Dubbo’s 20 most powerful people revealed
From millionaire business owners to top public servants, a sports star on the rise and a Logie winner — meet the central west’s 20 most powerful people.
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Inspirational business leaders, a ballerina, Logie winner and rising NRL star are some of Dubbo’s most powerful people.
Whether they’re influencing a legion of fans, employing thousands, providing food for the world or advocating for those in need of a better deal in the bush — the people on our list draw their power from a range of sources and use it in different ways to make a difference to many lives.
1 — WES MAAS
In 2002, 22-year-old Wes Maas had $14,000 saved up when he bought a bobcat and started a hire business in his hometown of Dubbo.
Now he’s estimated to be worth about $347 million and is the chief executive officer of a Dubbo-based ASX-listed company which employs more than 600 people and has depots across Australia and in Vietnam.
Maas Group Holdings is the ever-expanding global empire Mr Maas has worked tirelessly to build and it now includes plant hire, civil construction, electrical infrastructure, specialist machinery, quarry and crushing and screening businesses — along with a booming residential and commercial property division.
Whether it’s local housing estates, roads, livestock markets or the Sydney Metro, WestConnex, Bruce Highway upgrades, Cross River Rail in Brisbane and more, Maas Group is quite literally building Australia.
2 — GEOFF MCKECHNIE
After starting out his policing career as a probationary constable at Gilgandra in 1988, Assistant NSW Police Commissioner Geoff McKechnie worked his way up to become Superintendent of the Canobolas, Tuggerah Lakes and Brisbane Waters area commands between 2003 and 2012.
Assistant Commissioner McKechnie returned to the bush in 2012 to take up the Dubbo-based Western Region Commander role he currently holds.
The region Assistant Commissioner McKechnie is responsible for what amounts to a geographical area which covers 75 per cent of NSW and includes seven police districts and 119 police stations.
During his distinguished career, Assistant Commissioner McKechnie has overseen the implementation of the Rural Crime Prevention Team in NSW and been heavily involved in efforts to engage Aboriginal communities out west. He has also been awarded the NSW Premier Emergency Award, the Australian Police Medal and National Police Service Medal.
Currently, Assistant Commissioner McKechnie is working to keep NSW safe as Commander of Operation coronavirus 2020, a role which sees him responsible for the hotel quarantine of returning travellers to NSW.
3 and 4 — ROGER AND MELISSA FLETCHER
The Fletcher family has built its agribusiness empire in Dubbo and is the city’s biggest private employer with more than 700 workers on the payroll.
Founder and director of Fletcher International Exports, Roger Fletcher is a self-made multi-millionaire businessman who started out working as a drover, delivering other people’s sheep.
Mr Fletcher built his sheep export abattoir in Dubbo in the late 1980s and gradually presided over the extraordinary growth of the family business which is now a global leader in the supply of sheep meat, skins, wool, by-products, cotton and grains to customers all over the world.
Melissa Fletcher is following in her father’s footsteps and works as chief executive of the business and is in charge of day-to-day operations.
A proud Aboriginal woman, Ms Fletcher has more than 30 years of industry experience behind her and she has been described as a representative of a new generation of red meat industry leaders.
5, 6 and 7 — BILL, ROBERT AND JOHN STEVENSON
For more than a century the Stevenson family name has been synonymous with baking in western NSW.
Brothers Bill, Rob and John Stevenson took after their parents, grandparents and great grandparents when they went into business together in 1990 with their wives.
After a few years, the family transformed the Village Hot Bake into a modern cafe and baking operation which went on to take out the title of Australia’s best meat pie at competitions in 2003 and 2005.
The Earlyrise Baking Company was formed after the brothers split up the retail and wholesale business. Now hundreds of the Stevenson brothers products are manufactured in Dubbo daily and shipped out to shops, supermarkets and cafes across Australia.
8 — MARK COULTON
Federal member for Parkes Mark Coulton spent 30 years as a farmer and grazier before entering parliament in 2007.
The Nationals MP and former Gwydir Shire Council mayor has since been re-elected four times and risen to the rank of Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government Minister in the Morrison Government.
Mr Coulton has had a range of roles in the federal parliament, including Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chief Nationals Whip.
During his time representing the people of Dubbo and far western NSW Mr Coulton has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for a range of projects and initiatives including tax cuts, a new Dubbo bridge, Inland Rail and a Western Cancer Centre.
9 — SCOTT MCLACHLAN
As CEO of an organisation which covers an area as large as the United Kingdom, Scott McLachlan has responsibility for delivering public health services to some of the most isolated communities in Australia.
The Western NSW Local Health District Mr McLachlan heads up is 250,000 square kilometres in size and consists of 38 hospitals and health services which help about 280,000 people and employ 7000.
Raised in Inverell, Mr McLachlan studied exercise physiology before moving in to management roles at the Brisbane Waters Private Hospital and Hunter New England Local Health District.
He says in the CEO role he aims to improve health outcomes for rural people by working with communities and clinicians, developing strategic partnerships and driving innovation.
10 — BEN SHIELDS
It’s often said councils should stick to focusing on roads, rates and rubbish, but there’s much more on the mind of Dubbo mayor Ben Shield.
For more than two decades councillor Shields has been a vocal champion for change in Dubbo.
Whether it’s his anti-excessive rate rise stance, push to attract more big name retailers to the city, determination to redevelop the old RAAF base, petition for more doctors in Wellington or ongoing campaign for a drug rehabilitation facility, councillor Shields isn’t afraid to share his opinions and lobby state and federal politicians for what he believes is needed to advance Dubbo.
11 — BOB BERRY
For more than four decades, Bob Berry has been a pivotal part of Dubbo’s real estate landscape.
A few years after starting out as a stock and station agent in 1974, Mr Berry moved into real estate and in 1988 he became chairman of the Real Estate Institute of NSW’s (REINSW) Orana division.
Well known for speaking his mind and championing the growth of the Dubbo region, Mr Berry used his positions to take the concerns of country real estate agents to their counterparts in the city and ensure their voices were heard.
In addition to his work with the REINSW, Mr Berry has served as president of the Dubbo Chamber of Commerce and he took a leading role in restructuring the former Dubbo City Development Corporation which worked to grow the city.
During his time as chairman of the Dubbo Showground interim trust, Mr Berry spearheaded efforts to get Dubbo City Council ownership of the facility.
In recognition of Mr Berry’s service to the real estate industry, he was the first country member to win the REINSW’s prestigious Woodrow Weight award for contributions to the industry.
In 2003 he was also bestowed the Emile Serisier award by the Dubbo Chamber of Commerce for services to the Dubbo business community.
12 — ISAAH YEO
The son of former North Sydney Bears and Balmain Tigers player Justin Yeo, Isaah was born and raised in Dubbo before he made it big in Sydney.
A former St Johns College student, Yeo played for the Dubbo CYMS before he was signed by the Penrith Panthers as a teen.
Shortly after being signed, he made his first grade debut for Penrith in 2014 and won the club’s John Farragher Award for courage and determination in 2017.
The Merv Cartwright Medal and Dally M Lock of the Year title followed and in 2020 Isaah made his State of Origin debut for the Blues.
Penrith extended Yeo’s contract this month, for another three years and when the NRL season kicks off in March he will take to the field as Panthers co-captain alongside Nathan Cleary.
13 — MO’JU
Critically acclaimed musician Mo’Ju, formerly known as Mojo Juju, grew up in Dubbo and has been a frequent returning visitor to the city despite her career taking off big time.
The singer-songwriter’s third album Native Tongue was released in 2018 and it catapulted her to the forefront of the Australian music industry.
Mo’Ju received a swag of ARIA nominations and awards such as the Australian independent Record Labels Association gong for Best independent Single for the title track Native Tongue.
Drawing heavily on Mo’Ju’s lived experiences as a Wiradjuri, Filipino and queer woman who lived in regional NSW, the career defining album led the Chicago Tribune to name her as one of the 12 best artists at South by Southwest music festival in 2019.
14 — DUGALD SAUNDERS
After a 27-year media career, Dugald Saunders made the switch from the airwaves to politics after National Party members in Dubbo chose him to contest the 2019 state election and take over the reins from former Deputy Premier Troy Grant.
Fending off a serious challenge from former Dubbo mayor Mathew Dickerson, Mr Saunders went on to win the seat of Dubbo for the Nationals by 1550 votes and his win delivered the Berejiklian Government the 48th seat in parliament it needed to form majority government.
Almost at the halfway point of his term as Dubbo MP, Mr Saunders has the ear of ministers who regularly visit Dubbo to splash cash on infrastructure projects which range from a $7.5 million drug rehabilitation facility to a $3.6 million court and $10 million for an Old Dubbo Gaol upgrade, Wiradjuri Cultural Centre and outdoor events facility at Ollie Robbins Oval.
15 — MEGAN DIXON
If governments need advice about issues affecting industries and employers in the Orana region they often turn to Regional Development Australia (RDA) Orana region director Megan Dixon.
Ms Dixon heads up the organisation, which is backed by a regional committee of industry and government representatives focused on driving economic growth out west, attracting more investment and growing the workforce.
Through her work Ms Dixon builds partnerships between vital industries and helps highlight their needs to key decision makers.
In 2019 under Ms Dixon’s leadership RDA Orana became the first region in NSW to strike a designated area migration agreement with the federal government which provides employers with a dedicated tool to get skilled overseas workers into industries suffering from severe skill and labour shortages.
16 — MATT WRIGHT
As Dubbo Chamber of Commerce President, Matt Wright is a leading voice for businesses in the city.
A mortgage and finance broker by trade, Mr Wright owns the local Money Quest franchise which he started as a one-man band more than 15 years ago.
One year after joining the Chamber, members voted for Mr Wright to become their president.
He leads the Chamber’s efforts to help businesses prosper and grow, speak up about issues impacting members and champion Dubbo as a city that’s open for business.
17 — STEVE PEACOCKE
Actor Steve Peacocke is one of Dubbo’s most popular and powerful exports.
After finishing school he left his parents Gareth and Sylvia’s home to work in Bourke as a jackaroo before he headed to the University of Newcastle to study communications.
Steve landed various stage roles while at university and guest spots on hit television shows like Rake and All Saints followed. His big break came in 2011 when he landed the role of Brax on iconic Australian soap Home And Away — a role which saw him win three Logie awards for the Most Popular Actor and New Talent.
When his Summer Bay gig came to an end, Steve starred in Hollywood filmsWhiskey TangoFoxtrot and Me Before You. He also remained a favourite on Aussie TV screens with roles in Wanted, Informer 3838, Squinters and Five Bedrooms.
Later this year Steve will reappear on TV screens in RFDS — a scripted drama about the work of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
18 — JOH LEADER
To help disadvantaged Dubbo kids doing it tough, paediatric speech pathologist Joh Leader launched not-for-profit organisation LeaderLife.
Working closely with different levels of government, philanthropists, Aboriginal elders, community groups and local families Ms Leader’s organisation helps young people overcome complex challenges like childhood trauma, suicide and drug dependence so they can go on to live purposeful, happy lives free of crime.
With seed funding, including $50,000 from the NSW Government, LeaderLife’s social enterprise Soil2Soul opened last year and saw a group of young people become managers of a lime farm.
Local police credit Ms Leader’s drive and determination for helping to achieve an astounding 65 per cent reduction in charges against Aboriginal kids in Dubbo and her powerful work making a difference to the lives of young people has seen her named as a finalist in the 2021 NSW Woman of the Year awards.
19 — KIM V. GOLDSMITH
The advocacy efforts of passionate, talented and determined Dubbo artist Kim V. Goldsmith have benefited many in the arts community locally and abroad.
A former journalist, Ms Goldsmith originally studied agriculture and planned to work in the beef cattle genetics space before she became active in her arts practice in 2002.
Ms Goldsmith’s work has captivated crowds across the country at events like the Vivid Festival, the Dubbo DREAM event, solo shows, group collaborations and more.
She founded an online directory and blog dedicated to regional visual arts and helped form Fresh Arts, a Dubbo-based support network for local artists.
Through her work as a media and marketing communications consultant and trainer, Ms Goldsmith has helped organisations like Orana arts, Outback Arts and the National Association for the Visual Arts.
Determined to help struggling local artists and those from seven other countries showcase their work during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms Goldsmith hosted an international arts festival she built online from the ground up.
Currently Ms Goldsmith is working on an international digital eco-arts project which examines the Macquarie Marshes as they recover from drought and fire.
20 — ELLA HAVELKA
Born in Dubbo in 1989 and a descendant of the Wiradjuri people, Ella Havelka moved to Melbourne when she was 15 to pursue her dream of becoming a dancer.
After graduating from The Australian Ballet School in 2007, Ms Havelka made her first appearance with the Bangarra Dance Theatre in 2009. In 2013 she was the first indigenous woman to join The Australian Ballet.
Ms Havelka has travelled the world dancing, entertaining and sharing her skills with mesmerised crowds.
Her remarkable success and life journey has even been the focus of a documentary.
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