Imelda Joan Roche AO (born c. 1935) is an Australian entrepreneur and property investor who established Nutrimetics International (Australia) Pty Limited in 1968 with her husband, Bill Roche (c. 1935 – 30 June 2022). They then founded a property development company, the Roche Group.
Imelda Roche | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1935 (age 88–89) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur; property investor |
| Known for | Co-Founder of Nutrimetics in Australia |
| Children | 2 |
Bill Roche | |
|---|---|
| Born | William Roche c. 1935 |
| Died | 30 June 2022 |
Business career (Imelda and Bill) edit
Imelda and Bill met in a supermarket in 1956 and started in business selling lamps door-to-door.[1]
In 1968 the couple bought the Australian franchise to Nutrimetics,[2][3] starting with A$6,000 of stock.[4]
In 1991, they acquired the worldwide interests of Nutrimetics International. The Nutrimetics Group was sold in 1997 to the Sara Lee Corporation. At the time of sale the company had a turnover of A$250 million a year.[4]
Bill and Imelda Roche expanded into property development and investment. They started their real estate investments with the purchase of a Sydney warehouse in the late 1950s. They subsequently owned residential land subdivisions, rural properties and office complexes.[citation needed]
The Roche Group Pty Ltd was registered in 2000.[5] The company owns several Hunter Valley landmarks, including the award-winning Hunter Valley Gardens, the live concert venue Roche Estate and Harrigan's Irish Pub. In 2020 there was controversy around a Roche Group housing development planned at West Wallsend.[6] For almost ten years, activists were fighting to protect an Aboriginal women's site situated on land slated for development. Despite both the NSW Government and the Australian Government recognising the site's significance via legislation,[7][8] the Roche Group appeared to push ahead with plans that could see the Butterfly Cave women's cultural site desecrated or damaged.[when?][citation needed]
Bill Roche died on 30 June 2022, aged 87 years.[9]
Other roles (Imelda) edit
From 1990 to 1992, Imelda Roche served as president of Chief Executive Women.[10]
In 1993 she was appointed chair of the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations, which represented 50 national associations and 1500 member companies, the first woman and the first Australian in this role.[10]
In April 1994 Imelda was appointed by Prime Minister Paul Keating as Australian representative to the Pacific Business Forum of APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation), and in 1996 was appointed to the same role in John Howard's successor organisation, the Business Advisory Council to APEC.[10]
Imelda Roche was acting chancellor of Bond University from 5 August 1999 to 25 November 1999, and served as chancellor from 25 November 1999 to 30 May 2003.[11]
In March 1999 she was appointed chair of the New South Wales Chapter of Family Business Australia, and in June 2001 became a patron of the Hawke Centre at the University of South Australia.[10]
Roche has served on many boards and committees, including: St Vincent's Hospital; Sisters of Charity Foundation; Garvan Institute of Medical Research; many university appointments; Committee for Quality of Teacher Education (NSW Government); Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme in Australia; various government-appointed roles (NSW and federal governments); Committee for Economic Development of Australia; Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust; and Air Services Australia.[10]
Recognition and awards (Imelda) edit
- 1986: Australian Pursuit of Excellence Award, for her outstanding leadership and performance in the Direct Selling Industry[10]
- 1995: Officer of the Order of Australia, for her distinguished service too business and commerce, to women's affairs, and to the community[12]
- 1996: Honorary Doctor of Letters from Macquarie University[10]
- April 1997: International recognition in Paris, France, one of the 50 Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World[10]
- June 1997: Ranked number one in Business Sydney of the Top 25 Women-Owned Businesses in New South Wales[10]
- 2001: Centenary Medal, for significant contribution to the Australian society in business leadership[10]
- 2004: Honorary doctorate from Bond University[10]
Net worth edit
The net worth of Bill and Imelda Roche was estimated at A$1.42 billion in the 2019 Rich List of the Australian Financial Review.[13] Following the 2022 death of Bill Roche, the net worth of Imelda Roche was reassessed at A$1.57 bn in the 2023 Rich List.[14]
| Year | Financial Review Rich List |
Forbes Australia's 50 Richest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Net worth (A$) | Rank | Net worth (US$) | |
| 2019 | 62 
|
$1.42 billion
|
||
| 2020[15] | 84 
|
$1.21 billion
|
||
| 2021[16] | 95
|
$1.22 billion
|
||
| 2022 | ||||
| 2023 | 88
|
$1.57 billion
|
||
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Icon | Description |
|
Has not changed from the previous year |
|
|
Has increased from the previous year |
|
|
Has decreased from the previous year |
References edit
- ^ "The Roche formula for lasting wealth". Australian Financial Review. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ "Imelda Roche AO, b. 1934". National Portrait Gallery people. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ "The Year that Made Me: Imelda Roche 1968". ABC Radio National. 12 May 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ a b Sams, Lauren (6 March 2023). "This billionaire says the key to selling products is simple". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ "Historical details for ABN 59 000 606 682". ABN Lookup. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ McMillan, Melinda (25 October 2017). "Butterfly Cave threat". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ "Butterfly Cave". NSW Environment, Energy and Science. Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ Agriculture. "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection (Butterfly Cave, West Wallsend, NSW) Declaration 2019". www.legislation.gov.au. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ "William ROCHE Death Notice - Sydney, New South Wales". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Imelda Roche". Chief Executive Women. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "Chancellor - University Governance - Bond University". Archived from the original on 15 April 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2008.
- ^ "Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) entry for Imelda Joan Roche". Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 26 January 1995. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ Bailey, Michael (30 May 2019). "Australia's 200 richest people revealed". The Australian Financial Review. Nine Publishing. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- ^ Bailey, Michael; Sprague, Julie-anne (26 May 2023). "The 200 richest people in Australia revealed". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ^ Bailey, Michael; Sprague, Julie-anne (30 October 2020). "The full list: Australia's wealthiest 200 revealed". The Australian Financial Review. Nine Publishing. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ Bailey, Michael; Sprague, Julie-anne (27 May 2021). "The 200 richest people in Australia revealed". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 28 May 2021.