Rich list of Ipswich’s top-earning public servants, CEOs, businesses revealed
Ipswich may be home to the state‘s top earners with one local worth $1.68 billion. Public servants and big business bosses’ earnings reveal the region’s secret rich listers. Full list ranked.
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Public servants and private business directors and CEOs are raking in the cash across Ipswich, with some earning more than Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk ($399,955) and by PM Scott Morrison, who has a $549,250 gross pay packet each year.
The Queensland Times has sifted through public documents to find just how much Ipswich government representatives, influential figures, and major businesses are taking home.
Data from the most recent census in 2016 indicated the median weekly household income in Ipswich was $1362 – about $78,000 each year.
This means the average Ipswich resident is earning approximately 16 per cent as much as the region’s top earner potentially is.
See Ipswich’s full rich list below, including those from public and private sectors. Private sector business executives and owners have been ranked according to sales generated by their companies.
Public servants have been ranked according to their salaries.
PRIVATE BUSINESS OPERATORS
8. Galligan family
One of Ipswich’s most in-demand embroiders, Ipswich Embroidery & Workwear, is a huge money maker – generating about $6.49 million in sales every year, according to Dun & Bradstreet data.
Glenda Galligan first opened the Raceview shop in 2001 after noticing a gap in the market.
She now employs seven staff at the site, all of whom have helped the embroidery business become of the biggest in town.
Ipswich Embroidery & Workwear caters for all types of embroidery, with digitising done in-house, and carries a large range of workwear, uniforms and team uniforms that can be embroidered with company logos or names.
7. Sammut and Bulow
Martin Sammut and Brad Bulow have been partners of accounting firm Sammut Bulow for about 15 years, which generates an estimated $9.03 million each year, according to Dun & Bradstreet.
Based out of North Ipswich, Sammut Bulow merged with Bennett Partners Chartered Accountants in 2019.
It has since been recognised as one of the country’s top accounting firms.
The Queensland Times understands Sammut Bulow Bennett Partners now employs more than 100 accounting and financial professionals and works with thousands of clients across a range of sectors.
6. Angela Holmes-Barry
Proud owner of Ipswich-based Coffee Club franchises Angela Holmes-Barry is raking in the cash as she expands her empire.
She first joined the brand’s Springfield cafe employee in 2002, purchasing her first franchise at Ipswich’s Riverlink in 2007.
Now, her business earns about $12.93 million every year.
She is a director of Fullah Group, which is based at Augustine Heights, where she employees 15 people.
There are reportedly six companies in the Fullah Group corporate family.
5. Colin Dorber
Director of workplace relations risk management provider Workplace Connect Colin Dorber is one of Ipswich’s highest earning business owners.
His business – which trades as Employer Protect and Contractor Protect – musters an annual revenue of about $14.94 million according to Dun & Bradstreet, and incorporates six companies.
Employer Protect and Contractor Protect aim to protect employers and contractors by providing them with tailored workplace advice and solutions.
4. Tristrams and Thompson
Ian, Merrilyn and Michael Tristram and Anthony Thompson are the faces behind Trisco Foods, located at Carole Park.
Dun & Bradstreet estimates the corporate family generates about $33.51 million in sales each year.
The Tristrams have been producers of food and beverage products since 1875, specialising in bakery fillings, jams, coffee syrups, dessert sauces and sundae toppings.
Trisco Foods now exports its products to most parts of the world and has a strong presence in Asia.
3. Sophie Moore and Keith Thornton
Located in Bundamba, Ian Boettcher Motors was acquired by automotive retail group Eagers Automotive Limited in 2014.
An assessment by Dun & Bradstreet stated the Ipswich dealership, of which Sophie Moore and Keith Thornton are directors, generated $59.47 million each year as at 2019.
Last year’s annual report for Eagers Automotive indicated Ms Moore earned a salary of $458,333 and total share-based payments of $1,062,475.
Mr Thornton earned a salary of $275,000 last year, as well as $1,082,316 in bonus and commission and a total $1,498,476 in share-based payments.
Boettcher Motors has operated in Ipswich for longer than any other dealer, since 1969, and offers brands including Mazda, Nissan, Volkswagen and Kia.
2. Llewellyn family
Ross, Wade and Heidi Llewellyn are the family engine driving decades-old business Llewellyn Motors.
Commercial data site Dun & Bradstreet reported Ross Llewellyn Motors generates about $176.97 million annually, while Llewellyn Motors Ipswich generates $30.04 million.
Ross Llewellyn took over the Booval business in 1991, after working at was then a Zupps dealership since 1969.
His business represents leading car brands Toyota, Holden, Hyundai and Subaru, and employs more than 200 staff across its Booval, Ipswich Central and Laidley sites.
Mr Llewellyn’s son Wade now serves as dealer principal at Llewellyn Motors.
1. Maha Sinnathamby
Reportedly worth $1.68 billion, property developer Maha Sinnathamby is Ipswich’s richest business person.
Mr Sinnathamby is the chairman of Springfield City Group and has spent almost three decades planning and developing the private city of Greater Springfield, which is now valued at $88 billion.
It was the first masterplanned city in Australia since Canberra.
Mr Sinnathamby has been globally recognised as one of Australia’s most iconic entrepreneurs, receiving an Appointmetn as a Member of the Order of Australia in 2019 and coming in sixth in this year’s list of Queensland’s richest people.
PUBLIC SERVANTS & POLITICS
16. Ipswich City councillors
Ipswich City councillors are raking in between $134,698 and $152,370 per annum, according to the council’s 2020-21 annual report.
Councillors Andrew Fechner and Jacob Madsen are earning the least at $134,698, while Marnie Doyle is earning the most at $152,370.
Councillors Sheila Ireland, Paul Tully, Kate Kunzelmann and Russell Milligan are paid a total remuneration of $137,111.
These salaries are higher than what was set out in last year’s Local Government Remuneration Commission Report, which had Ipswich City councillors earning $124,869 annually.
15. Ipswich Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic
Last year’s Local Government Remuneration Commission Report outlined the pay packet of Ipswich Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic as being $141,520.
This remuneration is in line with that of Townsville City Deputy Mayor Mark Molachino.
Ipswich City Council’s 2020-21 annual report stated Cr Jonic earned a salary of $140,135.
14. State Members of parliament for Ipswich
Jennifer Howard was elected as the state member for Ipswich in January 2015, Jim Madden as the member for Ipswich West in January 2015, and Lance McCallum as the member for Bundamba in March 2020.
Queensland Independent Remuneration Tribunal’s Review of Base and Additional Salary Levels of Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly 2021 indicated state members receive a base salary of $159,122.
They can however receive an additional salary of $24,083 for being a member of a parliamentary committee, which would make their annual aggregate salary $183,205.
13. Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding
The Local Government Remuneration Commission decided not to increase the maximum remuneration levels for mayors from July 1 this year, meaning Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding would earn $208,117 per annum.
Ipswich City Council’s 2020-21 annual report indicated Cr Harding received remuneration of $224,498 including superannuation and $204,036 without.
12. Member for Blair Shayne Neumann MP
After first being elected to the House of Representatives for Blair, Queensland in 2007, Shayne Neumann has been re-elected four times – in 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019.
The long-time Labor MP has an annual allowance, a ‘base salary’, of $211,250, as set out in the Remuneration Tribunal Determination 2021.
Mr Neumann was born in 1961, is married, and lives at Ipswich.
11. West Moreton Health Service executives
Three of West Moreton Hospital and Health Service’s 2020 executives earned between $216,000 and $286,000.
The health service’s 2019-20 annual report stated its chief strategy officer Colleen Clur earned a total remuneration package of $216,000, its acting executive director of nursing and midwifery Karyn Ehren earned $225,000, and its acting chief financial officer Alistair Luckas earned $286,000.
10. Ipswich City Council senior contract employees
Ipswich City Council’s 2020-21 annual report stated, as at June 30 this year, five senior contract employees are paid total remuneration packages in the range of $250,000 and $350,000.
The total amount payable to the council’s senior management team as at June 30 is $2,537,532.
9. West Moreton Health Service CEO Kerrie Freeman
Kerrie Freeman has been West Moreton Hospital and Health Service’s chief executive since early 2017.
According to the health service’s 2019-20 annual report, Ms Freeman receives a pay packet of $340,000 per annum.
8. Magistrate Dennis Kinsella
Ipswich magistrate Dennis Kinsella earns about $368,331 annually, as set under the Judicial Remuneration Act 2007.
He was appointed to the Magistrates Court of Queensland in 2017.
7. Magistrate Kathleen Payne
Ipswich magistrate Kathleen Payne has been a magistrate of the Magistrates Court of Queensland since last year, earning an annual remuneration of $368,331.
6. Magistrate David Shepherd
Ipswich magistrate David Shepherd’s judicial career began in May 2016. His remuneration sits at $368,331 as set under the Judicial Remuneration Act 2007.
5. Magistrate Virginia Sturgess
Ipswich magistrate Virginia Sturgess was appointed to the Magistrates Court of Queensland in 2009 and has a pay packet of $368,331 per annum.
4. Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren SC
Ipswich judge Alexander Horneman-Wren SC’s $421,218 annual remuneration is in line with other Queensland District Court judges.
Mr Horneman-Wren was admitted as a barrister in 1993 and was later appointed Senior Counsel in 2009.
He was appointed a judge of the District Court of Queensland on October 29, 2012.
3. Judge Dennis Lynch QC
Ipswich judge Dennis Lynch was appointed a judge of the District Court of Queensland in 2016, after being admitted as a barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1987 and commencing his career as a Crown prosecutor.
As of July 1, 2019, Mr Lynch has a pay packet of $421,218 as a District Court judge.
2. West Moreton Health Service Chief Medical Officer Deepak Doshi
According to West Moreton Hospital and Health Service’s 2019-20 annual report, Chief Medical Officer Dr Deepak Doshi is the health service’s highest-earning executive.
He receives a total remuneration of $448,000 annually as West Moreton Health’s very first CMO.
Dr Doshi trained in India, the UK, and Australia and worked as an associate professor at Griffith University’s school of medicine before being appointed to his new role in November 2019.
1. Ipswich City Council CEO Sonia Cooper
Sonia Cooper was officially named Ipswich City Council’s new chief executive officer on Thursday, November 18, after serving seven months as acting CEO.
According to Ipswich City Council’s 2020-21 annual report, Ms Cooper earned $450,000 per annum in her interim role.
As permanent CEO, Ms Cooper will receive a salary between $450,000 and $550,000.
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