Biotechnology Innovator Dr Clarissa Yates Receives QLD Pearcey Award

The Pearcey Foundation today announced Dr Clarissa Yates, co-founder and CEO of Ketim Technologies, as the recipient of the 2025 Queensland Pearcey ICT Entrepreneur Award. The award was presented by the Hon. Andrew Powell, Queensland's Minister for the Environment and Tourism and Minister for Science and Innovation at a gala dinner held in Brisbane last night, with Dr Yates represented on the night by Carrie Hillyard AM, Ketim Technology's Director and Chair of Board.

Dr Yates is a biotechnology entrepreneur who transformed her own lived experience with postpartum depression (PPD) into a nationally recognised innovation.

As the visionary co-founder of Ketim Technologies, Dr Yates is leading groundbreaking work in blood-based diagnostics and AI to create accessible, real-world solutions that improve perinatal mental health care. Her leadership bridges the critical gap between science and clinical practice, driving strategic collaborations to reshape patient outcomes and advance women's health.

Brisbane-based Ketim Technologies is pioneering the world's first blood-based predictive diagnostic test for PPD and building an AI/ML-enabled biomarker discovery platform for precision psychiatry.

"Having experienced postnatal depression myself, my lived experience fuels my passion to support other mothers during a time when help can feel out of reach. My vision is to combine my personal journey with my deep expertise in psychiatric biomarkers to usher in a new era of personalised mental health care," said Dr Yates.

"Dr Yates exemplifies the spirit of innovation - tackling a deeply personal and significant community challenge with scientific rigour and entrepreneurial determination. She is a true inspiration for women in STEM, and her work in AI and diagnostics has the potential to fundamentally change maternal health care for the better, uplifting lives across Australia," said Paul Gampe, Queensland chair, Pearcey Foundation.

As the QLD Pearcey Award recipient, Dr Yates will represent the State in the Pearcey National Awards to be held in November.

For more information about previous QLD Pearcey Entrepreneur Award winners, go to https://pearcey.org.au/qld. 

Other State Awards

ACT Awards: Professor Lachlan Blackhall, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation) at the Australian National University, was the recipient of the 2025 ACT Chief Minister's Pearcey Award. More details on PRWire here.

NSW Awards: Rory San Miguel, co-founder and CEO at Propeller, was the recipient of the 2025 NSW Pearcey Entrepreneur of the Year Award. More details on PRWire here.

South Australian Awards: nominations can be submitted at https://www.pearcey.org.au/awards/nominations/state-nomination-form.  

Tasmanian Awards: the awards will be presented as part of Enterprize Elevate 2025 in Hobart on Tuesday, 28 October 2025. More event details and registration at https://luma.com/hh4gr3uu.

Victorian Awards: the award was presented to Sam Kroonenberg, the co-founder and co-CEO of Cuttable, founding partner of Glitch Capital and co-founder and CEO of A Cloud Guru. More details on PRWire here.

Western Australian Awards: Chris Morrissey, founder and CEO of Ever Nimble, was the recipient of the 2025 Western Australian Pearcey Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The award was presented as part of the 34th annual WAITTA INCITE Awards, Western Australia's longest running tech awards program. More details on PRWire here.

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About the Pearcey Foundation
The Pearcey Foundation Inc. is a non-profit organisation established in 1998 to raise the profile of the Australian Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry and profession. It was created in the memory of one of the greatest pioneers of the Australian ICT industry, Dr Trevor Pearcey. By celebrating the heroes in our industry, past present and future, the Foundation is looking to attract and encourage young Australians into this most exciting of global high technology sectors of our nation.

Web: www.pearcey.org.au

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