Power 100: South Australia’s most influential people of 2024 ranked

Did you agree with The Advertiser’s rankings of the state’s most powerful people in the 2024 Power 100? Now see how our readers voted.

The dynamic nature of life in South Australia is reflected in the latest edition of The Advertiser’s annual power rankings.

The Power 100 list is a mix of politics and business, entertainment and sport. There are powerful public servants and backroom operators who enjoy life in the shadows.

Underscoring the capacity for change, there are only five survivors from last year’s top 10 who made a return in 2024. And only one of those was in the same position.

EXPLORE THE POWER 100 INTERACTIVE AND RATE THE LIST BELOW

There is also a new number one in Premier Peter Malinauskas.

Mr Malinauskas was ranked third in the 2023 ranking but has assumed the top spot as he assumed a more prominent national role and led the political charge to ban under-16s from social media.

At home, despite the sore spot of ramping, he continued to dominate the beleaguered Liberal Party, even winning two by-elections and taking seats off the opposition, a feat that had not been managed in more than a century.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas in his office. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Anna Wiley, BHP's Asset President Copper South Australia. Picture: Supplied

Other new names in the top 10 include BHP Asset President Copper South Australia Anna Wiley, who has ambitions to more than double production of the red metal, and Reserve Bank board member Carolyn Hewson, who all South Australians will be hoping helps reduce interest rates next year.

It does not necessarily suggest those who have fallen out of the top 10 are less important to SA, but rather it reflects new priorities and new people who have risen to prominence.

One is ASIO boss Mike Burgess at number five. The Underdale High student is now in charge of Australia’s national security, including keeping it safe from terror attacks.

Perhaps, reflecting the sense that it’s an increasingly dangerous world in 2024, Mr Burgess didn’t feature at all in last year’s top 50.

Outside the top 10, the state’s sporting stars have made a big impression in 2024.

Test batter Travis Head, ranked 11, has scored centuries in the past two Tests against India, continuing a dominant run of form that has seen him ranked as one of the best in the world in all three forms of the game.

Olympic gold medallist Kyle Chalmers is at 15, followed by wrestling superstar Rhea Ripley at 20.

Olympic swimmer Kyle Chalmers. Picture: Matt Loxton

Rhea Ripley in the ring during at WrestleMania 40. Picture: WWE/Getty Images

Port coach Ken Hinkley (22) and Crows’ counterpart Matthew Nicks (23) also feature prominently.

Of course, some that were high flyers last year have dropped off entirely. Former Liberal leader David Speirs quit after being arrested and is facing a drug supply charge.

His replacement Vincent Tarzia ranks 36th, up seven spots on his predecessor’s 2023 entry.

CFMEU boss John Setka is gone after quitting the controversial union. Adelaide Festival director Ruth Mackenzie started a new job and high-profile chef Justin James moved on.

Sadly, construction magnate Lang Walker (29) passed away this year, although Walker Corp still retains a big presence in the state’s building industry.

See the full power rankings below. Expand each listing to read why they made the cut, and help shape the Readers’ Top 100 by choosing whether each choice has been overrated, underrated or got right.

In the lead-up to the 2024 Power List, The Advertiser ranked the top 20 most influential people across industries including politics, sport, public service, real estate, entertainment and business – plus the exports who no longer call SA home but still wield power from interstate and abroad. You can see those lists here.

Additional reporting by Andrew Hough, Kathryn Bermingham, Cameron England, Anna Vlach, Leon Georgiou, Brad Crouch, Paul Starick, Belinda Willis, Ben Brennan and Erin Jones.