September 16, 2009
Twelve of the greats of Queensland business were last night named and inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame at a gala dinner attended by around 870 people.
The Hall of Fame, a joint partnership between the QUT Faculty of Business, the State Library of Queensland and the Queensland Library Foundation, celebrates leading businesses and business leaders who have enhanced the state's reputation and its economy.
Executive Dean of the QUT Faculty of Business Professor Peter Little says the first inductees include individuals and businesses across a wide range of for-profit and not-for-profit sectors who have contributed significantly to Queensland's community.
"Many have created significant employment, great services and products, and run very successful organisations that contributed significantly to Queensland and Australia's economic and social wellbeing," he says.
"Some of these people and organisations have also been very generous to the community through involvement in non- profit leadership and/or philanthropy."
Those inducted into the inaugural Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame by Governor-General Quentin Bryce are:
- Bob Bryan, the entrepreneur behind a raft of successful mining companies including Pan Australian and Queensland Gas, for outstanding entrepreneurship in the mining industry significantly contributing to Queensland's economic development.
- Don Argus, former CEO of NAB and current chairman of BHP Billiton, for outstanding business leadership significantly contributing to national and international business.
- Dr Jim Kennedy, tourism entrepreneur and professional director, for outstanding national business leadership and significantly contributing to Queensland business and the community.
- Sister Angela Mary Doyle, former administrator of Mater hospitals, for outstanding organisational leadership significantly contributing to Queensland and its social wellbeing.
- Sir John Pidgeon and Valmai Pidgeon, pioneering construction and property developers, for outstanding business leadership significantly contributing to Queensland business and the community.
- Steve Irwin, founder of Australia Zoo, for outstanding international entrepreneurship, both in business and wildlife conservation, significantly contributing to Queensland and its international reputation.
- Dr Clem Jones, entrepreneur and former Brisbane Mayor, for outstanding business and community leadership significantly contributing to Queensland's development.
- Joseph Saragossi, former Managing Director of GJ Glass & Aluminium, for outstanding and sustained business leadership significantly contributing to the Queensland economy.
- Burns, Philp & Company, for significant contributions made to the development of Queensland and its economy.
- Castlemaine Perkins, for iconic Queensland business significantly contributing to the Queensland economy and community.
- Qantas, for iconic national and international business, originating in Queensland, and significantly contributing to the Queensland economy and community.