Person

Bennett, John Makepeace (1921 - 2010)

AO FTSE

Born
31 July 1921
Warwick, Queensland, Australia
Died
9 December 2010
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation
Computer scientist

Summary

John Bennett was internationally recognised as a pioneer in Australian computing and numerical analysis. Throughout his career his has been involved in the development and construction of some to the world's most advanced computers, including the Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator (EDSAC) at the University of Cambridge, the first machine in regular service (from 1949). In 1956 Bennett joined the Basser Computing Laboratory at the University of Sydney where he headed operations on SILLIAC, the first computer installed at the University of Sydney. He became the University's foundation Professor of Computing Science in 1982. From 1970 Bennett served as a member of a number of government advisory committees and international computer companies. He made significant contributions to professional organisations, including as Foundation Chairman of the Australian Committee of Computation and Automatic Control (ANCCAC) and Foundation President of the Australian Computer Society.

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Details

Educated Universities of Queensland (BSc, BE (Civil), BE (Mechanical and Electrical))

Chronology

1942 - 1946
Military service - Second World War. Served with the RAAF
1950
Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Cambridge
1950 - 1955
Career position - Computer specialist, Ferranti Ltd, Manchester and London
1959 - 1963
Career position - Foundation Chairman, Australian Committee of Computation and Automatic Control (ANCCAC)
1961 - 1982
Career position - Foundation Professor of Computer Science, University of Sydney
1965
Career position - President, New South Wales Computer Society
1966 - 1967
Career position - President, Australian Computer Society
1973 - 1974
Career position - Member, Australian Government Committee on Computerisation of Legal Data
1973 - 1974
Career position - Member, Australian Government Committee on Privacy
1976 - 1977
Career position - Fellow of the Senate, University of Sydney
1977
Award - Silver Core Award, International Federation for Information Processing
1977 - 2010
Award - Life Member, Australian Computer Society
1980 - ?
Career position - Governor, International Conference on Computer and Communications (ICCC)
1980 - 1984
Career position - Fellow of the Senate, University of Sydney
1981
Award - Chips Award, Australian Computer Society
1981 - 2010
Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE)
1982 - 1983
Career position - Expert Advisor to Review of Customs Administration and Procedures
1982 - 1987
Career position - Professor of Computer Science and Head of Basser Department of Computer Science, University of Sydney
1983
Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in recognition of service to computing science
1984
Award - Australian Committee of Computation and Automatic Control (ANCCAC) Medal
1986 - 1991
Career position - Director, Knowledge Engineering Pty Ltd
1986 - 1993
Career position - Director, Comfax International Pty Ltd
1987
Life event - Retired
1988 - 1992
Career position - Secretary General, International Conference on Computer Communications (ICCC)
1991 - 2010
Career position - Patron, University of Sydney Research Foundation for Information Technology
1992
Award - International Conference on Computer Communications (ICCC) Founders Award
2001
Award - Centenary Medal for service to Australian society in computer science and technology
2004
Award - Pearcey Medal for Lifetime Achievement, and inducted into the Hall of Fame, Pearcey Foundation

Related Corporate Bodies

Published resources

Edited Books

  • Bennett, J. M.; Broomham, Rosemary; Murton, P. M.; Pearcey, T.; Rutledge, R. W. ed., Computing in Australia: the Development of a Profession (Sydney: Hale and Iremonger, 1994), 344 pp. Details

Journal Articles

Newspaper Articles

Resources

See also

Rosanne Walker and Helen Cohn

Created: 25 May 2001, Last modified: 25 April 2024

EOAS ID: biogs/P003370b.htm

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