Most powerful business people of Noosa revealed - SEE THE FULL LIST
Noosa is renowned as one of the nation’s top holiday hotspots, but behind the scenes there is a swag of business people pulling strings. SEE THE LIST HERE
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It is one of Queensland’s top holiday destinations but who are the business people pulling the strings in Noosa?
The Sunshine Coast Daily has compiled a list of influential business people in Noosa from real estate agents to developers, restaurant and venue owners and lawyers.
See who is making things happen in the tourist mecca.
Ralph Rogers
Investor and businessman Ralph Rogers is behind the vision of Noosa Acres, an environmentally-friendly community hub.
Mr Rogers, also the Noosa Chamber of Commerce and Industry interim president, came up with the concept in 2012.
It provides a range of lifestyle businesses including a nursery, homewares, health and a cafe at Gibson Road, Noosaville.
Mr Rogers is a well-known businessman and has been vocal about several issues in the past including the council’s management of short stay accommodation.
Brent Ogilvie
Brent Ogilvie owns some of Noosa’s most iconic restaurants including Rickys Restaurant and Bar, Locale Noosa, Wood Fire and Grill and Aromas Noosa.
The Ogilvie Group also owns Maravista Farm at the Noosa Hinterland which provides organic and heirloom produce for the restaurants.
With his high-profile business partner Philip John Bacon the pair own several Hastings Street properties.
They purchased a retail property in the French Quarter Resort for $2.7m in November 2005.
One of the pair’s earlier investments was 5/49 Hastings St, Noosa Heads, which they bought in March 1993 for $590,000.
The investment has no doubt paid for itself, with long-term tenant swimwear brand moving out and menswear label Gazman moving in April 2011.
At the time, News Corp reported the deal between the tenant and Mr Ogilvie and Mr Bacon was worth $3500 per sqm, or $260,000 a year.
Also among the portfolio is a $3.2 million service station with “development potential” on Noosa Dr, which they bought in August 2017.
In 2003 Mr Ogilvie’s Sunshine Beach property, named Ogilvie House, won awards for its architectural design.
Phil and Sarah Bradford
Floating on the Noosa River, the Noosa Boathouse has become an icon among the area’s restaurant and venue scenes.
Phil and Sarah Bradford have owned the three-level bistro and events business since 2013 as well as the Noosa Ferry Company.
It’s understood Mr Bradford also has other management rights over several well known properties in Noosa.
Craig McGovern
Craig McGovern has made a living out of the picturesque Noosa River waters with his ferry hire company.
Mr McGovern is the owner and operator of the iconic Pelican Boat Hire and Noosa River Slipway which operates from the Noosaville foreshore.
He also has 30 years’ experience managing venues, major events, IT companies and commercial real estate.
He previously worked as a director at Ernst & Young, Queensland Performing Arts Centre chief executive and Mariner Group chief operating officer.
In 2020 he was appointed as treasurer at Tourism Noosa.
Michael Holmes
Surfer turned businessman Michael Holmes is riding a wave of success managing one of Noosa’s most iconic surfing brands, Noosa Longboards.
Mr Holmes partnered with Noosa Longboards founder Chris de Aboitiz in the 90s when the pair made an ambitious Hastings Street plunge.
The business is now run by Mr Holmes and his son Ash, after Mr de Aboitiz moved on to pursue a career that combines stand up paddle boarding and dog training.
Previously Mr Holmes was a company director at a leading premium Australian wine distribution business.
He has also owned residential properties, apartments and commercial premises in Hastings Street, Noosaville and Peregian Beach.
Now he spends his time between his Pelican Street, Peregian Beach home and a family home in Tarragindi, Brisbane.
Louise Formosa
Louise is the company director of Eumundi Trading which oversees about 170 microbusinesses.
They are the long term owners and operators of the successful Eumundi Parkside and Eumundi Square.
Ms Formosa has had extensive experience in the tourism industry in private, professional and community roles for more than 20 years.
She is a Commercial, Planning and Environment Lawyer; has a number of volunteer positions including with Visit Sunshine Coast’s Destination Promotion Program as a Sub Regional Panel Member for Eumundi, Director and Chairman of Eumundi Combined Community Organisation Ltd (ECCO) trading as Experience Eumundi, and Member and Secretary of Eumundi Chamber of Commerce.
Louise also joined the Tourism Noosa Board in 2018.
Cass Deller
Designer Cass Deller began The Cass Deller Design Studio in 2013 in Brisbane before moving to Noosa.
Ms Deller’s well-established reputation in the industry has seen her work featured in Collective Hub, Real Living Magazine and Home Beautiful to name a few.
Her work has seen her joining forces with global companies such as Provincial Living, Pillow Talk and Midori Bikinis.
Most recently in 2017, The Cass Deller Design Team officially launched The Cass Deller Print Collection largely requested by clients looking to purchase bespoke one-off prints.
Michelle Mason
Marketing and business guru Michelle Mason is behind successful Social Tap and Board which provides business management solutions to the Noosa Shire.
Michelle has over 20 years’ experience in her respective fields and after establishing her business in 2011, she now has an international team working for her.
She has worked alongside some of Australia’s leading organisations such as News Limited, IBM, Sensis, Telstra and Vodafone.
Matt Sinclair
Matt Sinclair was able to skyrocket to fame in 2016 after finishing as the runner-up on series eight of MasterChef Australia.
Mr Sinclair’s dream to own a successful food truck business came true as he established his business at the Eat Street market in Brisbane.
The rapid growth and success saw him turn his business of Sum Yung Guys into a fully-fledged restaurant.
Sum Yung Guys first opened its doors in Sunshine Beach before moving to Noosaville in May 2021.
Sue Willis
Property guru Sue Willis oversees some of the Noosa Shire’s most luxurious holiday homes.
As managing director of Niche Luxury Escapes Ms Willis rents holiday homes to the rich and famous.
The most high-profile listing is Domic at Seaview Terrace, Sunshine Beach, where a week stay will set you back $70,000 in low season.
Ms Willis’ work history includes extensive work in the media industry and she also has interests in local government advisory boards, tourism boards, previously the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network and women’s shelters.
Peter Kuruvita
Renowned chef Peter Kuruvita, who recently stepped away from the Noosa Beach House, is one of Noosa’s top chefs.
After initially establishing and leading Sydney’s iconic Flying Fish Restaurant and Bar team for eight years he relocated to Noosa in 2013.
With four decades as an award-winning chef and restaurateur, Mr Kuruvita has expanded his career to the roles of a TV presenter, author, industry speaker, tour guide and a food and beverage consultant.
Mr Kuruvita is now set to open ‘ALBA by Kuruvita’ later this year near the Noosa Springs Golf Course.
Jane Meredith
Co-founder and managing director at Secrets Shhh Jane Meredith has worked in the high end of the diamond industry for over 20 years.
Secrets Shhh was established in 2000 after Ms Meredith sold her Donut King business that she had been operating for the past 20 years.
Secrets Shhh has expanded from Noosa to now having stores in Chermside and Indooroopilly (Brisbane); Pacific Fair (Gold Coast); Sydney CBD; Carillon City (Perth); Chadstone and Melbourne CBD.
Tom Offermann
Making a difference in the community is at the very heart of Tom Offermann Real Estate and it has been an unwavering supporter of the Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club since the early 1990s, by sponsoring water safety and providing surf rescue equipment.
Mr Offermann’s firm regularly sets the bar for property deals in the elite area, negotiating massive multimillion-dollar deals with A-listers.
Mr Offermann’s own property interests include a Noosaville riverfront property, several units at Noosa Heads and a unit building in the Brisbane City.
Offermann Real Estate is also a major sponsor of the Noosa Lions Football Club.
Leigh McCready
From politics to property and surf clubs, Leigh McCready is a well-connected Noosa businesswoman.
The general manager of Altum Property Group replaced Glen Elmes in June as the Noosa LNP branch chair.
Ms McCready also led the revival of surf lifesaving at Peregian Beach for the past three years, which resulted in the Nippers program growing to 160 participants.
Altum Property’s website says it is an award-winning development company which constructs residential and commercial properties and is behind Parkridge Noosa.
David Langdon
The chief executive at Aspire Property Management looks after a number of properties in Noosa from luxury resorts, holiday and residential homes and commercial buildings.
The group also owns and operates a number of property investments in and around the Noosa region.
In August 2020 Mr Langdon released his groundbreaking app of Flowd Smart Water Solutions which helps offer equity for unit owners when it comes to paying their water bills.
The idea was nominated for a Queensland Community Achievement Award and helps issues from undetected water leaks, excess water use, bill shock, property damage, insurance claims, disputes over who is responsible.
Mr Langdon is also the president of the Noosa Junction Association which is a not for profit association committed to helping develop Noosa Junction.
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