Sunshine Coast’s rising stars under 30 revealed
From business owners to engineering dynamos and property gurus – here are 30 of the Sunshine Coast’s young gun professionals and how they’re making their mark. Vote in our poll here.
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Entrepreneurs, engineers and top business minds are just some of the occupations of the rising young professionals of the Sunshine Coast under 30 years old.
The Sunshine Coast Daily has compiled a list of 30 of some of the most impressive community members under 30 years of age who are wielding their influence on our region.
Find out who they are and scroll to the bottom of the list to vote in our poll and tell us who you believe is having the biggest influence on the region despite – or maybe because of – their young age.
Don’t be shy too about telling us if you think we missed anyone who should have been on the list.
Here are our contenders, in no particular order:
Jordan Barden
Rising property star Jordan Barden has made a name for himself on the Sunshine Coast real estate market as a closer like no other.
The 26-year-old Define Property agent was nominated as a Real Estate Business Awards Young Gun of the Year for 2022, being a part of the top 30 agents under 30 in the country.
Mr Barden co-founded Sunshine Coast Young Chamber of Commerce in 2018 where he is an executive member.
During his seven years working in real estate Mr Barden has won other accolades such as Auctioneer of the Year.
Miranda McLennan
Sunshine Coast-based business owner Miranda McLennan has taken her business prowess internationally, earning her a spot in our top 30 under 30 young professionals.
In the last decade Ms McLennan has worked as a restaurant owner and operator in Italy as well as a managing partner of an international software development company.
In February 2022 she shifted her focus to her human resources company, Those Who Dare, where she works with small to medium businesses.
The Maroochydore resident said she loves working with founders and start-ups to piece together their strategies, having several business in the United Kingdom, Central Queensland and bigger clients such as the Billy J Boutique and Helimods.
Tara McKean
Young professional Tara McKean has emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the events space after working tirelessly overseas.
Ms McKean worked in corporate events for two years following her tertiary graduation which led her to start in London, creating events for legal publication conferences and award ceremonies globally.
She moved back to the Sunshine Coast during the pandemic and worked for a Sydney-based company organising events in the public sector before starting her own company, Self Events Co.
It’s here Ms McKean is creating events to empower and inspire young women in their 20s-30s, while also freelancing.
Her next Self Event will be on November 3, 2022 where two Sunshine Coast women will share their stories from experiencing complete burnout to creating a lifestyle that works for them, while finding their spark and themselves again.
Francesca Molina
Growing up on the Sunshine Coast, legal eagle Francesca Molina always knew she was destined for a job in the law fraternity.
She recognised this dream after working in firms in Mooloolaba and Noosa following her admission to the law in 2018.
Ms Molina joined Hunkin Law in October 2020 before it rebranded to Insight Law, where she rose to the rank of partner in October 2021.
Claire Pardon
Sunshine Coast Orthopaedic Group general manager Claire Pardon rose through the ranks of the dynamic medico company following her humble beginnings in their reception five years ago.
Ms Pardon has worked in the top job for three years and grew with the business, overseeing marketing, business, community events and its general development.
Initially studying biomedical science in university, her tenacity through business helped her merge the two into an unstoppable hybrid, making her a vital asset for the group.
The Zimbabwean-born general manager helped the business grow through expanding their practices and clinics in Noosa, Caloundra, Peregian Beach, Birtinya and in Buderim where clients are helped in the non operational stages of their injuries through to surgery.
Bridie Edwards
Young gun lawyer Bridie Edwards has been making her mark on the industry since 2020, working on complex property, corporate and commercial matters.
Among her accolades is being the youngest ever Queensland Law Society Councillor, having a Masters in Law at 25-years-old, all while sitting on several legal committees regarding administration and legislative policy for Queensland lawyers.
Ms Edwards also sits on one of Australia’s largest Legal Providers Innovation and Tech committees as an industry consult.
David Goldsworthy
Coming from an automotive and engineering background, Ray White Commercial’s Northern Corridor Group agent David Goldsworthy has found his niche on the Sunshine Coast.
Mr Goldsworthy worked close with Michael Shadforth and Samuel Hoy in the last four years selling commercial plots in the region, particularly in Stockland’s Aura business park.
After rising from an associate to sales and leasing executive, Mr Goldsworthy enjoys working with small business owners due to his background in mechanics, fabrications, sales and even hospitality.
Peter Condoleon
Engineering guru Peter Condoleon is an up and coming technical star, being the co-founder of a ground breaking company saving millions for mining and manufacturing companies.
The Greaseboss co-founder came up with the idea with his mates Tim Hall and Steve Barnett to create software to help prevent machinery from breaking down through greasing solutions.
Mr Condoleon said their Birtinya-based company gained momentum in 2019 during a start-up competition which attracted market interest and capital.
They now have a number of clients in mining, quarrying, infrastructure, utility and water treatment plants both abroad and internationally with help from the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce and the Sunshine Coast Manufacturing Excellence Forum.
Jacob Harrison
Avid wine lover and connoisseur Jacob Harrison embodies all things wine, through his own company in Little Mountain which incorporates brokerage, consultation, representation and education.
The Sunshine Coast idealist began his business in 2016 while wanting to pursue more dynamic and innovative ambitions while working with other restaurants, companies and manufacturers.
Mr Harrison took the next step and began operating under his own umbrella, Fortified Collective.
He has big plans for the future, including opening two charities and bringing more wine to the younger generation.
Will Thompson
Thompson Insurance’s William Thompson is a young broker on the Sunshine Coast known for his commitment to his clients and to young professionals in the region.
Mr Thompson helped start the Sunshine Coast Young Chamber of Commerce with in 2018 and is also an executive member of the Maroochydore Chamber of Commerce.
He is an integral part of Thompson Insurance, and prior to this spent several years as a consultant for a major Australian insurer.
He has also won accolades such as the National Insurance Broker’s Association QLD Young Broker of the Year.
Josie Tully
Josie Tully first dived into the world of accounting when she was 19 and is now a senior accountant at HeliMods on the Sunshine Coast.
She’s one of six executive members of the Sunshine Coast Young Chamber of Commerce.
The rising accountant is also a proud Gomeroi woman and works with CPA Australia on an indigenous accountants initiative, with a board to be formed.
Outside of accounting, Josie is an ambassador for World Gym Caloundra where she helps promote health and fitness.
She received more than 300 votes to earn the ambassador role and was recently named a finalist in the Fisher Electorate’s Community Awards by Fisher MP Andrew Wallace.
Alister Eiseman
Car enthusiast Alister Eiseman turned his love for motorsports into a successful career on the Sunshine Coast.
Mr Eiseman works as branch manager for Pacific Ford Motor Group in Maroochydore with the business also operating out of Caloundra and Noosa.
The sales manager got his start at the age of 18 in a trainee role and rose through the ranks to his current position.
He is also a member of the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce and is on the board of directors for Uniforms for Kids and chairs the Caloundra LNP group.
Lachie Finch
Marketing whiz Lachie Finch got his start in the industry working in exchange for a carton of beer a week in 2018.
Fresh out of university he helped Your Mates Brewery form a marketing strategy, in exchange for a regular supply of their brews.
Mr Finch said that work was crucial to his success in his marketing career.
Over several years he worked alongside the brewers to grow the company from contract brewing to having their own brewery at Kawana Waters.
Mr Finch has moved onto Coastline BMW where he works as their marketing and events co-ordinator, while consulting with other large companies on the Sunshine Coast.
Alicia Lucas
Family law young gun Alicia Lucas has a passion for helping those affected by complex and diverse issues within a domestic setting, working in the area since 2015.
Ms Lucas was admitted to law in 2019 and has a strong interest in parenting matters, finding effective solutions while working with Griffiths Parry Lawyers and Notary.
Her team has worked with charity SunnyKids to kick off a pro bono program in the Noosa Magistrates Court to help those involved in domestic violence and family law matters.
She is also an active member for the Sunshine Coast Law Association is a member with the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce.
AJ Mitakos
Walker Corporation’s development and leasing manager AJ Mitakos has played a pivotal role in the Maroochydore City Centre project.
After studying property economics at Queensland University of Technology, Mr Mitakos followed a career in investment transaction where he worked in selling shopping centres to large funds and investment banks.
Through this experience Mr Mitakos worked with LendLease in Sydney, developing his skills until he began with the Walker Corporation on the Sunshine Coast.
Mr Mitakos role involves expanding on Walker Corporation founder Lang Walker’s vision for the Maroochydore CBD through asset creating and transforming urban areas for investment opportunities.
Mr Mitakos estimates throughout his career he has handled in excess of $500m in transactions.
Mitch van der Werf
Sunshine Coast builder Mitch van der Werf, 26, is the brains behind small home construction company Stay Tiny Co, which he formed in March, 2020.
Mr van der Werf, who has worn his tool belt for more than 10 years and across four countries, designs and builds small, sustainable homes, with turnkey houses selling for up to $125,400.
While he’s in hot demand with bookings filled until next year, he said his success and motivation was not measured by his bottom line.
“Success to me is seeing the satisfaction in the client’s face at hand over. That’s what keeps me motivated to continue doing my absolute best,” he said.
Jordan McIntosh
Sunshine Coast realtor Jordan McIntosh, 26, is a young agent part of a new and ambitious real estate agency, Sunshine Coast Realty Group, which launched early this year with plans to be a “big player”.
“We don’t want to be just another transactional real estate agency. We really love helping the community find their dream home or assist in creating financial freedom through property,” he said.
Mr McIntosh is the youngest realtor in the agency’s team of three.
His colleague, Andrew Hansen, said Mr McIntosh is a “super realtor”, selling units for up to $2m.
Mr Hansen said the young talent’s biggest asset was his passion and focus on results.
“He’s going incredibly well,” he said.
Jordan Josic
While most teenagers partied for Schoolies in November, 2017, Sunshine Coast tech enthusiast Jordan Josic, 22, flew to Silicon Valley to find inspiration for his career.
It’s safe to say the trip was a success.
Today, he wears many hats, including being a volunteer at Silicon Coast, head marketer for global organisation Christian Vision, and organiser for an annual innovation event, Forward Fest Sunshine Coast.
Mr Josic, who graduated with a Bachelor of Information Technology this year, said his secret to being able to juggle many responsibilities at once was by working smarter, not harder.
“It’s very cliche, but (it’s about) trying to understand where you can provide the most value,” he said.
Bronte Cresswell
Sunshine Coast business queen Bronte Cresswell is an award-winning entrepreneur who founded and owned a booming marketing brand, Dash of Milk, before selling it last month.
After graduation Ms Creswell landed a gig at a social media agency, but she had bigger ambitions to own a business.
At the age of 23 she sold her car to help launch Dash of Milk which she initially ran from her kitchen table.
After growing the brand for four years, the young gun sold it and is now focusing on her new venture, Dash Academy where she coaches businesses and in-house marketers on how to manage their social media channels.
“I am very excited for my next steps, and to see what I can do from here in the local community and Sunshine Coast Business space,” she said.
But while she is an inspiring business woman, she said she measures her success by her character, not business.
Angelique Hallett
Teen entrepreneur Angelique Hallett, 18, is the founder and chief executive of social enterprise Loving Hope Bears, enabling people to donate teddy bears to children at domestic violence shelters across the state.
The teen, who graduated from school last year, said 537 teddies have been sent to places such as Gold Coast, Gympie, and even Cairns.
Ms Hallet said she wanted every child in these shelters to receive a teddy to help decrease the long-lasting effects of domestic abuse.
Shelene Bailey
Shelene Bailey, 23, is chief of staff at national social enterprise Young Change Agents, which educates people from ages of 10 to 21 on strengthening their mindset, skill-set and problem-solving skills.
“It’s pretty much my dream job,” she said.
Ms Bailey landed the position where she manages a team of 16 after she graduated from University of the Sunshine Coast.
She said she was passionate about empowering young people to make change in the community.
Ms Bailey said she was driven to make a bigger impact in her role, reach more youth, and help make education on entrepreneurship “the norm in schools”.
Jacqueline Peetz
While you can find her coaching individuals and groups at Jetts Mooloolaba, Jacqueline Peetz, 22, is a passionate and ambitious personal trainer who has a booming online fitness and health business, JFIIT, which she launched late last year.
Ms Peetz said she started coaching gym-goers in-person before spotting a bigger opportunity to connect with people online. Today, she has worked with more 100 women across the country.
While navigating the “crazy ride” of her 20s, she said she leapt into the fitness industry to offer young women a raw, realistic and sustainable approach to having a healthy body, mind and “fierce” soul.
She said her goal was to give women the skills to trust themselves, love and listen to their bodies, and learn how to ditch an all or nothing mindset to health and fitness.
“(All) while still getting to feel the strongest and healthiest … and to have a little fun while doing so,” she said.
George Carpenter
George Carpenter, 23, is the founder of non-invasive health service Sunshine Coast Pulse Therapy where he treats horses using a method called electromagnetic field therapy to increase blood flow and healing for animals.
The former carpentry apprentice said he helped 35 to 40 horses a week.
Mr Carpenter said he was driven by a rewarding feeling to play a role in helping a race or show horse get back on its feet.
“It’s nice to feel like you’ve grown and accomplished something,” he said.
Daniel Ebbels
Caloundra professional video gamer Daniel Ebbels, 27, is a celebrity in the gaming world with more than 50,000 followers on streaming platform Twitch where he can make up to $10,000 a month.
While there was plenty of money to be made, Mr Ebbels – known as RedOpz online – said he was more interested in getting to know people and raising awareness for men’s mental health.
“I want to grow, but I want to help people along the way,” he said.
Mr Ebbels said he was visiting various mental health charities across the country, and raising money online for the cause.
Nicholas Quinn
Nicholas Quinn, 25, is an architectural graduate at Maroochydore firm Blackburne Jackson.
Mr Quinn, who has only been at the firm for a couple of years, has worked on an impressive list of projects, including a multi-residential project in Beerwah, town centre in Sippy Downs, and high-end units in Noosa.
Mr Quinn said he has worked on hundreds of projects, while also ticking off a Master of Architecture at QUT last year.
He said he got a kick out of seeing his projects in development or built.
“I’m always pointing out projects that I’m working on with everyone that I’m with,” he said.
Mr Quinn was now looking forward to becoming a registered architect.
Kayleigh Matias
Absolute Aerials founder Kayleigh Matias, 29, started one of the first aerial silk studios on the Sunshine Coast in 2015.
She started with a modest 30 students, but today has 200, including award-winning aerialists.
As a high achiever, Mrs Matias said she was committed to helping her students achieve seemingly impossible tasks.
“I always say what we do is make the impossible possible,” she said.
She said it was also rewarding seeing how the sport positively impacted her students, whether it uplifted their mental or physical health or helped them overcome fear or achieve their dreams.
Mrs Matias said she wanted to open a second studio and create a legacy by standardising and encouraging high-quality teaching and training facilities across the sport.
Dylan Lau
Dylan Lau, 28, is a bright veterinarian at North Coast Equine Veterinary Services, specialising in horses and small animals.
Mr Lau, who got the job in 2020 after studying for five years, said he enjoyed seeing a range of animals, and helping them return to full health while watching the delight on their owners’ faces.
“It’s quite a good feeling,” he said.
He said he also liked his dynamic workplace, saying “every day is different”.
Down the line, Mr Lau said he looked forward to evolving his title to “equine surgeon”.
Lucie Barnett
After studying music and political economy for four years and starting a kombucha business in Canada, Lucie Barnett, 24, decided to enter the family business on the Sunshine Coast.
Ms Barnett is the marketing and communications director for Montville Coffee, a fair-trade and organic coffee roastery along Balmoral Rd that her parents opened in 2000.
Ms Barnett, who worked in the cafe as a kid, said she was now committed to taking the family’s brand to the next level by marketing it to a new and younger audience in a fresh, relevant way.
“It’s actually such a cool business,” she said.
Jake Jodvalkis and Kristy Knox
Sunshine Coast couple Jake Jodvalkis, 26, and Kristy Knox, 27, have created a popular cafe empire, opening their third business, Sippy Social, in July.
Mr Jodvalkis said he and his partner became business owners after being offered a small cafe with bags of potential in Forest Glen, Local Social Cafe.
Mr Jodvalkis said he learned the basics of running a business during a stint as a produce manager at an organic cafe and marketplace.
He said one of his biggest motivators was being able to serve fresh, affordable food to the community.
“You enjoy the pleasure of feeding people,” he said.
Mr Jodvalkis said he was content with three venues, saying he wanted to focus on bringing them all to their full potential.
“You can always improve,” he said.
The poll has been closed with the people's choice to be announced soon.
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