Pictured above is Kevin Tickle being presented with his Australian Computer Society’s (ACS) Queensland ICT Professional of the Year (Education) award.

Pictured left is the Minister for Small Business, Information Technology Policy and Multicultural Affairs The Hon. Chris Cummins MP, Professor Kevin Tickle, Edward Mandla President of ACS, Greg Whymark and Mark Lloyd (ACS Queensland Branch Chair).

CQU’s Professor Kevin Tickle was presented with the award at the inaugural ICT Professional and Graduate of the Year Awards recently in Brisbane.

Professor Tickle pipped other keen contenders for the category including Maureen Klinkert, Executive Director, IT Services, University of the Sunshine Coast, and Professor Bill Caelli, Queensland University of Technology.

As the Dean of the Faculty of Informatics and Communications at CQU, Professor Tickle has been instrumental in making the Faculty the largest provider of ICT education in Australia.

Professor Tickle was one of four CQU staff members nominated for an award. CQU's strong presence in the awards is a reflection of its status as Australia's largest provider of ICT education, with around 5000 ICT enrolments (full-time equivalent).

Also at the awards night outgoing President of the ACS, Edward Mandla recognized Queensland’s newest Fellows of the Society including CQU’s Dr Greg Whymark, Associate Professor in Information Systems.

Over 100 ACS members and dignitaries from across Queensland gathered to celebrate ICT professional excellence at the event.

The Awards night was more icing on the cake and the culmination of the hard work of the judging panel led by John Puttick (GBST) and comprising Kon Kakanis (Sundata), Bronwyn Allen (CIO, Stainless Steel Materials BHP, Billiton), Peter Grant (CIO Queensland State Government) and Associate Professor Greg Whymark (Central Queensland University).

The Queensland Government sponsored award for the ICT Professional of the Year (Government) went to Wayne Knack, Director, Learning Futures, Barrier Reef Institute Institute of TAFE. The Beilby sponsored award for the ICT Professional of the Year (ICT Industry) was awarded to Paul Watts, creator of Markinsons, a successful Queensland ICT company. The Clifton’s sponsored award for the ICT Professional of the Year (Business) went to Bill Simpson who operates his own consultancy.

Another important award was the ICT Graduate of the Year. CQU’s Dr Greg Whymark presented the prize to Kimberley Yee who obtained a GPA of 7.0 for her degree in Information Technology from QUT as well as numerous University awards.

The Young ICT Professional of the Year was awarded to Chris Fechner from OnTrackIT. Chris is a young IT professional who excels in bridging the gap between IT and business operations.