Phillip Ainsworth OAM
has held various Human Resources (HR) and Industrial Relations (IR) positions within the steel and iron ore mining industry, in addition to HR employment at the University of New England Armidale Campus, before moving to Bundaberg.  Phillip accepted the position of HR and IR Manager at Versatile Toft Ltd Bundaberg, Australia's leading manufacturer of sugar harvesting and transporting equipment at the time.  In 1985, he was involved in the management buyout of the Australian business from the overseas owners and the conversion to Austoft Industries Ltd.

In 1987, together with his colleague, Rodney Stiff, Phil founded Jabiru Aircraft Pty Ltd and over the next 18 years they developed Jabiru to be the leading Australian light aircraft and aircraft engine manufacturer.

The success of Jabiru has developed a network of small technology businesses within the Bundaberg region including Microair Avionics Pty Ltd which was founded in 1999 by Phil and Rod.

In 2005 Phil sold his interests in Jabiru and assumed full ownership of Microair.  Microair is now Australia's leading avionics manufacturer, producing a range of aircraft radios, transponders, altitude encoders, GPS based tracking equipment, radar site monitors, agricultural data stations and sensors.  Microair has recently moved into the unmanned aviation sector through the establishment of Microair Unmanned Systems.

In 2005 Phillip brought together a consortium of Bundaberg business leaders to form Bundaberg Technology Group, which then acquired the Case New Holland (CNH) Austoft facility in Bundaberg then converted the facility into the Bundaberg Technology Park.  The Technology Park has attracted significant new business to Bundaberg and has proven to be a major employment and economic development generator for the Bundaberg region.