Power list: Moreton Bay’s 30 successful business men and women
From producers to technology whizzes and companies exporting around the world these are 30 of Moreton’s most successful business men and women.
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From locally grown produce, technology companies and businesses that export their products around the world these are 30 of Moreton’s successful business men and women.
Jason Brown
Bribie Island local Jason Brown makes his living sharing how great this special pocket is through his G’Day Adventure Tours business.
Times were tough during the height of the pandemic though with 60 per cent of his clients prior to Covid-19 being overseas tourists.
Mr Brown offers a range of tours from camping trips, 4WD, day trips to Moreton Island and tours of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
Philip Almond
Trident RFID CEO Philip Almond leads the team from a warehouse in the Clontarf Industrial Estate.
They are world leaders in designing and manufacturing sporting timing hardware which is exported globally for use in mass participation sporting events such as marathons, triathlons and cycling races.
It was established in 2009 and the company has developed several projects including timing chips, machines and mats.
Candice Kiss
The founder of popular Caboolture cafe Gather & Feast, Candice Kiss, is fast making a name for herself in the Moreton Bay cafe scene.
Ms Kiss opened Gather and Feast in Caboolture several years ago and more recently opened a second cafe on Bribie Island – Annie Lane.
The cafe offers an all day brunch menu which caters for vegetarians, vegans and those who can’t eat gluten.
Ryan Elson
Ryan Elson a former real estate agent and president of the Redcliffe Peninsula Chamber of Commerce launched his latest business Tribe Social Belonging several years ago. The not-for-profit business aims to promote social inclusiveness and community by holding a range of free events for adults and youth. Mr Elson ran for Division 6 in the 2020 Moreton Bay Regional Council election.
Karen Lindsay
Karen Lindsay has been milking her goats and making cheese from her Wamuran farm for 15 years.
She has about 60 goats, 20 of which are milking goats, on her farm.
Prior to the pandemic her business Little White Goat Cheese supplied high end restaurants, IGAs, cafes and cheese businesses across Moreton Bay and the Sunshine Coast with her products.
Ms Lindsay diversified when the pandemic hit, forcing restaurants and businesses to close, creating freeze-dried goat feta cheese. With a long shelf-life the product as proved popular, with the first batch selling within 24 hours.
She often showcases her products at the Moreton Bay Food and Wine Festival.
Sharon Hurley
The Store of Requirement is a family-owned small business at Samford specialising in all things Harry Potter. Ms Hurley started selling pop-culture items online with her daughter Bryce and expanded to open the store on July 31, 2017, Harry Potter’s birthday and the 20th anniversary of the first book.
Fans can purchase anything from sweet treats, toys, games, collectibles, clothes and much more.
The extensive range is not stocked by anyone else in Australia.
A second store in Collingwood, Victoria, opened in 2018.
Tegan Eayrs
In just more than five years Tegan Eayrs has gone from Domino’s delivery driver to being running her own franchise.
Ms Eayrs, a mother of two, is the owner of Domino’s Redcliffe. She is a mental health advocate and taekwondo enthusiast.
She started with the company as a delivery driver after graduating high school, worked her up to regional manager and is now a franchisee.
The 25-year-old is now running one of the most successful stores in Australia.
Francesca Fargnoli
Francesca Fargnoli was named the USC Young Entrepreneur at the 2019 Moreton Bay Region Business Excellence and Innovation Awards.
Ms Fargnoli, along with her family, opened Basil & Vine Italian Cafe at Burpengary in 2018.
The cafe offers up breakfast, lunch and dinner options with a strong focus on coming together to eat and socialise.
During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic Ms Fargnoli introduced takeaway and delivery options in order to keep the doors opened and staff employed.
Paul Robson
There is not an abundance of butchers in the Moreton Bay region but Paul Robson has survived for more than 20 years.
Mr Robson operates Redcliffe Oxley Meats, at the Midway Shopping Centre.
He puts a lot of focus on customer service and still cuts meat to order.
Mr Robson credits his business success to not trying to compete with the major supermarkets.
The Richardsons
Three generations of the Richardsons have worked in The Richardson’s Jewellers stores at Kippa-Ring and North Lakes since it first opened in 1957.
Deborah Richardson previously told Quest Community News their success was due to offering old-fashioned service and a personal touch.
Stuart and Allison McGruddy
Stuart McGruddy’s family has been growing berries in the Moreton Bay region for 12 years and were the first to grow them commercially in Queensland.
While his parents are no retired Mr McGruddy and his brother continue to grow raspberries, strawberries and blackberries.
Mr McGruddy and his wife Allison launched a frozen raspberry range at local farmers’ markets in 2013 – their mission was to find a was to use the berries not making it to supermarket shelves.
Their products are now available in more than 850 stores across Australia and are exported to Singapore and the Middle East.
Earlier this year their product starred in a new range of Tim Tams – the Moreton Bay Raspberry and Dark Choc Tim Tam.
Jacki Hinchey
Jacki Hinchey grew up on a property in southwest Queensland before settling on a property at Ocean View. SHe started growing salad leaves which she would use in family meals and later came to share with friends and sell at her Blue Dog Farm gate, Now Really Fancy Salad is a weekly staple on plates in homes and restaurants all over Moreton Bay and Brisbane. The salad mix contains 10-14 leaves, flower petals and microgreens grown on the Blue Dog Farm without the use of pesticides, herbicide or synthetic fertilisers.
The business has expanded now to include Really Good Beef.
Ms Hinchey is also the founder of Australia’s first REKO – an online farmer’s market that aims to grow awareness of local producers.
Nick Tzimas
The man behind one of the Peninsula’s longest running restaurants Nick Tzimas has played a vital role in helping get many major community projects, particularly for Redcliffe and Margate, over the line, including the Redcliffe Peninsula Trainline.
Mr Tzimas has run The Golden Ox at Margate for more than 40 years. He has held many roles in the Commerce Industry Redcliffe Peninsula including president.
Brad Flynn
The former president of the Redcliffe Peninsula Chamber of Commerce runs a successful business coaching business – Action Coach.
Mr Flynn has been the driving force behind the Moreton Maritime Alliance and Scarborough Masterplan which could help drive tourism and business when the Olympics come to Brisbane in 2032.
Ellie Bakker
Ellie Bakker is the founder and CEO of Splice Marketing and director at Telehealth Mastery with both businesses based in North Lakes.
The business offers a range of services for healthcare providers to help them grow their businesses.
Melissa Redsell
This Warner mum runs a successful charity, A Brave Life, offering a lifeline to young mums across Moreton Bay by providing support and essential baby supplies for them to take home from hospital.
Melissa Redsell put herself through university while raising a child to become a Registered Nurse launching the non-for-profit business in 2015.
Ms Redsell was named the winner of the Moreton Bay Regional Council’s Australia Day volunteer of the year award in 2021 and was also a finalist in the 2020 AusMumpreneur Awards.
Ronnie Benbow
Ronnie Benbow has dedicated her life to helping others, first as a nurse and now through her not-for-profit business Carer’s Foundation. Run from Samford Ms Benbow with the help of her husband Michael operates Australia’s only charity providing wellness programs to unpaid carers at no cost. They deliver a free, three-day program for carers doing it tough where they learn practical wellbeing strategies, network and take a well-earned break.
Ms Benbrow has previously won Moreton Bay Regional Council’s citizen of the year and volunteer of the year awards.
Michael Kennedy
Michael Kennedy founded Kennedy’s Timbers in 1996. Operating out of Narangba the business prides itself on using reclaimed and architectural timbers. The business has also expanded to Melbourne. They were named Queensland’s small employer of the year in 2019.
Fiona Holmstrom
Fiona Holmstrom is the director and co-founder of STEM Punks a business dedicated to ensuring STEM education is available to everyone. The business provides programs to suit individual needs and various skill levels. All programs aims to enable a creative, innovative and entrepreneurial mindset.
Mrs Holmstrom has won many awards including the 2021 Qld Government Women in STEM price, Women in Technology winner, three golds in the 2021 Ausmumpreneur awards, Female Thought Leader of the Year and is a finalist in the 2021 Moreton Bay Businesswoman of the year awards.
Mike Arieni
Solar Bollard Lighting managing director and founder Michael Arieni never expected his product would be used around the world when he launched it in 2005.
The Brendale business designs and crafts solar bollards that are vandal and impact resistant, perfect for use in flood zones and cyclone hot spots.
Solar Bollard Lighting’s products can now be found in 35 countries, are used at US Navy bases, mining companies and local councils.
The bollards can be found lining footpaths, jetties, playgrounds, stairwells and as emergency lighting.
Solar Bollard Lighting have won numerous awards including the Good Design Award, and multiple Moreton Bay Region Business awards.
Michael Connolly
Michael Connolly is behind Dreamtime Kullilla-Art, which is based at Clontarf. The well-known Aboriginal artist as travelled the world in his role as an Indigenous Australian ambassador. His store at Clontarf sells Indigenous products locally and around the world via his online store. He is also leading a campaign to stop imported “fake” indigenous art being sold as “authentic”.
Marlene Newcombe
Marlene Newcombe was 18 when she started working at a wrecking yard — she had no idea it would lead to her being the managing direction of Village Motors. The family-owned business has three-generations working there with close to 130 employees. Village Motors sponsors many sporting clubs and community events including The Redcliffe Dolphins, The Lakes Football Club, Redcliffe Golf Club, Pine Rivers Golf Club, Jetty 2 Jetty and KiteFest to name a few.
Captain Kerry Lopez
The impressive businesswoman behind Brisbane Whale Watching, Captain Kerry Lopez, has been driving tourism and raising awareness about marine life since launching in 1996.
Captain Lopez was the second woman in Australia to earn her Class Five Master Mariners Certificate and holds one of only two commercial whalewatching cruise permits in Moreton Bay.
Brisbane Whale Watching brings in excess of 12,000 visitors to the Redcliffe peninsula between June and November each year.
Gavin and Stephen Scurr
Pinata Farms was founded by Wamuran pineapple farmer Geoff Scurr in the 1960s. Operations continue today, now run by his sons Gavin and Stephen Scurr. They are the largest pineapple producer in Australia, one of the largest strawberry producers and also grow specialty Honey Gold mangoes. Pinata Farms also have a second site at Mareeba. They employ a large team to help with everything from planting to picking, packing, farm management and logistics.
Hilton and Lynda Misso
This duo are behind the ever growing Sesame Lane childcare centres. Managing director Hilton Misso and director Lynda Misso opened their first centre at Redcliffe 30 years ago. It had eight children and three educators. It has grown to have 14 services across Moreton Bay, catering for more than 1800 children and creating more than 300 jobs. The centres regularly help fundraise for The Pyjama Foundation and support the Australian Red Cross Blood Donation services. It is also part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Employer Program.
Shane Newcombe
Shane Newcombe is the CEO of not-for-profit organisation Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism. The group is contracted by Moreton Bay Regional Council to handle tourism and major events including the Moreton Bay Food and Wine Festival. Mr Newcombe, a Clontarf Beach State High School graduate, has played a vital role in promoting the Moreton Bay Region through these major events and marketing campaigns.
Kelvin Patch
Kelvin Patch is the CEO of the The Caboolture Sports Club group which employs more than 300 people across its four venues – The Caboolture Sports Club, Centenary Lakes Sports Club, North Lakes Sports Club and the recently opened Sports Central Caboolture. The group pays more than $10 million in wages every year and gives close to $2 million back to local community and sporting groups through grants. CSC Group was hit hard during COVID-19 but survived by introducing a takeaway menu.
Packer Leather
One of the region’s longest running family businesses – Packer Leather was founded in 1891 by Joseph Packer. More than 100 years later the business is still thriving from its Narangba base. Lindsay, the chairman of the board while three of his children look after the daily operations. The company employs almost 100 staff. Packer Leather are the exclusive producers of the leather used to make Sherrin Aussie rules balls and also supply the cowhide for the pink coloured cricket balls produced by Kookaburra Sports.
Robert Comiskey
Robert Comiskey, the director of the Comiskey Group, is behind some of the region’s biggest development projects. The most recent project is the Burpengary Station Village. The $40 million retail precinct and community club opened earlier this year. The Comiskey group is also behind the Sandstone Point Hotel and Big 4 accommodation. These ventures and the major events and concerts held at Sandstone Point supply a major boost to the region’s economy and a massive tourism boost.
Bob Jones/Tony Murphy
The Peninsula is now home to a 11,500 capacity stadium and NRL team largely due to the work of Redcliffe Dolphins Rugby League Football Club chairman Bob Jones and Chief Executive Officer Tony Murphy. It has been a dream to join the NRL spanning years with the stadium one of the major steps towards making it happen. Dolphins NRL side will be coached by Wayne Bennett and will bring a major boost to the region’s economy.
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