Griffith REVIEW Founding Patron
Margaret Mittelheuser AM
Griffith REVIEW is pleased to acknowledge the support of Founding Patron Margaret Mittelheuser, who has generously supported Griffith REVIEW since 2008.
Margaret’s extraordinary career and her contribution to community reflects Griffith REVIEW’s mission to develop the quality and impact of Australian public debate – locally, regionally and globally – with a Queensland accent.
Margaret was born in Bundaberg and moved to Brisbane in 1945, attending Brisbane Girls’ Grammar School and then the University of Queensland where she graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in 1952 and a Bachelor of Arts in 1973.
Working as a clerk in the Department of the Interior, she was the first female university graduate in the Commonwealth Public Service in Queensland. An interest in figures and a penchant for following listed stocks on the ASX saw her enter the stock-broking profession. She worked for several years in Sydney, at the firms of Bernie Curran and later Ralph W. King and Yuill.
Margaret returned to Brisbane as Head of the Research Department for brokers Corrie and Co, but rejoined King and Yuill when they decided to open a Brisbane office in 1961. Three years later she was admitted to partnership of that firm and became the first woman to be registered as a stockbroker in Australia and among the first in the world.
Following this appointment, she travelled widely in Queensland and Papua New Guinea to spread the word about financial markets.
In a career spanning more than fifty years, Margaret was involved in all of the main areas of stockbroking including company analyses, Commonwealth and State Government funding and securities, corporatisation and privatisation of government entities, preparation and analysis of prospectus, foreign exchange markets, and investment advice for companies and private companies. She conducted considerable business in the United Kingdom, Norway, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
Upon retiring from ABN Amro Morgans in 2005, she was one of Australia’s longest serving stockbrokers, and has served as a trailblazer and role model for women in the finance industry.
In addition to her stockbroking activities, Margaret has always been committed to the community. She has made significant contributions to a number of arts and charitable organisations including the Queensland Art Gallery, the Girl Guides Association (Qld), the Australian Federation of University Women, and the Board of Trustees of Brisbane Girls’ Grammar School and their Restoration and Building Appeal. She has also served as Chair of the Queensland Local Government Superannuation Board, as a Director of the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra, and as a member of the Queensland Mortgage Secondary Market Board and the Board of Queensland Rail.
Her contributions to the community have been recognised by numerous awards and honours, including the Olave Medal by the Girl Guides Association (Qld), and in 1996 she was made a member of the Order of Australia for her service to the finance industry and to the community. She has received the honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Queensland and in 2003 was awarded the Centenary Medal for distinguished service to business and commerce. In 2006, Griffith University awarded her the honorary Degree of Doctor of the University.
