Part 7: Queensland’s 100 most influential people — Positions 10-1
THE countdown is over. Here, we reveal the state’s top 10 most influential people. And the No. 1? Let’s just say if he called any of the other 99 influencers on our list, they’d drop everything to answer him. SEE INTERACTIVE
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THE countdown is over. These are the Queenslanders at the top of their field, setting the agenda in our state and influencing the big decisions.
This week, couriermail.com.au has been counting down to the top 10, with full lists revealed online and in a special Power 100 edition of QWeekend magazine today.
Who do you think are Queensland’s most powerful people?
Post your nominations in the comments section below or email to editor@couriermail.com.au.
Part 1, 100-86: Who’s really running our state?
Part 2, 85-71: Power struggle at the Broncos
Part 3, 70-56: He’s given $100m to benefit our state
Part 4, 55-41: Labor’s ‘agent of infection’
Part 5, 40-26: Most controversial list yet
Part 6, 25-11: Our $82 billion man
Queensland’s 100 most influential people: Positions 40-26
#10 EMILY SKYE ANDERSON, FITNESS ENTREPRENEUR
With more than 14 million social media followers around the world, former model and personal trainer Anderson has built a health and fitness empire estimated to be worth more than $32 million.
Since she started posting workout tips on a blog in 2009, the Gold Coast-based social media queen has amassed a huge following on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
Through her business, Emily Skye FIT, she now sells workout and healthy meal plans to more than 250,000 subscribers, who pay from $20 per month for her motivational programs, according to her website.
Her success caught the attention of Quadrant Private Equity’s Fitness & Lifestyle Group — the $750 million powerhouse that owns gym brands such as Goodlife Health Clubs, Fitness First Australia, and Jetts Australia — and they bought a stake in Emily Skye FIT.
Her influence has also scored her lucrative deals with global giants such as Reebok, which signed her up for a campaign alongside supermodel Gigi Hadid in the US — her biggest market. In the UK, she has a lucrative endorsement deal with Lucozade, helping to promote sports drink FitWater.
Anderson, who had her first child last December, is about to launch a range of new health products.
#9 SUSAN KIEFEL, CHIEF JUSTICE OF AUSTRALIA
Cairns-born legal eagle Kiefel is the country’s top judge. Appointed Chief Justice 17 months ago, she is the first woman to hold the position of presiding judge of the High Court in its 115-year history.
The High Court has responsibility for deciding constitutional matters, such as the dual-citizenship issue, which has led to six federal MPs and eight senators stepping down. It also hears appeals from other federal, state and territory courts in criminal, civil and other cases. There is no further appeal recourse.
Long seen as a trailblazer for women in the legal profession, Chief Justice Kiefel described her elevation as “a natural progression” when she was appointed. This was in answer to a fellow lawyer who had congratulated her by describing the appointment as “a historic moment for women”.
Kiefel left Sandgate High School in Brisbane’s north after Year 10 and joined the secretarial pool at a building society, later going to work as a receptionist for a barrister’s chambers. There she was encouraged to study law by Tony Fitzgerald QC, who later headed the landmark inquiry into police and political corruption in Queensland.
Kiefel became a barrister at 21, and the state’s youngest — and first female — QC at 33. In 1993, before she turned 40, she was appointed to the Supreme Court of Brisbane, and to the Federal Court a year later. She has been a Justice of the High Court since 2007.
The Chief Justice also has a ceremonial role, deputising for the Governor-General when required.
#8 HARVEY LISTER & ROD PILBEAM, ENTERTAINMENT ENTREPRENEURS
This duo plans to change the face of Brisbane. Their visionary proposal to transform the ugly Roma St railyards into Brisbane Live! — a $2 billion entertainment and lifestyle precinct, including a 17,000-seat indoor arena — has won the backing of both sides of politics. The development, being incorporated into the planning of the State Government’s Cross River Rail public transport initiative, would link with the cultural precinct and Queen’s Wharf casino-resort to turn Brisbane into a genuine 24/7 city.
Lister and long-term business partner Pilbeam have built Brisbane-based AEG Ogden into one of the most successful venue management groups in the world. Directly responsible for running more than 20 stadiums, convention centres, and entertainment and sports arenas across the Asia-Pacific, they bring top international performers and leading events to state venues including Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre and Cairns Convention Centre. Their firm is also part of the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), a global giant whose venues include London’s O2 and Los Angeles’ L.A. Live. The pair’s expertise and advice are keenly sought, and Lister was this year appointed by federal Tourism Minister Steven Ciobo to the Beyond 2020 Tourism Steering Committee.
#7 WAGNER FAMILY, ENTREPRENEURS
No one epitomises the roll-your-sleeves-up-and-do-it spirit of entrepreneurialism like Toowoomba’s Wagner family — brothers John, 57, Denis, 55, Neill, 51, and Joe, 49.
The Wagners’ best-known achievement — building Australia’s only new airport in a half-century — was completed in just 19 months, using concrete and construction materials from their own plants and without a dollar of taxpayers’ money. Its impact in positioning the Darling Downs city as a major national and international freight and passenger hub will continue to grow for decades to come. But it is only one example.
The Wagners became registered water services and telecommunications carriers to provide utilities crucial to developing their 2000ha Wellcamp Business Park, which will link to Inland Rail.
Next on their to-do list of transforming the region are plans for a V8 Supercars and entertainment venue to rival Bathurst, NSW, and a world-class public garden in a disused quarry.
The Wagner family is helping to revolutionise international construction techniques with a range of world-first technologies. Some of these include super-strength, lightweight, maintenance-free composite fibre building materials as an alternative to concrete and steel for bridges, wharves and other structures, and an earth-friendly concrete, which dramatically reduces carbon emissions during the manufacturing process.
Their business acumen and go-getter attitude mean the Wagner family will be one to watch for
a long time to come.
#6 KARL MORRIS, BRISBANE BRONCOS CHAIRMAN
Morris is in charge of more than half-a-million superannuation funds but his role overseeing the Brisbane Broncos is one of the biggest challenges in Queensland.
Late last year, Morris was appointed chairman of the Broncos, the richest club in the National Rugby League, amassing more than $40 million in revenue every year.
Morris was headhunted for the role by Broncos chief executive Paul White and Brisbane’s major shareholder, News Corporation, publishers of The Courier-Mail.
Morris is also executive chairman of wealth management group Ord Minnett and $94 billion superannuation fund QSuper. He has held numerous positions within Catholic Church organisations.
A father-of-five and highly successful stockbroker, Morris stepped into the Broncos hot seat with little experience in sports administration. He is now responsible for overseeing one of the biggest decisions in the club’s 30-year history — the future of coach Wayne Bennett.
Bennett, 68, is off-contract next year and the Broncos, through White and Morris, have been assessing their options before deciding whether to re-sign arguably the biggest figure
in the club.
The Broncos board comprises some powerful figures within the game and Queensland business circles. Legendary former player Darren Lockyer sits on the board along with successful Brisbane businessman Tony Joseph. At the top of the table now is Morris, who has attempted to keep a relatively low public profile during his seven months in the role.
But the Broncos are big business in Queensland and his decisions as chairman of the club are sure to attract plenty of interest.
#5 DAVID BARBAGALLO, PREMIER’S CHIEF OF STAFF
Barbagallo has been given many labels throughout his long association with politics in Queensland — Prince of Darkness, notorious and headkicker are just a few. Yet those who know or have dealt with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s charismatic chief of staff would not doubt his capabilities.
Barbagallo was principal private secretary to former Labor premier Wayne Goss, a period where he courted controversy on several occasions. In the decades since his frontline political role in Goss’s reformist administration, Barbagallo earnt a reputation in the corporate sector for taking small, underperforming organisations and making success stories out of them.
The OA medallist applied his formidable skills at Distributed Systems Technology Centre in the mid-1990s and at mining software company Mincom until 2005. Then from 2009 he transformed disability charity Endeavour Foundation.
In May last year, Palaszczuk asked Barbagallo to do the same for her ailing minority government. At that stage, Labor was raked by division and flailing around for a proper agenda. Criticism of Palaszczuk’s former chief of staff, Angela MacDonagh, had spilled into the public domain repeatedly.
Barbagallo’s influence has been marked. Most notably, Labor won last year’s election when most pundits, months earlier, had written them off. Within weeks of taking the job, Barbagallo brought to conclusion a damaging internal spat within the Government over a royalties deal for Adani, the India-based multinational behind the proposed Carmichael mine site in Central Queensland.
Barbagallo’s brand of no-nonsense, results-focused politics is evident in the more strategic way the Government has been operating for the past 12 months.
How long he’s prepared to hang around will become the burning question.
#4 ALAN MacSPORRAN, CRIME AND CORRUPTION COMMISSION CHAIRMAN
MacSporran has spread fear and loathing across Queensland. When the QC and former crown prosecutor took the helm as chairman of the state’s Crime and Corruption Commission three years ago, the body had become a political football and the once-coveted role had turned into a poisoned chalice.
In his first interview MacSporran promised to bring leadership, rebuild internal morale and restore stability and public confidence. Mission accomplished! The CCC’s authority and influence are at unprecedented levels. The Belcarra Inquiry into the 2016 council elections — which included public hearings — has sparked widespread local government reforms, including a ban on developer donations.
Separate investigations into multiple southeast Queensland councils have led to four high-profile mayors — Paul Pisasale and his successor at Ipswich, Andrew Antoniolli, Luke Smith (Logan) and Chris Loft (Fraser Coast) — now facing charges and Ipswich councillors have been asked to show cause as to why they should not be dismissed.
Dozens more charges have been laid against other people and MacSporran has publicly flagged he is not finished yet, with investigations into other councils ongoing. Before taking over the CCC chairmanship, MacSporran chaired the Palaszczuk Government’s inquiry into the greyhound live baiting scandal.
JOINT #2/3 ANNASTACIA PALASZCZUK, PREMIER and JACKIE TRAD, DEPUTY PREMIER
In principle, Annastacia Palaszczuk is the undisputed queen of Queensland. In practice, very little of note occurs within Queensland’s Labor Government that doesn’t pass under the purview of irrepressible Deputy Premier Jackie Trad. That’s why it’s impossible to split the two. They are the double act of the administration, the twin pillars of Queensland politics, the dual heads of government who have, on occasions, duelled.
When first elected in 2006, Palaszczuk was considered just another MP with Labor pedigree but limited potential. She was thrust into the ministry after a term when then-premier Anna Bligh purged those associated with her predecessor and went for fresh talent in 2009.
But it was when voters rid the Parliament of all but seven Labor MPs in 2012 that Palaszczuk rose to prominence amid the motley crew of remaining party members. Her leadership was considered likely to be short-lived in the face of an insurmountable challenge from the dominant Newman government. But she won the unwinnable election in 2015.
Palaszczuk’s first term as premier was coloured by a pervading sentiment her election was an accident. But she consolidated Labor’s position while her LNP opponent crumbled. Her effort in taking the party from the seven-member “Team Tarago” to majority government has earnt Palaszczuk legendary status within Labor and plenty of clout everywhere else.
In politics, however, numbers are everything. And as leader of Labor’s Left faction, Trad has the numbers within the party’s 48-member Caucus. Elected to replace Bligh in South Brisbane after the former premier quit following Labor’s 2012 annihilation, Trad has enjoyed a rapid rise. Her inexperience, on occasions, has shown. But Trad has proven a political natural. Her influence over everything the Government does has only expanded this term after she snared the Treasury portfolio from Curtis Pitt. While she’s not Palaszczuk’s puppetmaster, Trad isn’t afraid to pull some strings.
#1 JOHNATHAN THURSTON, SPORTS STAR & COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR
When Johnathan Thurston speaks, people listen. Including every other person on our Power 100 list. If he were to pick up the phone and dial any one of the 99 influencers on The Courier-Mail’s list of most powerful, they would take his call.
Thurston personifies Queensland. He was the kid who got told he was too skinny to play rugby league, only to become the state’s most recognisable sports star. Yet his influence extends beyond what he has done on the football field to become a driving force in politics and indigenous affairs. His efforts were worthy of taking out the Queensland Australian of the Year award in 2017.
When Thurston’s team, the North Queensland Cowboys, won the 2015 NRL Grand Final, the inspirational league star used his post-match speech to call for a new stadium in Townsville. Only eight months later it was a done deal.
Both state and federal governments agreed to fund the $250 million stadium, which has now started construction and will leave a lasting legacy in the north Queensland city.
Away from the field, the Cowboys co-captain has called for a change of date for Australia Day and boldly declared it is only a matter of time before that happens.
Thurston is now the face of the “Stop Smoking Before It Starts” anti-smoking campaign after one of Australia’s richest men — Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest — came knocking on his door for help. He has also been an ambassador for the Queensland Reconciliation Awards and Apunipima Cape York Health Council’s anti-ice campaign.
Thurston champions indigenous health and education and has launched the JT Academy, which aims to deliver employment, training and community programs to people across the nation. And we are yet to even mention his outstanding feats on the football field. Thurston is the only four-time winner of the Dally M Medal — rugby league’s highest individual honour. He has forged one of the game’s greatest ever careers despite being told as a teenager that
he was too slight and too slow to make it as a professional.
Thurston will hang up his trademark headgear at the end of the 2018 season to, in his words, embark on a new chapter in his life. And it is hard to see his influence diminishing, given the power his voice carries.
Thurston entered his last season as a player in 2018 as a giant of rugby league. A future Immortal, rated as one of the best to have ever played, Thurston is also an outspoken leader in the game, and in the world of indigenous issues where his influence is almost immeasurable.
There has been something special about Thurston ever since he was a child running around for Sunnybank, in Brisbane’s south. He was overlooked by nearly every NRL talent scout in the game, branded not fast enough or heavy enough to make it in the big league, before the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs let him play for free. In just his third season of NRL (2004), Thurston played in the grand final for Canterbury, famously giving his premiership ring to injured Bulldogs captain Steve Price in what is regarded as one of the game’s most selfless gestures.
His arrival at North Queensland in 2005 coincided with the Cowboys reaching the NRL grand final for the first time. Since then he has steadily evolved into the game’s most revered player, setting a new standard for competitiveness with his never-say-die determination.
Thurston was also the catalyst for an attitude shift among a new generation of players after one day deciding to pick up his kicking tee to return it to the ball kid. That gesture
led to him giving away his trademark headgear after every game to a lucky young fan in the crowd.
Thurston made his State of Origin debut for Queensland in 2005 and did not miss a match until last year, playing a record 36 straight games for the Maroons.
A father of three, he is an inspirational role model for the indigenous population and his unwavering support of the All Stars concept was a key to its success. He has also campaigned hard for the game’s small men to be protected from illegal tackles. When Thurston does hang up the boots at the end of this season, every political party and business will be lining up to have him alongside them.
That is the power of Johnathan Thurston.
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