It celebrates the centenary of its foundation this year and now Suncorp has made it into the history books as one of the newest members of the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame.
Suncorp Group, the insurance and banking giant that began life in 1916 as the State Accident Insurance Office, was last night (July 28) inducted into the Hall of Fame at a black-tie dinner at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. (A digital story on Suncorp can be viewed here)
It was one of six Queensland business icons this year chosen to join the Hall of Fame and presented with their awards by The Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland.
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.
The 2016 inductees are Suncorp Group, construction icon Sir Manuel Hornibrook, Queensland IT industry pioneer Mincom, Australia’s first female stockbroker Margaret Mittelheuser AM, the North Australian Pastoral Company Pty Ltd (NAPCO), and leading company director Rod Wylie OBE.
Suncorp began life as the State Accident Insurance Office and was soon renamed the State Government Insurance Office (SGIO). It served as the Queensland Government’s sole provider of workplace compensation services until 1978 (when the Workers' Compensation Board took over the role) and built up an impressive portfolio of life and general insurance services during that time.
By the 1970s it had evolved into a major financial institution that was still government owned and fulfilled a social role that included rescuing a number of struggling building societies and, consequently, opening the SGIO Building Society in 1976.
As Queensland’s leading financial institution, it also played a major role in supporting other Queensland businesses such as investing in Castlemaine Perkins and the Bank of Queensland when they were under threat of takeover.
With diversification growing, the SGIO became Suncorp in 1985 and then in 1996 merged with Metway and QIDC (Queensland Industry Development Corporation), at which time the Queensland Government sold its shareholding.
Today, the Suncorp Group is a top 20 ASX-listed company with nine million customers, delivering highly-valued banking and wealth, and insurance products and services across Australia and New Zealand. Its well-known and trusted portfolio of brands includes Suncorp, AAMI, GIO, Suncorp, Vero, Apia and Shannons.
Suncorp CEO and managing director Michael Cameron said Suncorp was proud to be a leading Queensland-based company, focused on creating a better today for its customers, shareholders, people and communities.
“Suncorp has a unique and impressive business with great brands, culture and people,” he said.
“Delivering value for our customers is at the heart of what we’ve done over the past 100 years and we will continue to be there for people when it matters most.
“We also take great pride in what we can contribute across Australia and, in particular, Queensland.”
Professor Peter Little, QUT’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Corporate Programs and Partnerships), is on the Hall of Fame’s governing committee which chose this year’s inductees.
“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.”
Digital stories on all the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame members can be viewed online at www.halloffame.slq.qld.gov.au.
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
