Institute for a Broadband Enabled Society at the University of Melbourne. Kate is highly respected for her energy and passion for the telecommunications industry as well as her technical understanding and stakeholder management skills.
Decisive Publishing CEO Grahame Lynch said: "We are particuarly pleased to have introduced two new awards this year recognising community contribution and young achievement in the sector and can think of no more worthy winners than Kate Cornick and Telstra.
"We are also pleased to see recognition for Michael Malone who has built a posterchild for competitive telecommunications and has also proven that you can build a national business out of Perth."
2011 ACOMM Award Finalists and Winners - Summary
Category: Innovation - Large Company
Finalists: Huawei (Single Radio Access Network solution), Internode; and Huawei (E5 Series Modem)
Winner: Huawei (Single Radio Access Network solution)
Huawei is a world-leading telecommunications solutions provider, working with all major Australian telcos and 45 of the world’s top 50 operators. Huawei’s SingleRAN (Single Radio Access Network) solution has provided a massive leap forward in mobile technology, allowing operators to simplify networks, reduce costs and increase energy efficiency while also delivering innovative new services.
Category: Innovation – SME
Finalists: Utilibill, OptiComm; and Amcom
Winner: Utilibill
Utilibill is the Business and Operations Support System (BSS/OSS) that delivers an end-to-end platform in the cloud. Telco’s receive a converged offering which includes Gas, Water, Electricity and Green energy. This solution addresses the full customer life cycle and is a game changing cost effective new frontier solution.
Category: Services to Industry - Professional Services
Finalists: Herbert Geer, Truman Hoyle; and Launch Recruitment
Winner: Herbert Geer
Herbert Geer has consolidated its position as “the champion of ISPs”. The firm continues a vigorous but measured defence for iiNet in its “David v Goliath” copyright battle against large multinational film studios. At the same time, the team’s industry-leading role has been recognised by its appointment as a specialist communications law adviser to the Australian Communications and Media Authority and the Department of Broadband Communications and the Digital Economy.
Category: Partnerships for Growth
Finalists: Ericsson/Telstra, Huawei/vividwireless, iiNet/Fetchtv; and Utilibill/Telcoinabox
Winner: iiNet/Fetchtv
iiNet has partnered with FetchTV to launch the country’s first true national IPTV service, giving customers access to the best of digital Free-to-Air and subscription television over their existing broadband connection.
Category: Commitment to Customer Service
Finalists: Internode, Optus, Telstra Enterprise & Government; and UEComm
Winner: Optus
Optus is committed to listening to its customers and delivering innovative and seamless solutions that connect them to what’s important in their lives - both now and into the future. The Optus Social Media team has created a dynamic and customer-centric online social media presence for customers to engage and communicate with the company.
Category: Innovation in Content Delivery
Finalists: AAPT and Tigerspike
Winner: Tigerspike
TigerSpike delivers the Power of Personal Media globally via offices in Sydney, Melbourne, London and New York. Experts in personal media strategy, design UI/UX and multi-platform development, TigerSpike‟s proprietary Phoenix technology delivers scalable solutions designed to deepen engagement across multiple devices. TigerSpike’s Phoenix Digital Publishing Solution enables seamless delivery of content to multiple personal media devices, enabling third parties to publish once – present to many.
Environmental Responsibility
Finalists: Centre for Energy-Efficient Telecommunications, Internode; and TE Connectivity
Winner: Internode
Internode is an environmentally responsible organisation that is committed to energy efficiency throughout its operation. Initiatives range from establishing CO2-neutral status through an exhaustive greenhouse gas emission audit in 2008 to deploying an award-winning IBM virtualised disk storage system that is saving tens of thousands of dollars in power costs annually.
Community Contribution
Finalists: Optus, Telstra; and Transact
Winner: Telstra
When the floods and Cyclone Yasi devastated Queensland in January, Telstra was at the scene, assisting emergency service organisations with their telecommunication requirements and restoring services to their customers. Telstra’s support goes beyond this - recognising that recovery is a long-term process, it continues to assist the affected communities with financial and in-kind support.
Young Achiever
Finalists: Kate Cornick, Sonia Sharma; and McDonald Richards
Winner: Kate Cornick
Kate Cornick is the Executive Director of the Institute for a Broadband-Enabled Society and has responsibility for managing the activities of the centre including driving collaborative research programs with support of industry and government. Kate previously worked as the Senior Telecommunications Adviser to Minister Conroy and has a PhD in optical communications. Kate has been a tireless advocate for the digital economy and broadband in Australia. She has successfully developed relationships and attracted industry support for the Institute for a Broadband-Enabled Society and has facilitated collaborations that help to demonstrate the importance of the future digital economy.
Category: 2011 Communications Ambassador Award
Finalists: Paul Brooks, Simon Hackett, Jacob John, Michael Malone, Rod Tucker, Mike Wright
Winner: Michael Malone
Back in 1993, Michael Malone founded WA’s first Internet Service Provider (ISP) in the garage of his family home. That homestead operation has now become the third largest ISP in Australia, driven by good customer service and innovation. As co-founder and Managing Director of iiNet, Michael has led the way in innovation, technology and best practice in the telecommunications industry. Michael’s ability to spearhead positive change has driven iiNet to become the leading telecommunications challenger and cement his place as one of the industry’s most influential people.
ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS ALLIANCE
Communications Alliance is the peak body for the Australian communications industry. Through a range of successful programs, events and initiatives, Communications Alliance has a leadership role in facilitating industry-based solutions to sectoral issues and is taking steps to bring to fruition the broadband and digital era, including leading the industry’s involvement in the National Broadband Network implementation. For further information visit www.commsalliance.com.au
ABOUT COMMS DAY
Communications Day Australasia is Australia and New Zealand’s most respected source of daily telecom industry news and commentary published under the Decisive Publishing stable. For further information see www.commsday.com