Top 100 Most Influential people as voted by you: top 10 count down
THE wait is finally over, this is it. The top 10 Most Influential people on the Central Coast as voted by you. You won’t believe who’s made it.
Central Coast
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#1 Bruce McLachlan
WHEN it comes to long term links to the Central Coast, not many can claim the kind of history of Bruce McLachlan who has been voted the most influential person on the Central Coast for 2018.
Mr McLachlan is a real estate agent and Central Coast Councillor whose uncles started the Long Jetty based real estate agency in the 1920s.
He grew up in the area and has watched it change from a small fishing village to the present day highly developed suburb. When he joined the business, it gave him access and insight to all kinds of people from all walks of life.
“One day you can be speaking to a person whose virtually homeless and the next day to a wealthy developer with millions to spend,” Mr McLachlan said.
“It gives you a deep sense of the diversity of the Central Coast,” he said.
Mr McLachlan said he had decided to run for Central Coast Council because he “got sick of whining about things” and decided he needed to stand up and try to make a difference.
“I am an independent councillor and I belong to no party.
“I wanted to bring some practical business thinking into the chamber and some first hand business experience.”
Mr McLachlan said three key issues needed to be addressed to bring about a positive future for the Central Coast:
1. Party politics in the new council and lack of forward vision;
2. Getting sensible planning codes that reflect coastal issues;
3. Refocusing on youth unemployment and the economy.
“I know change is painful, and the amalgamation was forced, but why on earth would you logically want to spend your rates on two mayors, on $110,000 each, two CEOs on $500,000k each, plus add five more councillor wages, $29k each, let alone duplicate all the directors and their administration team,” Mr McLachlan said.
“The new council is quite capable of delivering the services across the whole coast, but it needs direction and vision from its new councillors, not infighting, dysfunction and political games.
“We need flexible, sensible planning codes, that will allow major projects of major economic benefit to be considered, and not just limit the coast to urban sprawl, granny flats and boarding houses.”
#2: Jillian Hogan
DESCRIBED by those who voted for her as a “role model”, a “high achiever” and an “absolute success”, the penultimate name in our countdown of the 100 Most Influential Coasties isn’t necessarily one of the first to come to mind.
That being said, she is easily one of the most deserving.
Councillor Jillian Hogan goes about her best work quietly and without a desire for recognition which, more often than not, provides more reason for recognition to be offered.
She is a tireless ambassador for the northern end of the Coast, living in San Remo and representing the Budewoi ward in her position at Council.
Ms Hogan works in the Neighbourhood Centre opposite Lakes Grammar — a community hub which, in their own words, build connections and increase resilience.
Essentially, the centre provides counselling, support groups, recreational activities, disability care, legal aid and emergency relief.
Among Ms Hogan’s biggest achievements — one which brought life to the sleepy town of San Remo — is the GOATS (Going off at the swamp) family music festival.
Launched in 1999 as an alcohol-free event where the community could listen to local music talent, the festival now attracts ten’s of thousands every year and in April celebrated its 20th anniversary.
Ms Hogan was credited in just about every vote she received for her “unswerving long-term commitment to improving the lives of residents on the northern end of the Central Coast”.
“Jillian is always for the people and a Central Coast legend in her own right,” one said.
“I saw her grow from a youth worker to a services manager who transformed a sleepy neighbourhood centre into a vibrant epicentre where all people feel valued,” another added.
“Community always comes first for Jillian and so she decided to become a CC councillor to have a say in matters which are important to the residents she’s been serving for many years.
“Jillian is an extremely high achiever, she is not just my role model but to many others who know her.”
“Jillian Works hard for her community and genuinely cares,” one more said.
#3: John Singleton
ARGUABLY the elder statesman of the Central Coast, millionaire ad mogul John Singleton is the man many people thought would have to be voted the number one most influential.
With his radio station 2GB boasting the two most influential names in broadcasting in Alan Jones and Ray Hadley, “Singo” has an unrivalled platform to bring issues onto the public agenda.
He has been a long time — and sometimes lone — advocate for the region and unlike some who have flag waved from the sideline, Mr Singleton has tipped millions of dollars of his own money into getting the Coast moving.
The one-time Blue-tongue Stadium owner has the first private development in the heart of Gosford nearing completion in Bonython Tower and has other developments in the wings.
This follows success with Bells at Killcare and the internationally renowned Pretty Beach House.
More recently he has been behind the newly opened Saddles bakehouse near his Strawberry Hills Stud at Mount White.
Mr Singleton portrays himself as a likeable larrikin, but his success in advertising in the 1980s-90s and later in broadcasting and other commercial interests reveals a man who pulls no punches when it comes to business dealings.
He also has the ear of the who’s who in Australian business, politics and sports.
The 76-year-old is a well known racehorse breeder and, with his close friend Gerry Harvey, has owned the Gold Coast-based thoroughbred sales company Magic Millions.
Readers were unanimous in their praise for Mr Singleton’s passion to see the region reach its full potential.
“John Singleton’s passion and vision for the future of the Central Coast is incredible and tireless,” one reader said.
“His development of the Bonython Tower in Gosford and Saddles restaurant at Mount White in the last 12 months are world class and will no doubt become draw cards for the Central Coast in the future. The Central Coast is lucky to have a person such as John Singleton who is continuously striving to ensure an amazing future for this great part of Australia.”
#4 Fr Rod Bower
THE Central Coast’s outspoken, social media savvy priest Father Rod Bower has preached his way to number four on the Top 100.
Father Bower is renowned for his controversial, headline-hitting billboards at Gosford Anglican Church, covering everything from the plight of refugees to marriage equality and politics.
He has hit headlines countless times, and has more than 53,000 followers on the Anglican Parish of Gosford Facebook page, along with millions of hits.
One of his most powerful signs appeared on July 2013: “Dear Christians, some people are gay. Get over it. Love, God.” It’s estimated that 50 million people around the world saw the sign via social media.
More recently, his Anzac Day 2018 pro refugee billboard ‘Lest We Forget Manus & Nauru’ caused a stir among local veterans and resulted in a number of threats including one to burn down the church.
The church was invaded by extremists in May, a group of alleged ultranationalist neo-Nazis who terrorised the congregation on a Saturday evening.
After the incident, Fr Bower posted on Facebook, “We will not be silenced!”
“The good news of love must be proclaimed for the sake of the world.”
The father of two has always remained strong and unapologetic on his views and is set to release a book in September called Outspoken: The Life and Work of the Man Behind Those Signs.
Fr Bower was ordained as a priest in 1992 at the age of 30. He was born in Newcastle and adopted by a Hunter grazier couple. He had a tough upbringing on the family farm, particularly after his father died when he was 13.
“I left school at 15 and went to Newcastle and worked in the retail meat industry for 12 years before I had my calling,” he previously told the Express Advocate.
“I woke up one Christmas Day and thought I should do the right thing and go to church.”
His first priest posting was at Cessnock for two years, followed by another two years at Dee Why and three at Toukley before his arrival at Gosford.
#5 Sharryn Brownlee
SMALL business owner, former Pro Chancellor and the voice of education on the Central Coast, Sharryn Brownlee comes in at number 5 in the top 100.
The Council of P&Cs president was described by one reader as a “continual support for multiple institutions and community support agencies across the coast”.
Mrs Brownlee was a Pro Chancellor at the University of Newcastle, a past President of the NSW Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations and an inaugural member of the NSW Institute of Teachers Council.
She has been commended by another reader as someone who has “worked tirelessly to support parents, students and principals in local schools for 20 years”.
Mrs Brownlee is a fierce advocate for schools and spoke out recently on her fears some Coast schools could soon reach bursting point, due to the increasing number of residential developments.
“There is nothing more important than the mandatory 13 years of schooling, but the affect of new developments on education is not properly considered in the DA process,” Mrs Brownlee said recently.
“We don’t know what the education plans for the Central Coast are because there is a complete lack of transparency and no cohesive plan.”
She was a key figure in the organisation of the Central Coast Cyber Awareness Forum, held at Mingara Recreation Club, Tumbi Umbi, last year. Mrs Brownlee is also a vocal advocate for Coast schools when it comes to the statewide maintenance backlog.
In addition to her passion for education, Mrs Brownlee is also the president of Coast Community Connections, a registered charity and not for profit organisation which delivers services to children, young people, families, people with a disability and older people on the Central Coast.
Mrs Brownlee has held several other state and local board positions including on the independent Liquor and Gaming Authority. She is also a small-business owner.
#6 Jilly Pilon
CENTRAL Coast Councillor Jilly Pilon has landed sixth in the Top 100, and has been praised for her strength, integrity and work in the Coast community.
Mrs Pilon’s world was turned upside down in August 2015, when her 10-year-old son Banjo was killed in a skateboarding accident.
Since then, she has become an advocate for organ donation and road safety. She also successfully lobbied for funding for Banjo’s Skate Park in Terrigal, in honour of her beloved boy, which is now open to the public.
Last September, she was voted on to the first Central Coast Council, and represents The Entrance Ward.
Mrs Pilon, who has been the office manager of a family business specialising in aluminium manufacturing, previously told the Express Advocate it was the “rollercoaster ride of emotions” where she found her political calling.
“I think everything happens for a reason, and you’ve just got to look for positives,” the Wamberal mother said.
She was the Liberal candidate for the Gosford by-election in 2017, however lost to Gosford state Labor MP Liesl Tesch.
Local music is a passion for Mrs Pilon, and her eldest son Fletcher is a well known singer/musician who won Australia’s Got Talent in 2016. Fletcher also made an appearance in the Top 100, landing in at number 75.
One nomination for Mrs Pilon read, “This women amazes me and has my complete admiration. She grew up on the Coast, attended local public schools and has been an employee and employer.
“Tragically she lost her beautiful youngest son Banjo, and now is working to uphold his memory but to also provide a safer place for children to skate. I imagine this will be the first of many triumphs for her community. She has a warm and friendly nature but more importantly conducts herself with the utmost integrity.”
#7 Nathan Testa
WHEN most people are in their late teens they are counting the seconds until the weekend, snoozing through university lectures and living off a diet of two minute noodles and, when they can afford it, Oak chocolate milk.
At the time, success is the furthest thing from their mind.
That was not so for Nathan Testa, however, the teenage entrepreneur whose business acumen and impressive portfolio has defied his age and the critics on his way to coming in at number seven on our 100 Most Influential Coasties list.
Mr Testa, 19, has not let age hold him back — he taught himself code at just 12 years old and developed an online presence for clients of his father’s accounting firm during high school.
That provided a springboard for the Noraville resident to sensationally drop out from Year 10 at St Peters in Tuggerah and pursue his business interests, starting a company called Teko Corporation.
His main roles involved managing a team of designers delivering website development, app development, digital marketing and branding services.
Today the company is spread over two continents, with a team of 20 working in offices on the Central Coast, in Sydney and in the US on projects for big-name brands as well as small to medium enterprises.
Mr Testa also keeps himself busy running an online surf, street and skate clothing business and plans to launch a podcast and video series this month on his personal website called ‘The Millenial Footprint’.
It is aimed at empowering young people to live their best lives.
Those who voted for the teen described him as an “overwhelming success” and a “great spirit”.
“He’s defied the expectations of doubtful high school teachers and taken the world by storm,” one said.
“He is always encouraging teens to go out and do what they do best,” another said.
#8 Tony Denny
TONY Denny, the son of a Czech immigrant who went to Avoca Primary School for two years before going on to build a used car empire in Eastern Europe, is a man who speaks quietly but carries a big stick.
Relatively unknown on the Coast when he began buying property in late 2014, Mr Denny shot to prominence the following year when he debuted at No. 179 on the BRW rich list with a $320 million fortune after selling his Europe-based AAA Motor Group.
The car enthusiast splurged $70 million to set up one of the world’s largest private vehicle collections, Gosford Classic Cars, before embarking on a $190 million property development portfolio.
Mr Denny now resides at Killcare with his wife and two children and with the revitalisation of Gosford underway, the quietly spoken developer will be one of key people in the private sector capable of making the Coast’s capital great again.
Mr Denny said the three biggest issues facing the Central Coast in the next 12 months included “an inexperienced and non-commercially minded council” and their subsequent decisions, the “unknown zone” of the new planning controls that would be responsible for approving developments over $10 million in the city centre and “yet another Gosford masterplan” which could wither if it was not enacted upon.
“Otherwise the Central Coast will still remain one of the best regions in the world to reside in,” he said.
And Mr Denny should know given it took him six months to convince his Czech wife, Helena, why he wanted to settle down here after his 24 years in Europe.
The other two places the couple had short-listed included Majorca in Spain and the hinterland outside Florence in Italy’s Tuscany region.
“I did always want to come back to Australia but my wife didn’t. She was happy to stay in Europe close to family,” Mr Denny told the Express Advocate in 2016 after they settled at Killcare Heights.
“It took my wife six months to get why I wanted to move back here, but now she comments every day on how great it is.
“This area has always been close to my heart; it’s the best place in the world.”
Mr Denny had to shrug off death threats from Russian mafia in a volatile Prague in the mid 1990s after the fall of the Berlin Wall and negotiate the 2007 global financial crisis, just three months after floating AAA Motor Group on European stockmarkets.
No doubt those experiences forged a steely resolve in Mr Denny who will need every bit of his business acumen if he is to get his developments over the line in the next 12 months and help determine the future of the Coast for generations to come.
#9 Daniel Farmer
CENTRAL Coast Business Chamber regional manager Daniel Farmer has been the driving force of commerce across the region coming in at number 9.
Mr Farmer has been an active member of many regional boards including Central Coast Manufacturing Connect, Central Coast Regional Advisory Council and Innov8Central.
He has extensive senior management, industrial relations, human resources, workplace safety, real estate, and media, advertising and sales experience across a broad range of industries.
But he has also been a tireless voice for the needs of Central Coast businesses on a diverse range of topics.
From jobs and taxation to the NBN, council mergers and digital disruption in the retail sector, Daniel Famrer has been ready to speak out.
When discussion began about possible council mergers back in 2016 Mr Farmer was quick to take a stand in favour of a strong regional voice for the Central Coast — arguing that it would help business.
He said at the time that Gosford and Wyong councils must “speak with one voice” and that a direct merger was the only one way that could be achieved.
“Business is absolutely sick of losing opportunity from having our two councils operate in isolation. When we bid for funding or go to Canberra the two councils go individually and we end up with nothing,” he said.
Mr Farmer has been vocal on NBN’s failure to deliver fast online speeds to the local business community.
“It’s a sorry state of affairs when our members are spending their hard earned money to upgrade their internet connection only to be left high and dry without internet for weeks at a time,” he said.
“Even where members have been able to connect to the NBN, slow speeds and poor levels of customer service by both wholesale and retail telecommunication providers have been consistently reported.”
Mr Farmer has also been strong in urging Central Coast retailers to embrace online retail as consumer shopping habits change.
“We’ve got retailers on the Central Coast, and more broadly across the state, that still haven’t got the e-commerce piece right about having an online presence as much as they have an in-store presence,” he said.
Those who nominated Mr Farmer had high praise for him.
“He is very influential on the Central Coast. He and his team has helped and supported over 1000 people get apprenticeships over the last 12 months. Very hard worker, plus a loving family man and was the ambassador for his gym,” one said.
#10 Kirsty Buchan
COMING in at number 10 spot in the top 100 Most Influential Coasties is a woman who hasn’t just broken through the glass ceiling of the Australian aerospace industry, she has soared above it.
Mother-of-three Kirsty Buchan has been a proud Coastie for more than 30 years but few outside the aerospace industry would recognise her in traffic as she commutes daily to BAE Systems’ Williamtown base.
Ms Buchan is a senior subcontracts officer with the Hawk Lead-In Fighter project, which ensures Australia’s next generation of Top Gun fighter pilots have the cutting edge training jets they need to hone their skills.
Having been in the aerospace industry since 2001 Ms Buchan has worked for international manufacturing and engineering companies before joining defence contractor BAE Systems three years ago.
Being a heavily male-dominant industry, Ms Buchan recognised a lack of female specific career support and progression initiatives so she created a women in leadership program.
The initiative has been expanded nationally across BAE Systems’ 3100 employees and includes a women’s network, group sessions, leadership programs, inspirational guest speakers, as well as mentorship and sponsorship arrangements.
The program provides a safe supportive space where women from all backgrounds can gain peer support, learn to advocate for themselves and celebrate one another’s achievements.
Ms Buchan is credited with inspiring women by engaging, supporting and developing them in their careers, helping to drive a culture that thrives on empowerment and starts conversations about inclusive working environments.
Her achievements have also seen her selected as a finalist among a field of high calibre nominees in the inaugural Australian Defence Magazine’s Women in Defence Awards.
The winners will be announced in Canberra on the July 27 at a gala award ceremony.
Ms Buchan described the nomination as “a real career highlight”.
When she is not negotiating high level defence contracts, the former Central Coast Grammar student, of Woongarrah, cares for her two boys and daughter aged three, five and seven.
Outside work and family Ms Buchan said she likes to run.