The Courier-Mail

Josephine Sukkar AM has been announced as a speaker at QUT (Queensland University of Technology)'s next Business Leaders' forum on May 8. Josephine is co-owner and Principal of construction company Buildcorp, founded 34 years ago with her husband Tony. She is a professional company director and serves on a number of private, public and not-for-profit boards, including Washington H. Soul Pattinson, Growthpoint Properties Australia, the Green Building Council of Australia, the Australian Museum and the Buildcorp Foundation. Josephine was formerly the Chair of the Australian Sports Commission, Chair of the Sport Diplomacy Advisory Council (DFAT), a non-executive director of The Trust Company, the Property Council of Australia, Opera Australia, the Centenary Institute of Medical Research, the Parramatta Park Trust and the YWCA NSW. Josephine served as Chair of Australian Women's Rugby Union, was a member of the Nominations Committee of Rugby Australia and the Australian Rugby Foundation and through Buildcorp has financially supported the rugby community for over 32 years. She was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2017. Get your tickets to QUT's Business Leaders' Forum here: https://lnkd.in/eFKAsmg8

Brisbane-born technology powerhouse TechnologyOne has earned a spot on LinkedIn’s 2025 Top Companies list in Australia - recognised as one of the best midsize employers for career growth. The ASX Top 100-listed company has carved out a reputation not just for its cutting-edge enterprise software, but has created a workplace where employees can grow and stay. Technology One was ranked at number 5 among Australian companies like nbn® Australia, Fusion5, ASC Pty Ltd in the list of top-15 mid-size companies. With a market cap touching $10 billion and a global workforce of nearly 1600, TechnologyOne has managed to do what many tech giants struggle with, build a culture that scales without sacrificing soul. Read more: https://bit.ly/3G7q3mO

Qantas Frequent Flyer and Qantas Business Rewards members will now be able to earn points on their transaction account balances under a new partnership with AMP Bank, as the airline deepens its push into financial services. In a move designed to attract both personal and small business banking customers, AMP Bank said it would offer one Qantas Point for every $10 held in its Everyday Account or Everyday Business Account, up to a balance of $5m. The tie-up marks the latest push by Qantas Loyalty into the banking sector, building on longstanding credit card partnerships and existing arrangements with banks such as Bankwest, Bank of Queensland and Qudos Bank that offer points on eligible purchases. AMP Bank group executive Sean O'Malley said partnering with the largest airline loyalty program in Australia would enable the digital banking offering to better serve its customers, majority of which are small business owners. Read more: https://bit.ly/44rh6i5

Popular Australian footwear brand Wittner Shoes Australia has collapsed into administration. Three businesses that trade under the Wittner brand-Wittner Group Holdings, Wittner Retail Australia and Wittner Retail New Zealand – were appointed administrators on Wednesday afternoon, a notice lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission reveals. Insolvency experts from Deloitte, Sal Algeri and David Orr have been appointed joint administrators. It’s understood Wittner previously put itself up for sale in mid July, amid a flurry of businesses hitting the market. Read more: https://bit.ly/4igGACc

All 87 Jeanswest stores across the country will close their doors for the last time within the next six weeks, as administrators look to sell off the remaining stock and work with the company’s directors on a plan to salvage the iconic retail brand. Creditors have gathered for the first time where they were given an update on the company’s financial position, including the company’s outstanding debts, and the directors’ plans to pitch a deed of company arrangement (DOCA) proposal. Administrators Lindsay Bainbridge, Andrew Yeo and David Vasudevan from Pitcher Partners in Melbourne have applied for an extension to the deadline for holding a second creditors’ meeting, to enable a sell-off of remaining stock and to allow the company’s directors to complete their proposed DOCA. Read more: https://bit.ly/4cE3bHE

A veteran Queensland builder is in liquidation with debts topping $20m after a rescue plan from its directors failed to materialise. Stokes Wheeler Pty Ltd, which has offices in Yeronga and Southport, went into voluntary administration on February 3, with W. Roland Robson and Bill Cotter appointed. Administrators revealed in March the company owed more than $20m and had been under financial pressure for five years, after multiple loss-making projects. “Preliminary investigations indicate that it is suspected that the Company did trade while it was insolvent,” their report said. Read more: https://bit.ly/4iktyn8

He’s built more than 2000 homes, created a $100m debt-free empire and been named young entrepreneur of the year — twice. Now Brisbane-based custom home builder Chris Baptista has revealed how he did it. The France-born entrepreneur founded Homes By CMA in 2009 aged just 21- three years after moving to Queensland to complete his university degree. He says his entry into the notoriously tough home building industry wasn’t easy but he had identified a critical gap in the market: large builders lacked flexibility, while small builders charged high prices.

As Easter draws near, Brisbane’s finest bakeries have rolled out their most anticipated hot cross buns of the season. From luxurious fillings to unique twists on the traditional, we’ve sampled the best of the bunch, ranging in price from $4.50 to $10.50 per bun, to see which stand out as the ultimate Easter treat. Read our verdict on the fanciest buns Brisbane has to offer. Jocelyn's Provisions, Baker D. Chirico, Darvella Patisserie, Lune Croissanterie, Woolworths Supermarkets.

Collins Foods Limited will exit its struggling Taco Bell stores after years of poor results to focus exclusively on its KFC franchise, while also accelerating its rollout of fried chicken stores in Germany, as its new boss promises to return the fast-food business to growth. Taco Bell has failed to land a punch against its larger and more successful Mexican fast food chain rival Guzman y Gomez Mexican Kitchen and has been beaten by the older, and similarly sounding, Taco Bill. Chief executive Xavier Simonet, the former boss of outdoor adventurewear retailer Kathmandu, has also triggered a sweep out of Collins Foods executives in Australia and Europe as he unveils his strategy to arrest declining earnings, rid itself of its problematic Taco Bell chain and develop Germany into a new major earnings powerhouse for the company. Read more: https://bit.ly/4irwvTa

The Star Entertainment Group's losses have deepened, underscoring the challenges its new US owners face in turning the troubled business around. Star reported a statutory net loss in the first half of $302m after significant items of $166m and normalised losses after tax of $136m before significant items. The company said its trading performance further deteriorated over the period in particular from the introduction of mandatory carded play and cash limits at The Star Sydney and challenging trading conditions. Star’s shares have remained suspended at 11c since March 3 due to its inability to release the results while negotiating a survival deal with lenders and potential suitors. Read more: https://bit.ly/3GlmSru