Whitsunday’s most influential public figures in politics, tourism, agriculture, business, hospitality
They’re the movers and shakers who make things happen for Whitsunday communities, using their influence and expertise to drive change for a better tomorrow. SEE THE FULL LIST.
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Power is a subjective beast, so how can you compile a list of the 25 most influential people in the Whitsundays without upsetting anyone?
Simply put, you can’t.
What such a list can do, however, is ignite a conversation.
The Whitsunday Times’ movers and shakers list is by no means the definitive list of men and women who influence our region.
Through the cloak of Covid-19 that threatened our lives and way of life, these men and women were, and remain to be, our champions, collectively and singularly striving to ensure a better future.
Read on to get to know 25 of the region’s most influential people.
Amanda Camm
A former Mackay deputy mayor with a background in agriculture and tourism, the Whitsunday MP has deftly made the transition from local to state politics.
In her first 12 months as the region’s state representative, she has pushed for a parliamentary inquiry into island ownership and management, fought for access to Keswick Island, secured travel vouchers for Airlie Beach tourism operators struggling in the pandemic, and has taken up the fight to fix a questionable Shute Harbour Boat ramp design.
Andrew Willcox
Holding the mayor’s office since 2016, the proudly born-and-bred Bowenite says his contribution to unifying the region after the Bowen and Whitsunday shires’ amalgamation has been his proudest achievement.
The newly nominated LNP candidate for the federal seat of Dawson led the region’s recovery from Tropical Cyclone Debbie, spearheading major infrastructure projects designed to drive economic growth including the $63 million Shute Harbour marina restoration.
George Christensen
Love him or hate him for his politics, outgoing Dawson MP George Christensen is nevertheless an influential figure in Canberra’s corridors of power.
An ardent believer in free speech, including views poles apart from his own, controversy has become a form of trademark for the veteran politician who got his start in local government before the federal leap.
He has made the role his own, breaking party lines to speak his mind and fight for his electorate, delivering multiple millions of dollars in major infrastructure projects and developments including improvements to health services, water security, and community facilities.
Rick Hamilton
Taking over from Tash Wheeler in October 2021 as the go-to spokesperson for Whitsunday’s tourism industry, Mr Hamilton brings more than 25 years’ experience including senior roles at Flight Centre, Tourism Fiji, and Tourism and Events Queensland.
His mission as Tourism Whitsundays’ CEO is to raise the region’s overnight visitor expenditure to better than pre Covid-19 and Tropical Cyclone Debbie figures of more than $850 million and increase total visitation to one million.
The role gives him access to advocate on behalf of the industry at the highest levels.
Craig Turner
The former Tourism Whitsundays CEO has worked in the industry for more than 20 years and has a thorough understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the region, making him a fitting choice to run the council’s aviation and tourism department.
As the Aviation and Tourism Chief Operating Officer, Mr Turner has played an integral role in the $63 million Shute Harbour redevelopment, negotiated deals to bring Qantas and SkyTrans flights to Whitsunday Coast Airport, and overhauled operations at Lake Proserpine.
In September 2021, the council expanded Mr Turner’s role to include economic development, which previously fell under the Development Services portfolio.
Peter and Jan Claxton
As the owners of one of the region’s leading tour companies, Ocean Rafting, Peter and Jan Claxton have won countless awards for quality and service and used their profile to campaign for more government support for operators and other changes including restarting the cruise ship industry.
Asher and Julie Telford
The Red Cat Adventures owners recently became the first tourism operators in history to win three years in a row upon entering the Queensland Tourism Awards for the first time, making them hall of fame winners in the categories of Major Tour and Transport Operator and Adventure Tourism.
They recently announced the expansion of their business with a new specialised $1.5 million catamaran taking passengers from Mackay Marina to tour Cockermouth, Brampton, Keswick, St Bees and Scawfell Islands.
The power couple also operate and manage Paradise Cove – an exclusive boutique resort in Woodwark Bay – and recently purchased Wisdom Café in Airlie Beach.
Julie was elected Chair of Tourism Whitsundays’ board of directors in September 2021.
Karen Jacobsen
Australia‘s ‘Voice of Siri’ has become arguably the face of the Whitsundays since returning to the region from the US during the Covid-19 pandemic.
As well as signing on to work on the region’s biggest-ever tourism campaign – the $1 million ‘Wonders of Whitsundays’ – in 2020, the Mackay-born singer-songwriter and motivational speaker has lent her voice to a virtual reality tour for Tourism Whitsundays, and released a song and music video promoting Hayman Island.
Paul Darrouzet
The billionaire entrepreneur and superyacht enthusiast is responsible for developing the former Abell Point Marina into the world-class destination now known as Coral Sea Marina Resort.
Mr Darrouzet is also responsible for getting Airlie Beach included in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race itinerary, travelling to London to persuade its founder to make it a principal stopover port in the 2015-16 race.
Bruce Hedditch
A passionate advocate for Bowen’s business community, Chamber of Commerce chair and Larrikin Hotel owner Bruce Hedditch regularly speaks out to share his views on what the town needs to thrive economically.
He is a vocal supporter of developments including the Whitsunday Paradise housing estate and Bravus’ mining activities for their ability to create jobs and attract families to the area.
He was also a key figure in pushing for Bowen Hospital upgrades.
Allan Milostic
As Whitsunday Coast Chamber of Commerce president, the Airlie Beach pharmacist has campaigned to increase flights to Whitsunday Coast Airport, increase government support for local jobseekers, and ensure residents have a say on major road projects.
He has more than 30 years experience in retail and also serves on the boards of Whitsunday United Football Club and Compass aged care.
Paul McLaughlin
The Bowen Collinsville Enterprise chairman, Rose Bay Resort manager, and Greater Whitsunday Alliance director has amassed a wealth of experience from management positions across a variety of sectors, including 26 years spent in the mining industry.
In 2008, Mr McLaughlin was elected Chair of Bowen Tourism and Business, working with the committee to transform the organisation into a financially stable and secure organisation.
He continues to work tirelessly as a champion for Bowen’s festivals and events.
Elizabeth Hackett
As executive chair of NSX-listed company Australian Adventure Tourism Group, formerly Jimmy Crow Limited, Ms Hackett has helped establish Magnums Airlie Beach as Whitsunday’s leading mainland backpacker facility, and advocated for government funding for the Whitsunday Skyway Project.
As part of adapting to changes brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, Ms Hackett has begun shifting the business’ focus away from the international backpacker market and towards emerging market interests in tourism including in adventure and experience tourism as well as education tourism.
Mark Beale
Mark and his wife Belinda bought Ray White Whitsunday in 2006 and have grown the business tremendously in both sales and property management.
The Cannonvale office employs more than 40 staff specialising in residential sales and leasing, commercial sales and leasing, special projects, marine and holiday letting.
As the agency’s principal, Mr Beale has been entrusted to sell some of the region’s most exclusive real estate, including the $25 million Mandalay House.
Kev Collins
A lifelong fisherman and passionate chef, Mr Collins co-owns and operates one of the Whitsundays most successful restaurants, Fish D’vine, and is regularly called on as a spokesman on issues affecting the hospitality industry.
In the aftermath on Tropical Cyclone Debbie, Mr Collins and Fish D’Vine co-owner Rebecca Clark took it upon themselves to feed more 1500 residents struggling with little to no food of their own.
More recently, the Fish D’Vine team has been responsible for luring hundreds of VIP guests including influencers and TV stars to an exclusive annual lunch event on the famous Whitehaven Beach, generating far-reaching publicity for the region.
Mal Priday
VMR Whitsunday president Mal Priday leads a team of 50 volunteers dedicated to serving the boating and island communities and saving lives at sea.
He has been an essential figure in the survival and growth of the 57-year-old organisation, campaigning for government funding, securing a second rescue vessel, and hosting a major training exercise involving emergency services from across North Queensland, to name a few achievements.
Margie Murphy
A self-confessed ‘serial committee offender’, Ms Murphy has been involved in community events for the past 15 years and in 2021 launched her own company, Airlie Events and Project Management, to help others bring their events and projects to life.
In 2021 alone, Ms Murphy has chaired the Great Barrier Reef Festival, managed funding and operations for the Airlie Beach Festival of Music, advocated for the Airlie Beach Safe Night Precinct, and organised a week of foreshore festivities for more than 1500 Schoolies.
All this while office managing the construction company she co-owns with husband Tim Murphy.
Gavin Butlin
Mackay publican and music promoter Gavin ‘Butto’ Butlin launched what would become Airlie Beach’s biggest annual festival in 2013, and has since consistently drawn big-name bands, emerging talents and thousands of revellers to the multi-day event.
Taking over iconic venues including KCs, Sorrentos, Northerlies and the Whitsunday Sailing Club, it is impossible to miss the Airlie Beach Festival of Music when it rocks and rolls into town each year, and it can be credited with putting the town on the map for musos right across the country.
Leo Rodriguez
The Whitsunday Sailing Club president has been sailing since the age of 12 and has been a passionate member of Whitsundays’ sailing community since the early 1990s.
His role involves hosting the annual Airlie Beach Race Week, which attracts competitors from all over Australia, and advocating for improvements to the 50+ year old club facilities, including a proposed state-of-the-art maritime training academy.
Johnny Gaskell
Since moving to the Whitsundays in 2014, marine biologist Johnny Gaskell has spent most of his time either underwater or on Daydream Island where he developed the island’s coral restoration facility and the Living Reef underwater observatory.
His change in scene from kelp forests to coral reefs inspired a new focus on coral reef ecology, health and recovery.
While working in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Mr Gaskell has led many coral monitoring expeditions to gain a greater understanding of coral condition over a large scale.
Applying this knowledge to local reefs, he has co-ordinated a number of local reef recovery initiatives brought upon as a result of the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Debbie.
He has amassed a large social media following for his stunning underwater photographs and, in 2021, participated in a documentary film alongside Australian Survivor contestant Laura Wells.
Suzette Pelt
As founder and president of community group Save Our Foreshore, Suzette Pelt has campaigned for close to two decades to protect public land and stop the ‘overdevelopment’ of Airlie Beach and surrounds.
Since 2004, the grassroots group has drawn attention to issues including the loss of public parkland on the foreshore for private development, the Shute Harbour marina redevelopment, and, in 2021, helped generate thousands of public submissions against a high-rise hotel proposed for the Port of Airlie.
Ms Pelt serves on the Whitsunday Conservation Council committee and has previously held positions with organisations including Reef Catchments, Tourism Queensland, Whitsunday Crisis & Counselling, Tourism Whitsundays, and Queensland Yacht Charters.
Carl Walker
The long-time Bowen Gumlu Growers Association president and renowned horticulturist has embraced being in the public eye to champion an industry providing more than 3500 jobs and $450 million annual economic benefit to the north Queensland community.
After more than 25 years in the industry, Mr Walker has the ear of local, state and federal government representatives when speaking out on issues affecting the agriculture sector including the impacts of Cyclone Debbie, labour shortages, and water security.
Nathan Blain
As Whitsunday Police Station’s officer in charge and Airlie Beach Safe Night Precinct committee representative, Senior Sergeant Nathan Blain has led a crackdown on anti-social behaviour in the popular party spot, ramping up the police presence to prevent alcohol-fuelled incidents escalating into serious assaults.
The 2017 QPS Bravery Medal recipient has also led a range of community engagement initiatives including ‘Cuppa With A Cop’ events, an Emergency Services Field Day, and a crime and safety survey.
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