‘Girl power’ leads the charge as region’s most influential people for 2025 ranked

Female leaders have dominated a regional power poll with South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff claiming the top spot ahead of Attorney General Deb Frecklington.

Girl power has dominated the Wide Bay Burnett's Power 50 or 2025, with South Burnett Mayor being voted the most influential, and Attorney General and Nanango LNP MP Deb Frecklington coming in second.

A region’s potential is only as great as the visionaries who unlock it, and “girl power” appears to be leading the charge to unlock the potential of the Wide Bay Burnett in 2025, according to those who voted to rank the 50 most powerful and influential people.

The passion and dedication of South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff to her community catapulted her to the very top of the vote, to be named the region’s most influential person of 2025.

Voted the second most influential person of 2025 was Queensland Attorney General and Nanango LNP MP Deb Frecklington, followed by Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour in third place, and in equal fourth place Wide Bay LNP MP Llew O’Brien, Gympie Deputy Mayor Dolly Jensen and Bundaberg environmental hero Glenn Rumsey.

While the Wide Bay Burnett is defined by its stunning geography, its true trajectory is being charted by these outstanding human “architects”.

Within its community of more than 300,000 people, a complex tapestry of people have been born or drawn here by lifestyle and opportunity. But to bind these distinct groups into a cohesive force requires influence. It takes leadership to honour the region’s powerhouse roots in sugar, citrus, and beef, while simultaneously having the courage to steer the economy toward a bold new horizon.

South Burnett Mayor and the woman voted Wide Bay Burnett's Most Influential person of 2025, Kathy Duff.

The weight of this transformation rests on the shoulders of the powerful and influential.

Health Care and Social Assistance has risen to become the region’s largest employer. It is through their stewardship that sustainable tourism assets like K’gari (Fraser Island) are balanced against a rapidly modernizing economy.

The fingerprints of these power players are visible in the billions of dollars currently pouring into the region.

They are the ones securing vital water security and Bruce Highway upgrades.

They are the deal-makers positioning the region as a global renewable energy hub, attracting massive investment in solar and hydrogen.

They are the advocates driving diversification into advanced manufacturing and education.

The Wide Bay Burnett is poised for a vibrant future, but that future is not inevitable—it is being forged by individuals acting with courage, inspiration, and relentless forward thinking.

We asked the community to identify who was truly moving the needle.

Polls rolled out across the region invited readers to vote for those who hold the sway, the vision, and the capability to effect change. We have now collated the most powerful heavyweights from every corner of the district to form and rank the definitive Wide Bay Burnett Power 50.

These are the people leading the charge, and it is a clear case of girl power.

Here are the Wide Bay Burnett Power 50 ranked as per the hundreds of votes made on our poll.

1. South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff 14 percent of the votes

2. Attorney General and Nanango LNP MP Deb Frecklington 10 percent of votes

3. Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour 9 percent of votes

4. Wide Bay LNP MP Llew O’Brien, Gympie Deputy Mayor Dolly Jensen and Bundaberg environmental hero Glenn Rumsey 6 percent of votes

5. Hinkler LNP MP David Batt and Hervey Bay LNP MP David Lee 5 percent

6. Social media influencer and South Burnett farmer Farmer Belle 4 percent

7. Gympie businessman Terry Nolan 3 percent

8. Agriculture Minister and Gympie LNP MP Tony Perrett, Maryborough LNP MP John Barounis, Sue Cox, Michelle Byrne, Glenn Winney, Mal Dodt 2 percent

9. All other finalists on the list received either 1 percent of the vote or no votes at all.