POWER 100: Coast’s most powerful people 80-61
The Sunshine Coast Power 100 countdown continues as we look at who came in between 80-61 in the poll to find out who the most powerful people in the region are.
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THE Sunshine Coast Daily Power 100 countdown continues as we look at who came in between 80-61 in the poll to find out who the most powerful people in our region are.
POWER 100: Coast’s most powerful people 100-81
80. JAMES MCGRATH
THE Nambour-based Senator used to enjoy a relatively low profile until playing a leading hand in the past two Liberal leadership spills.
In September 2015, Senator McGrath was one of the main men who threw their support behind Malcolm Turnbull when he unseated Tony Abbott.
Only a few months ago, Senator McGrath publicly backed Peter Dutton against Turnbull in a spill which resulted in ScoMo as PM.
79. ALAN MACKAY-SIM
DR MACKAY-Sim, of Currimundi, was the 2017 Australian of the Year for his pioneering work in stem cell research, which played a central role in restoring mobility in quadriplegics with a spinal cord injury.
Recognised as a world authority on the human sense of smell and the biology of nasal cells, he has championed the use of stem cells in understanding illnesses ranging from schizophrenia to Parkinson’s disease.
78. MICHAEL KIMLIN
UNIVERSITY of the Sunshine Coast cancer prevention expert Prof Michael Kimlin is researching the link between vitamin D and melanoma.
The study aims to provide a better understanding of the disease’s progression and whether vitamin D might reduce how aggressive the melanoma tumour is.
Prof Kimlin, who joined USC in 2015 as its foundation chair in cancer prevention, is a world-leading researcher.
77. AMBER WERCHON
WITH a life-long passion for property, Amber Werchon chose a career in real estate rather than a tertiary education, despite finishing Year 12 in the top 5 per cent of the state.
Progressing from reception to property sales by the age of 18, she went on to open her own independent agency, Amber Werchon Property, in 2008.
This year she continued her reign as one of the top agents on the Sunshine Coast.
76. DEBBIE PLATZ
A CURRENT Assistant Commissioner with the Australian Federal Police, the now Canberra-based decorated policewoman spent 22 years of her career on the Sunshine Coast.
In January last year, she was officially appointed national manager of crime operations, with her new portfolio covering drug importation, money-laundering and onshore immigration detention-centre incidents and people smuggling.
75. JOHN EASTHAM
CO-OWNER and CEO of the Garry Crick Auto Group, John Eastham oversees a business that has doubled in size every five years over the past 20 years and now employs more than 600 staff across 12 dealerships - eight of them on the Sunshine Coast.
With auto group founder Garry Crick, Mr Eastham has helped establish The Crick Eastham Foundation, which is committed to raising funds for many charities.
74. MIKE CLAYTON
A HUMBLE tow truck driver turned prime-time television star, Clayton’s Towing general manager Mike Clayton and his family have operated their towing empire in the region for 48 years.
Last year, that empire reached a nation with the screening of 10-part series Towies on 7Mate in prime time. The Clayton family is one of the region’s best business success stories and the empire continues to grow.
73. DAN SOWDEN
THE director of Ray White Maroochydore, Mr Sowden grew up on the Sunshine Coast and is heavily engaged in the local community, whether it be through his passion for sport as a keen supporter of Maroochydore rugby union and surf lifesaving, to his work with local charities helping the disadvantaged.
At various gala dinners and events, Mr Sowden can be found on stage as emcee or calling the bidding, raising plenty of money for charity.
72. MATT GOLINSKI
CELEBRITY chef Matt Golinski’s story is one of heartbreak and hope. Almost seven years since he lost his family in a house fire at Tewantin, in which he also suffered debilitating burns, Mr Golinski has shown what the human spirit is capable of.
His road to recovery has captured the interest and love of the nation. He now competes in marathons and has returned to the kitchen. Last year, he welcomed the arrival of daughter Aluna.
71. CHRIS SUN
NAMBOUR filmmaker Chris Sun has made a name for himself in the horror film industry.
In 2018, his blood fest Boar was released in his hometown with a limited release around the country. Boar was also screened on Foxtel, and with Microsoft and Playstation stores.
An IMDb rating of 7.5/10 is a clear sign of the film’s good reception following up his locally-produced movie Charlie’s Farm, starring Tara Reid.
70. BRENDAN BRYANT
AS THE managing director of the Bryant Property Group, specialising in commercial property, building and leasing to corporate clients in the Maroochydore CBD, Mr Bryant is also a founding member and former vice-president of Maroochydore Revitalisation Association and was heavily involved in transforming the Ocean St precinct.
He is also co-owner of the New Orleans restaurant in Duporth Ave.
69. MICHAEL MANWARING
A SHOPPING centre manager of about 30 years, Mr Manwaring is centre manager for the Sunshine Plaza, the Coast’s major shopping destination. Having taken over in 2010, Mr Manwaring’s current role involves overseeing a massive $400 million redevelopment of the shopping precinct, which would make the Plaza the largest shopping precinct north of Brisbane.
The move will see giant retailer David Jones move in.
68. GLENN FERGUSON
GLENN Ferguson is the managing director of Ferguson Cannon Lawyers and a solicitor of the High Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of Queensland.
He is a past president of the Law Council of Australia, the Law Association for Asia and the Pacific and the Queensland Law Society.
He is also a senior counsellor with the Queensland Law Society and an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
67. DAVID DANGERFIELD
DAVID Dangerfield is the founder and CEO of the Compass Institute, a Sunshine Coast-based charity dedicated to providing support for people with intellectual and/or physical disabilities.
The organisation has grown from supporting three young people to having more than 90 trainees and more than 40 staff across six centres in Palmwoods, Hunchy, Caloundra, Caboolture, Gympie and Gladstone.
66. CHRIS TURNER
CHRIS Turner is the founder and executive director of SunnyKids, a Sunshine Coast charity working to break inter-generational cycles of poverty and disadvantage, support at-risk children and young people to stay engaged with education, and provide crisis accommodation to women and children.
SunnyKids now has more than 100 corporate partners and supports more than 140 community agencies help children in need.
65. JAMES BIRRELL
JAMES Birrell is as passionate about architecture as he is music. The owner of James Birrell Design Lab is also the founder of the popular Maroochy Music and Visual Arts Festival, which each year injects $4million into the Coast economy.
As the festival searches for a new home, Mr Birrell has launched Beach Club - a 2500-person, licensed party on Mooloolaba beach to be held in December. The event has been a year in the making.
64. BILL HAURITZ
BEST known as the founder and director of Woodford Folk Festival, Bill Hauritz has overseen the growth of the festival from a 900-person event to one which attracts more than 100,000 people in the purpose-made site “Woodfordia”.
Mr Hauritz was this year honoured with a Queensland Greats Award by the Premier and has previously been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia and an Honorary Senior Fellow at the USC.
63. ROY HENZELL
ROY Henzell was just 29 when he took over his family’s real estate business in Caloundra. He ran the business with his mother Judy until 1990, when he invited Garry Waters to join as partner.
Together, they have spearheaded development of the Pelican Waters housing estate, featuring more than 2000 home sites, a resort, shopping centre and sporting facilities. This year the company has embarked on a $1.5m redevelopment of Henzell’s Plaza.
62. LISA ROWE
AS THE CEO of local charity Wishlist, Ms Rowe has overseen much-needed funding for Sunshine Coast hospitals.
This year saw the first sod turned on the fourth The House the Coast Built - an affordable accommodation facility for families with relatives receiving treatment at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital. The foundation also took back management of Reed House for emergency accommodation.
61. MARK FORBES
AN Australia-first facility to treat eating disorders is about to be built on the Coast thanks to Mr Forbes. Four years ago he founded endED after watching his own daughters suffer.
The group has partnered with the council and the university to create a community where eating disorders become a stranger. Each fortnight the Forbes open their home for meetings with parents and carers to help teach them how to support their loved ones.
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