Suncorp Chairman John Story and the Premier Anna Bligh announced the recipients of the 2008 Suncorp of the Year Awards at a ceremony at Parliament House on Sunday 1 June.
This is the 19th year Suncorp has been involved in the Suncorp Queenslander of the Year Awards.
Suncorp is pleased to support the Queenslander of the Year Awards, which recognise significant contributions and achievements in fields including the arts, business, community, sport, science, education, medicine and charity.
The Suncorp Community Spirit Award recognises those individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the community.
Suncorp congratulates the award recipients for 2008.
2008 Suncorp Queenslander of the Year Award Recipient
Graeme Wood
Graeme Wood is the co-founder and Executive Director of Australia’s leading accommodation website Wotif.com (www.wotif.com). Graeme revolutionised the travel industry in Australia when he created the concept for, and co-founded, Wotif.com in 2000. Wotif.com is a Brisbane-based company that allows hoteliers to promote and sell accommodation online. The unique user interface allows customers to quickly and easily compare prices at all available properties for the region where they want to stay. Graeme’s contribution to the Queensland Community far outweighs the financial benefits of the company’s growth. Graeme has donated more than 10 percent of his net worth to charity. Twenty million dollars of his money has gone into the Graeme Wood Foundation and with fellow Wotif.com director, Graeme has established the University of Queensland Endowment Fund which supports academic initiatives such as scholarships and research of particular need.
2008 Suncorp Young Queenslander of the Year Award Recipient
Homa Forotan
Since arriving in Queensland as a refugee from Afghanistan in 2005, Homa has been an inspirational example of a driven and successful young Queenslander. Despite the limited education she received in Afghanistan, Homa has achieved remarkable academic results at Yeronga State High School. Homa achieved an OP1, believed to be the first OP1 gained by a refugee in Queensland. She regularly speaks at schools around Queensland to encourage tolerance and acceptance, and tutors refugee students. Homa now 21, is currently studying a Bachelor of Biotechnology at The University of Queensland.
2008 Suncorp Community Spirit Award Recipient
Karen Bartlett
As the founder of the rehabilitation centre Fresh Hope, Karen Bartlett has made a significant contribution to improving the lives of Queensland mothers and their children suffering the consequences of substance abuse. Karen established Fresh Hope in 2004 with the aim of creating a live-in, family-oriented rehabilitation centre that allowed mothers and their children to live together during rehabilitation. The centre provides personal and family rehabilitation counselling, as well as focussing on the underlying causes of addiction.
