IT entrepreneur Raeleen Gillett bags Pearcey Award

19 Nov '08

3 min read

Jewellery software entrepreneur Raeleen Gillett has been awarded one of Queensland's most prestigious information technology awards.

Raeleen, the creator of a globally successful software system for jewellers, was named the 2008 winner of the Queensland Pearcey Foundation Award at a gala dinner held in Brisbane.

Presented in recognition of innovation, pioneering achievement and contribution to research and development in information technology, the award seeks to inspire Australians to choose and excel in the field of ICT (Information and Communication Technology).

The award was named after IT pioneer Dr Trevor Pearcey who in 1948 built Australia's first and the world's fourth digital computer, CSIRAC, in Sydney. It is the oldest surviving computer in the world.

Queensland Pearcey Foundation Committee Chairman David Merson said Raeleen had forged global success for her business while remaining passionate and committed to bringing the benefits of IT to the wider community. “She has many diverse interests involving the Women in IT (WIT) organisation as well as various co-op programs and offering hands-on assistance to students at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) over a number of years,” he said.

Raeleen said she had greatly admired the work of Dr Pearcey and she was honored to accept the award. Her latest success follows her acceptance of “IT's Million $ Babes Award” earlier this year.

Realeen's previous achievements include:
- Queensland Business Review Business Women of the Year (Technology) Award Winner, 2006
- Achaeus Queensland Government Financing IT Growth (FIG) Best Financial Plan Award Winner, 2002
- Telstra Business Women's Award Finalist, 2002
- Optus Australian Micro Business of the Year Overall Award Winner, 2001
- Retailers Association of Queensland Best Technology Initiative for a Retail Store Award Winner, 2001
- Asia Pacific Information Technology & Telecommunications Award for Best Start-up Company Finalist, 2001
- Queensland Department of State Development Business Award Winner, 2001

Now operating a successful global business, Raeleen was just a university student, studying computers and law, when she first developed a management program for her parents' retail jewellery store (Gilletts Jewellers in Brisbane) in 1997. When her success in the family business was followed by much interest from other jewellers, Raeleen founded Octahedron in 2000, launching her innovative SWIM (Savings With Improved Management) software onto the Australian market the following year.

Continued development saw the product translated into three languages in 2003 and then redeveloped into a web-based plug-and-play platform in 2005.

In 2007, the leading information and services group in the diamond industry, the Rapaport Group, bought a 50% shareholding in the company with the aim of helping more jewellers around the world improve their businesses through technology.

Octahedron' opened its first US office in Las Vegas earlier this year and now continues to forge growth across a growing number of other international markets including the UK, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa and New Zealand.

Octahedron Pty Ltd

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