2024 Queensland Greats recipients
The 2024 Queensland Greats are:
Individual
- Emeritus Professor Peter Andrews AO
- Ms Natalie Cook OAM OLY
- Mrs Keri Craig-Lee OAM
- Mr Scott Hutchinson
- Mr Getano Lui (Jnr) AM
Institution
Posthumous
Individual
Emeritus Professor Peter Andrews AO
Biotechnology pioneer and advocate
Emeritus Professor Peter Andrews played a founding and significant role in establishing Queensland's biotechnology sector, which now contributes more than $1.44 billion each year to the state's economy. Professor Andrews co-founded The University of Queensland's Institute for Molecular Bioscience and was Chief Executive of its commercialisation company, which spun out multiple companies under his stewardship.
Professor Andrews was Queensland's inaugural Chief Scientist, where he shaped a vision for Queensland's future that harnessed research and development and set up frameworks to deliver this vision. He has held board positions for multiple Queensland science organisations and invested in Queensland start-ups through his venture capital company.
Ms Natalie Cook OAM OLY
Olympian and athlete advocate
Natalie Cook, an Olympic Gold Medallist in 2000 and a five-time Olympian spanning from 1996 to 2012 in Beach Volleyball, was honoured with the Order of Australia Medal in 2000 for her contributions to sport. In 2000, alongside her partner Kerri Pottharst, she was part of the Queensland Team of the Year, marking the first time the award recognised athletes from a non-high-profile sport.
Natalie is the Founder and Director of Green and Gold Athletes Australia Ltd, trading as Aussie Athlete Fund, dedicated to raising Australia's green and gold aspirations and supporting all athletes representing the country.
Natalie is a Board Member for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games (2022 to 2026) and was the President of the Queensland Olympic Council (2013 to 2021).
Mrs Keri Craig-Lee OAM
Queensland fashion and business leader
Keri Craig-Lee’s first Brisbane Arcade boutique in 1978 launched a couture precinct that steadfastly remains a Queensland fashion showcase.
A family company founded with her parents Dianne and Peter Craig still operates to this day in the iconic Keri Craig Emporium in the landmark Brisbane Arcade.
In 1984 she cast Queensland fashion into the international spotlight with the design and coordination of Sir Elton John’s Sydney wedding. During her career Keri has won 55 fashion awards and was the inaugural recipient of the Retailers Association of Queensland (RAQ) Hall of Fame in 1987 at the age of 29. Keri was the only female recipient of this award and the only designer ever bestowed with the RAQ Award of Excellence.
Keri has held many ambassadorial roles over her long standing career in Queensland business and had the honour of being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2017.
Keri and her husband, Trevor Lee, established Australian Country Choice (ACC) in 1997. ACC is recognised as the largest fully integrated beef and cattle supply chain in the world. They were honoured to be inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in 2021.
Mr Scott Hutchinson
Construction veteran and arts advocate
Scott Hutchinson, Chairman of Hutchinson Builders, has transformed the construction landscape, propelling the company's growth from $6M to over $3B.
Renowned for his philanthropy and cultural advocacy, Scott champions numerous charities, the urban honey bee initiative, and the preservation of Brisbane's live music scene through venues like The Triffid and The Fortitude Music Hall. His commitment to social progress is highlighted by Statim Yaga, a training and employment initiative fostering indigenous employment.
Scott's extensive contributions, celebrated through various awards, underscore his profound influence on Queensland's construction industry and cultural heritage.
Mr Getano Lui (Jnr) AM
Advocate for Torres Strait Islands
Getano Lui has dedicated 50 years of leadership and serves as a prominent advocate for the Torres Strait Islands. His notable achievements include his pivotal role in establishing the Torres Strait Island Flag, participation in international affairs as Co-chair of the Bilateral Committee – Traditional Inhabitants Meeting between Australia and Papua New Guinea, and unwavering commitment to advancing the Torres Strait Island community.
Getano has provided steadfast local leadership to the community of Iama (Yam) Island spanning from 1974 to 2024, while also serving as an inspirational figure to the next generation of leaders.
Getano is the proud father of Ms Cynthia Lui, the Member for Cook and the first Torres Strait Islander elected to the Queensland Parliament.
Institution
LifeFlight
A leader in aeromedical care
LifeFlight has proudly helped 90,000 people since 1979. Not just Queensland’s leading aeromedical service provider, LifeFlight is a community organisation driven to make a difference and save lives. Every 70 minutes, LifeFlight rescues a seriously ill or injured Queenslander at no cost to the patient.
From a single aircraft to a world-leader in aeromedicine, operating multiple successful social enterprises, their services are estimated to deliver $1.04 billion in social and economic benefits annually.
More than 500 highly skilled critical care doctors, nurses, paramedics, engineers, aviation and medical training experts, coordination specialists, fundraising staff and administrators are employed by LifeFlight across nine bases - eight in Queensland and one in Singapore.
Posthumous
Sir Bruce Small
‘Mr Gold Coast’
Sir Bruce Small is known as 'Mr Gold Coast’ and is credited with putting Surfers Paradise and the Gold Coast on the global map. He served as the inaugural State Member for Surfers Paradise in Queensland Parliament for two terms. Often called 'the architect of the modern Gold Coast', he developed canal estates now worth billions, which set town-planning precedents and lifted standards statewide. Bruce also initiated boulder walls to protect against beach erosion.
The three-time Gold Coast Mayor travelled to over 55 towns and cities over two decades to promote the tourism city to the world.
Bruce was a philanthropist, donating millions of dollars and his entire Mayoral and Parliamentarian wages to charity for 12 years, from the age of 71 to 83.