Queensland Country Bank batting up for Brisbane Heat

Queensland Country Bank is hoping for a big innings in the Big Bash league as the Brisbane Heat’s new principal partner for the next three years.

Colin Munro of the Heat bats during the BBL match between Sydney Sixers and Brisbane Heat at Coffs Harbour International Stadium, on January 03, 2024. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Queensland Country Bank is hoping for a big innings as the Brisbane Heat’s new principal partner for the next three years.

Queensland Cricket (QC) and the Heat made the announcement Tuesday at Allan Border Field, with the partnership set to strengthen the bank’s presence in South-East Queensland and allow QC to continue investing in community and grassroots cricket.

Queensland Country Bank will feature on the front and back of the playing and training shirts for the Heat teams in the Weber Women’s Big Bash League and KFC Big Bash League for the next three seasons, as well as having major signage and activation rights at all Heat home games. The partnership coincides with confirmation that international batsman Colin Munro had accepted a two-year contract with the Heat that will see the New Zealander left-hander extend his ties with the club through to four seasons.

Queensland Cricket chief executive Terry Svenson says growing the Queensland Country Bank brand with Heat fans and the wider cricket community is a priority.

Colin Munro of the Heat bats during the BBL match between Sydney Sixers and Brisbane Heat at Coffs Harbour International Stadium, on January 03, 2024. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

“The Brisbane Heat’s purpose is to bring families together through fast, fun and entertaining Big Bash action, on and off field, with more than 150,000 fans coming to watch our two teams play in Queensland last summer, plus many millions more on broadcast,’’ he says. Queensland Country Bank CEO Aaron Newman (illustrated) says staff and members alike are excited to be stepping onto the pitch with the Heat.

“We have a strong focus on supporting communities and this aligns perfectly with Queensland Cricket, which is a not-for profit association supporting grassroots cricket across the state,” says Newman.

“Together, we’re extending beyond the cricket pitch, and we can’t wait to share how our members can become even greater fans of the Heat and be part of their seasons ahead.”

The Heat, which won the Big Bash final last season against the Sydney Sixers, averaged 25,787 attendees for home games at the Gabba, a year-on-year increase of 35 per cent.

Queensland Country Bank boss Aaron Newsman with Queensland Cricket CEO Terry Svenson

New digs

Homegrown accounting firm Vincents has opened the doors to its revamped three storey, 3,319sqm head office in Brisbane’s CBD.

The office refresh comes as the firm focuses on growth that requires more tailored workspaces for its expanding service offerings. Vincents executive chair Jonathan Dooley says the office renovation aligned with the firm’s broader business changes and strategic direction.

“We are expanding across a range of expertise areas, and we had outgrown our previous setting, so this was really a way of cementing these broader changes and backing that up with a physical enhancement,” Dooley says.

Vincents founders Paul Vincent with Jonathan Dooley have new digs

Jane McConnell from design firm JMID was behind the look of the refurbished space, describing the experience as highly collaborative. “It was probably one of the most involved projects I’ve ever experienced with the entire staff cohort having their say,” says McConnell. “Usually, there are one or two people in a project who are very involved making all the decisions, but that wasn’t the case here, It was clear the leadership team wanted the space to represent the needs and wants of all their employees.”

The office is now entirely open plan with no allocated offices or desks, replaced instead by a mix of private booths, meeting rooms, quiet study pods, and a range of ‘work point’ or desk options.