From Cairns to place on honours list
A CAIRNS businessman driving a major Papua New Guinean corporation has been named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
Scott O’Reilly has walked the Kokoda Track several times, tackled Mt Everest and was recently honoured for his work with The iPi Group.
“I like to steer the ship, however, we would have wound up on the rocks without the many individual efforts,” he said.
“I’m proud of the award, and proud to be recognised for efforts over a large number of years in building up a group of companies.”
Based in PNG, The iPi Group’s diverse range of companies include transportation, warehousing, catering and property development.
As chief executive and director, Mr O’Reilly oversees about 1200 employees.
“I started in PNG a long time ago with The iPi Group, which at that stage was a fledgling organisation holding onto a small mining company associated contract,” he said.
“More than a decade later we’ve become independent and diverse. I still have quite a lot of drive towards ensuring continued growth with The iPi Group.”
But while constantly travel- ling for business, the husband and father-of-three still calls Cairns home.
He owns a house at Trinity Park’s Bluewater estate and his children all attend Trinity Anglican School.
“Growing up in Cairns, the son of a teacher at the school I attended, my biggest concern was how far I could hit a cricket ball and how I could get away with whatever shenanigans I was up to at the time – without being caught by dad,” Mr O’Reilly said.
“Cairns was a much smaller place back then. I love Cairns and keep strong ties with her, supporting the Taipans, Cairns Basketball, the Marlins, Jute Theatre and various smaller charities.”
GROWING UP IN CAIRNS ... MY BIGGEST CONCERN WAS HOW FAR I COULD HIT A CRICKET BALL AND HOW I COULD GET AWAY WITH WHATEVER SHENANIGANS I WAS UP TO
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