Brian Bell (businessman)
Encyclopedia
Sir Brian Bell CSM, KBE, C.St.J. (3 July 192826 July 2010) was an Australia
n-born businessman who established a successful business empire in Papua New Guinea
.
, now the Queensland University of Technology
. He moved to Port Moresby
, Papua New Guinea
in 1954 as a pharmaceutical chemist in the Bulk Medical Store and soon after established PNG’s first electrical retail outlet.
annually and employing 1300 staff.
Bell was Honorary Consul General in Papua New Guinea for Norway and Sweden and received the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit Knight 1st Class and Commander of the Order of the Polar Star
(Sweden) for his service in those positions. He also received the PNG Community Service Medal, Queen’s Jubilee Medal, PNG Independence Medals and the Salvation Army’s Order of Distinguished Auxiliary Service.
Bell was knighted for his contributions to business and charity.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n-born businessman who established a successful business empire in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
.
Early life
Bell studied pharmacy at the Brisbane Central Technical CollegeBrisbane Central Technical College
The Brisbane Central Technical College was founded in 1908, and eventually became the Queensland Institute of Technology. While not able to grant bachelor's degrees, the college was able to issue diplomas which gave the recipients the right to "letters" after their name.-External links:*...
, now the Queensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology is an Australian university with an applied emphasis in courses and research. Based in Brisbane, it has 40,000 students, including 6,000 international students, over 4,000 staff members, and an annual budget of more than A$750 million.QUT is marketed as "A...
. He moved to Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
in 1954 as a pharmaceutical chemist in the Bulk Medical Store and soon after established PNG’s first electrical retail outlet.
Business career
Bell's business expanded rapidly and Brian Bell and Company was established in 1961. It included department stores, home centres, chemicals, cleaning products and industrial equipment. The Brian Bell Group of Companies is the largest business of its kind in PNG, generating revenue of 253 million kinaKina
Kina can refer to:* Kina * Kina * Kina, Name of People's Republic of China in Bosnian, Croatian, Danish, Montenegrin, Norwegian, Serbian and Swedish language...
annually and employing 1300 staff.
Philanthropy and honours
Bell supported the Port Moresby General Hospital (where he was Chairman of the Board), the Red Cross and the Port Moresby City Mission. He also served as deputy lord mayor of Port Moresby, a member of the PNG lands board, the Salvation Army advisory board and the PNG law and order committee. He was at one time chairman of UPNG Foundation, the NCD South Pacific Festival of Arts and the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal. Bell also served as patron of AIESEC PNG University. He set up a school outside Port Moresby, helped in offering scholarships and funded many needy and deserving young Papua New Guineans.Bell was Honorary Consul General in Papua New Guinea for Norway and Sweden and received the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit Knight 1st Class and Commander of the Order of the Polar Star
Order of the Polar Star
The Order of the Polar Star is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim....
(Sweden) for his service in those positions. He also received the PNG Community Service Medal, Queen’s Jubilee Medal, PNG Independence Medals and the Salvation Army’s Order of Distinguished Auxiliary Service.
Bell was knighted for his contributions to business and charity.