The unranked list includes entrepreneurs, innovators, corporate executives, manufacturers, retailers, lawyers, restaurateurs and engineers.

In this second part, there are even two sets of siblings, brothers Mark and Rob Trenchard from Hydrox Technologies and sisters Bec Krone and Nikki Bowling from kids fashion label Lacey Lane.

RACHAEL TURNER(34)

Front Porch Properties founder

Five years ago, classical pianist Rachael Turner made the bold decision to switch from running a music school to leap into the construction and design industry.

“I’ve always been quite interested in construction, every since I was a little girl,” she says. “I made up my mind that I wanted to become a builder, and build beautiful homes, so I made the switch.”

Turner (above) founded Front Porch Properties in 2013, studying at night school to get her qualifications and later getting a builder’s licence.

Since then she has flipped homes, and done renovations and full house builds for a multitude of clients, in her signature American-inspired classic style. She recently won the Women in Building award at the Master Builders Brisbane Housing & Construction Awards.

“I think it’s really important to specialise and have a niche style, and then you become the expert and the go-to person in that area,” she says.

“My original plan wasn’t really to be working for people, but I started getting a lot of momentum and people began calling me wanting me to build their dream family home.”

Turner has six full-time carpenters working for her, and subcontracts other trades as required.

“It’s incredibly satisfying to turn a run-down house, into something beautiful, that is going to last a long time,” she says.

Turner is also passionate about giving back when she can.

She says part of the profit from her current major project will be donated to construct homes in South-East Asia, and she and her husband have made several mission trips overseas to work on construction projects.

ELLEN POWELL (28)

Blushing Confetti founder

Since founding stationery and paper goods company Blushing Confetti when she was just 24, Ellen Powell has grown her thriving brand into a nationally recognised business, with big dreams for the future.

Powell’s story of how Blushing Confetti came to be is similar to that of many entrepreneurs — essentially, she began by needing to solve her own problem.

It was while planning her wedding she struggled to find the kind of stationery she truly desired, so instead, created her own and ended up filling a gap in the market.

Using her skills as a graphic designer, Powell (left) has overseen every aspect of the company, which has grown to be stocked in more than 3500 stores around Australia and the world, including the US, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and Singapore.

Blushing Confetti has doubled its revenue in the past financial year, and also seen average customer spend grow by 50 per cent.

About 70 per cent is wholesale, though she says she hopes within two years for the split with retail to be closer to 50/50.

“At the moment we’re very wholesale focused, but as we grow I envision that changing, and becoming more a balance between the two,” she says.

“We want to take things to the next level, and we feel like that’s really in reach and we’re going in a very positive direction.”

An export focus has also seen revenue jump 154 per cent in the US.

She also plans to do more collaborations, such as a recent dessert journal created in conjunction with renowned chef Caroline Khoo of nectar & stone.

Looking forward to 2019, Powell says she wants to launch a full bridal range, with a ready made collection as well as a custom service. “I’d love us to be available in the larger department stores, and I hope that we would still be bringing out beautiful products,” Powell says.

“We’re also focused on building our product base to have a larger collection available across the board, and steadily continuing to grow in size.

“I definitely always had this idea in my head, but I think I thought it would be more about creating invitations for people for the rest of my life.”

TIM JOHNSON (36)

Restaurateur

With his growing string of hospitality venues a popular choice for many punters, restaurateur Tim Johnson has become a well-known face around Brisbane.

Johnson currently has six venues — three Corbett & Claude locations in Brisbane and one in Sydney, and two Comuna Cantina restaurants, one in Brisbane and one on the Gold Coast.

His next project, a new Corbett & Claude in Everton Park, will be one of his grandest yet, with the development set to be a two-storey venue with a rooftop bar.

It’s due to open in March next year.

Johnson (above) got his first job at McDonald's when he was 13. By the time he was 24, he was running and consulting to 35 McDonald’s outlets across the Northern Territory, Queensland and NSW. “I had an incredible career working with amazing mentors and travelling and working overseas with McDonald’s,” he says. “I was able to see the scale a restaurant group could get to, and the detail and science behind such a massive organisation.”

After successful stints at Vapiano, Yum! Brands and Fonda, Johnson branched out on his own, opening six venues in three cities in just 15 months.

“We plan to continue opening venues that are CBD and suburban community focused with no real figure placed on venue number, except to say we want to grow nationally and internationally when the opportunity is right and the business is ready,” he says.

Johnson has a passion for not just the hospitality industry, but in cultivating talent. “We create life long career paths in hospitality and genuinely show how amazing the hospitality industry can be to be a part of,” he says.

MARK TRENCHARD (39)
ROB TRENCHARD (35)

Hydrox Technologies co-founders

Third-generation plastic manufacturers Mark Trenchard and brother Rob are founders of Brisbane-based ag-tech start-up Hydrox Technologies.

They sell 800 tonnes of plastic mulch a year that is used by small crop farmers to preserve soil moisture and warmth. It was named one of the best new products at the World Ag Expo earlier this year.

Arriving in Australia from South Africa as teenagers, the brothers studied business at University of Queensland before going into the family plastics business. They later set out on their own, making plastic bags for the aquarium industry to transport tropical fish. “We designed a round-bottomed bag that did not squash the fish when they were transported,” 39-year-old Mark (below left) says.

Looking around for cheap machinery after the 2011 flood ripped through their factory, they chanced upon an old plastic extrusion machine. Through trial and error they produced a ground cover which used 24 per cent less plastic than other mulch, and shrank when exposed to sunlight, giving better yields.

DEAN FOLEY (29)

Barayamal founder

As the founder of the country’s first indigenous business accelerator, Dean Foley (below) is passionate about supporting, inspiring and educating budding entrepreneurs to reach their goals.

Though he has emerged as a rising figure in the industry, his first career move was to join the Royal Australian Air Force.

“When I was at school I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do and didn’t really know what was possible,” he says. “I thought about maybe becoming a teacher but I didn’t feel I had the grades, so I decided I wanted to serve in the defence force like my grandfather, who served in the army during WWII. I think I was like a lot of people, in that you don’t really know what you want to do until you really realise what you’re passionate about.” But by being introduced to the world of start-ups, entrepreneurship and people such as Richard Branson through books, Foley was inspired.

Last year he launched Barayamal, and is now busy setting up the Barayamal Centre of Entrepreneurship in Brisbane’s West End, a space for up to 30 First Nations start-ups and businesses to thrive.

JAMIE SHINE (36)

Women Lawyers Association of Queensland president

Leading one of Queensland’s most powerful legal groups in its 40th year is just one of Jamie Shine’s recent achievements.

As president of the Women Lawyers Association of Queensland, Shine (above) will spearhead some landmark initiatives while overseeing significant personal injury work in her job as national special counsel of major claims at Shine Lawyers.

She was recently also appointed to the board of Youngcare, a not-for-profit organisation that helps young people with high-care needs access appropriate housing.

Shine started with the law firm (founded by her uncle Kerry Shine long before she arrived) in 2000 as a 17-year-old Toowoomba high school graduate and did her degree the old-fashioned way via an articled clerkship. “My family couldn’t really afford to send me away (to Brisbane) to do a degree so I applied at the two law firms that offered articles at that time and got a job and worked my way through,” she said.

She has since gone on to do her masters and MBA while rising through the ranks at Shine Lawyers. As head of major claims, her work deals mostly with claims involving brain injury, an area she is passionate about and now specialises in.

Her role on the board of Youngcare is a career progression she is keen for other female lawyers to see as an option and forms part of a range of new projects WLAQ is running this year — a recent one gave advice on egg freezing or surrogacy for example. Shine is also overseeing an expansion of the WLAQ in rural and regional Queensland with plans for events in locations where it has ambassadors.

“The needs of women in law have changed significantly and the issues. I want to ensure women in law are supported to get opportunities into leadership positions.”

ANDY FIRTH (32)

Jack of the Dust founder

Andy Firth’s striking skulls have a rapidly growing following around the world, with fans admiring his craftsmanship and creative flair.

A former boat builder, Firth started making his highly sought-after pieces as a “side hustle” about five years ago, before increasing demand led him to set up his company Jack of the Dust, and dedicate himself full-time to his craft and Burleigh Heads-based business.

Despite no formal art training, Firth says he has always had a creative streak.

“I have always liked skulls myself, but I felt that everything that was on the market was cheap or tacky,” he said. “Nobody was making any real solid, and creative effort into making decent skulls, so I decided I would do it for myself.”

Firth (left) says each of his detailed pieces take about two months from concept to creation and he currently sells about 200 per month, with prices ranging from about $460 to more $1000. He says he has a strong desire to “make art for this generation”; something that pushes the boundaries.

His intricate skulls come in a multitude of designs, with some adorned with glass or crystals, while others play off pop culture references, from Star Wars to Batman, to Breaking Bad.

“Through the development and painting stage I’ll usually end up with five or six versions, and when I’ve narrowed it down to two I’ll usually put it to an Instagram vote and see what people think before making the mould to replicate them,”
Firth said.

With the company’s Instagram following pushing half a million people, he says it makes sense to turn to his community to ask what they would love to see made. This huge social media presence is also evident in the fact that despite his Queensland location, more than 90 per cent of his sales come from international customers.

“I’ve managed to double the business every year since we started. That’s my goal every year and our growth has been very consistent,” he says.

Firth’s current project is creating silicon masks, which he sees as growing his company even further. But he says he has no plans to change his direct-to-customer business model and sell through wholesalers. “The danger is it becomes just another product, not a piece of art.”

CHARLIE CUSH(38)

Brisbane Festival CEO

Charlie Cush feels a deep sense of obligation as he settles in to his new role as CEO of the Brisbane Festival. “The opportunity to lead one of Australia’s premier international arts festivals in my home town is a real gift and a responsibility I don’t take lightly,’’ he says.

Cush snared the job in July after spending five years managing Brisbane’s award-winning Circa Contemporary Circus. He took the helm following the departure of his predecessor Valmay Hill, who ran the show for eight years and left it in good shape.

“Sustaining the success of the company is my priority,’’ Cush (above) says.

“There are well established corporate partnerships, government relations, good internal governance and a strong team culture. Last year’s festival broke box office records.’’

It is Queensland’s biggest cultural event, attracting more than a million attendees.

This year’s three-week run in September will see more than 65 shows across 17 venues, with the vast majority of the 1000 artists hailing from Queensland.

Cush says his time at the circus has prepared him well for the challenging job of pulling together next year’s festival.

“I have learned a great deal about efficiently managing complex organisations, have contributed to the significant growth of the company and established a strong international network of collaborators through touring, commissioning and performing Australian performing arts product across the globe,’’ he says.

Brisbane Festival chair Paul Spiro, who oversaw a competitive international search for the job, says Cush’s combination of local experience and broad international connections made him an ideal candidate.

“Charlie has the proven strategic acumen, established local, national and international networks, and deep affinity for his home town of Brisbane to deliver unrivalled success in this role,’’ Spiro says.

Brisbane Festival artistic director David Berthold echoed these sentiments, hailing Cush as a visionary leader.

“I’ve known and admired Charlie for the best part of a decade,” Berthold says. “He is, at once, an excellent manager and informed cultural leader. His significant international experience with Circa … will give him terrific insight into Brisbane’s international arts festival.”

Before working at Circa, Cush worked in leadership roles at Brisbane City Council, the Local Government Association of Queensland and the Commonwealth Games Arts and Cultural Program. He still holds several current industry advisory roles, including as a member of the Queensland University of Technology Advisory Board and the International Society of Performing Arts. He is also a founding member of the Queensland Chamber of Arts and Culture.

The 2019 festival is still a year away. But Cush is already hard at work mapping out a diverse and engaging program showcasing the best of music, dance, theatre and comedy.

ANNA SPEER (35)

Australian Agricultural Company COO

She grew up wanting to run her grandfather’s farm in western Victoria and ended up as the boss of some of the country’s largest grazing properties.

Anna Speer, (above) who this year was appointed chief operating officer of Australian Agricultural Company (AACo), says she fell in love with the land at an early age and initially wanted to be a veterinarian.

“I would spend every weekend and school holidays holed up on the farm following my grandfather around like a little puppy,” Ballarat-born Speer recalls.

“I just loved the land and it was always a passion. I wanted to take over my grandfather’s farm.

“The only problem was he had four children to pass it on to. I initially had ambitions to be a vet but my marks were not good enough so I ended up studying microbiology at university.”

After graduation Speer headed to the Outback, working as a jillaroo in the Northern Territory where she got her first taste of life on a cattle station.

“I took my dad’s Nissan Patrol and went up the guts of Australia,” she says.

“I cried the first couple of weeks and I am sure the head stockman wanted to get rid of me because I was such a pain.”

But she quickly grew to love life in the north and ended up spending five years in the territory, working at a number of different cattle stations.

After completing an education degree, she worked as a teacher at several remote indigenous schools.

But life on the land continued to fascinate Speer, particularly the impact of technology and the digital revolution on the agricultural sector.

After working at agricultural software company Live Stock Exchange, she became head of Sydney-based livestock auction site AuctionsPlus.

“By the time I left, we were selling $830 million worth of livestock a year, including 400,000 head of cattle and 3.2 million sheep,” Speer says.

Speer says the current drought impacting on much of rural Australia was extremely challenging for farmers.

“We are moving cattle around to where there is better grass, but that is nothing compared to what many farmers are facing having to sell off cattle.”

AACo, a 194-year-old company, is facing other challenges besides drought as it moves into luxury beef production.

It reported a loss of $102.6 million this year as it faced increased competition, dry conditions and rising costs.

Speer says she never imagined she would be in charge of 21 properties, two feed lots and five farms but is relishing the challenge.

“Here was little me thinking that one day I may be running one farm,” she says.

She credits an Australian Rural Leadership Foundation scholarship with helping shaping her leadership style.

“As my grandfather used to say, it does not matter if the sheep move left or right as long as they are all moving in the right direction.”

BEC KRONE (30), NIKKI BOWLING (34)

Lacey Lane co-founders

As founders of one of the country’s most in-demand fashion labels for kids, sisters Bec Krone and Nikki Bowling clearly have a passion for their industry.

Their children’s clothing company Lacey Lane has grown into a multimillion-dollar brand, with the sisters opening a bricks and mortar location at North Lakes, as well as managing a thriving online store.

“We have a really, really strong community behind us. They have their own private Facebook groups about us where they all talk to each other,” Krone (far left) says. “We’ve got a 90 per cent return customer rate which is really high and that’s largely because of those (Facebook) pages.”

She says the brand’s popularity has also been boosted by customers selling second-hand items on buy, swap and sell sites. “We sell a lot of limited pieces and they sell out really quickly, so they sometimes sell for a lot higher (than the original price). There was a recent $54 dress which was really in demand, and it was selling for $400-500 second-hand.”

Mums themselves, the sisters have grown Lacey Lane from a relatively small operation to hitting close to $4 million in annual revenue.

“We have people travelling from all over to come and see the store,” Bowling says. “Having a community, our brand is very different to a lot of other brands,” she says.

The sisters launched a boys label last November called My Brother John, which has been enthusiastically embraced, as well as a sportswear range for girls called Chasing Oso.