Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame Induction Dinner

Thank you, Mr Weekes, for your kind introduction, and I extend a warm welcome to our Hall of Fame committee members, our outstanding inductees, and tonight’s presenters.

I also acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land where we gather today and pay my respects to Elders past and present, and to emerging community leaders

On behalf of the people of Queensland, it is a pleasure to join you once again in celebrating the achievements of tonight’s inductees into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame.

It was American inventor and businessman Thomas Edison who said “genius is one per cent inspiration, 99 per cent perspiration”.

In other words, even the best ideas don’t come to light – excuse the pun – without resilience and effort.

The five business leaders and two business enterprises we honour tonight are certainly determined and definitely resilient.

An assortment of visionaries from diverse realms of business and industry, these exceptional Queenslanders are united in their entrepreneurial spirit, commitment and creativity. 

Tonight we celebrate the significant contribution these men and women have made to Queensland’s economy and social wellbeing.

Their energy has helped to consolidate our State’s reputation as a highly respected player in the global marketplace.

In 2018 Queensland continues to be a hub of enterprise, where creative thinkers and entrepreneurs thrive and flourish.

How appropriate it is, then, that we are known throughout the world as the ‘Sunshine State’.

For when ingenuity is rewarded with opportunity the sky really is the limit.

Ingenuity drives Queensland forward in terms of growth and development and improves life for both our urban and regional communities.

I’d like to thank the Hall of Fame founding partners – QUT, the Queensland Library Foundation, the State Library of Queensland, and all other Hall of Fame Partners for their ongoing support of this important initiative.

Since 2009, the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame, the Hall of Fame Fellowship and the Business History Award have shone a light on the important contribution made by Queensland’s high-achieving businesses and not-for-profits.

I thank the members of the Hall of Fame Governing Committee for their efforts in selecting this year’s inductees.

All are highly deserving of this special honour and I warmly welcome each of them to the 2018 Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame.

Thank you.