The Australia Day Honours list has served up another trough of gongs for our poorly paid, and under-recognised, corporate chiefs.
Australia's top paid civil servant, Australia Post boss Ahmed Fahour, appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for "distinguished" service to business across the postal, banking and investment sectors.
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In March 2016, Ahmed Fahour of Australia Post spoke about the dramatic impact that connectivity can have on traditional businesses.
It obviously did not cover salary disclosure, given the postal giant declined last year to reveal what Fahour was paid for his toil. We have not had an update since it revealed his $4.8 million bonanza for 2014.
Fahour's AO is obviously in the post, along with letters of congratulations from the 1,900 Aussie postal workers it announced in 2015 would be streamlined out of the business over the following three years in an effort to stem the financial losses from the sagging traditional business.
![A man who liked to turn up the heat: Australia Post CEO Ahmed Fahour, now appointed as an Officer of the Order of ...](/web/20170126110401im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/2/y/p/l/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gty78h.png/1485387052322.jpg)
A great Aussie brand that stands for trust and providing service for over 207 years! pic.twitter.com/cm3g7YkbEe
— Ahmed Fahour (@afahour) January 9, 2017
No one from the corporate end of town managed to break through to be appointed a top level Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), but former Treasury boss Dr Martin Parkinson did.
It completes a remarkable return to favour since being controversially dumped by Tony 'Trump' Abbott as the head of Treasury nearly three years ago.
Parkinson quickly regain favour when the current PM, Malcolm Turnbull, gained the top job in 2015. He now serves as the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
![Virgin boss, John (Massimo) Borghetti, picked up an AO for "distinguished service" to the aviation industry, tourism ...](/web/20170126110401im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/l/5/w/b/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gty78h.png/1485387052322.jpg)
The political flavour to this year's business-related gongs does not stop there.
Virgin boss, John (Massimo) Borghetti, picked up an AO for "distinguished service" to the aviation industry, tourism development and as a "supporter of the arts and sport".
![Andrew Forrest picked up an AO for his "distinguished service" to the mining sector and philanthropy.](/web/20170126110401im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/l/e/x/v/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gty78h.png/1485387052322.jpg)
Nothing wrong with that, but it did make CBD wonder about the gong status of Alan Joyce given the Qantas contribution to aviation and tourism is not exactly insignificant.
Despite taking citizenship a few years back, CBD was assured that Joyce does not have so much as a medal (OAM) to his name.
![Telstra's former CEO David Thodey picked up an AO for his service to the telco and IT sectors as well as his efforts ...](/web/20170126110401im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/k/c/y/4/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gty78h.png/1485387052322.jpg)
Take your pick as to whether Qantas is still on the nose in Canberra after grounding its entire fleet in 2011 over an industrial dispute, or, asking Canberra for a handout in 2013 before unexpectedly turbo-charging its profits back above $1 billion last year.
Maybe, if he asks nicely, Joyce's chairman at Qantas, Leigh Clifford, can show him his AO for services to the mining industry.
![Former Wallabies captain, Phil Kearns, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his support for ...](/web/20170126110401im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/4/p/e/o/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gty78h.png/1485387052322.jpg)
It does seem to be an easier path to Australia Day Honours with Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest also picking up an AO for his "distinguished service" to the mining sector and philanthropy and also being Western Australia's 2017 Australian of the Year.
Former Telstra chief, David Ingle Thodey, has also picked up an AO for his service to the telco and IT sectors as well as his efforts promoting "ethical leadership and workplace diversity, and to basketball".
![Illustration: John Shakespeare.](/web/20170126110401im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/y/p/1/d/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gty78h.png/1485387052322.jpg)
And while we are on the sport front, former Wallabies captain, Phil Kearns, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his support for charities, rugby and business.
Kearns ran Centric Wealth until 2014 when its owner, Champ Private Equity, offloaded the group. Kearns now runs insurance broker, InterRISK.
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Got a tip? ckruger@fairfaxmedia.com.au
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