ABOUT THE AWARD
The CICTA Rising Star Award recognises an early-career individual who has demonstrated exceptional promise and made significant contributions to the Australian digital technology sector. This award is designed to spotlight emerging leaders who are shaping the future of the digital technology sector through innovation, leadership, and impact.
The Rising Star Award celebrates those who are still early in their career journey yet are already making waves, individuals who inspire peers, disrupt conventional thinking, and embody the entrepreneurial spirit of Australia’s digital economy.
Nominations for 2026 are closed and the award will be presented by the Hon. Steve Minnkin, Minister for Customer Service and Open Data and Minister for Small and Family Business on 6 October at the Pearcey CICTA Queensland ICT Awards Dinner. Tickets available now!
Pearcey CICTA Queensland ICT Awards Dinner
Join us for an inspiring evening, hosted by Iyari Cavellos, CEO and Co-founder, Nucleo Group and Chair of Women in Technolgy in celebrating innovation, leadership, and emerging talent in Queensland’s digital technology sector.
On this must-attend evening in the industry’s calendar, the recipients of the following prestigious awards will be announced:
- 2026 Pearcey Queensland Entrepreneur Award
- 2026 CICTA Pearcey Rising Star Award
Hon. Steve Minnikin, Minister for Customer Service and Open Data and Minister for Small and Family Business is attending and will address the audience and present the two awards.
DATE: Tuesday 6th October
TIME: 6:15pm for pre-dinner drinks and canapes; guests seated for a 7:00pm start
VENUE: The Beetson Hotel (formerly Gambaro Hotel), Caxton St, Petrie Terrace
COST: Early bird tickets $125pp or $1,125 for a table of 10. From 8 September – $140pp or $1,260
INCLUSIONS: Pre-dinner canapes followed by a 3 course sit-down meal, and drinks (wine, beer and soft drinks)
BOOK TICKETS HERE
BOOK TABLE OF 10 HERE
For any enquiries or questions about nominations or the dinner contact Debra Krause on secretariat@cicta.org.au or 0468 443 868
CICTA PEARCEY RISING STAR AWARD
RISING STAR AWARD CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
– The nominee must be an individual based in Queensland, Australia.
– The nominee should be early-career, generally in their first 10 years’ professional experience in the digital technology industry. In calculating industry experience, career breaks or time spent outside the IT industry are excluded from this calculation and will not disadvantage applicants.
– Open to individuals from startups, corporates, academia, non-profits, or government who are contributing to the ICT/digital tech space.
– Nominations can be made by colleagues, mentors, employers, or peers. Self-nominations are also accepted.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Nominees will be assessed based on their:
Impact and Achievement
– Demonstrated contributions to digital technology through projects, products, research, or leadership.
– Clear evidence of the value, innovation, or societal impact created.
Innovation and Creativity
– Ability to think differently and solve problems in new ways.
– Involvement in innovative digital solutions, emerging technologies, or entrepreneurial ventures.
Leadership and Influence
– Demonstrated leadership potential, even in junior or non-executive roles.
– Ability to inspire and influence others, either through community involvement, mentoring, or team impact.
Growth and Trajectory
– Strong potential for future leadership and influence in the sector.
– A trajectory that indicates ongoing impact and advancement.
Values and Contribution to the Ecosystem
– Commitment to positive change, collaboration, diversity, or sustainability in tech/digital.
– Engagement with the broader tech/digital community (e.g. speaking, mentoring, volunteering, etc.).
HOW TO NOMINATE
Nominations for 2026 have now closed.
JUDGING PROCESS
The judging panel will consist of 6-8 representatives selected to reflect a diverse and balanced view of the sector.
Nomination Submission
All nominations must include a supporting statement, nominee CV or LinkedIn profile, two professional referees and optional supporting materials.
Initial Assessment & Shortlisting
Judges will independently score nominations using a structured rubric based on the criteria above. Top-ranked candidates will proceed to the next stage.
Panel Deliberation
The judging panel will meet to review and discuss the shortlisted candidates, ensuring that scoring is balanced with qualitative insight.
Interviews (Optional)
Shortlisted nominees may be contacted for a short interview or asked to submit a short video or written reflection to support final evaluation.
Final Decision & Announcement
One winner will be selected, and commendations may be made at the panel’s discretion. The award will be formally announced during the CICTA Awards event or a relevant industry gathering.
Recognition
The Rising Star award will be announced at the annual Pearcey CICTA Queensland Awards on Tuesday 6 October.
KEY 2026 DATES
Nominations open: Wednesday 20 May 2026
Nominations close: Friday 28 August 2026
Award Announcement: Tuesday 6 October 2026
Dr Scarlett Raine, 2025 CICTA Pearcey Rising Star
(photographed with Paul Gampe, Pearcey Qld Chair; The Hon. Andrew Powell, Minister for the Environment and Tourism, Minister for Science and Innovation and Dr Nick Tate, CICTA Chair)
Dr Scarlett Raine is a Lecturer and Chief Investigator in the QUT Centre for Robotics. She pioneers the use of computer vision and AI to analyse underwater imagery and monitor marine ecosystems more efficiently, earning the Executive Dean’s Commendation for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis in 2024. She brings her expertise to the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program as a Chief Investigator on the $3.5m Transition to Deployment sub-program, where she is developing an AI-driven Reef Guidance System for automated re-seeding of temperature-resilient coral babies to degraded reefs.