Six Queensland business luminaries making their mark in diverse fields from health to engineering and gaming have been honoured as 2017 inductees in the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame.
They are: (please click on names below to download their digital stories)
North Queensland property developer and tourism entrepreneur who developed the internationally awarded Skyrail rainforest cableway between Cairns and Kuranda
Executive Director and Founder of Hear and Say in Brisbane, and an internationally recognised leader in paediatric hearing impairment research
Blackmores – Leading natural health company and supplier of 
vitamins and nutritional supplements, founded in Brisbane’s CBD by pioneering naturopath Maurice Blackmore (1906-1977, pictured left)
Halfbrick – Video game developer, based in Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, and creator of the Fruit Ninja app which has achieved more than 1.5 billion downloads and is the world’s second most downloaded app of all time
Queen – Market-leading producer of vanilla essences, extra
cts and cooking ingredients in Alderley, Brisbane, which this year celebrates the 120th anniversary of the Queen brand, the state’s longest-selling food brand
Walkers Limited – Maryborough engineering stalwart for more than 100 years in mining equipment, sugar mills, shipbuilding and trains
Now in its ninth 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 economy, social development and reputation, and is overseen by a governing committee of private and public sector representatives.
The six past and present business leaders were last night (Thursday, July 20) inducted into the Hall of Fame by His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland, at a black-tie event at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
QUT Emeritus Professor Peter Little said the Hall of Fame already contained Queensland names synonymous with leadership and achievement such as Qantas, Clem Jones AO, Eva Burrows AC, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Mackay Sugar, Thiess, and Graham Turner.
“The individuals and businesses inducted in 2017 have demonstrated the entrepreneurship and innovation that exemplify what Queensland has to offer the nation and the world,” Professor Little said.
“Their diverse stories have helped shape our state and recognising them in this way provides a permanent, public record of their leadership and excellence for future generations.”
The Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame space resides within State Library of Queensland, and a digital story collection is available online at leaders.slq.qld.gov.au. This year’s inductees’ stories are now online.
State Librarian and Chief Executive Officer Vicki McDonald said the Hall of Fame is an excellent example of State Library’s commitment to preserving our state’s heritage and memory, with the support of the Queensland Library Foundation.
“The Hall of Fame documents and celebrates the stories of individuals and businesses that have played vital roles in developing the state’s business landscape,” she said.
“Collecting, recording and retelling these stories ensures that these achievements are recognised and remembered now, and made accessible for future generations.”
At last night's induction dinner, Ms McDonald presented Rockhampton fourth-generation family business City Printing Works with the 2017 Queensland Business History Award.
** More information about the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame 2017 inductees and high-res images here.
Media contact:
Karen Milliner, QUT Media, 07 3138 1841 or k.milliner@qut.edu.au
After hours, Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901 or media@qut.edu.au
