Bundaberg’s most influential people 2023 revealed
The NewsMail today continues its rollout of the most influential and powerful men and women of 2023, with those ranked #20 to #11.
Bundaberg
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They are the people who call the shots in the Bundaberg region, either by making a significant difference through their work or charity, leading the way in politics, industry, the arts or health.
Most influential numbers 30-21
In one way or another these 10 men and women have the power and or influence to shape this region and its future and to make the 2023 list of Bundaberg’s Power 30.
Join us in counting down part two of Bundaberg’s most influential:
20. Tom Marland
Lawyer Tom Marland is the principal partner of Marland Law.
Mr Marland specialises in rural property transactions, estate and succession planning, dispute resolution and litigation.
He also represents landholders across Queensland faced with coal, gas and infrastructure development on their land.
Mr Marland maintains a close association with his family’s cattle operation in the Gin Gin district and is passionate about the future of agriculture and regional Queensland.
He has been instrumental in raising awareness around the implications of the lowering of Paradise Dam’s spillway on local farmers.
19. Corey Pitt
After years of senior media positions based in Canberra, including being the national head of sales for WIN Television and head of regional sales for Southern Cross Austereo, Mr Pitt moved back home to Bundaberg in 2019.
As general manager of Hitz939 and 4BU, owned by the Australian Radio Network (ARN), Mr Pitt has now also been promoted as the area lead for ARN’s Central Queensland radio stations in Rockhampton and Gladstone.
His previous leadership experience included close working partnerships with various National Rugby League teams, such as the North Queensland Cowboys, the Canberra Raiders, and the St George Illawarra Dragons.
Further to these close working relationships,Mr Pitt has held various national and regional board roles.
He shares the knowledge gained by these experiences with many sporting groups and organisations across the Bundaberg region, as the local business community.
18. Magistrate John McInnes
John McInnes became a Bundaberg full-time magistrate in 2022.
Mr McInnes has an important role in exercising the law and delivering justice in the region with a wealth of legal experience to his name.
He was admitted to the Bar in 1995, and dedicated 23 years to providing legal assistance to financially disadvantaged members of society in his role with Legal Aid Queensland.
As a senior member of the Inhouse Counsel at Legal Aid, he obtained vast experience as a criminal defence barrister, and regularly appeared in District and Supreme Court trials, as well as in the Court of Appeal.
17. Shelley Strachan
Shelley Strachan is the managing editor for News Corp of the Wide Bay Burnett, overseeing and setting the news agenda in the Bundaberg region, the South Burnett, Central and North Burnett, Gympie and Fraser Coast.
She has been instrumental in kick starting the careers of multiple young journalists, mentoring them in integrity, professionalism and strong local journalism, and managing the successful transition from print to digital.
Between them, The Gympie Times, The Fraser Coast Chronicle, Bundaberg Newsmail, South Burnett Times and Central and North Burnett Times are read by more than 100,000 people every week and have a combined Facebook following of more than 130,000.
Ms Strachan is a well-decorated media veteran, taking home multiple PANPA Community News Brand of the Year awards, the News Corp Achievements in Regional Journalism award and most recently the Regional Local Campaign of the Year at the 2022 News Awards.
16. Steve Johnston
The former state government adviser was appointed as the Bundaberg Regional Council CEO in late 2016, taking over from Peter Byrne.
He is in control of the council‘s massive workforce and a $250 million budget, which affects the lives of every citizen in the Bundaberg region.
Mr Johnston is the former Bundaberg Regional Council deputy CEO and Isis Shire Council CEO.
His professional history includes several years working in senior roles for the Queensland state government, including four years as deputy director-general of the Queensland Department of Local Government and more than 12 months as acting director general.
15. Jack Dempsey
Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey has been serving the community since he was elected in March of 2016, following several years in state politics, including as the state member for Bundaberg.
He came to the position following a career with the Bundaberg police force, which allowed him to establish a wide range of community connections.
During his time as an MP he held various ministerial positions which led to his appointment with community safety in 2013, a position he held for two years.
As mayor he governs more than 100,00 residents across Bundaberg, Childers, Gin Gin, Woodgate and Bargara.
14. Greg Barnes
Bargara councillor Greg Barnes has served on the Bundaberg Regional Council going on 23 years.
He has been an outspoken advocate for his division, often going against the grain to argue for causes he believes are the will of his constituents.
The former police officer and diver’s causes as a councillor have included objecting to taller building heights and trying to rescind legislation allowing Bundaberg council employees to draw on public funds for legal costs.
In the late ‘90s, he founded the Coral Coast Chamber of Commerce and Tourism as well as Bargara‘s famous Anzac Day Dawn Service and the Coral Coast Turtle Festival.
After witnessing an elderly lady fall in Bargara in 1998, he advocated for a streetscape project to revamp the seaside town‘s CBD.
Mr Barnes is also a qualified JP and was presented a Citizen of the Year award in 2008 for services to the community.
13. Sue Tasker
As the executive officer for Angels Community Group, Sue Tasker has helped thousands of struggling Bundaberg residents.
The not-for-profit organisation began following the tragic loss of a loved one to a car accident, and being made redundant from her job of nearly 20 years.
Since 2015, Angels has expanded into 12 sectors of community support from the Second-to-None shopfront to the Angels Support Centre, along with a school lunch program and Santa assistance.
Mrs Tasker has been a shining beacon to those suffering through the region’s housing crisis, offering food baskets and dignity items for those in need.
Now the organisation offers community care six days a week, with volunteers, trainees and staff working around the clock behind the scenes.
12. Brittany Duncan
Police officer Brittany Duncan is a recognisable face to many in the Bundaberg community, through her work with the Bundaberg Police Station, Neighbourhood Watch as well as several community organisations.
A tried and true Bundaberg local, Senior Constable Duncan joined the Queensland police more than a decade ago, and is currently the district crime prevention co-ordinator for the Bundaberg Patrol Group.
She is known for her dedicated community focus, and is often seen at a variety of community organisations from retirement villages, to schools providing education and information on a range of topics aimed at keeping Bundaberg residents safe.
Her work recently led to her receiving the prestigious Brian Prince Award, a special form of recognition named in honour of paramedic and Rotarian Brian Prince.
Snr Const Duncan is also the driving force behind the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness program, which in 2022 offered driving workshops to more than 800 students across the region.
11. Tanya O’Shea
Impact Community Services CEO Tanya O’Shea has more than 18 years’ experience working in the not-for-profit sector.
Through Impact, she provides employment, disability and training services across the Wide Bay and Burnett, with more than 4000 people benefiting from those services.
Under Ms O’Shea’s leadership, Impact Community Services has won several awards in acknowledgment of the organisation’s community outreach and excellence.
Having experienced the physical effects of working in multimillion-dollar enterprises and serving on a number of boards and committees, Ms O’Shea now also advocates for mindfulness and wellbeing.
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