REVEALED: The CEOs, politicians who could win final five Olympic spots
A star-studded list of executives and politicians are tipped to be in contention for the final places organising Brisbane’s 2032 Olympic Games. SEE WHO’S ON THE LIST
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A star-studded list of company executives and former politicians are tipped to be in contention for the final five places organising Brisbane’s 2032 Olympic Games.
The shortlist of five nominees to complete the committee, which will include its president, is being considered by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk following a global recruitment process led by Odgers Berndtson.
Mr Morrison and Ms Palaszczuk will agree on the appointments within the next fortnight before all committee nominees are sent to the Queensland cabinet for approval.
Sixteen of the 21-person Brisbane Organising Committee for the Olympic Games have been confirmed but all eyes are on the final five people selected from a global recruitment search.
Former Palaszczuk Government minister Kate Jones is expected to be among the final five people to secure a place on the committee.
The Premier’s former tourism and state development minister, Ms Jones, who exited parliament at the 2020 election, has expressed interest in securing a position.
High-profile business identity Cathie Reid, who with her husband Stuart Giles has a fortune of more than half-a-billion dollars, is well-regarded in the business and sporting community – having founded the Icon Group
Ms Reid, who is a director of the Brisbane Lions, declined to comment on speculation she would be appointed to the committee.
At least three of the five selections must be women to maintain gender equality requirements.
Star Entertainment Chairman John O’Neill has long been considered a frontrunner to lead the Games organising committee after he brokered the first meeting between Ms Palaszczuk and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on the Gold Coast in 2019.
Its success prompted Mr Bach to issue an on-the-spot invitation for Ms Palaszczuk to visit IOC headquarters in Switzerland.
Mr O’Neill, through Star Entertainment, did not respond to a request for comment.
Former Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, considered the founding father of Queensland’s Olympic bid having started discussions in 2015, was speculated to head-up the committee.
However, Mr Quirk – a board member at Racing Queensland and qualified auctioneer – said he had not thrown his hat in the ring.
The former Lord Mayor said he was unavailable to travel, but said his informal advice would be a “phone call away” if required.
There was also rife speculation Pacific National CEO Paul Scurrah had also been considered for an Olympic committee gig.
Mr Scurrah, whose positive leadership during the collapse of Virgin Australia created national headlines, would add to the business firepower desired by the Premier and John Coates.
The former airline boss said he would “consider” an Olympics role if approached.
Another key contender is former Wallaby Damien Frawley, who today steps down as chief of Queensland Investment Corporation.
Mr Frawley, who served almost a decade at QIC after senior roles at Blackrock and Merrill Lynch, confirmed he had been approached by recruitment firm Odgers Berndtson about the Olympics role last year.
He said he would be interested following his retirement from QIC.
Former Olympian Patrick Johnson was on Monday nominated by Ms Palaszczuk, filling the crucial requirement to have an indigenous person on the committee.
After a month-long delay the Premier this week named Mr Johnson and gold medallist volleyballer Natalie Cook to the Brisbane 2032 committee along with herself and Deputy Premier Steven Miles.
Ms Palaszczuk had previously said she wanted to view the shortlist before finalising her four personal appointments.
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