Former Australian Woman of the Year admits stealing $197,495 from employer
Julie McKinnery, a former Australian “Woman of the Year” recognised for breast cancer fundraising, pleaded guilty to stealing $197,494.73 from her employer, Paragon Plumbing. She allegedly diverted supplier payments into her own accounts while working as a bookkeeper, and the fraud was uncovered in September 2025 after an overdue supplier payment was noticed.
Police said the theft involved 202 transactions and three unauthorised credit-card purchases, with the largest single payment worth $37,626.77. McKinnery manipulated supplier records in MYOB, sometimes overpaying or duplicating invoices before seeking refunds, and later said she would accept full responsibility and repay the insurer that covered the company’s losses. She was dismissed shortly after returning from a European holiday and cancelling her annual breast cancer fundraiser.
- Former fundraising honouree stole almost $200,000 from her employer.
- Fraud involved 202 transactions over six years.
- She pleaded guilty and offered to repay the losses.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Australian ‘Woman of the Year’ stole nearly $200,000 from employer before jetsetting around Europe”.