Peace Software Release
Auckland, 21 February, 2000 – Auckland-based Peace Software today announced the five winners of scholarships under its
undergraduate recruitment programme.
The scholarship programme, the first in New Zealand to run over the web, provides each of the third year undergraduate
winners with a scholarship worth $5000 and the opportunity to use their skills in the workplace by joining Peace at the
completion of their degrees.
The recipients of the scholarships are currently completing Computer Science degrees from Universities throughout the
country:
David Waldron is in his final year of a combined honours degree in Computer Science and Mathematics at the University of
Otago.
Roy Britten is currently completing a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Computer Science, at Canterbury University.
Rebecca Berrigan came to Auckland in 1995 for post-doctoral work in Chemistry at the University of Auckland and is
currently completing a Graduate Diploma in Computer Science.
Benjamin Blayney is studying Computer Science at the University of Auckland, his studies include software engineering
from the Management Science and Information Systems department.
Damien Dallimore is majoring in Computer Science at the University of Auckland, studying a broad range of computer
science subjects, including graphical programming, artificial intelligence, database design and data communications.
“We are looking for talented people who can help us grow,” said Brian Peace, Peace Software CEO.
“Peace has a history of innovation, and to remain innovative and continue to grow we need great software developers who
have the capability and desire to contribute to our future success.
"The Peace web-based scholarship programme lets us meet technology-savvy people on their own ground and provides us with
an ideal vehicle to attract the future ‘change agents’ in our industry.
“The Peace Scholarship Programme is the only programme of its kind in New Zealand. It’s designed to help students
through their studies and then give them the best start possible for their career.
“We know we’re competing for the very best in New Zealand. We’re confident that once they’ve worked with us, they’ll
want to stay. This programme is all about acquiring the best talent possible.”
Scholarship winners are given work experience opportunities with the company while they are studying and at the end of
their degree, are offered a one-year placement. Following this placement they have the opportunity to continue their
careers with Peace’s operations off shore.
Background
Peace Software develops and implements the Energy Customer Information System for gas, electric, and water utilities.
Peace’s systems are web browser-based solutions that operate on open hardware and relational databases. Peace’s
experience around the world in deregulated markets uniquely enables the company to provide competitive advantage to
customers.
Peace Software’s Energy product is a comprehensive information system designed to meet and anticipate the needs of
energy retailers in deregulated markets. Energy includes the functions energy service providers need to operate
successfully in deregulated markets, including customer enrolment, call centre customer care, Internet customer service,
accounts receivable, integrated residential and industrial customer billing, consolidated billing or commodity-only
billing, billing of other products and services, demand forecasting and demand settlements.
Energy is unique in providing energy consumers with online, 24-hour Internet access to their account details. It also
enables them to ask questions, request products and services, analyse their energy usage for any historical period, and
to explore detailed 3-D demand and price profiles utilising Peace’s Java and VRML browser data visualisation technology.
Technological leadership is critical to the product’s success. For instance, Energy’s innovative Browser User Interface
(BUI) adds tremendous value to the call centre. It leverages the usability and familiarity of the web browser to
accelerate training effectiveness, integrate database information presentation with business processes and allows other
information sources to support the delivery of consistent, quality customer service.
Energy uses a flexible and sophisticated, multi-tier, Enterprise Java Beans and CORBA object architecture to deliver
functionality without compromising the transaction-processing scalability essential to support the largest customer
databases.
ENDS