You’ll recognise some faces in The Courier-Mail’s top 70; others will be a surprise.

But all are making a solid contribution.

People were assessed on one dominant criteria: their ability to influence the decisions that matter in Queensland.

They were also critiqued on how effectively they use this influence.

POWER 100: Queensland’s most powerful people 100-51

SPORT: Queensland’s 65 most powerful sporting identities

BUSINESS:Queensland’s 60 most powerful business leaders

CELEBRITY: 65 most influential in arts and entertainment

PROPERTY: Queensland’s most powerful property players

EDUCATION: Queensland’s 50 most influential in education

TOMORROW: The Health Power List

THURSDAY: Queensland’s Top 50 Most Powerful

Scroll to the bottom to read how we selected the list

1. GRAHAM AND JUDE TURNER

Flight Centre CEO and Spicers Retreats founders

Being willing to step on toes rather than suck up to those currently holding political office is the sign of true power, and “Skroo” – as Graham is known by all – has shown this in spades during the pandemic.

He has sat seemingly above it all, actively using his profile to advocate for better outcomes for the sector – particularly during the period of border closures. He has emerged as perhaps the trusted voice of this critical sector to the Queensland economy.

But this is a partnership too, with Skroo and Jude coming a long way since they founded, decades ago, the Top Deck travel company, which shuffled young backpackers around Europe for less than $10 a day. Their firm Flight Centre is now the country’s biggest travel business, and having the company headquarters in Brisbane is a significant feather in the Queensland tourism industry’s cap.

Their Spicers resorts brand has meanwhile set a benchmark for luxury accommodation the envy of other operators across the country.

2. JAYNE HRDLICKA

Virgin Australia CEO

American-born Jayne Hrdlicka is one of the most recognised CEOs in Queensland after taking on the role of Virgin Australia boss in 2020. Hrdlicka has steered Virgin out of voluntary administration and is now navigating a new growth path for the airline as Australia recovers from the global pandemic.

With so much of Queensland’s prosperity riding on the tourism sector, especially as we head towards the 2032 Olympics, Hrdlicka has become one of the state’s most powerful CEOs. The Brisbane-based executive is a veteran of the aviation industry, having previously held senior roles at Qantas, including CEO of budget carrier Jetstar.

She is also well-known to sports lovers as the chairman and board president of Tennis Australia.

3. GERT-JAN DE GRAAFF

Brisbane Airport Corporation CEO

If you want tourists, you have to get them here – and Brisbane Airport is the state’s biggest tourism gateway. Gert-Jan de Graaff has been CEO since 2018, overseeing the delivery of the long-awaited $1.1bn second runway and now, with international and interstate borders open after Covid-19 closures, he is closely involved in the pursuit of deals with airlines to bring flights back to Brisbane.

While the terminals were empty in those darkest days of the pandemic, de Graaff was rolling out other infrastructure including new parking facilities, terminal redevelopment and road upgrades. Brisbane Airport was also unlocking more than 2700ha of leasehold land which represents one of South East Queensland’s largest contiguous single-owner sites.

Its property arm has been instrumental in the development of Skygate and BNE Auto Mall and is home to 425 businesses with almost 24,000 workers.

De Graaff’s previous job was CEO for the operators of New York’s JFK Airport, and he is a board member of the Australian Airports Association and Airports Council International.

4. STIRLING HINCHLIFFE

Minister for Tourism

While answerable to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Stirling Hinchliffe is the tourism industry’s top political figure. Now almost two years into the role, he has been given the added responsibility of minister assisting the premier on the biggest tourism event Queensland has ever seen – the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In addition, he chairs the Olympics Legacy Committee, a critical body created to build out how the state will benefit into the future from hosting the Games.

Hinchliffe also oversees the influential Tourism and Events Queensland which brings key events to the Sunshine State, including the Pacific Fair Magic Millions, Australian PGA Championship, Brisbane Festival, the NRL Magic Round and Woodford Folk Festival.

5. CHRIS MORRIS

Morris Group executive chairman

The founder of ASX top 50 global company Computershare, Chris Morris has a massive stake in the tourism industry, having the trifecta of reef, rainforest and the outback.

His family-run Morris Group owns The Ville Resort-Casino in Townsville, Daintree Ecolodge, Flying Fish luxury charters in the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Village Hotel, Mt Mulligan Lodge west of Cairns, Orpheus Island Lodge and Pelorus Island – as well as Brisbane’s The Fox hotel.

The Morris Group believes economic success and environmental sustainability go hand-in-hand, and aims to take a “tread lightly” approach to its investments by enriching the natural ecosystems in which it operates.

6. IRWIN FAMILY

Australia Zoo

No one has a higher profile or more reach in the Queensland tourism industry than the Irwin family from the Sunshine Coast’s iconic Australia Zoo. Wildlife warriors and tourism advocates, the Irwins have inspired thousands of people from across the world to visit Queensland.

Both Terri and daughter Bindi have already received Queensland tourism awards in recognition of their work in the industry. Terri and husband Steve Irwin - who died in 2006 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming in the Great Barrier Reef - made more than 300 episodes of Crocodile Hunter, Croc Diaries, Croc Files, New Breed Vets, Ghosts of War and Bindi the Jungle Girl. These programs have been enjoyed by more than 500 million viewers worldwide.

Australia Zoo now encompasses more than 283ha and employs more than 500 staff, continuing Steve’s mission of “conservation through exciting education”.

7. ROBBIE COOKE

Star Entertainment Group incoming CEO

Robbie Cooke has landed one of the most powerful jobs in Queensland, taking up the role in early 2023 as the gambling group gets set to open the first stage of Brisbane’s $3.6bn Queen’s Wharf development.

The appointment of Cooke also signals Star shifting its focus increasingly towards South East Queensland. Star’s Gold Coast masterplan is well under way, and the 2032 Olympic Games are expected to produce a decade of growth.

Cooke is an alumni of Brisbane Grammar School and the University of Queensland, and started his career at UNiTAB in Brisbane in 1999 as head of strategy and legal counsel, working with chief executive Dick MciIlwain until the company merged with Tattersalls Holdings in 2005.

He then joined accommodation booking company Wotif.com before taking the reins from founder Graeme Wood and guiding its ASX debut. He returned to Tatts Group as CEO in 2013 until it merged with Tabcorp in 2017. Most recently, Cooke has been CEO of Sydney-based, ASX-listed fintech Tyro Payments.

8. ELSA DALESSIO

Queensland Tourism Industry Council chair

Elsa Dalessio took up his significant role in the tourism sector in August this year, replacing long-serving chair Shane O’Reilly.

The QTIC works with government and industry bodies, championing the interests of its strong membership base – around 1000 operators as well as 13 regional tourism organisations supporting more than 3000 businesses.

Dalessio has solid credentials in the aviation and transport industry, most recently as Qantas regional general manager (Queensland and Northern Territory).

She recently joined Brisbane Racing Club as general manager of marketing, memberships and strategic partnerships and started her own tourism and aviation strategy consulting business.

Dalessio has also sat on the Premier’s Business Advisory Council and the Queensland Futures Institute corporate council.

9. CLARK KIRBY

Village Roadshow Theme Parks CEO

With a big remit, Clark Kirby is directly responsible for several of Queensland’s largest tourist attractions and a combined workforce of thousands.

He was involved in top-level talks during the darkest days of the pandemic to secure support from various levels of government to keep theme parks afloat.

He is also the deputy chairman of the Destination Gold Coast tourism body.

Village Roadshow runs Warner Bros Movie World, Sea World, Wet ’n’ Wild, Paradise Country, Australian Outback Spectacular and Topgolf.

10. BOB EAST

Australian Venue co-chair

A respected industry leader, Bob East heads a dynamic company that operates more than 180 venues from coast to coast, tailoring pubs to suit the local market rather than adopting a cookie-cutter approach. It has 80 pubs and bistros in Queensland alone, including the Beenleigh Tavern, Cleveland Sands, Carindale and the Newnham Hotel.

East is also chair of Cettire, Australia’s largest luxury e-commerce website, which carries more than 500 brands.

The former federal government paid tribute to East in 2021 when he left his post as Tourism Australia Board chair, saying he played an important leadership role in strategy and executing tourism marketing initiatives. This pedigree means his voice is still influential.

11. BRETT GODFREY

Tourism and Events Queensland chairman

As the co-founder with Sir Richard Branson in 2000 of Virgin Blue airlines – the precursor to Virgin Australia, of which he was its long serving CEO – entrepreneurial accountant Brett Godfrey is instrumental in the direction of the state’s $20 billion-plus tourism sector. Nothing goes ahead with the TEQ’s support without Godfrey’s approval, and that means many of the state’s biggest and most lucrative events.

He also manages a portfolio of tourism assets including Noosa’s Makepeace Island (another venture with his good mate Branson) and a growing number of hotels, lodges and historic properties interstate. He has been awarded the Australian Centenary Medal for his service to tourism and aviation.

12. BRETT FRASER

Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO

The former head of the Brisbane Marketing tourism body has stepped into arguably the most important position in the industry following the retirement of the long-serving Daniel Gschwind.

Brett Fraser can lobby fearlessly on behalf of the industry, without the constraints of other bodies which are closely linked to various levels of government. If he plays his cards right after he gets his feet under the desk, Fraser could soon rocket up this list. Before taking up the role of CEO in April, Fraser was CEO of the Brisbane Economic Development Agency and led Brisbane’s recovery through the pandemic.

13. GREG YONG

Ardent Leisure Theme Parks CEO

Appointed in April 2021, Greg Yong leads the company responsible for Dreamworld, WhiteWater World and the SkyPoint Observation Deck, and he has been a familiar face in Gold Coast tourism for many years, most of those spent in a variety of roles with Ardent’s rival Village Roadshow.

He arrived at Dreamworld in 2019 as chief operating officer.

While the brand has had to endure previously unthinkable challenges over the past six years, Yong has a wealth of experience and established firm relationships across the tourism industry.

14. HARVEY LISTER

ASM Global (Asia Pacific) chairman and CEO

There are few people in the events world better connected than Harvey Lister, whose ASM Global runs some of the most iconic venues on the planet. Lister’s links to NBA teams, NFL stadiums, concert halls and auditoriums across the globe give him an undeniable edge when it comes to advocating for major acts and events to come to Queensland.

His opinions are highly respected by top-level government officials and Lister never rests on his laurels. His next big push is for Brisbane Live, a proposed multipurpose entertainment and sporting arena to be located at Roma Street Station.

15. PETER BRULISAUER

Hamilton Island CEO

The picturesque piece of the Whitsundays has been owned and passionately run by the Oatley family for the past 20 years, and Peter Brulisauer is the new man at the coalface, starting in April after previously running Perisher, Hotham and Falls Creek ski resorts.

Sandy Oatley is board chairman and his family has invested more than $450 million on improvements, including the luxury resort qualia, which has won more than 50 awards. One of Sandy’s daughters, Nicky Oatley, is brand manager and Ros Oatley’s son Robert Oatley is in the investment team. The late Bob Oatley, renowned Australian winemaker, bought Hamilton Island in 2003 after sailing past it as a young man and releasing its potential.

16. TERRY MORRIS

Morris International owner

Spirited entrepreneur Terry Morris is the founder of the Gold Coast’s Carrara Markets and arguably Queensland’s best known winery, Sirromet Wines, at Mount Cotton – a social and event destination for weddings, concerts, wine tours, dining and more. Morris is also behind the Good Times Pub Group, which has nine hotels across the Gold Coast, Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley, Darling Downs and Ipswich.

He is extremely well connected in the community, from his time in the ’80s as a councillor for the Albert Shire to his involvement in Rotary and in numerous other enterprises such as the Gold Coast Wake Park and the Performance Driving Centre at Norwell.

17. MARK JAMIESON

Sunshine Coast Council Mayor and LGAQ president

A proactive warrior for Sunshine Coast tourism, Mark Jamieson was first elected mayor in 2012 and is currently serving his third term. He was re-elected as president of the LGAQ in 2020 and will hold the position for four years. This means he also presides over the LGAQ board and policy executive, extending his reach across the state.

During his first term as mayor, Jamieson led the development of a 20-year blueprint for a new economy for the Sunshine Coast and the implementation of a new planning scheme. Prior to politics, he held chief executive and senior leadership roles in the private sector.

18. TOM TATE

Gold Coast Mayor

You’d be hard-pressed to find a better promoter of the state’s top tourist destination than Tom Tate, whose “can do” approach has already out-survived most other Queensland politicians. A tourism visionary, Tate has delivered the Gold Coast a spectacular dive site predicted to spawn a niche tourism industry of its own, while he remains passionate about delivering a cruise ship terminal to the Glitter Strip.

As a former entertainment industry boss, Tate understands the value of tourism to the economy and isn’t afraid to leave the odd nose out of joint if it means delivering outcomes for his city.

19. SHANE O’REILLY

O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat managing director

The O’Reilly name is synonymous with tourism and hospitality, and Shane heads the family business National Park, the holding company of O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat and Canungra Valley Vineyards.

Under his guidance, O’Reillys has expanded from 41 to 70 rooms with the addition of 48 villas, a conference centre and Lost World Spa.

O’Reilly is the immediate past chair of the Queensland Tourism Industry Council and also a former director of Tourism Queensland and Gold Coast Tourism. He is one of the most well-connected people in the sector.

20. CAMERON COSTELLO

Queensland Tourism Industry Council deputy chair

A close mate of former politician Jackie Trad, Cameron Costello is a big voice in Indigenous affairs. A Quandamooka man, he is a member of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Legacy Committee and Arts Queensland’s First Nations Arts and Cultural Panel, as well as senior manager of Indigenous engagement at the University of Queensland business school.

At the QTIC he looks after its membership base of more than 4000 key operators in the tourism space. Costello is also a First Nations Consultative Committee member for the Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships.

21. LEANNE CODDINGTON

Tourism and Events Queensland CEO

Over the past decade Leanne Coddington has confidently steered Queensland’s biggest tourism body through changes of government, political instability and the greatest threat the industry has ever faced, in Covid-19.

Respected on both sides of politics, she leads the organisation, tasked with luring major sporting and cultural events to Queensland as well as executing marketing campaigns which are often the envy of tourism bodies across the globe. She has significantly grown the economic value of It’s Live! in the state’s events calendar.

Her decision to resign at the end of 2022, after 25 years with the organisation, leaves enormous shoes to fill – and also sees her further down this list than she would have been six months ago.

22. PATRICIA O’CALLAGHAN

Destination Gold Coast CEO

As head of the Goldy’s peak tourism body, the personable and well connected Patricia (Trish) O’Callaghan has built relationships with movers and shakers across the city and the state.

Nine years in a similar role at Townsville Enterprise and also four years as general manager of Mount Isa Chamber of Commerce sees her also extremely well-connected in the state’s north and outback.

In July O’Callaghan flew to Korea as part of a travel consortium with Tourism Australia to secure a reality series “Bucket List Travel to Australia” that will be produced by Seoul Broadcast System.

23. GEOFF HOGG

Acting CEO Star Entertainment Group

Elevated to the role of acting CEO after the forced departure of former casino boss Matt Bekier, Geoff Hogg is an experienced hand at the wheel of the biggest tourism project Queensland has ever seen.

Star’s $3.6bn Queen’s Wharf development will transform the face of Brisbane, with thousands of jobs to be created in the dozens of hotels, resorts and restaurants earmarked for the precinct, and Hogg has played a key role in the journey.

Robbie Cooke has been appointed to the top job, effective January 2023.

24. BERNIE HOGAN

Queensland Hotels Association CEO

Leading the peak industry body for the hotel and hospitality industries, Bernie Hogan is the mouthpiece for pubs, clubs and accommodation providers across the state.

Lobbying the government for fairer conditions for his members, he and his team have never been so relied upon as in the past two years with the pandemic almost decimating the entire hospitality industry. Working with authorities, Hogan has helped businesses navigate the overwhelming red tape and confusion surrounding Covid-19 rules, and has been instrumental in getting the industry back on track and moving forward.

25. TOM McGUIRE

McGuires Hotels director

Overseeing the largest family-owned chain of hotels in Queensland, Tom McGuire lives and breathes pubs.

For four generations his family has been an industry force, and they are close to many in the Labor Party – including some of those at the centre of power.

Their popular venues across Brisbane and the Gold Coast include the Paddo, Calamvale, Colmslie and Alexandra Hills hotels – most of which have recently been updated.

McGuire is also high on this list as he is president of the Queensland Hotels Association, which advocates for the industry on everything from pricing issues to regulatory changes.

26. JOHN O’SULLIVAN

Experience Co CEO

Clocking up more than 25 years in the tourism and associated industries, John O’Sullivan runs this ASX-listed adventure company that offers tandem skydiving, hot air ballooning, whitewater rafting, canyoning, sea kayaking and Great Barrier Reef tours.

O’Sullivan, a director of Tourism Tropical North Queensland and Netball Queensland, has also held executive roles with Tourism Australia, Events Queensland and Fox Sports.

27. ADAM FLASKAS

Howard Smith Wharves founder/director

As the visionary behind Howard Smith Wharves, Adam Flaskas has created a landmark destination in the heart of Brisbane. A hotspot of hospitality spread over 3.6ha with restaurants, bars and function spaces, the riverside precinct has made southerners – and those around the world – stand up and take notice of the city.

Flaskas is also known for founding the award-winning five-star boutique hotel Halcyon House in northern NSW, and Brisbane’s Victoria Park Golf Complex with its hugely popular restaurants and function spaces.

28. CAL AND MICHAEL MALOUF

James Street developers

Brothers Cal and Michael Malouf, alongside Patrick George and John James, are responsible for the creation of Brisbane’s up-market and ultra-trendy culinary and lifestyle precinct smply known as James Street.

After forming a partnership in 1993, they began the transformation of the industrial strip in Fortitude Valley in 1998. Its reputation as a foodie destination began when the Maloufs opened the then-revolutionary James Street Market in 2002, combining a fishmonger, butcher, baker and grocer in one.

Now it’s the glamorous 175-room Calile Hotel along the famous street that is set to be their greatest legacy, with the venue attracting attention from around the world and a celebrity guest list including everyone from rock band U2 to Hollywood heartthrobs Matt Damon and Liam Hemsworth.

29. MARK OLSEN

Tourism Tropic North Queensland CEO

Mark Olsen heads the largest regional tourism organisation in Australia with more than 2000 visitor experiences and the highest number of accredited tourism products of any destination in Australia. He is also chair of the Queensland Regional Tourism Network and a director of the Queensland Tourism Industry Council and EarthCheck.

During the pandemic Olsen advocated strongly to support the industry which suffered more than 9000 job losses, resulting in a $10 million federal package for destination marketing which helped the region grow its share of the domestic market and rebound strongly.

30. BRUCE MATHIESON SNR

Pub king

Kicking off in 1974, the Gold Coast-based pub king built up his poker machine and pub empire through Australian Liquor and Hospitality in a joint venture with supermarket giant Woolworths. Last year Woolworths bought out his stake in ALH in exchange for the minority stake – 14.6 per cent – in the $13bn ASX-listed Endeavour Group.

In June Bruce Mathieson stepped down from the Endeavour Group board and was replaced by son Bruce Jr. The younger Mathieson left his role as managing director of hotels at Endeavour last year. The Gold Coast-based duo are now focusing on the family business and recently bought the Red-brick Hotel in Woolloongabba, their fourth in South East Queensland.

31. JOHN GAMBARO

Gambaro Group director

For almost 70 years, the Gambaro family has been synonymous with hospitality in Brisbane, from its humble fish and chip shop on Caxton St, which opened in 1953, to their restaurant empire today.

Having grown up in the business under his late father Michael, who welcomed everyone from politicians to celebrities at Gambaro Seafood Restaurant, John Gambaro has been the driving force behind the group’s latest evolution. He has added venues such as Persone and two Black Hide steakhouses to its portfolio, and was key in the recent sale of the Gambaro Hotel and Gambaro Seafood to the Australian Rugby League Commission (although the family will continue to operate the restaurant).

John’s annual fundraisers for the Courier-Mail Children’s Fund put him, along with his brothers Donny and Frank, on a first-name basis with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and some of Queensland’s richest philanthropists. He is a man who knows how to work a room.

32. BOB O’KEEFFE

ASM Global (Asia Pacific) chief operating officer

After 28 years as general manager of the much-lauded convention and exhibition centre on Grey St in South Brisbane, Bob O’Keeffe has been promoted by industry legend Harvey Lister to a new role with ASM Global.

Following the move of ASM’s Rod Pilbeam to a part-time role, O’Keeffe will step up as COO of venue operations, overseeing the group’s 16 venues across the Asia Pacific and Gulf Regions, including seven convention centres. He will also serve as Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre CEO.

33. CRAIG ELLISON

Australian Venue Co chief operating officer

Twenty-four renovations in four years - that’s the daring and ambitious plan of this hotel empire for its portfolio of 80 pubs and hospitality venues across Queensland.

Behind much of the changes is Craig Ellison. Understanding that the community is the key to the success of any pub, Ellison is passionate about ensuring each venue speaks to its local demographic. Spending between $2m and $3m on renovations at each venue, the company has transformed the likes of the Bonny View Hotel in Bald Hills, the Wallaby Hotel in Mudgeeraba, Fitzy’s in Loganholme and King’s Beach Tavern on the Sunshine Coast.

34. JAMES DEIN

Sound Australia (Qld) CEO

James Dein’s career in the live music and events space spans four decades, during which he has produced more than 140 special events, from those with small audiences to festivals of 55,000-plus patrons. Highlights include serving as CEO of the Gympie Music Muster, sponsorship manager of CMC Rocks Qld as well as festival director of Winton’s Way Out West Fest and most recently the iconic Savannah in The Round festival.

Sound Australia comprises many departments that look after everything from site management, safety and camping to production. Dein’s festival delivery team have also worked on the Byron Bay Bluesfest, Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival, CMC Rocks, Clipsal 500, Caloundra Music Festival, and The Grass is Greener.

35. JOHN SHARPE

Riverlife Brisbane owner

Sparked by a passion for outdoor recreation, John Sharpe has become an entrepreneur in the Australian adventure industry, behind many award-winning tourism brands including Brisbane’s Riverlife, Story Bridge Adventure Climb, Tangalooma’s Tangatours, Walkabout Creek Adventure in The Gap, Adventure Moreton Island and Australia’s largest adventure park at sea P&O Edge.

Sharpe has built his businesses on partnerships, teaming up with P&O Cruises to provide the Edge experiences, Tangalooma Island Resort to deliver their water sports, massage and beauty, and Howard Smith Wharves for the Story Bridge Climb. He has also run successful partnerships with the likes of Brisbane City Council, Brisbane Economic Development Agency and the Queensland Government.

Sharpe is also co-founder of experience gifting company Gifting Owl, which offers more than 10,000 experiences in 90 countries.

36. SIMON GLOFTIS

Restaurant owner/investor

Along with business partners Theo Kampolis and Kelvin Andrews, Simon Gloftis has created a mini restaurant empire that lists some of the world’s biggest celebrities and many of Australia’s richest business owners as diners.

All four of his venues are within Fortitude Valley’s up-market James St – including three at the coveted Calile Hotel – ranging from the casual vegetarian buffet eatery Sunshine to his high-end grill SK Steak & Oyster, which has boasted the likes of George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Matt Damon as customers. It’s his poolside Greek taverna Hellenika that continues to be his star performer as a place for those who like to see and be seen – and where big corporate deals and political wrangling are done.

37. FRANK LI

Restaurant owner/investor

In an interview, Frank Li once put his business achievements down to being lucky. But luck doesn’t get you a portfolio of Queensland’s most popular and talked-about restaurants.

Li is co-owner of hugely successful venues Rick Shores on the Gold Coast and Agnes, Same Same, Bianca, Honto and Southside in Brisbane, working with business partners in each operation, including the equally applauded Ty Simon, Nick Woodward, David Flynn, Andrew Hohns and Ben Williamson.

Li’s restaurant empire has led a revolution in Queensland’s dining scene, broadening the palates and minds of local diners with a signature mix of terrific service, great food, top-notch drinks and a vibe that people book weeks in advance to experience.

38. TONY AND FRAN JOHN

Emporium Hotel founders

He’s the architect and developer with a penchant for large-scale commercial construction. She’s the designer who can bring their joint vision to life. This dynamic duo behind the Anthony John Group are multi-award-winners in creating quality commercial, retail and residential projects.

After opening in 2007, their Fortitude Valley Emporium Hotel became a home away from home for celebrity guests and one of the country’s most awarded hotels, claiming Australia’s Leading Boutique Hotel at the World Travel Awards from 2015-18.

When the couple sold the venture to Hong Kong-based boutique Ovolo Hotels in 2018, they took the concept across the river, launching Emporium Hotel 2.0 at the couple’s $600m Southpoint development in South Brisbane that year. The new 143-suite tower continues the brand’s winning streak, claiming a long list of gongs from hotel of the year to best hotel bar.

39. ADRIENNE READINGS

Gold Coast Convention Centre general manager

A fierce supporter of the Gold Coast, Adrienne Readings has been in this role since 2001.

She oversees a team of around 400 staff and is focused on the emerging convention and incentive markets out of Europe and China. Large-scale events are her thing, and she does them brilliantly.

Previously, Readings has held senior management roles within Conrad Jupiters (now The Star Gold Coast) and Hilton International hotel chains.

40. JULIE TELFORD

Tourism Whitsundays chair and Red Cat Adventures co-owner

Running her family business with husband Asher, Julie Telford is also the passionate chair of the region’s tourism body.

Red Cat Adventures won gold in adventure tourism in the 2021 Australian Tourism Awards and silver in the major tour and transport operators category.

Tourism Whitsundays is responsible for destination marketing and visitor attraction for the region. It is the lead agency recognised by Tourism and Events Queensland and the Whitsunday Regional Council.

41. KYM GUESDON

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre general manager

Stepping into the top job in June after the departure of long-serving GM Bob O’Keeffe, Kym Guesdon will lead the venue as it prepares to take centre stage for the 2032 Olympics.

BCEC delivers an average of $300 million to the Queensland economy annually and Guesdon, who has been with the outfit for 27 years, including in HR, is now its second only boss since it opened in 1995.

42. JIM DAVIES

AusHotels managing director

Jim Davies is behind the award-winning AusHotels which consists of four Queensland venues: Orion Hotel in Springfield, Exchange Hotel in Kilcoy, and Archive Beer Boutique and Loft both in West End.

For many independent breweries, Archive was the venue that put them on the map, stocking their ranges and giving them the sales volume they needed to expand, while growing the venue’s own reputation as a pioneer of the craft beer scene in Brisbane.

AusHotels is now taking that innovative spirit to Ipswich, recently signing on as the new operator of the city’s Commonwealth Hotel, with its restoration part of a $250m revitalisation project for the Nicholas St Precinct. The hotel’s redevelopment will include indoor and outdoor dining, a cocktail bar, beer garden and function rooms.

43. JESSICA MELLOR

Star Gold Coast chief operating officer

While Queens Wharf is the main course, Star’s Gold Coast redevelopment is no mere entrée. When completed, stunning towers will soar from the Broadbeach Island site in a game-changer for the Gold Coast tourism landscape.

Jessica Mellor has risen rapidly through the management ranks at a number of companies before landing at The Star Gold Coast, where she oversees a team of more than 2000 staff.

44. BIKASH RANDHAWA

Village Roadshow Theme Parks chief operating officer

Serving under Clark Kirby, Bikash Randhawa also wields considerable influence and has publicly lobbied for more support from government as the industry rides a rocky road to recovery from the pandemic.

A long-time Gold Coast local, Randhawa has the phone numbers of virtually every major political and business leader in South East Queensland plus a good many beyond.

45. AMELIA EVANS

Queensland Airports Limited chief executive officer

Appointed in July, Amelia Evans is responsible for setting the group’s strategy as it pertains to Gold Coast, Townsville, Mount Isa and Longreach airports. Between them – and pre-Covid-19 – these hubs transitioned more than six million passengers, connecting regional areas with the rest of the country and beyond.

Evans was previously QAL’s chief financial officer. She oversees a significant infrastructure and property planning and investment program across the airports. She is a chartered accountant with 25 years’ experience in Australia and overseas across the aviation, telco, fast-moving consumer goods and property industries.

46. PETER GASH

Lady Elliot Island managing director and custodian

A tourism visionary, Peter Gash is the poster boy for Queensland eco-tourism after transforming the run-down Lady Elliot Island Resort into one of the state’s shining tourism jewels.

He has hosted celebrities and dignitaries from around the world on his slice of paradise, and is often involved in environmental and eco-tourism causes, and has inspired operators across the state to reach for the high bar set by Lady Elliot.

47. RICHARD BARKER

North Queensland Airports CEO

Described as “descending into paradise”, Cairns Airport is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and tropical rainforests of North Queensland and before Covid-19 it welcomed more than five million passengers per year.

Richard Barker was appointed as CEO of NQA (which also comprises Mackay Airport and Mackay Airport Hotel) in 2020 after joining the NQA board in 2015. Barker has extensive experience in the airports, retail and energy sectors.

Previously, he was general manager of retail and commercial at Auckland International Airport.

48. STEVEN SHOOBRIDGE

Star Hotels Group managing director and CEO

Born in Tully in North Queensland, Steven Shoobridge runs Queensland’s largest independently owned hospitality management company.

It has a portfolio of roughly 30 licensed venues and more than 60 retail liquor outlets across Queensland and South Australia, including hotels, pubs and Sense of Taste bottle shops.

Its popular pubs can be found in Brisbane, Townsville, Rockhampton, Ayr, Maroochydore, Mackay, Tully, Bowen, Murgon, Gladstone, Yeppoon, Bargara and elsewhere.

Last year Shoobridge began plans to redevelop Townsville’s entertainment and dining scene, buying the former Townsville Central Hotel, as well as the Shamrock Hotel. Star also owns Rydges Southbank Townsville and its conference and events centre.

49. ANDREW BRODIE

Sunshine Coast Airport CEO

Commencing in February 2019 as CEO, Andrew Brodie is responsible for driving the success of this rapidly growing airport through the delivery of major infrastructure, including a new runway commissioned in 2020.

He is a former general manager (airline and retail) for Brisbane Airport Corporation.

50.DAVID AND JUDY ELLIOTT

Australian Age of Dinosaurs founders

This not-for-profit organisation in Winton was founded by the Elliotts in 2002 and operates one of Queensland’s top attractions, the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, which holds annual dinosaur digs and oversees the year-round operation of the nation’s most productive dinosaur fossil preparation laboratory.

Since 2005, the museum has accumulated the largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils in the world.

51. BILLY CROSS

Cross Promotions International CEO and founder

Take a look inside Billy Cross’s little black book and you’ll find everyone from the world’s biggest high rollers to some of the planet’s greatest music acts.

The founder of this event planning and management company, Cross is an entertainment guru, known for running everything from music festivals Summafieldayze, Future Music and Parklife to the global male stage show Thunder Down Under.

After years of operating Gold Coast nightclubs in the 1990s, Cross, along with wife Jackie, is now behind the glamorous rooftop bar and Broadbeach celebrity hangout Nineteen at The Star, which has hosted the likes of Usain Bolt, Chris Hemsworth, Matt Damon and Margot Robbie.

52. RYAN HANLY

Travello CEO and co-founder

A former PE teacher and gym owner, Ryan Hanly moves swiftly in the entrepreneurial space, launching Travello – a social network for travellers that has grown to more than a million users across 180 countries – in 2015.

The app targets the 18 to 35-year-old age bracket, allowing users to connect and book tours and activities. Hanly co-founded Travello with long-time friend and former surveyor and professional rugby league player Mark Cantoni. In 2020, they acquired Backpacker Deals online travel agency.

53. GHANEM GROUP

Restaurateurs

From reinventing Chinese food at its contemporary Cantonese restaurant Donna Chang, to raising the bar for rooftop venues with its sky-high drinking destination Iris, the Ghanem Group is a leading hospitality player in Queensland.

Spearheaded by brothers Adonis and Nehme Ghanem - whose parents started them in hospitality at a young age working in the family’s restaurants and cafes - the group continues to bring new and exciting culinary operations to Brisbane. Its food empire includes Blackbird Bar and Grill, Bisou Bisou, Boom Boom Room and Byblos in Queensland’s capital, as well as Melbourne venues Byblos and Le Bon Ton.

54. KEN CHAPMAN

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chair

The long-serving boss of Skyrail Rainforest Cableway – which traverses the spectacular landscape between Smithfield (Cairns) and Kuranda – has great contacts having been Skyrail chair since 1988.

Chapman is the son of legendary richlister businessman and Skyrail founder George Chapman. He began his career as a medical practitioner and while training to be a plastic surgeon changed course to join his dad’s then very new and bold venture.

55. MELANIE ANDERSON

Tourism Noosa CEO

Joining the peak Noosa tourism body in late 2019, Melanie Anderson was plunged into crisis management – first, the bushfires that peaked in summer and then Covid-19 lockdowns and border closures.

Anderson has worked extensively across Queensland, leading the tourism industry development role for the Queensland Government, as well as working in outback Queensland and developing new products in the Whitsundays in the aftermath of Cyclone Debbie.

56. RANDALL DEER

Ignite Travel Group founder

Innovation is Randall Deer’s middle name. Starting one of the tourism industry’s fastest growing businesses prior to the disruption of Covid, Deer’s Ignite (formerly RewardsCorp Group) runs My Holiday and Holiday Exclusives businesses.

In 2019 ASX-listed travel juggernaut Flight Centre acquired 100 per cent of the award-winning company, eclipsing its previous 49 per cent stake.

57. SUE WILLIS

Niche Luxury Accommodation managing director

Sue Willis is also deputy chair of the Noosa Tourism Board while managing about 200 luxury Noosa holiday homes and apartments. Her background is in sales, communications and general management.

An incredible advocate for the Noosa business community, Willis has often lobbied the government for change, in particular with restrictions surrounding Covid and how businesses could effectively operate. She has also been on the advisory board for James Cook University and Townsville Enterprise Limited and boasts an impressive business network from her luxury accommodation clients to restaurateurs and boutique owners.

58. DUANE FRASER

Tourism and Events Queensland director

Duane Fraser is a Wulgurukaba and Bidjara man with extensive experience advising Commonwealth and state governments on matters relating to Indigenous affairs and environmental policy.

Fraser uses his profile to create positive change and impact to ensure traditional owners are given the opportunity for full and effective participation and leadership roles in decision-making in political, economic and public life. Currently serving as chair of the Federal Environment’s Indigenous Advisory Committee, he also sits on several committees including the Reef 2050 Advisory Committee.

59. SARAH DERRY

Accor Pacific CEO

Spending most of her youth in Townsville, Sarah Derry brings strong Queensland connections to her role as Australasia’s top-ranked executive for global hotel giant Accor.

Although she is based in Sydney, she regularly works from Accor’s Gold Coast corporate office, and is often in the Sunshine State visiting the group’s 101 Queensland hotels and 4000 employees.

60. ANDREW BATURO

DAP and CO co-founder

With business partners Denis Sheahan and Paul Piticco, Baturo is the vocal member of the ambitious DAP & CO hospitality group established in 2011.

They’ve created popular local restaurants including Popolo at South Bank and Walter’s Steakhouse in the CBD, but it’s their city bar The Gresham which proved they were true power players, bringing an unseen level of sophistication to Queensland’s drinking scene and winning numerous accolades in the process, including Australian bar of the year twice.

They hope to shake the city up once again with their latest project inside the CBD’s historic Naldham House, launching what they claim will be a “world-class food and entertainment precinct” when it opens later this year.

Meanwhile, Baturo, independently of DAP & CO, owns the recently opened seafood restaurant Tillerman in the Brisbane CBD with wife Jaimee, as well as Vietnamese restaurant Libertine in Petrie Terrace.

61. SCOTT IMLACH

Restaurateur

A trendsetter among the Gold Coast’s hospitality scene, Scott Imlach is responsible for bringing some of the coolest bars to Queensland.

He campaigned for the Gold Coast City Council and state government to legislate a small bar licence, making way for a wave of intimate watering holes and dive bars unlike anything seen on the Glitter Strip before, including his venues Nightjar at Burleigh Heads and Nightcap in Nobbys Beach.

He is also behind hugely popular Coast beer temple Precinct Brewing, which he co-owns with Simon Tunbridge, Michael Craighead, Tom Welch and Jeremy James.

62. MICHAEL TASSIS

Restaurateur

Having grown up in hospitality with his father George, the famous face behind seafood institution George’s Paragon, Michael Tassis has carved a name for himself creating sophisticated yet affordable restaurants that deliver what diners want.

His former Brisbane CBD venue Fatcow Steak & Lobster at Eagle Street Pier heaved with politicians and the city’s business elite making deals over long lunches, with the venue to find a new location nearby after it was forced to close in July to make way for the redevelopment of the pier.

Meanwhile, Tassis continues to focus on his other eateries, Opa Bar + Mezze, Massimo and West End’s Yamas Greek & Drink, alongside business partner Caio Rossetto.

63. PAT GENNARI

Restaurateur

Pat Gennari made a name for himself in hospitality by taking over just one suburb. The restaurateur is considered the king of Broadbeach on the Gold Coast with his stable of successful eateries including The Loose Moose, Maggie Choo, Roosevelt Lounge and Koi Dining, which arguably kickstarted the sophisticated yet casual style of dining that has now become ubiquitous on the GC.

This year Gennari looks to once again revolutionise the Gold Coast hospitality scene, launching La Luna Beach Club alongside his popular Glass and La Luna restaurants at Main Beach’s Marina Mirage. The club will feature a pool, day beds, private cabanas, bars, a runway and dining, and is set to be a first for Australia, resting on floating pontoons on top of the water.

64. MATT KEEGAN

Artesian Hospitality founder

As a former director in the financial advisory division of international professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers and as a director for a capital management company, Keegan sure has the financial smarts to operate a hospitality group.

Founding Artesian Hospitality in 2018, the entrepreneur has grown the company to a whopping 500-plus staff and a forecast of more than $50m in annual revenues in four years. The brand’s portfolio includes Gold Coast nightclubs Havana, SinCity and Bedroom Lounge Bar, with its most acclaimed venue to date the $10m Cali Beach Club in Surfers Paradise, boasting an LA-inspired mix of bars, pools and outdoor entertainment on a rooftop.

65. MATT, SEAN AND JOE HEANEN AND SCOTT HEMPEL

Hallmark Hospitality

This Gold Coast-based hospitality group – comprising the Heanen brothers and Scott Hempel – aims to reinvent the night-life scene across Queensland with its diverse portfolio of pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants.

From iconic Toowoomba watering hole The Spotted Cow to Brisbane’s award-winning Lefty’s Music Hall and the recently launched Cuban-inspired restaurant, cocktail bar and entertainment venue Hey Chica, the group boasts 12 venues. More are planned, including the sexy ’70s-inspired supper club Maggie May, due to open in Newstead in October.

66. JAMES RENNELL

Craft’d Grounds co-founder

Inspired by coveted food precincts across the world, including The Grounds of Alexandria in Sydney, Brisbane builder James Rennell saw an opportunity to create something similar in his own backyard. The result is the first-of-its-kind venture Craft’d Grounds in an old timber mill in Albion, in the inner north, combining a brewery, coffee roastery, patisserie, deli, restaurant and bar across 2600sq m.

Opening alongside his popular cafe Collingwood Black and successful events business The Black Brisbane, the venue aims to become a tourist destination and encourage foodies from interstate and overseas.

He is also working on a new development, the Lamington Markets, in nearby Lutwyche. The 7333sq m site will feature two towers, comprising 134 dwellings as well as healthcare services, a hotel, cinema, restaurants and a massive marketplace akin to Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market.

67. TONY KELLY

Restaurateur

The former fine dining chef, who once fronted some of the country’s best restaurants, has turned into a hospitality magnate, transforming the Sunshine Coast’s dining scene one venue at a time.

Recognising the skills shortage that has long plagued the food industry, Kelly set about creating fast-casual eateries with limited staff interactions, but a focus on top-notch food using the best quality ingredients. And so, pan-Asian venue Rice Boi was born in Mooloolaba, generating long queues out the door; quickly followed by Greek venture Spero and an expansion of Rice Boi.

His portfolio now includes multiple venues across the Sunshine Coast, ranging from casual cafes to up-market bistros and wine stores, with his latest, Bocca, in conjunction with co-owners Harry Lilai and Luke Stringer, a smart yet casual Italian eatery at Bokarina, with potential to replicate the format throughout the coastal region.

68. ANTHONY RYAN

Brisbane Economic Development Agency CEO

Appointed in November 2021, Anthony Ryan is tasked with delivering opportunities to the Queensland capital in the lead up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. That means securing everything from business, manufacturing and investment deals that help grow the city’s economy to bringing in conferences, conventions and events that will help put Brisbane on the map.

With BEDA also the regional tourism organisation for Logan, Ipswich, Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley, Moreton Bay, Redlands and Somerset, Ryan is set to help shape Queensland’s future over the next decade.

A former teacher, he has also been CEO of Youngcare and the Edmund Rice Foundation (Australia).

69. ALASTAIR McLEOD

Celebrity chef

There are few greater ambassadors for Queensland produce and the state’s tourism gems than celebrity chef Alastair McLeod. From roles supporting farmers of the Lockyer Valley to now those in the Moreton Bay region, he has long showcased what this great state can put on a plate.

Whether it be through his personal catering business AlFreshCo – which does some of the best events and private parties across the southeast – or his TV appearances and cooking demonstrations, dish by dish, McLeod is educating Queenslanders on the benefits of eating local.

He traverses the state as a presenter on Channel 7’s popular Weekender program.

70. BEN MAY

Restaurateur

He may have copped his fair share of criticism from disgruntled locals for “destroying the soul of Burleigh Heads” with his controversial restaurant and bar Burleigh Pavilion, but Ben May says there’s no denying the beachfront property’s popularity.

Any given weekend, the oceanside venue pumps with locals and visitors alike sipping cocktails and eating pizza in all their finery, with May responsible for turning the under-utilised restaurant space into a must-visit destination.

He plans to continue to evolve the coastal hotspot, transforming the tenancy below into a wellness centre.

71. INGRID PROUD

Better Events managing director

Appointed to the Brisbane 2032 Legacy Committee, Ingrid Proud has more than 20 years’ experience in the major event industry, including tourism and sport. Proud is adept at staging large scale projects for organisations including Tourism and Events Queensland, Trade and Investment Queensland, Suncorp Stadium, AEG Ogden (now ASM Global) and the City of Gold Coast.

HOW DID WE DETERMINE THE LISTS?

Firstly, The Courier-Mail senior leadership team engaged the newsroom – reporters on the ground and in the know, those whose job it is to cover these sectors every single day.

The leadership team then used its combined years of experience and extensive contacts to brainstorm more names, adding and culling – all the while consulting with external experts and trusted sources in relevant fields.

We have excluded current executives and editors of News Corp, The Courier-Mail, Foxtel and Fox Sports. That is because News Corp Australia is the publisher of The Courier-Mail, and owns 65 per cent of Foxtel.

We understand that any such list is bound to be subjective, and is by no means exhaustive – but this list is as accurate a one as possible to produce in terms of where things are right now.

It is a unique insight into who calls the shots in Queensland. And as a subscriber it is yours exclusively.

But remember that power is more often than not temporary. Who plays large in 2022 might not be so powerful in 2023. Watch this space.

CORRECTION

In an earlier version of this list, The Courier-Mail said Shane O’Reilly was chair of the QTIC. O’Reilly stepped down in August and was replaced by Elsa Dalessio.