The President of the Industry Professor Association takes pride in presenting this citation
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
John Puttick brings approximately fifty years of continuous industry experience spanning information technology, financial technology, and strategic business leadership. In 1983 he founded GBST Holdings, an ASX-listed financial technology company whose platforms came to process roughly half of all daily transactions on the Australian Securities Exchange. Over thirty-one years as Chairman, he grew GBST from a start-up into a global enterprise operating across Australia, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United States, employing more than five hundred people and generating annual revenues exceeding eighty-eight million dollars. The company was acquired for two hundred and sixty-eight million dollars. He subsequently served as inaugural Non-Executive Chairman of Over The Wire Holdings, guiding the company from its ASX listing through to revenues of one hundred and twelve million dollars and a market capitalisation of approximately three hundred million dollars. His career represents five times the benchmark threshold of ten years for demonstrated extensive industry experience in the business sector. He continues to serve as Board Adviser to Tanda and as Chair of the INDPA Advisory Board.
INDUSTRY ENDORSEMENT
John Puttick is recognised at the highest levels of Australian industry and academia. He was inducted into the Pearcey Hall of Fame in 2007 for his outstanding lifetime contribution to the information and communications technology sector. He holds a Fellowship of the Australian Computer Society, conferred for his distinguished contribution through pioneering techniques in large-scale enterprise system development. The Queensland University of Technology awarded him an Honorary Doctor of the University, and he served for twelve years as Deputy Chancellor and Council Member of that institution. His peers have publicly acknowledged his leadership, with the Managing Director of Over The Wire Holdings crediting him with providing a wealth of support, guidance, and wisdom throughout the company’s formative years. Upon his retirement from GBST, he was publicly described as an acknowledged doyen of the IT industry and the pioneer who provided the vision for the company’s development.
INDUSTRY TRAINING
John Puttick has demonstrated an enduring passion for sharing practical industry knowledge across more than four decades. As Adjunct Professor at the University of Queensland since 1979, he has shaped curriculum development and strengthened the bridge between industry and higher education. He chaired the QUT Faculty Development Committee, helping transform its information technology programme into one of national standing. He has authored numerous thought-leadership articles on strategic planning, agile methodology, and customer-centric philosophy, published as recently as 2024. His mentoring extends from corporate boardrooms to technology start-ups, and his current role as Chair of the INDPA Advisory Board reflects his ongoing commitment to embedding real-world business expertise within vocational education across Australia.
- About the Author
- More info
As CEO of Industry Professor Association, I have a passion for education and learning that leads towards a productive outcome for Industry. The Industry Professor Association is a non-profit organisation that recognises industry expertise and experience and helps members gain the ultimate recognition of their Industry career. We also help organise their industry expertise by converting it into digital learning products and sharing it with a learner hungry world.
As a previous Head of School – Southbank Institute of Technology, it gave me great insight into educational design, corporate client learning needs, government policy and strategies. My goal was to meet the needs of industry in regards to providing graduates who were highly trained in practical skills and employability skills. Whilst meeting the learning style of a generation that is highly engaging with communication channels, and immersed in collaboration to gain learning at their time, place and pace.