20 of South Australia’s most influential young guns
From health professionals and scientists to designers and actors, and world-beating athletes, SA’s new generation of movers and shakers are batting above the average.
Lifestyle
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South Australia has produced some high flying talent in all industries from health and science to acting and singing.
And if they are pushing boundaries, scoring goals in their industry and they are young, you’ll find them on this list.
Alexandre Santos
Alexandre Santos is a senior medical physics specialist for the Central Local Health Network (CALHN) cancer unit.
Last week on Friday the 35-year-old won the young professional of the year award at the annual SA Health Awards.
Working for CALHN for the last 13 years, Prof Santos has developed and implemented new technologies and treatment techniques transforming the quality of healthcare received by cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment in South Australia.
Recently, he supported a new delivery technique that considerably improved the quality of treatments for pediatric patients receiving cranio-spinal irradiation.
This minimised radiation exposure to patients and extended the expected quality of life of these children.
He’s also developed strategies that have streamlined processes for patients like a new approach to measuring radiation which has reduced time taken per patient from four hours to around 30 minutes.
Prof Santos also spends time at universities where he lectures, teaches and supervises.
Mavournee Hazel
South Australia’s latest acting export Mavournee Hazel is making waves after her latest project NCIS: Sydney broke records becoming the most streamed CBS network premiere ever on Paramount+, according to Paramount Global.
The 27-year-old has been acting since she was a child with guest appearances in various television shows including Sam Fox: Extreme Adventures and Catching Milat.
She also, like many of Australia’s acting exports, was on the cast of soap opera Neighbours playing Piper Willis in 2015.
Last year she starred in Shantaram for Apple TV+ as the girlfriend of lead actor Charlie Hunnam of Sons of Anarchy fame.
She is currently starring as Bluebird “Blue” Gleeson on NCIS: Sydney – the fifth, and first-ever international, spin-off of the much-loved global series.
Ben Finlay
Ben Finlay is a chief surgical resident and general surgery fellow for the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN).
Born and raised in Port Pirie, Dr Finlay, 35, moved to Adelaide in his early teens before studying medicine.
Over the last decade he has explored a range of specialty surgical areas in the state’s largest public hospitals including colorectal surgery, vascular surgery, breast and endocrine surgery, trauma surgery, plastic surgery, hepatobiliary surgery and oesophago-gastric surgery.
With a passion for colorectal surgery and a mindset that learning never stops, Dr Finlay has been accepted onto the 2024 colorectal training program with the Australia and New Zealand Training Board in Colon and Rectal Surgery.
He has active research projects in colorectal surgery and is particularly keen in improving outcomes and learning around bowel cancer – a disease that is diagnosed in almost 300 Australians every week.
Having grown up in Port Pirie, Dr Finlay is an advocate for enhancing access to specialised surgical care in rural SA.
Davie Fogarty
Adelaide-born acclaimed entrepreneur Davie Fogarty found his love for innovation in the warehouse of his family’s business – Classic Timber Furniture.
After soaking in his parents knowledge and passion for entrepreneurship and attending Mercedes College, Fogarty tried his hand a range of failed business before striking gold.
Now the 28-year-old is reportedly worth $500m (a number he disputes) and is one of South Australia’s most influential business people.
A shark on Australia’s inaugural season of Shark Tank, Fogarty began his product empire with the launch of Calming Blankets and then The Oodie.
Sharing his knowledge on social media and now on TV there is no disputing Fogarty’s influence.
Tiahni Adamson
Crowned Young Australian of the Year for SA this year Tiahni Adamson is a First Nations wildlife conservation biologist.
The 28-year-old graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Science before embarking on a career in STEM.
She has worked on programs for CSIRO, for PIRSA as a sea ranger and a fisheries compliance support officer, where she fostered relationships between First Nations communities and government.
In 2019, she trained under Al Gore as a climate reality leader.
She is presently focused on sustainable aquaculture production in her role with CH4Global. She also works as a lecturer and tutor at UniSA, is the state coordinator of Seed Mob (Australia’s only First Nations led youth climate justice group), and is a youth dialogue member for the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
In the past, she received the Dr Kay Price AM Award for demonstrated excellence in and ambassadorship for STEM.
She was also one of two students to be awarded the inaugural Indigenous Time at Sea Scholarship from CSIRO’s Marine National Facility.
Ms Adamson has had great influence in her industry and her work will influence the environment.
Qasem Bahmanzadah
Arriving in Australia as a refugee from Afghanistan in 2008 with no possessions and unable to speak English, Qasem Bahmanzadah has spent his time mentoring young people and giving back to his community.
An active member of the Salisbury community Mr Bahmanzadah has had involvement in youth leadership and development programs.
Mr Bahmanzadah is also a peer lead and youth ambassador for the Australian Refugee Association where he has had the opportunity to share his story to the wider community and raise awareness for asylum seekers and refugees.
An award-winning young person for his efforts as an ambassador and mentor, Mr Bahmanzadah has also worked as a mentor for the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience assisting high school students with schoolwork.
Hugo Taheny
An elite athlete, Hugo Taheny is the current world-record holder for shot put, discus and the 4x100m relay in the Virtus Global Games and International Athletics Association for Persons with Down syndrome.
Living with intellectual, vision and hearing impairments, Taheny is a world-class sportsman self-funding his travels to compete.
He was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for representing Australia at the Virtus Global Games in 2019.
Taheny is also a health ambassador for Down syndrome Australia which sees him lecture university medical students about inclusive communication with his mentor Natalie Graham.
When Taheny isn’t competing, training or lecturing he is giving his time to younger athletes by coaching voluntarily and speaking at schools.
Shahna Smith
Two weeks before Shahna Smith’s mother died of bowel cancer she named her daughter’s business Amplified Beauty.
The brand, which launched on Valentine’s Day in 2022 was eight years in the making, during which the Indigenous woman overcame many heartaches, including the loss of her mother Tracey.
Ms Smith left school in year 11, following her mum’s death, to work four jobs to make ends meet. That’s when she registered her business name, Amplified Beauty Australia.
The Broken Hill born business woman moved to Adelaide in 2019 where Ms Smith found herself homeless after a relationship breakdown.
Drive pushed Ms Smith to continue working on her brand by mixing paints at Bunnings Warehouse to find the perfect shades for her lipsticks.
Now the entrepreneur is a SA Leadership winner and a 2023 Forbes Panelist.
Chloe Grayling
TikTok star, podcaster and influencer Chloe Grayling could single-handedly be the reason every South Australian wants to adopt Highland cows, goats and move outside of the city, but that isn’t the only reason the positive beacon made it on the list.
Grayling, who has almost one million TikTok followers, informs her followers on social issues that are important to her including the Voice to Parliament, women’s health and body positivity.
Among social media content about her country lifestyle, renovation series and fashion advice, Grayling is extremely candid with her followers about online hate, fertility and much more.
She encourages her followers to stay informed and make positive change.
Annaliese Holland
Content to fight her terminal illness in private, Annaliese Holland was one day inspired to spread her story to raise awareness for palliative care in South Australia.
Diagnosed with rare disease auto-immune autonomic gangliopathy, Annaliese will eventually lose her life.
But despite living with an extremely physically and emotionally taxing disease, the 23-year-old has walked the City to Bay for many years to raise money for the Hospital Research Foundation – her charity of choice.
Her determination, strength and passion has raised awareness for the often forgotten about area of medicine.
Eloise Hall
Managing director and co-founder of TABOO Period Products and treasurer of the SA Social Enterprise Council Eloise Hall has continued to be a force to be reckoned with when it comes to social enterprise.
Having won numerous awards including the EY Impact Award this year, the Flinders University Early Careers Alumni Award.
She has also taken part in the Westpac Social Change fellowship this year developing her skills as a leader in the social enterprise sector.
This young woman also sits on the Adelaide Economic Development Agency advisory committee.
Taydam Knowles
Taydam Knowles has seen first hand how meth destroys families. The now social media consultant taking South Australia’s independent media landscape by storm had a rough upbringing that laid the foundation for her resilience in the industry.
Born to teen parents (dad, 15, and mum, 17), Knowles was forced to grow up quickly before she decided to study journalism at university.
She later, at 21, went on to represent South Australia in the Miss World Australia pageant raising thousands of dollars for children’s charity Variety.
After losing her job at Argo at Norwood due to Covid-19 staff cutbacks, Ms Knowles walked into the Fresh 92.7 office and became a news writer and announcer.
Not long after that gig she was approached by online youth platform The Adelaide Set, founded by George-Alexander Mamalis.
Becoming the face of the brand Ms Knowles now produces social media content as well as manages a team and consults for other brands.
She is the author of a social media e-book and works as a tutor for WEA.
Travis Head
Travis Head is an Australian international cricketer with the world’s eyes on him.
The former co-vice captain of the Australian national team Head helped guide Australia to a six-wicket victory with 42 balls remaining on Monday morning against India.
The 29-year-old has proven he’s a force to be reckoned both on and off the pitch.
In his latest win he hammered an incredible 137 off 120 balls, including 15 fours and four sixes.
Laura Sharrad
Former MasterChef runner-up Laura Sharrad has become a local hospitality powerhouse since her time on the popular reality show.
Behind top local eateries Fugazzi Bar & Dining Room and Nido, now the celebrity chef has her sights on a new project – a baby – which she will welcome with her husband of five years Max.
Sharrad’s Leigh St hotspot was voted as having the best pasta in South Australia in this year’s delicious. 100.
Jake Kellie
Co-owner and executive chef of arkhé, Adelaide’s first open-flame restaurant, Michelin-starred chef Jake Kellie is definitely influential.
The hospitality powerhouse has worked around the world honing in on his craft including working as head chef at Burnt Ends in Singapore.
Prior to working at Burnt Ends Kellie was the recipient of the San Pellegrino World Young Chef of the Year for Southeast Asia going on to place second in the world in Milan in 2018.
His resume including working with Heston Blumenthal (The Fat Duck, UK), Brett Graham (The Ledbury, UK), Scott Pickett (Estelle, Melbourne) and Matt Moran (Aria, Sydney).
Maddi Newman
Picked to be the next Erin Phillips, Maddi Newman has likely inspired an entire generation of South Aussie footballers with her story of determination.
One of three girls, her father Steve played 300 games for Morphett Vale Football Club and even captained the side.
Many believed Steve would be the last Newman to have a footballing career after he had three daughters. But Maddi proved them all wrong grabbing a footy and getting drafted for the AFLW Crows team.
One to watch, Newman has been influential in the rising support of women in sport.
She also runs a clothing brand with her twin sister Hallie Newman called Seeing Double.
Abby Potter
Influential in the South Australian fashion industry Abby Potter has taken her designs internationally to New York Fashion Week and the pages of British Vogue as well as our local shows.
An advocate for using local machinists and suppliers Ms Potter is the independent designer of local label House of Campbell and regularly appears at Adelaide’s fashion events.
Shantae Barnes-Cowan
Shantae Barnes-Cowan is set to be South Australia’s newest export with the actor proving she is capable of just about anything after filming two movies and a miniseries while finishing year 12 in 2021.
With the support of her foster carers and biological family, Barnes-Cowan, an Adnyamathanha woman from Whyalla featured in short film The Redemption, film Sweet As, TV series Firebite as well as Wyrmwood: Apocalypse.
With plans to continue making a name for herself this First Nations woman is definitely an influential person in film and television.
Emilia Pirone
Emilia Pirone is this year’s South Australian Young Entrepreneur of the Year after acquiring an Adelaide Central Market business and expanding it.
Goodies and Grains is an artisan producer sourcing ingredients to make diverse and healthy foods.
After graduating from Business SA’s South Australian Young Entrepreneur Scheme, Ms Pirone was awarded the honour for her efforts over the last 12 months to grow her business.
Her Stepney-based brand manufactures and sells muesli, cereals, vegan and other health food products which can be found in independent supermarkets and health food stores across Australia.
Noticing and ceasing opportunities in the business space has lead to Ms Pirone’s number of accolades in her short time in the industry.
Rosina Di Maria
Woods Bagot’s Adelaide Studio Chair Rosina Di Maria is a hugely talented young interior designer.
She returned to her hometown of Adelaide after extensive global experience having lived and worked across the UK, Europe, Russia and Asia.
Ms Di Maria has led award-winning projects in workplace interiors, hotel, residential and civic sectors. A strong supporter of the arts, she is a board member for Jam Factory and Carclew Youth Arts.
She has not only designed and delivered notable projects such as the refurbishment works at the National Gallery of Australia but she is also a national judge for multiple industry design awards.
Ms Di Maria is the lead of the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital, the O’Connell St revamp and the new Aboriginal Cultures Gallery.
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