Gilbert Simpson
Encyclopedia
Sir Gilbert "Gil" Simpson, KNZM
, QSM
(born 1948) is a New Zealand
businessman and computer programmer.
, New Zealand
and raised in the Waikato. He attended high school in Christchurch and in 1967 began his career as a computer programmer, at age 18.
He returned to Christchurch around 1972, making it his home permanently. He lived in Jeddah
, Saudi Arabia
, working as a programmer for Caterpillar Inc.
between 1976 and 1978, after which he returned to New Zealand to develop a new concept in computer programming through his creation of the fourth generation language known as LINC. LINC remains New Zealand's most successful software export to date. He has resided in Christchurch for the past 30 years, where there is now a street named after him, Sir Gil Simpson Drive http://www.smaps.co.nz/nz/christchurch/russley/sir+gil+simpson+drive/.
Sir Gil is the founder of the Aoraki Corporation, developers of the LINC 4GL
and Jade programming language
, and Jade Software Corporation http://www.jadeworld.com, who are also well known for their past sponsorship of Christchurch's Jade Stadium
. His latest venture is Jolly Good Software Pty Ltd, which he founded in 2006 and manages from the Jolly Good gallery in Christchurch http://www.jollygood.co.nz.
Sir Gil is recognised around the world as an advisor and speaker on Information Technology
, particularly in the area of e-commerce.
With many outstanding achievements his profile in information technology has accorded him:
In 2000 Sir Gil was chosen to receive the New Zealand Computer Society’s Supreme Award for the most outstanding contribution to computing in New Zealand in the 20th century. That same year he was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
for services to the computer industry and the broader community http://www.jadeworld.com/downloads/corporate/Gil_Bio_0310051.pdf. In 2005 he was inaugurated into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame http://www.enzt.co.nz/~enztWeb/halloffame/2005/hof2005a.htm, an honour reserved for business leaders responsible for outstanding contributions to the nation. Sir Gil has also been a director on the board of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand
http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/about/whatwedo/rbnz_2000_ar.pdf, as well as that of numerous other companies, both public and private.
Order of New Zealand
The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity"...
, QSM
Queen's Service Order
The Queen's Service Order was established by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, awarded by the government of New Zealand "for valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or...
(born 1948) is a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
businessman and computer programmer.
Early life
He was born in ChristchurchChristchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and raised in the Waikato. He attended high school in Christchurch and in 1967 began his career as a computer programmer, at age 18.
Career
In 1969 he wrote the initial direct debit and direct credit applications which are in common use throughout the New Zealand banking industry today, and by age 22 he was Head of Computer Programming at the Comalco aluminium smelter in Bluff, which at that time was the largest industrial project ever undertaken in New Zealand.He returned to Christchurch around 1972, making it his home permanently. He lived in Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, working as a programmer for Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar Inc. , also known as "CAT", designs, manufactures, markets and sells machinery and engines and sells financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network. Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas...
between 1976 and 1978, after which he returned to New Zealand to develop a new concept in computer programming through his creation of the fourth generation language known as LINC. LINC remains New Zealand's most successful software export to date. He has resided in Christchurch for the past 30 years, where there is now a street named after him, Sir Gil Simpson Drive http://www.smaps.co.nz/nz/christchurch/russley/sir+gil+simpson+drive/.
Sir Gil is the founder of the Aoraki Corporation, developers of the LINC 4GL
LINC 4GL
LINC is a fourth-generation programming language, used mostly on Unisys computer systems.-Background:...
and Jade programming language
JADE programming language
JADE is an object-oriented software development and deployment platform. It has its own programming language that exhibits a seamlessly integrated application server and object database management system. It is designed to be an end-to-end development environment, which allows systems to be coded...
, and Jade Software Corporation http://www.jadeworld.com, who are also well known for their past sponsorship of Christchurch's Jade Stadium
Jade Stadium
Lancaster Park, formerly Jade Stadium and currently known as AMI Stadium through sponsorship rights, is a sports stadium situated in Waltham, a suburb of Christchurch in New Zealand....
. His latest venture is Jolly Good Software Pty Ltd, which he founded in 2006 and manages from the Jolly Good gallery in Christchurch http://www.jollygood.co.nz.
Sir Gil is recognised around the world as an advisor and speaker on Information Technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
, particularly in the area of e-commerce.
With many outstanding achievements his profile in information technology has accorded him:
- An honorary doctorate from the University of CanterburyUniversity of CanterburyThe University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
, D.Sc (h.c.) - Past presidency of the Royal Society of New ZealandRoyal Society of New ZealandThe Royal Society of New Zealand , known as the New Zealand Institute before 1933, was established in 1867 to co-ordinate and assist the activities of a number of regional research societies including the Auckland Institute, the Wellington Philosophical Society, the Philosophical Institute of...
http://www.rsnz.org/directory/society_council/presidents/, of which he is now an honorary member - Chairman of the New Zealand government's E-Commerce Action Team http://www.ecommerce.govt.nz/ecat/core.html
- Chair of the New Zealand E-Commerce Summit, 2000 http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/e-commerce+summit+attracts+huge+interest
- Chairman of the Christchurch City Mission
- Associate membership of the New Zealand Business Roundtable http://www.nzbr.org.nz/
- Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management http://www.managementsouth.co.nz/, and past membership on the NZIM advisory board
- Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Directors http://www.iod.org.nz/Home/Member%20Lists.aspx
- Honorary Fellow of the New Zealand Computer SocietyNew Zealand Computer SocietyThe New Zealand Computer Society Inc is a non-profit incorporated society in New Zealand. As New Zealand's ICT professional body, the NZCS exists to promote education and ensure a high level of professional practice amongst ICT professionals....
http://www.nzcs.org.nz/SITE_Default/about_NZCS/fellows.asp - Founding patron of the Royal District Nursing Service, Australia http://www.rdns.com.au/About/Patrons+Council.htm
In 2000 Sir Gil was chosen to receive the New Zealand Computer Society’s Supreme Award for the most outstanding contribution to computing in New Zealand in the 20th century. That same year he was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
for services to the computer industry and the broader community http://www.jadeworld.com/downloads/corporate/Gil_Bio_0310051.pdf. In 2005 he was inaugurated into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame http://www.enzt.co.nz/~enztWeb/halloffame/2005/hof2005a.htm, an honour reserved for business leaders responsible for outstanding contributions to the nation. Sir Gil has also been a director on the board of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand
Reserve Bank of New Zealand
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is the central bank of New Zealand and is constituted under the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 1989. The Governor of the Reserve Bank is responsible for New Zealand's currency and operating monetary policy. The Bank's current Governor is Dr. Alan Bollard...
http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/about/whatwedo/rbnz_2000_ar.pdf, as well as that of numerous other companies, both public and private.
Resources
- http://www.jollygood.co.nz
- http://www.chspk.com/lincweb/archives/2002/03/LINCera.htm
- http://www.anewnz.org.nz/vision.asp?id=255
- http://www.misweb.com/magarticle.asp?doc_id=25529&rgid=15&listed_months=-7
- http://www.york-england.com/news/articles/article50.html
- http://www.nzine.co.nz/features/simpson.html