Power 50 | Sunshine Coast and Noosa’s top 30-21 most powerful people of 2023
From politics to fitness and hospitality, see who has been named in the countdown of the top 50 most influential people on the Sunshine Coast. SEE FROM 30-21.
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The Sunshine Coast’s most influential movers and shakers of the year have been named after another 12 months of development, successes and challenges.
From a long-time radio host to dedicated lawyers and community group leaders, these are the people which have made themselves heard.
The Sunshine Coast Daily’s top 50 most influential list is being announced this week, with 10 new names being revealed each day.
Check out the countdown from 50 to 41 and 40 to 31.
30. Jennifer Swaine
Jennifer Swaine is an experienced communications and public relations consultant and the chair of the Sunshine Coast Business Awards.
Ms Swaine moved to the Sunshine Coast with her husband in 2010.
The former Sunshine Coast Daily columnist helps large corporate businesses as well as small to medium-sized enterprises increase their profile through strong branding and compelling storytelling.
Ms Swaine is the interim CEO of Regional Development Australia Sunshine Coast, a non-executive director of Visit Sunshine Coast and the business and tourism lead at Sunshine Coast 2032.
29. Chris Toohey
A veteran of the Queensland Police Service, Detective Inspector Chris Toohey is involved in investigations into major crimes and cases on the Sunshine Coast.
The Crime Inspector for the region has spent 33 years in policing, primarily in criminal investigation.
In his time on the Sunshine Coast, he has investigated murders, robberies, and organised crime.
This year, Inspector Toohey was involved in the launch of a homicide investigation after Christopher Gwin was found dead by neighbours in his Conondale home in May, while he also was involved in the investigation into the alleged fatal assault of John Kerr at Noosa Heads in June.
When it comes to policing, Mr Toohey said it is critical to balance the need to investigate, respond, disrupt, and prevent crimes.
28. Jacob Watson
Wattfit owner Jacob Watson was voted the top personal trainer on the Sunshine Coast shortly after his gym was crowned best in the region.
Hi loyal gym members rallied behind Mr Watson to secure his victory as the vote for best gym in September where racked up more than 500 votes.
About one month later, Mr Watson was crowned best PT amongst 60 other trainers within the region.
Mr Watson said his approach to his work was “building relationships and rapport” and had been working with some of his clients for more than four years.
His gym at Little Mountain opened in October, 2022, and offers group fitness classes and personal training as well as boxing, cardio and yoga and pilates but is best known for its over 50s sessions.
27. Mark Stockwell
Stockwell managing director Mark Stockwell is one of the giants of development in the Noosa region.
Mr Stockwell was a silver medalist Olympic swimmer before joining the family development company in 1992.
As the managing director of the company, he has seen it grow to become a respected developer in the industrial, retail, commercial, residential and leisure spaces.
In 2022, the development company gained approval for the Noosa Civic Medihub and the Hof residential apartments in Noosaville.
Construction commenced on the Hof Noosaville this year.
26. Emma Thomas
In 2023, Sunshine Coast Council chief executive officer Emma Thomas continued to be a trailblazer for women in leadership roles.
The chief executive of one of the largest regional councils in Australia leads by example, overseeing an organisation that serves a population over 320,000 residents.
Ms Thomas’ highlights for the year include the delivery of a billion-dollar budget, a well as the unveiling of a long-term plan to benefit from the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
25. Sandy Bolton
It has been a year of resilience for Queensland’s only independent member of parliament Noosa MP Sandy Bolton.
Ms Bolton has fiercely advocated for the Noosa community, as the region did for years to gain independence after amalgamation.
Ms Bolton has advocated on behalf of the Noosa community for affordable housing, in the draft South East Queensland Regional Plan, the Noosa River and Cooloola Great Walk Eco Project and policing and safety concerns.
Ms Bolton also served on the Legal and Affairs Safety Committee and was selected as chair of the Parliamentary Crime Committee.
Ms Bolton put back $10,000 into the community for an assessment of key wildlife roadkill hotspots and helped with awards for local schools and donations of prizes for community groups.
24. Travis Schultz
Travis Schultz has become one of Queensland’s industry leaders in compensation law.
Mr Schultz was admitted as a Queensland lawyer in 1994 and became an accredited specialist in personal injury law in 1999.
He founded Travis Schultz and Partners in 2018 which now has offices in Mooloolaba as well as in Brisbane, Cairns and the Gold Coast.
Mr Schultz is a five-time Doyle’s Guide recommendations recipient and in 2021 was acknowledged as the only lawyer in the country to be pre-eminent in all three compensation law areas.
His law firm was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the 2023 Sunshine Coast Business Awards, in recognition of his three award wins over the years.
Mr Schultz also holds a position on the board for the LifeFlight Foundation and has previously raised money for Wishlist, Sunshine Coast Health Services, and SunnyKids.
23. Kaylee McKeown OAM
Australian swimmer and three-time Olympian Kaylee McKeown OAM continued to make waves in 2023 with record-breaking feats in the pool.
During this year’s Swimming World Cup in Budapest, Hungary, Ms McKeown broke the women’s 50 and 100 backstroke world records, making her a four-time world record holder.
In doing so, she became only the fifth swimmer in history to hold the record in 50m,100m, and 200m for the same stroke simultaneously.
Last month, she declared her intentions to seal back-to-back Olympic gold medals when she takes to the pool at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
She is also training to swim in the medley.
22. Craig Hawkins
Sunshine Coast Superintendent and District Officer Craig Hawkins has been steering the region’s policing efforts since taking on the job as top cop in May, 2020.
He was first appointed during the pandemic after working in the Wide Bay-Burnett region.
From leading operations and establishing task forces down to reminding graduating students to take care during Schoolies, Mr Hawkins has a strong dedication towards all his duties.
21 Tony Kelly
The latest culinary endeavour by restaurateur Tony Kelly received 1000 reservations within 24 hours in 2023.
He is currently the owner of 10 restaurants on the Sunshine Coast including Rice Boi, Piggyback, Giddy Geisha, Bocca Italian and Market Bistro.
Mr Kelly opened his newest restaurant in Mooloolaba, RB Dining, after the public called for a formal dining setting with the calibre of a Rice Boi menu.
The chef-by-trade grew up on the Sunshine Coast and spent decades of his career cooking for the rich and famous in various parts of the world.
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