Their names are iconic to their industries and now six of Queensland’s business legends have been honoured with a place in the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame.
The 2016 inductees (please click on names below to download their digital stories or visit the website) announced at a gala dinner in Brisbane last night (July 28) are:
- Sir Manuel Hornibrook (1893-1970) – construction icon behind projects including the William Jolly Bridge, Story Bridge, Hornibrook Highway and Sydney Opera House sails
- Mincom – Queensland IT industry pioneer that rapidly became the world leader in mining industry software
- Margaret Mittelheuser AM (1931-2013) – Australia’s first female stockbroker, entrepreneur and philanthropist
- The North Australian Pastoral Company Pty Ltd (NAPCO) – beef producer founded in 1877, now with 13 cattle stations spread across 5.8 million hectares
- Suncorp Group – Queensland insurance and banking giant that today looks after nine million customers
- Rod Wylie OBE – accountant, company director and former chairman of household names such as Pauls Ltd & Thiess Pty Ltd
Now in its eighth year, the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame is a joint initiative between the QUT Business School, State Library of Queensland and Queensland Library Foundation. It celebrates organisations and individuals who have enhanced the state’s reputation and economy and is overseen by a governing committee comprised of representatives from the private and public sectors.
Last night (Thursday, July 28), six business leaders from past and present were inducted into the Hall of Fame by The Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland, during a black-tie gala event at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Professor Peter Little, QUT’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Corporate Programs and Partnerships), said the Hall of Fame already contained well-known Queensland names such as the RACQ, RNA, Sir Vincent Fairfax, Rhonda and Terry White, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Castlemaine Perkins, and Steve Irwin.
“The inspiring business leaders inducted in 2016 have demonstrated the innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience that are typical Queensland traits,” he said.
“Their extraordinary stories of enterprise have helped shape the development of this great state and they will forever be valued and remembered.”
The Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame space resides within State Library of Queensland, and a digital story collection is available online at www.halloffame.slq.qld.gov.au. (This year’s inductees’ stories will go online on July 29.)
State Librarian and CEO Sonia Cooper said the Hall of Fame ensured the businesses and individuals who had played vital roles in the state’s business landscape would be recognised and remembered.
“The Hall of Fame records, retells and celebrates their outstanding stories, and highlights the importance of documenting, collecting and preserving Queensland’s business heritage for future generations,” she said.
Last night’s induction dinner also included the presentation of the 2016 Queensland Business History Award to architecture firm Conrad Gargett by the Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy and Minister for Small Business, Leeanne Enoch.
Release date: Friday, July 29, 2016
Media contacts:
- Mechelle McMahon, QUT media officer, media@qut.edu.au or 07 3138 9449
- Rose Trapnell, QUT media team leader, media@qut.edu.au of 0407 585 901
** Biographies, high-res images and digital stories of this year’s inductees are available for media use.
TWITTER: Follow the event on the night - #qblhof
