Queensland’s six richest women named

Six Queenslanders who together are worth almost $2 billion have made the list of the country’s 50 richest women.

Sarina Russo has an estimated wealth of $267m.

Six Queenslanders have been named in the list of the 50 richest women in Australia.

The AFR released the list to commemorate International Women’s Day on Tuesday with the Queensland women having a combined fortune of almost $1.9 billion.

Judy Brinsmead, the owner of ADCO Constructions, was the top Queenslander, ranked 38th on the national list with a fortune of $461 million. Therese Rein, the founder of HR firm Ingeus and wife of former prime minister Kevin Rudd, came in at No.44 on the list with her wealth estimated at $300 million.

Just under that at No.45 was Cathie Reid, the co-founder of Icon Group (Epic Pharmacy and Icon cancer centres) with an estimated wealth of $298 million. Tah-nee Beard, the co-founder of sneaker and streetwear retailer Culture Kings, ranked 47th with a fortune of $279 million and in 48th spot with $274 million was Jude Turner, the founder of Spicers Retreats and wife of Flight Centre CEO Graham ‘Skroo’ Turner.

Just squeaking into the list was jobs queen Sarina Russo at No.50 with a fortune of $267 million. Russo, a savvy property investor, founded employment services firm Sarina Russo Group. Iron ore magnate Gina Rinehart topped the national list, sitting on an estimated fortune of $30.7 billion.

Therese Rein is one of Queensland’s richest women.

They might not be as cashed up as those ladies, but Brisbane PR agency Elevate Communication has secured an inspiring line up of panellists for their inaugural International Women’s Day event on Tuesday morning, including Channel 7 presenter Katrina Blowers.

The host of Seven’s weekend news will join Sunny Queen chief executive Julie Proctor, social scientist Bridgette Di Ferdinando and ABC’s Australian Story producer Vanessa Wiltshire to discuss this year’s IWD theme – Break The Bias. Elevate’s founder Mel Deacon will host the event at their East Brisbane headquarters.

POWER PLAY

Brisbane renewable energy boffin Ahmed El Safty was in the US last week talking to soft drink giant Coca Cola about using his company’s solar batteries to power its forklifts.

The chief executive of PowerCap is planning a global roll out of his batteries made entirely from recycled plastics, with a big capital raising to build a $30m manufacturing plant in Queensland.

The company will use the waste garnered from a recycling plant in Bowen to create the graphene-like substance needed to fuel the batteries that can power both residential and commercial premises.

El Safty says that at the end of its life the PowerCap battery is 100 per cent recyclable unlike traditional Lithium-ion batteries.

El Safty, a chemical engineer whose career includes stints at Caltex and CSR, says the Australian developed and manufactured technology is exactly the kind of energy breakthrough that the Federal Government is counting on to meet its pledge of zero emissions by 2050.

PowerCap is planning a global roll out of its solar batteries

El Safty and his team of post-doctorate researchers and engineers have been developing the technology for more than a decade at PowerCap’s headquarters at Stapylton.

“We know this technology is going to help advance our ability to rely on solar energy, and by building the batteries here in Australia, we’re able to control the quality of the batteries we produce and create jobs for Australians at the same time,“ he says.

PowerCap has ambitions to list on the ASX next year, with those plans no doubt helped by the recent hiring of former Test cricket player Gary Cosier, who is joining in a corporate affairs role.

Cricket tragics will recall Cosier became only the ninth Australian to post a century in his first Test when he hit a ton against the West Indies in 1975.

LONDON CALLING

Convention centre king Harvey Lister is celebrating an international win with ASM Global appointed to run one of Europe’s most historic venues – Olympia London – the premier convention, exhibition and events venue in the British capital.

Lister, the chairman of ASM Global APAC, says his Brisbane and Asia Pacific team made a strong contribution to the win that signals the world is emerging strongly from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Olympia, which is one of the busiest venues in London, is an important and high profile addition to the 325 plus venues we operate globally,” says Lister. “We are particularly proud at APAC because of the involvement of a number of our Australian executives, demonstrating the real strength of the global nature of the group.”

Olympia London has been a cultural and architectural landmark since opening its doors in 1886 and in recent years has attracted more than 1.6 million visitors and hosted over 200 events each year.

The wider Olympia site is currently being redeveloped as a cultural district.

Harvey Lister in Suncorp Stadium . Pic Annette Dew