Poole, Peter Cyril (1931 - 2017)

Summary

Peter Poole was recognised as a national and international leader in computer science and software engineering. When Head of the Computing Systems Research Group at the Atomic Energy Commission's Culham Laboratory in the United Kingdom he was involved in the early use of time-sharing systems, and the design and implementation of large systems (what is now known as software engineering). In 1975 Poole became the inaugural Professor of computing at the University of Melbourne. Under his leadership the Department became a leader in Australia and noted internationally for its research projects, especially in the area of machine intelligence. He recognised early the importance of open-source operating systems and was one of those responsible for the first data link with the United States for the exchange of emails with overseas researchers, the forerunner of the internet. As Assistant Vice-Chancellor had oversight of all information technology policies at University of Melbourne.

Details

Chronology

1951

Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Queensland

1958 - 1962

Career position - Teaching Fellow, School of Physics, University of Sydney

1963 - 1964

Career position - Lecturer, School of Physics, University of Sydney

1964

Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Sydney

1965 - 1971

Career position - Head of Computing Systems Research Group, Culham Laboratory, Atomic Energy Commission, United Kingdom

1972 - 1975

Career position - Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Colorado, USA

1975 - 1990

Career position - Head, Department of Computer Science, University of Melbourne

1975 - 1992

Career position - Foundation Professor of Computing, Department of Information (later Computer) Science, University of Melbourne

1980 - 1989

Career position - Member, International Federation of Information Processing Technology Committee 2

1985 - 1987

Career position - Deputy Dean of Science, University of Melbourne

1986 - 2003

Career position - Director, KE Software (formerly Knowledge Engineering)

1988 - 1992

Career position - Head, School of Information Technology and Engineering, University of Melbourne

1989 - 1994

Career position - Chairman, International Federation of Information Processing Technology Committee 2

1990

Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE)

1990 - 1992

Career position - Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Information Technology), University of Melbourne

1990 - 1992

Career position - Chairman, IT Policy Advisory Committee, University of Melbourne

1992

Career position - Joint CEO, Collaborative IT Research Institute, University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

1993 - 1997

Career position - Dean, School of Information Technology, Bond University

1995

Award - Silver Core Award, International Federation of Information Processing Technology

1997 - 1999

Career position - Chairman, IT Committee, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering

1999

Award - Premier's Award for Individual Contribution to Information Technology, Government of Queensland

2001

Award - Centenary Medal - for service to Australian society in information technology

2010

Award - Inducted into the Hall of Fame, Pearcey Foundation

2011

Award - Doctor of Engineering (DE), honoris causa, University of Melbourne

Related entries

Published resources

Journal Articles

• Anon, 'Peter Poole was a computing pioneer', ATSE focus, 204 (2017), 53, https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-537141812. Details

Newspaper Articles

• Moffat, Alistair and Araki, Filippa, 'Peter Poole 1931 - 2017: visionary leader into the computer age', The Age (2017), 33. Details

Resources

• 'Poole, Peter Cyril (19311226-20170819)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1772610. Details
• 'Awarded honorary DE, 2011 [Citation provided]', Honorary degree holders, University of Melbourne, 2023, https://about.unimelb.edu.au/notable-alumni-staff/honorary-degree-holders. Details