Wide Bay corporate stars you’ve never heard of

Wide Bay is home to a number of corporate executives at the forefront of their industry. We take a look at those who have risen to corporate success, how they got there, and their plans for the future. FULL LIST

From cattle auctioneers to finance directors of NRL clubs, the Wide Bay is home to some of the biggest and brightest corporate stars you may have never heard of.

We take a look at some of the most influential corporate stars from Gympie, Fraser Coast and Bundaberg who make a mark on their local communities and help shape the future of their industries.

William Schafer

Wide Bay CFO Bill Schafer. Photo: Claudia Baxter

Auswide Bank (previously known as Wide Bay Australia) has been around for more than 50 years, and is one of the few large-scale corporate identities that call the region home.

Also calling the region ‘home’ is Auswide Bank’s Chief Financial Officer, William Schafer, who has been with the company for more than 21 years.

Mr Schafer spent more than more than 19 years as an accountant for various organisations before taking the role at Auswide, where he’s responsible for overseeing strategy, accounting activities, prudential and corporate reporting, finance and treasury, planning, policy, and investor relations and team management.

He is also a prominent media face for the company, and represents the company to financial partners, including investors, analysts, auditors and public officials.

Bill is one of the bank’s leaders in driving digitisation of banking, and has been instrumental in gaining local support to continue building on Auswide’s community-backed reputation and success.

Joe Prendergast

Joe Prendergast. Photo Credit: Madeline Grace

A vineyard, a bakery and a hotel are just some of the business endeavours of the burgeoning empire of Joe Prendergast.

Mr Prendergast, along with his wife Miranda and mother Margaretha, are the beating heart behind the Goomeri Bakery, Joe’s Grand Hotel and the Dusty Hill Vineyard about 20km southwest of Goomeri, at Moffatdale.

The vineyard has recently undergone a $6.5 million expansion, where Mr Prendergast added a distillery, an Irish tavern and restaurant and accommodation.

There is also a third expansion planned for the bakery, which would only enhance its already sizeable effect on the town.

“We thought the bakery would be good for the town; we didn’t think it would be this good,” Mr Prendergast said.

Simone Finch

When former Friendlies Private Hospital CEO, Alan Cooper retired from his role of CEO, he was replaced with experience in Simone Finch.

Ms Finch has worked as an executive across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, specialising in strategic development, mediation, and governance.

Ms Finch was the acting Chief Operating Officer at QIMR Berghofer where she provided operational support and leadership within the medical institute during the global pandemic.

She has also spent time leading a hospital health service in the far north region.

Ms Finch’s vision is to continue to strengthen the focus and strategic direction of the hospital and its interests into the future.

Hendrik Roux

Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) Wide Bay District director Hendrik Roux is an experienced engineer in charge of overseeing the region’s road and transport projects.

Mr Roux has spent many years as an engineer in South Africa, New Zealand and across Australia.

Before joining TMR, Mr Roux worked for GHD in Perth and Brisbane and as the Manager of Roads and Drainage for Bundaberg Regional Council.

Mr Roux has already overseen a number of projects in the region, including the first phase of the $41.8 million Isis Highway safety upgrade, which will improve safety on a 40km stretch of the highway.

The first package of works included installation of wide centre lines on a 14.5km section of highway southwest of Park Estate Drive in Branyan and were completed in early 2021.

The largest road infrastructure program Queensland’s ever seen also sits under Mr Roux’s Wide Bay portfolio.

The $1 billion Bruce Highway Upgrade Project (BHUP) will see the Bruce Highway upgraded to four lanes between Cooroy and Curra.

The upgrade aims to improve safety, flood resilience, and capacity for motorists.

Brooke Fossey

Brooke Fossey at the Generator in Bundaberg.

Regional Business HQ’s Brooke Fossey has an impressive resume which saw her offered the role of Executive Manager in November 2020.

Regional Business HQ is one of Australia’s longest continuously running business incubators, and has directly assisted more than 7000 local businesses since 1989.

In 2019, Regional Business HQ expanded its operations to include The Generator located above the Bundaberg Post Office, and The Generator Gympie, which both provide coworking spaces and an innovation hub for individuals and businesses.

Ms Fossey has more than 15 years’ experience across a number of sectors including government and infrastructure where she undertook business planning, marketing and tendering.

She also has experience business development, communication, engagement and marketing activities as well as managing tenders and bids.

It’s no doubt Ms Fossey’s experience continues to help bring Regional HQ’s vision to life, which is to strengthen business in regional Queensland by assisting and nurturing new and existing businesses.

Scott Sutton

Builder, Scott Sutton.

Building and construction veteran, Scott Sutton has been in the business for more than 30 years.

A builder with years of knowledge and local experience,

Mr Sutton is known for his construction of a diverse range of residential and commercial projects in the Gympie region through his business, Sutton Building Solutions.

Mr Sutton wants his knowledge, local experience and passion for construction to help his community by creating sustainable dwellings and infrastructure.

“We want to build a future for local families and the local community that will endure based on quality, honesty and good country values,” Sutton Building Solutions says.

Andrew Gifford

Bulldogs director Andrew Gifford

In 2020, experienced Finance Director, Andrew Gifford left the hustle and bustle of inner-Sydney and traded it for a much more relaxing lifestyle in the Bundaberg region.

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Director has been a certified practicing accountant for the past 30 years, and an independent Member of the Football Club Finance, Risk and Audit Committee for the NRL club since 2018.

Mr Gifford has been instrumental in bringing the much-anticipated showdown between the Bulldogs and the Cowboys to Bundy’s humble Salter Oval, where thousands are expected to snag a ticket for the August game.

The club has a three-year commitment to Bundaberg in partnership with the council, State Government and NRL, but whether the deal will mean the Bulldogs play a game each year beyond 2022 in the Wide Bay’s sporting capital is yet to be determined.

It’s hoped the collaboration with the Bulldogs and Mr Gifford’s permanent presence in the Bundaberg region will drive viewership and participation rates for Queensland’s favourite sport.

Cheryl Barrett

Cheryl Barrett was appointed CEO of Southern Cross Support Services in 2017; her leadership has seen the organisation grow to 1150 employees delivering services nationally and receiving several regional awards.

Ms Barrett feels privileged to be leading an organisation that has such an inspiring mission – to create a sense of purpose, belonging and security.

With a passion to support her community and a background in housing and homelessness she joined the Board of Directors of Regional Housing Limited in 2016.

Having extensive experience as an executive leader, business owner and Councillor, Ms Barrett now focuses on coaching future leaders as a Chartered Manager and Fellow of IML.

Dan Sullivan

Gympie auctioneer Dan Sullivan of Sullivan Livestock is an expert at selling and marketing cattle for his clients.

His business specialises in meatworks and store liveweight sales, calf sales and paddock, stud & dispersal livestock auctions.

Mr Sullivan says after years of battling drought, where cattle prices depleted and farmers struggled to make ends meet, cattle sales now remain steady.

“There’s a lot of cattle being sold and it’s quite strong,” he said.

“The weather dictates most things of course, no matter what area of agriculture you’re involved in, but at the moment the market should stay fairly constant and strong.

“The last couple of years has improved both weather and market driven, and for a numerous amount of years with dry times, cattle weren’t worth a lot of money at all.

“People are now starting to get a bit more money in their pockets, which is good for all our local areas.

Sullivan Livestock are hoping to continue their steady sales and marketing of cattle into the future and get the best results for his clients.