When it comes to the employment and training sector, the names do not get any bigger than Sarina Russo.

But many people may not have heard of the Queenslander until she was revealed on Monday as the "prominent Gold Coast businesswoman" who invited Health Minister Sussan Ley for two New Year's Eve events at the popular destination, for which taxpayers footed the travel bill.

Ms Russo, known as the job queen, is one of Australia's richest women, worth more than $100 million thanks to her highly successful training and job placement companies.

The active Twitter and Instagram user has been a generous donor to both sides of politics. Russo-linked companies have given more than $100,000 to the Coalition and about $50,000 to Labor since 2000.