POWER 100: Sunshine Coast’s most powerful people 100-81
The Sunshine Coast Power 100 countdown begins today. Over the next week we’ll count down the 100 most influential people in the region over the past 12 months, as determined by the public and a panel of judges. Today we start with numbers 100-81.
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THE Sunshine Coast Daily 2018 Power 100 countdown begins today.
Over the next week we’ll count down the 100 most influential people in our region over the past 12 months, as determined by public submissions and a panel of judges.
Today we start with those who came in at 100-81.
100. THE PEASES
FOR more than three decades, the husband-and-wife team has taught communication skills, body language and sales and negotiation techniques to governments, businesses and people globally.
The pair returned from a sell-out show in Russia this year. Together, they have written 18 bestsellers and given seminars in 70 countries.
Their books are bestsellers in more than 100 countries and sold more than 27 million copies.
99. MARK MCARDLE
THE LNP Member for Caloundra since 2004, Mark McArdle has lived on the Sunshine Coast for 27 years.
He has had a tough year in opposition but has still fought hard trying to get his fair share for the Coast. He lists his proudest achievements within his electorate as having Caloundra Rd expanded to four lanes and having CCTV cameras installed in Caloundra’s CBD.
This year he has petitioned for more water police and to fast-track Baringa school.
98. TERRY MEEHAN
FORMER president of the Queensland branch of the RSL and current deputy president of the national RSL body, Terry Meehan has devoted his life to ensuring veterans get a fair deal.
When he retired after more than 20 years in the defence service and then a career in the police, Mr Meehan wanted to give something back to the community, so studied veterans’ law and began working to help returned servicemen and women.
97. JIM LAGOPOULOS
THE director of the Sunshine Coast Mind and Neuroscience - Thompson Institute, Prof Jim Lagopoulos has been involved with neuroimaging for more than 20 years.
He was the director of Clinical Imaging at the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Research Institute for five years before beginning his current posting in early 2016.
His pioneering MRI techniques have brought science closer to finding the cause of schizophrenia.
96. TIM SMITH
PROFESSOR Tim Smith holds an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship.
He is also an Adjunct Professor with Brock University, Canada, and a Senior Research Associate with Uppsala University, Sweden. He was contributing author to the latest IPCC assessment and is a lead author for the upcoming IPCC assessment report.
Prior to joining USC, Professor Smith was a senior research scientist with the CSIRO.
95. RON GRABBE
RON Grabbe is as comfortable in an outrigger canoe as he is on the business floor.
The president of the Mooloolaba Outrigger Canoe Club was last year awarded the Sunshine Coast Australia Day Award for Sport and Recreation and was an integral part of the Coast’s successful bid to host the Va’a World Sprint championships.
Off the water, Mr Grabbe is a respected developer and founding director of the RGD Group.
94. NARELLE MCCARTHY
COMMITTED environmentalist, Ms McCarthy primarily undertakes the liaison and advocacy roles with the Sunshine Coast Environment Council - the peak environmental advocacy group for the region since 1980.
SCEC’s membership represents more than 10,000 people across the Coast and actively campaigns on a range of topics including the health of local waterways, Sekisui and plans to expand the airport.
93. ANDREW POWELL
A FORMER Environment and Heritage Protection Minister and now holding a crucial shadow portfolio as Shadow State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Minister, Mr Powell has carved out a reputation as a man able to get things done.
Boundary changes at the last election meant the Glass House MP had a hell of a fight to retain his seat, but he now looms as a key player in the LNP Opposition.
92. STEVE DICKSON
ELECTED to State Parliament in 2006 - firstly as Member for Kawana and then Member for Buderim after a boundary redistribution - Mr Dickson left the LNP in January 2017 to become state leader of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.
He lost his seat to the LNP candidate at the 2017 election but still works closely with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. Mr Dickson owned and operated several small businesses before entering politics.
91. JARROD BLEIJIE
JARROD Bleijie remains one of the most popular LNP MPs in the region.
The former Attorney-General has never been backwards in going forwards and continues to engage in what has been a bitter spat with Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson over a range of issues.
Mr Bleijie enjoys one of the healthiest margins in the region and has been a strong advocate for the Kawana electorate, even in Opposition.
90. BRIDIE SCOTT-PARKER
DR SCOTT-Parker is considered an expert in road safety for young novice drivers in her role as head of the Adolescent Risk Research Unit at the USC.
Her research involves measuring the risky behaviour of young novice drivers and the roles anxiety and depression play in that behaviour.
She is also the recipient of a National Health and Medical Research Council Early Career Fellowship.
89. GREG SMITH
AS THE president of Organisation Sunshine Coast Association of Residents Inc, Mr Smith represents thousands of Coast residents through member associations and community groups.
He is an advocate for transparency and good governance, particularly at a local government level.
Issues the group has tackled more recently include the failed Abacus Brisbane Rd carpark deal and amendments to the council’s planning scheme.
88. FIONA SIMPSON
THE Member for Maroochydore and Shadow Minister for Employment and Small Business, Training and Skills Development is one of the longest serving Members of Parliament and the first female Speaker in 150 years after the 2012 State Election.
Some of her local achievements include the new public hospital, safety upgrades to Sunshine Motorway, new boat ramps and upgrades to the Mt Coolum walking track.
87. AMANDA SHADFORTH
MS SHADFORTH is the woman behind fashion blog Oracle Fox, which boasts more than 1.5 million followers.
She is acknowledged globally as one of the fashion industry’s most prominent leaders and has even been called a “styling genius”.
She has worked on campaigns for the likes of YSL, Louis Vitton, Ralph Lauren and Viktor and Rolf. Oracle Fox has become one of the world’s most recognised fashion destinations.
86. CHRIS CAMERON
TOGETHER with husband Bob, Chris Cameron operates Rockcote, a paint and render manufacturer that has grown to employ more than 80 staff with 300 distributors nationwide and an operation in New Zealand.
With a strong environmental focus, the business has won a United Nations Szencorp Award for Excellence in Green Building and in 2012 was inducted into the Living Smart Awards Hall of Fame.
85. MICHELE LIPNER
NOW living in Peregian Springs, Michele Lipner spent 20 years doing humanitarian work in trouble spots such as Kosovo, Afghanistan and Ethiopia with various organisations, including the United Nations.
Her food rescue project distributes food to the needy, with more than 50 tonnes of excess food donated to-date and she has done humanitarian work after the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004.
84. JOHN YEAMAN
IMAGINE a 150km/h road built on high-tech plastic pipes laid between Weipa and Melbourne to enable convoys of self-driving trucks to carry freight direct from the Cape to the city in 24 hours.
It’s no pipe dream for USC Professor John Yeaman, who last year was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his 60 years of service to civil engineering and road asset maintenance management, professional organisations and the community.
83. GREG ROGERSON
THE long-term Coast councillor has grabbed plenty of headlines this year as he took up the fight over what he considered a lack of transparency from the council on a number of significant projects including plans for a new city hall building in the Maroochydore CBD and the effect of staff relocations from Nambour and Caloundra.
Cr Rogerson remains a passionate hinterland advocate and keen sports lover.
82. JESS & NORM
RADIO host Jess Eva and her partner Norm Hogan captured the attention, and hearts, of the nation when they appeared on this year’s series of hit reality television show The Block.
The couple quickly became known for their “bogan” ways, and after “Steven Bradburying” their way into securing a penthouse, went from strength to strength to eventually snag the cover of Domain magazine. The couple pocketed $209,000 at the auctions.
81. JETT KENNY
THE son of Grant Kenny and Lisa Curry is forging his own path.
The ironman and lifeguard has swapped his boardies for designer threads, with elite fashion houses using him for their campaigns this year. He has also had several television appearances, including on Channel Seven’s Real Full Monty and Nine’s Ninja Warrior.
Throw in his work with the Alexandra Headland nippers program and his support of local charities and Kenny’s hot property.
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