International Women’s Day 2024: The most influential woman of the Gold Coast
To mark International Women’s Day we’ve rounded up more than 50 of the Gold Coast’s most influential women in sport, business, entertainment, health and education. See who you voted for
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To mark International Women’s Day we’ve rounded up more than 50 of the Gold Coast’s most influential women in sport, business, entertainment, health and education. Vote for your number one at the bottom of this story.
Tah-nee Beard
Founder of Culture Kings
Along with her husband Simon founded the Culture Kings sneaker and streetwear empire in 2008.
What started as a stall at Carrara markets grew into a multimillion-dollar empire.
Expanding across Australia and New Zealand Culture Kings was turning over around $200 million with a $20 million net profit in 2020.
It was snapped up by US buyer a.k.a. Brands for $307 million in cash plus 23.3 million shares in 2021.
Margot Robbie
Actor and producer
Nominated for three Academy Awards, six BAFTA Awards and four Golden Globe Awards Ms Robbie has been named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine. Raised on the Gold Coast the actor has become one of the biggest stars in the world, recently taking out the Trailblazer award at this year’s Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards for her contribution to film. She visited her home town the Gold Coast to accept it, noting in her speech she had danced on the stage she was standing on in at the Gold Coast Eisteddfod years earlier.
Alison Fahlbusch
Benowa State High School Principal
She was named the government sector School Principal of the Year at the Australian Education Awards in August for her work leading the 2000-pupil junior school at Marsden State High School. She was recognised for her focus on teaching students rather than subjects and helping them gain skills they need for the future – an approach she has continued in her role as principal at Benowa State High School.
Rebecca Frizelle OAM
Deputy Chancellor of Griffith University, former COO of Frizelle Sunshine Automotive, Gold Coast Titans co-owner
The first woman to be appointed as chair of a national sporting organisation as the former chair of the Gold Coast Titans, a team she now co-owns. She serves on the boards of the Paralympics Australia and is the Chair of the Nomination and Remuneration committee, the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games Organising Committee, Prime Ministerial nomination and serves as a member of the Audit and Risk committee. Mrs Frizelle serves on the Titans Rugby League board and is shareholder of the club. She is a director of three charities and was awarded an Order of Australia for her contributions to the motor industry and rugby league and is well known for her strong advocacy for the Gold Coast.
Meaghan Scanlon
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Planning and Minister for Public Works
The Labor member for Gaven since 2017. Losing her father to melanoma at 13 she helped raise her younger brother who has Down Syndrome, spurring her advocacy for people with disabilities and social and affordable housing. She is tipped by many to be a future Queensland premier.
Janna Azzi
The Quiet Courage Foundation Co-founder
The Quiet Courage Foundation aims to tackle the brutality of cancer treatment, curating unique ‘care boxes’ to help patients deal with not only the physical symptoms but also the significant toll on their mental health.
Ms Azzi met co-founders Nicki Simonis and Melissa Siwicki while each underwent treatment for breast cancer. Their own experience inspired them to create Soul Sister Unite which has since become part of the charity.
Mackenzie Arnold
Soccer Player
A key member of the Matildas 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup team which captured the imaginations and hearts of the nation. She was goalkeeper in all of Australia’s Group B matches and named player of the match after making three vital saves in what’s considered one of the greatest penalty shootouts of all time - in their quarter-final against France. The win saw the Matildas progress to the final four for the first time in history.
She is the goalkeeper and team captain for Women’s Super League club West Ham United and plays for the Australian national team.
She has played for Arna-Bjørnar in Norway’s Toppserien as well as Brisbane Roar, Perth Glory, Western Sydney Wanderers, and Canberra United in Australia’s W-League.
Donna Gates
Deputy Mayor and Division 3 Councillor
The deputy mayor since 2012 and has built a reputation as a gutsy advocate for the city’s northern gateway and a popular figure citywide. Often held up as a mayoral contender, she has always said she’d only ever stand for the top job if incumbent Mayor Tom Tate decided not to run.
Tammy Hembrow
Fitness Model
Considered a living billboard for Gold Coast tourism, Tammy Hembrow has built an empire cashing in amid the rise of Instagram. With more than 17 million followers she has leveraged her fame founding a range of hugely successful businesses in the fitness and apparel realm. According to last year’s Young Rich List, the Gold Coast IT girl has an estimated fortune of $38 million. Her sisters Emilee and Amy are also successful content creators and in business, and have cited her as an influence in their own success.
Tracey Woodbry
Supercars General Manager, Corporate Experiences
If you’ve been to the Gold Coast Mayoress Ball or ever enjoyed the Supercars event on the Gold Coast, then in part you have Tracey Woodbry to thank. Ms Woodbry is general manager corporate experiences for Supercars when the V8s roll into the Gold Coast each year and a key committee member and organiser of the annual Mayoress Ball fundraiser.
Manuela Whitford
Founder/CEO Friends With Dignity
A conduit for hope for survivors of domestic violence.
The mother of three founded the national not-for-profit Friends with Dignity in 2015.
The organisation has completed over 800 homes across the Gold Coast, south east Queensland, Perth and Newcastle working with agencies and refuges to furnish empty houses with everything from white goods to soft furnishings and food
Maddison Levi
Rugby Player
She plays for the Australian women’s sevens team. The former Miami High School student made her AFLW debut in 2021 for the Gold Coast Suns playing every game of the season. She was named equal leading goalkicker and finished up top 10 in the clubs best and fairest – all in her debut season.
In July 2021 she was made part of the Australian national rugby sevens team ahead of the Tokyo Olympics competition at 19 years old. She played for the national team in the 2021–22 World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series and won gold with the Australian sevens team at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. She was part of the winning team in the 2022 Sevens Rugby World Cup held in Cape Town scoring a hat-trick in the final against New Zealand.
Jackie Cross
Director Cross Promotions
The entertainment queen of the Gold Coast. The director behind Cross Promotions, a partner at Nineteen at the Star and co-owner of one of Australia’s hottest exports – Manpower aka Thunder Down Under (which has a sold out residency in Las Vegas where husband Billy Cross has the keys to the strip) she is responsible for drawing in drawing huge music acts, festivals and sporting events to the Gold Coast.
Peta Cotterill, Gold Coast Chamber board member and marketing manager at The Oasis Broadbeach
She has more than 25 years of industry experience working with shopping centres, Gold Coast Tourism, Tourism Events Queensland, and Gold Coast City Council. Peta grew up in Surfers Paradise and is helping build a strong calendar of events for locals and tourists to enjoy.
Virginia Warner
St Hilda’s Principal
She was officially welcomed as the 12th principal of St Hilda’s this year.
With almost 30 years of experience as an educator she believes educators have been entrusted with the “noble task” of “weaving a tapestry of learning and beauty and flourishing across all of the experiences within and beyond the classroom”.
Professor Carolyn Evans
Vice-Chancellor and President of Griffith University
Professor Evans is the first woman to be appointed the position of vice-chancellor and president at Griffith University.
She was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and became a member of the organisation, Chief Executive Women. She is President of the Australian Higher Education Industrial Association, current Board member of Universities Australia and the Australian-American Fulbright Commission and Chair of the State Advisory Board for the Committee for Economic Development of Australia.
Ruth Tate
Mayoress
She relaunched the Gold Coast Mayoress Charity when her husband Mayor Tom Tate was elected to Council in 2012. It has become one of the most prolific charities in Queensland working with an array of organisations to better the lives of Gold Coasters doing it tough. Is a prominent public-facing supporter of the Mayor and key part of his campaign team.
Rachel Dillon
Fitness guru
She launched her career in 2015 when she stated coaching clients through bootcamps and one-on-one sessions. With a passion for changing lives through fitness and the benefits of it, she launched Bodies by Rachel online to help women across the world achieve their wellness goals. She has become one of the most prolific fitness influences in the country.
Dr Donna Tanchev
Principal GP and Founder of Her Medical
Her Medical is a medical centre designed specifically for the needs of women.
After spending seven years at a women’s health practice, Donna had a vision to lead the change for women’s health on the Gold Coast, delivering the go-to medical practice for thousands of Gold Coast women.
Emily Jade O’Keeffe
Radio Presenter
A former weather presenter in Tasmania to Gold Coast breakfast radio star,
Emily Jade O’Keeffe wakes up the city as co-host of a top-rating breakfast show on Hot Tomato with co-host Paul Galey. She has been an ambassador for QENDO, a peak organisation for those affected by endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS, infertility or pelvic pain and Mother’s Day Classic – an event to help, “stop breast and ovarian cancers in their tracks.”
Angie Bell
Federal Member for Moncrieff
Held her position as member for Moncrieff since 2019 when taking over from an exiting Steven Ciobo and is the first openly gay woman to represent a major party in the House of Representatives.
Alexa Leary
Australian Paralympic swimmer
She cheated death after a major biking accident left her with serious head injuries, major brain damage blood clots and broken bones. She spent 111 days in hospital later going on to win gold and silver at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships.
Karen Dickinson
TAFE QLD general manager Gold Coast
She has been the general manager at the Gold Coast region for six years.
She is responsible for the new Robina Campus which opened in 2022 and has won a number of awards including a silver award for its commitment to the SDG’s at the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP) 2023 Awards of Excellence.
Ms Dickinson is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Board member of Be Slavery Free, a non for profit that advocates to abolish modern slavery.
Georgia Lane
Founder and President of not-for-profit Women of Influence
Georgia Lane started the organisation more than 15 years ago when she saw the need for professional events for women of the Gold Coast.
She is the head of fundraising for the National Trust of Australia and Currumbin Wildlife Hospital. The mother of two’s tireless fundraising role supports worthy causes such as the koala vaccine project and rebuilding the wildlife hospital. Her Women of Influence not-for-profit gives motivated and successful businesswomen a forum to network and learn, attracting up to 450 at regular events, and fundraising for Arcadia College, YHES House and OHANA FOR YOUTH.
Alyssa Healy
Cricketer
Alyssa Healy is the captain of the Australian women’s national team. Domestically she plays for New South Wales, the Sydney Sixers in the WBBL and captains the UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League in India
Sophie Monk
Singer/actor/host
Launching her career as one part of pop girl group Bardot, Sophie Monk won the first season of Popstars Australia in 2000. She has since gone on to become a household name. A self-proclaimed “dork” and down-to-earth, Ms Monk has won the hearts of the Australian public over recent years. She has managed to expand her career more than two decades winning the fourth season of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia in 2015, sitting as a judge on Australia’s Got Talent, starring in the third season of The Bachelorette Australia, and being crowned host of Love Island Australia.
Hayley Raso
Soccer Player
She has played for the women’s national team since 2012. She has represented Australia in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics where the Matildas qualified for the quarter-finals winning against Great Britain. She was part of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup team and scored the first two goals of four in Australia’s game against Canada winning player of the match.
Katie Page
Harvey Norman CEO
A huge contributor to the development and growth of women’s sport particularly rugby league but also swimming, AFL and more. The business woman is known as a trailblazer across multiple industries and has built the Gold Coast’s horse yearling sale and racing carnival, the Magic Millions, into a world-class event which is not only one of the richest race days in the country but also a must-do on the country’s social calendar. It significantly boosts the Gold Coast’s tourism and international reputation. THe Harvey Norman CEO is also credited with being pivotal along with Gerry Harvey to growing the homeware giant’s global footprint.
Jess Mellor
CEO Star Gold Coast
The Star Gold Coast’s youngest and first female Chief Executive Officer (CEO). She was appointed to the position in October 2023 after being in the role of COO since 2019. She is a respect business figure who ushered the business and its 2000-plus staff successfully through the tourism annihilation of Covid. Also now a Gold Coast Suns board member.
Lynne Benzie
President of Village Roadshow Studios, Gold Coast
For 33 years, she has worked for Village Roadshow and is a key figure in attracting major productions to the Gold Coast generating untold jobs and global exposure. Think San Andreas, think The Shallows, think Thor, think Pirates of the Caribbean.
Rachel Hancock
Head of Visitor Economy and Corporate Relations for Experience Gold Coast
The former editor of the Gold Coast Bulletin, Ms Hancock left a 20 year career in the media - including stints as editor of the Northern Territory News and deputy editor at The Courier Mail - for a new role as part of the city’s leading tourism body. Ms Hancock is a critical component in promoting the city as a cultural and tourism hub.
Renee Brescianini
Founder of Enriching Lives Foundation
She started the Gold Coast-based charity two years ago with a goal to help underprivileged students with the means to stay in school.
The program helps with uniforms, books, food and other everyday schooling essentials for kids who have either lost a parent, are facing financial distress or have found themselves out of home.
Amelia Evans
Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) CEO
She is responsible for leading a team to deliver airport experiences, infrastructure projects and expanding QAL’s connectivity.
She is a council member and Pro-Chancellor for Griffith University and an Advisory member for UNIQ You, with previous board roles including Destination Gold Coast, National Trust Queensland and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
Anna Paul
Online Creator
Ms Paul is considered a juggernaught who has built a platform of success in an overly saturated market. She was one of the first women to capitalise off OnlyFans and has been responsible for destigmatising sex, sex work and promoting body positivity for a younger generation. She’s used her platform to build herself an empire and has just launched her first merchandise line Paullie Skin, which focuses on products inspired by her own struggles with acne.
Nicci Wilson
General Manager Gold Coast Eisteddfod
She is responsible for the largest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere which sees tens of thousands of young performers take to stages across the city in a two-month showcase of artistic talent.
Karen Phillips
Founder of Early Risers
Founder of Women in Business Australia, the Women in Business Awards and the Gold Coast Women in Business Breakfast series (Early Risers) Karen Phillips is an advocate for women in leadership. Early Risers has grown to become the largest women’s breakfast event in Australia.
Shelley Curtis
Councillor
Born and raised in Paradise Point, Cr Curtis was appointed as Division 4 councillor in 2023 filling the vacancy left by Cameron Caldwell. She served in the Australian Army for nearly two decades as a medic and a captain in the army education corps. She is P&C president at Coombabah State School where her three children are enrolled.
Bianca Dye
Radio Presenter
Bianca Dye started her award-winning career in radio in 1996 but rose to prominence in the late 1990s as the host of the national show The Nitemix on Gold FM on the Gold Coast. Since then she has dominated the airwaves working across both metro and regional networks. She was co-host of Breakfast with Bianca, Ben and Lakey commencing in 2020 but was sacked in a move that rocked the city in 2023. A strong advocate for a wide range of issues, often courageously sharing her own story to raise profile for causes.
Kathleen Simpson
Principal Director of DV Lawyer
The principal director of one of the only specialist law firms in Australia focused on domestic and family violence.
Since being admitted as a lawyer in 2008, she has become a multi-award winning lawyer/advocate. She was inducted by the Queensland Government onto the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Honour Roll, awarded by the Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce as a finalist for the Domestic Violence Prevention Advocate Award in the Queensland Law Society QLS Awards in December 2019, received the Domestic Violence Prevention Award in 2019, the Outstanding Contribution Award, Certificate of Appreciation and was on the winning affirmative team at the Women of Influence Annual Great Debate in 2018.
Samantha Stosur
Former tennis pro and US Open champion
A former world No. 1 in doubles – a title she held for 61 consecutive weeks. She was ranked in the top 10 singles in women’s tennis ranking at top four in 2010.
She beat Serena Williams in the final of the US Open in 2011 taking out her sole Major with the win. The accolade made her the first Australian woman since 1980 to win a Grand Slam singles tournament. She is now Australia’s Federation Cup team captain.
Stephanie Gilmore
Eight time world champion surfer
The surfing legend is an eight-time world champion and was integral in securing pay parity for women in partnership with the World Surfing League in 2018. Considered one of the greatest of all time, men or women, the ever-graceful and powerful surfer is taking a year out of the pro tour and has been seen regularly on the Gold Coast.
Liz Cantor
Australian television presenter
In between presenting for Creek to Coast, Weekender, Powerball and presenting weather for 7 News Gold Coast and motherhood, Liz Cantor works as an ambassador for foundation Shake It Up — an organisation supporting the quest to find a cure for Parkinsons’s disease. Ms Cantor, a former pro surfer, is an advocate for all women supporting those who make an impact where she can.
Emily Skye
Fitness Mogul
Australian fitness mogul, entrepreneur and mother of two who shares real life experiences with a community of almost 15 million people around the world. She is an advocate for mental health awareness and healthy living sharing her own personal struggles with mental health.
Debbie Sage
Lawyer
She is an advocate for some of society’s most vulnerable people.
The senior lawyer at Attwood Marshall Lawyers is a voice for the voiceless pushing for reforms to help the elderly. An accredited aged care professional, she is at the forefront of spearheading campaigns to introduce new state laws that criminalise elder abuse.
Kate Hucker
Foundation Principal
Kate Hucker’s philosophy is to: “Support students with learning difficulties, disabilities and barriers to learning to succeed at school and create genuine pathways for life.” She is the foundation principal of Coomera State Special School where the motto is to give every child an opportunity to reach their potential through the belief that “together we can achieve”.
Pauline Young
Councillor
Considered one of council’s hardest working representatives Cr Young has served for Division 12 which covers Nobby Beach, Miami though to Burleigh Waters. She is retiring from her position as councillor after her seven and a half years of service to her community.
Lily Grubb
CEO and Founder of Little Grubbs Orchard
She started her foundation after her son was diagnosed with non-verbal stage three autism – the most challenging level – and global developmental delay. Ms Grubb turned to services for help but was told her son was “low functioning and incompetent”. She created the foundation to provide support, occupational therapy and therapeutic programs for kids with neuro-developmental conditions.
Priya Virdee-Hero
Youth Member for Southport
The Youth Member for Southport as part of the YMCA Queensland Youth parliament is passionate about community change and standing up for the city’s youth. She is the vice president for the Queensland branch of international youth-run not-for-profit AIESEC, which in English translates as the International Association of Students in Economics and Business. Ms Virdee-Hero is also a run director for a Main Beach park run, a surf life saver, studying law, and member of Rotary, the Youth Advisory Council and Bravehearts youth wing. She is the reigning Gold Coast Bulletin Young Woman of the Year by Harvey Norman.
Adrienne Readings
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre General Manager
Adrienne Readings is the longstanding Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre General Manager and Destination Gold Coast’s (now Experience Gold Coast) first female chair. Juggling motherhood Ms Readings was integral in the design, construction and the operation of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. She is the reigning Gold Coast Bulletin Woman of the Year by Harvey Norman.
Cherie Uzan
Businesswoman
A former Gold Coast Woman of the Year by Harvey Norman winner, owner of Palm Beach Italian restaurant Balboa and the Valley Estate is a pioneer for women in the hospitality sector.
Since her title she has taken on a philanthropic journey amid personal challenges such as divorce working alongside charities Starlight Children’s Foundation, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and the Police Legacy. Since her Woman of the Year title Ms Uzan plans to develop her own charity, a program for disadvantaged youth and those with disabilities to work alongside her staff to broaden skills, qualifications and “even just to allow them to appreciate the beauty of an environment they may not otherwise have access to – all within a safe and supportive space, where they can flourish”.
Brooke Patterson
Councillor
She was elected to Council in 2020. She had an international career in financial services and decades of community service.
She represents Division 6 which overs Southport, Benowa, Bundall, Chirn Park and Ashmore. Her commitments include enhancing Southport CBD, raising public safety and bettering our roads, parks and footpaths.
Aisha Dee
Actor
She scored her first major acting role in the long-running kids TV show, The Saddle Club. From there she went on to do a range of sitcoms later landing her role as Kat Edison in the American TV series, The Bold Type. Since starting her career she has been nominated for a range of awards winning best actress in a leading role at the Asian Academy Creative Awards last year.
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