Bob Sharpless
Bob Sharpless is the Deputy Chairman of Springfield City Group – the master developer of Australia’s fastest-growing city. He is one of the nation’s most experienced property development figures, leading to his induction into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in 2019 with Springfield City Group Chairman Maha Sinnathamby AM.
Bob became a civil engineer for the Western Australian Government before he moved to Brisbane in 1985 as a director and shareholder of the MUR Group, the forerunner to Springfield City Group.
The MUR Group had acquired almost 3000 hectares of land on the doorstep of Brisbane that would transform into Greater Springfield.
Bob was appointed Managing Director of Springfield City Group before he became Deputy Chairman. Bob oversees Springfield City Group’s activities with responsibilities across all elements of the business.
Bob is a passionate advocate for the drivers of Greater Springfield’s growth – education, health and innovation. This included his prominent role in the establishment of the award-winning Hymba Yumba Independent School, built on the traditions of Indigenous culture, spirituality and identity.
Bob was the Chairman of the Brisbane Lions Football Club from 2013-2017 in a transformational period for the AFL team. During Bob’s tenure, the Lions established their inaugural women’s team which participated in three of the first four AFLW grand finals.
Bob’s formal qualifications include a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA). Bob is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management (FAIM).
In December 2023, Bob was awarded the esteemed honorary degree of Doctor of the University (DUniv) by the Queensland University of Technology.
About Springfield City Group
Springfield City Group is the master developer of Greater Springfield and has been instrumental to the emerging city’s continuing success. Greater Springfield is a master planned community in its 31st year, built around the pillars of health, education, and innovation. The growing community is home to more than 50,000 residents including 12 schools and 22 kindergartens, a hospital, university campus and an IT epicentre.
Formerly Springfield Land Corporation, Springfield City Group continues three decades of tradition of working with the best. We continue to seek out leading proponents in areas of education, health care services, residential and other employment-generating industries.
As our community grows and matures we remain committed to adding both human and social capital and to furthering an environment where it is genuinely possible to live, learn work and play.
Preparing for the future – how do our cities and places measure up?
As Australian cities are increasingly cited as the solution to the housing crisis, and as governments adopt an ‘up not out’ philosophy to housing, the focus on the liveability of our highly urbanised environment is increasing. Hear from Mitchell Silver, urban planner and former commissioner for the New York City Parks Department, as he examines the evolution of our cities and the important role parks and recreation facilities play in shaping a liveable urbanised environment.
