Sunshine Coast’s 50 most powerful people: The Daily counts down from 40 – 31

The Sunshine Coast Daily is revealing the region’s 50 most powerful people who despite a global pandemic have continued to succeed. SEE WHO WAS RANKED 40-31.

The Daily is this week revealing its top 50 list of the region’s most powerful people.

On Monday we revealed the first entrants to the list.

Here is the second instalment, counting down from 40 to 31:

40. Rosanna Natoli

Well-known TV personality Rosanna Natoli has forged a successful career being a familiar face on Sunshine Coast and Queensland televisions for decades.

The mother of three is also a successful lecturer at University of the Sunshine Coast, where she has inspired young up-and-coming journalists since 1999.

Ms Natoli’s husband Joe was in 2020 elected as a Sunshine Coast councillor.

After such a successful career we are keen to see what Ms Natoli does next with her influence.

Keat Choong was the clinical director infectious diseases at Sunshine Coast University Hospital throughout the pandemic. Picture: Patrick Woods

39. Keat Choong

As clinical director infectious diseases Dr Keat Choong has been on the front lines of Sunshine Coast University Hospital’s Covid-19 pandemic response.

With early predictions that on the Sunshine Coast 150,000 people would be infected and 20,000 in hospital, the health industry was prepared for the worst.

But thanks to the hard working efforts of Dr Choong and hospital staff – combined with border restrictions and physical distancing – the system was not overwhelmed.

Sunshine Coast Airport chief executive Andrew Brodie helped bring back the year-round flights to New Zealand. Picture: Patrick Woods

38. Andrew Brodie

As flight numbers dwindled due to the global health pandemic Sunshine Coast Airport chief executive Andrew Brodie had the tough task to lobby those in power and stay relevant.

He had some successes with the airport securing year-round direct flights to New Zealand.

The service was announced in June and was expected to bring $17m to Queensland’s visitor economy, however this was before quarantine-free travel was suspended.

Matthew Flinders Anglican College Principal Stuart Meade oversees a student body of more than 1300.

37. Stuart Meade

Established educational leader Stuart Meade has guided one of the Sunshine Coast’s largest schools through a tumultuous year as lockdowns forced students out of classes and into homeschooling.

Mr Meade is the principle of the elite independent Matthew Flinders Anglican College which has more than 1300 students.

With tuition fees starting at $15,700 the school attracts many of the Sunshine Coast‘s high profile families.

Previously to that he was the principal in residence at Bond University and headmaster at one of Australia’s leading schools, Hale School, in Perth.

During the past 12 months the school launched new elite sporting programs and opened a dedicated learning centre for years 5 and 6 students, as part of its five-year Flinders Masterplan construction project.

Bruce and Denise Morcombe at the opening of The Daniel Morcombe Foundations Build it for the Kids home. Picture: Patrick Woods

36. Bruce and Denise Morcombe

Bruce and Denise Morcombe continue to be one of Australia’s leading and most courageous child safety advocates through their work with the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.

This year the parents of murdered schoolboy Daniel Morcombe backed calls for new laws in Queensland to stop the “worst of the worst” killers ever applying for parole.

Kenneth and Denis Wagner are emerging as power players on the Coast.

35. Wagner family

Toowoomba property magnates Denis Wagner and his son Kenneth are leading a high-profile resort and retail development at a prime Mooloolaba site.

KPAT Property. directed by Kenneth, has a binding development agreement with Sunshine Coast Council for the delivery of a 160-room hotel on the remaining half of the Brisbane Road carpark site.

A development application is expected to be lodged before April 2022 and if approved construction could start later that year.

Denis Wagner also helped launch Mayor Mark Jamieson’s campaign back in 2016.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson and Craig Matheson.

34. Craig Matheson

Talking about the mayor, Sunshine Coast Council’s chief of staff Craig Matheson is never far from Mayor Mark Jamieson’s side.

The former chief strategy officer and state government whistleblower is Mr Jamieson’s right hand man, giving advice on decision-making at the highest level and having involvement in some of the region’s major projects.

Mr Matheson has previously ranked in the top 20 of the Daily’s lists of influential people.

33. Roy and Nola Thompson:

Generous philanthropists Roy and Nola Thompson have poured millions of dollars into Sunshine Coast charities, community groups and health initiatives.

In a year community groups’ fundraising efforts have been decimated the millionaire philanthropist‘s entrusted $5m towards the Buderim Foundation to go towards worthy local charities.

Their influence cannot be denied but their efforts to persuade the federal government into part-funding the Sunshine Coast Stadium upgrade in this year’s budget fell on death ears.

As a result the Thompsons pulled their $10m commitment towards the project.

32. Scott Juniper

Nobody can deny how far Scott Juniper has come since he handed in his bankruptcy forms on his 40th birthday.

Years later Mr Juniper, Graeme Juniper’s son, is the director of Cube Developments which has a growing portfolio.

The company has delivered a number of significant projects across the region including Beach Life at Alexandra Headland, and the $37m Curve complex at Birtinya.

Radio personality Caroline Hutchinson and Evans Long co-director Dirk Long.

31. Caroline Hutchinson

The bubbly radio host is a familiar face and voice to most Sunshine Coast residents.

The 92.7 MIX FM host of 20 years is a proud advocate for local charities and has made considerable contributions towards fundraising efforts for Give Me 5 for Kids.

She’s also mastered the art of using popular radio to discuss important and sometimes difficult conversations – not an easy feat in an industry that often favours shock jocks over important issues.