Northern beaches most influential people in 2021 revealed
They play a role in shaping our everyday lives – whether in political arenas, sporting pursuits or community service. See the full list of the northern beaches most influential people.
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From medical professionals, to educators, sports stars and social media influencers, the northern beaches is full of committed and talented making their mark on the world.
The Manly Daily has compiled a list of the top 30 people who are etching their name into local folklore for the betterment of themselves and their community.
These people make our wonderful part of Sydney a better place to live, work and play for all.
While we couldn’t include every one of our talented crop of stars, here’s a look at some of the major shakers, in no particular order, below.
JAKE TRBOJEVIC
He’s big, he’s brave and the popular Sea Eagles NRL forward has a heart of gold when it comes to helping people, especially young men struggling with mental health issues.
Trbojevic shone in the junior rugby league ranks with the Mona Vale Raiders before being picked for junior NSW rep teams and playing for the Australian Schoolboys.
Since playing his debut first grade match for the Sea Eagles in 2013, he has become an inspirational figure for hundreds of junior footy players on the northern beaches.
Trbojevic was called into the Australian Kangaroos squad for the 2016 Rugby League Four Nations tournament in 2016 and has played pivotal roles for the NSW Blues in a number of State of Origin series.
As well as mentoring young Sea Eagles players Trbojevic volunteers for the men’s mental health foundation as an ambassador, and an avid fundraiser, for Gotcha4Life founded by Gus Worland.
INDY CLINTON
Indy Clinton from Palm Beach is the quintessential Aussie girl and blonde surfer chick who first came to our attention in 2014, when she was earning some decent pocket money from her Instagram posts while still at school.
Back then she was being offered up to $750 to feature brands in her posts and was living a celebrity-style life, attending photo shoots and attending charity events, in between doing her homework.
Fast forward seven years and she now has 149,000 followers on Instagram, a suitably gorgeous husband and a very Instagrammable baby boy called Navy.
There are still the bikini shots on her feed, but they are interspersed with aspirational images of her perfect family, including shots of her breastfeeding.
Lots of the questions she now gets from fans are around parenting and how she looks so good.
As well as her new role as a yummy mummy, she has also branched out into the fitspo world.
Fit With Indy on Instagram has a couple of thousand followers, but her six week shred challenges are attracting a couple of hundred people at a time. Her toned body is a great advert for the brand.
We can only wonder at how much she can command for her posts now that her followers have more than tripled and she has tapped into the lucrative parenting market.
BRAD FITTLER
Brad “Freddy” Fittler became the toast of NSW and stamped himself as a “true Blue” sporting legend on a Sunday night in 2018 at ANZ Stadium.
That was where the Terrey Hills resident orchestrated the NSW side’s victory in the second State of Origin game against arch rivals Queensland.
That win gave the Blues a 2-0 lead and sealed only their second series win in 13 years in what was his first as NSW coach.
The enormity of that achievement cannot be underestimated as years of heartache ended for long suffering NSW supporters. Fittler then coached the Blues to another series victory in 2019
Even though Fittler’s Blues lost the “unlosable” series in 2020, his status has not diminished.
Prior to taking on the head job with the NSW Blues, Fittler enjoyed a distinguished playing career, winning premierships at the Panthers in 1991 and with the Roosters side that he captained in 2002.
Fittler also played 38 games for Australia and 31 games for NSW
He is heavily involved in community work. Fittler is a founding member of the annual charity motorcycle ride, “Hogs For The Homeless”, which began in 2013 and has raised more than $760,000 for Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off The Streets program
Fittler also has a high public profile as an expert footy commentator on Channel 9.
MICHAEL REGAN
Michael Regan is becoming one of the most experienced and senior figures in local government across NSW.
He has been mayor of the amalgamated northern beaches council since 2017 and is gearing up to have another tilt at the top job at the local government elections in September.
As mayor, Mr Regan has the casting vote if the votes are locked up at council meetings. An in the past he hasn’t been afraid to use it.
He came under fire early in his term for using his casting vote to increase rates by 2.3 per cent, just above inflation, despite the council’s expected two-year surplus of $20m.
It meant a hit of an average of $40 per household, but included a $43m total increase in rates across the peninsula over the next decade.
Mr Regan argued that the 270,000 residents of what is one of the state’s largest councils by population, have seen the benefit of that extra revenue.
He said this week that levels of infrastructure renewal investment have increased massively – particularly in the old Manly and Pittwater council areas.
“The backlog has been reduced thanks to the efficiencies and savings of the new council,” he said.
“Add to that our ability to absorb the COVID impacts to our budget, the support we could offer to residents and local business, and not have to borrow money, shows the council is performing above expectations.”
MIKE BAIRD
The former NSW Premier may have stepped away from the political spotlight in January 2017 … but he still wields a great deal of influence, by dint of being constantly named as the possible Liberal candidate at the next federal election in the high-profile seat of Warringah.
Mr Baird is currently at the helm of HammondCare, which describes itself as an “independent Christian charity and leading provider of health and aged carer services, with a focus on dementia care and palliative care, with more than 4000 staff operating across more than 60 service locations nationally”.
Prior to that, the former investment banker, had a three- year stint as National Australia Bank’s chief customer officer (Corporate and Institutional and Consumer Banking), a role he took up soon after stepping down as Premier.
But Mr Baird is still constantly spoken about in conservative political circles as the person who can see off popular independent MP for Warringah, Zali Steggall.
It was reported by Sky News in February that in a bid to recruit top-notch candidates to help him keep his slender majority in the Lower House, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, himself a committed Christian, invited Mr Baird to Kirribilli House.
Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell said: “The Liberals hope to defeat independent Zali Steggall.
“Recently, the PM invited former NSW premier Mike Baird and his family over to Kirribilli House as I understand it, with several Liberals looking to urge Baird to run.”
But Mr Baird has who has consistently denied any interest in running for the federal seat — for now.
PAT SHARKEY
As the top cop on the northern beaches, Superintendent Pat Sharkey, has the influence to target police strategies at particular crime types which the community believes are becoming a problem.
Supt Sharkey has had to answer criticisms that youth crime and anti-social behaviour in the area was out of control.
Transferred to the northern beaches in 2020 after the retirement of former commander Dave Darcy, the new police boss also had to deal with the developing COVID crisis.
He told The Daily Telegraph earlier this month that youth crime rates on the northern beaches had remained steady in recent years and the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research backs that up.
Bureau reports show that youth crime has been stable over the past two years, with the area having a much lower incidence rate than other parts of Sydney.
And as a member of the Northern Beaches Community Safety Committee he said, in May last years, that across all crime categories over the first part of 2020 crime stats had decreased. Supt. Sharkey also pointed that police statistics for domestic violence had also dropped.
To counter the perception of increasing youth crime, Supt Sharkey oversaw Operation Summer Safe, announced by Police Commissioner Mick Fuller, which targeted anti-social behaviour and so-called youth crime hot spots.
In February Supt. Sharkey said the operation was part of a proactive response to anti-social behaviour in high-risk areas.
“Youth crime is a concern and we need the community’s help as we respond to this ongoing challenge.”
CHRISTINE DEL GALLO
Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls Campus principal Christine Del Gallo is a vocal advocate for education and the region.
She is a deputy president of the NSW Secondary Principals’ Council, and has been recognised in the annual John Laing Awards for professional development — managed by the Principals Australia Institute — in 2017.
As part of the awards, Ms Del Gallo was described as an outstanding school leader who has worked in a diverse range of education settings. She bases her leadership on evidence and critical reflection.
Ms Del Gallo has been very open to tackling and speaking about controversial topics and education policies such as cyber-bullying, NAPLAN tests and improving education outcomes at state, regional and local levels.
She is at the helm of the only public state girls’ high school on the northern beaches.
Mackellar Girls was the highest-placed public comprehensive school in the 2020 coming in at 43 on the list.
LAYNE BEACHLEY
It could be argued that Layne is Australia’s greatest ever female athlete.
The current chairman of Surfing Australia and seven-time world champion, has paved the way for today’s female stars of the sport, including Tyler Wright and Stephanie Gilmore.
Beachley has also inspired thousands of surfers — both young and old — on the northern beaches.
Along with her incomparable boardriding skills, she hosted the world’s richest women-only surf contest, the Beachley Classic, from 2006-2012.
“My primary aim was to raise the profile of women’s surfing and I would like to think the Classic did just that,” she told the Manly Daily in 2013.
“I wanted to make it part of the community, and be it Manly, North Steyne or Dee Why, people came out in droves to see the girls.”
Beachley has also been the director of the Aim for the Stars Foundation since 2003.
The foundation was set up by Layne to help talented young women achieve their goals.
Beachley, who stepped down from the role in 2018, said the foundation ensured 500 scholarships were provided to young women across a range of careers.
In 2005 Beachley was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for “distinguished service to the community through support for a range of charitable organisations, as a mentor for women in sport, and to surfing as a world champion competitor.”
She also received the Laureus World Alternative Sportsperson of the Year Award in 2004 and was named the Extreme Female Athlete of the Year as part of the Teen Choice Awards in 2005.
She is also a member of the Australian and U.S. surfing halls of fame, along with the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
DICK SMITH
Business entrepreneur, adventurer, philanthropist and population activist Dick Smith lives at Terrey Hills.
Mr Smith, 77, has been a vocal critic of some national aviation policies as well as Australian immigration rates.
He made millions in 1982 when he sold his chain of Dick Smith Electronics stores, which grew from a small taxi radio repair business he started in the 1960s. The money he made from selling to Woolies, he invested in property, making him even richer.
Mr Smith also introduced his own line of grocery items, Dick Smith Foods, including a spread called OzEmite, to highlight the fact that many iconic Australian brands, such as Arnott’s, were being sold to overseas buyers. His brands were produced in Australia by Australian-owned companies.
The more than $10 million profit he made from this venture was all given to charity. He closed that business in 2018.
During his lifetime he helped to financially support many causes and organisations including the Australian Museum, the Salvation Army, the Scouts and children’s charity Variety.
Mr Smith has been vocal about Australia’s wealthy not doing enough for charity.
He founded popular Australian Geographic magazine and in recent years he has expressed support for action on climate change, including the introduction of a carbon tax.
As a former chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, he has campaigned against the over-regulation of the industry, often complaining about the need to reform airspace rules and regulation around flight training.
In recent years Mr Smith has been outspoken about what he describes as the nation’s “excessive population growth”.
He has been trying to convince policy makers that the current immigration intake of about 190,000 a year is not sustainable and will just fast track the worsening problems of high real estate prices, traffic congestion and overcrowded suburbs.
Mr Smith wants to cut the immigration rate to 70,000 a year.
ZALI STEGGALL
Having unseated Liberal titan and former prime minister Tony Abbott in a fierce election battle in 2019, the new independent MP for Warringah is making waves in Canberra on the crossbench.
Her push for action on climate change has seen her introduce a Climate Change Bill to legislate net zero emissions by 2050.
Ms Steggall’s bill was referred to a federal inquiry and received 6500 submissions, an extraordinary number for a private member’s bill.
Her work on climate change action has resulted in a nomination for the prestigious McKinnon Prize in Political Leadership 2020.
It recognises people who are making a difference by focusing on issues that affect their community.
She has made the final six for the Emerging Leader of the Year category.
This month Ms Steggall also weighed into the issue of sexual harassment following former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins’ claims that she was allegedly raped at Parliament House. She has introduced a bill to federal parliament that would change law to ensure it covers all workplaces.
The Liberal Party which is still smarting after losing the seat, say winning it back is their number one priority at the next election. They also recognise that any candidate they put up must have the relevant “green credentials” if they want to win, showing just how much of an influence Ms Steggall is having on the political landscape.
MARCUS BLACKMORE
Marcus Blackmore, 72, was chairman of one of Australia’s last big independent vitamins companies Blackmores.
Blackmores employs more than 1200 workers, many of them at its Warriewood production centre in Jubilee Ave, which operates 24 hours a day, six days a week.
While Mr Blackmore stepped down from the Blackmores board in October last year he is still the largest shareholder with 21.5 per cent of stocks — worth more than $250 million — in the company which is one of the major sponsors of the annual Blackmores Running Festival in Sydney, which raises millions of dollars for the organisations such as the Cancer Council NSW and the mental health support group, the Black Dog Institute.
The natural therapies magnate, who lives at Bayview, is also a devoted philanthropist.
In March 2018 he donated $750,000 to the University of Technology Sydney to fund research into alternative medicine.
He also donated funds to Surf Life Saving NSW to buy a “Little Ripper” lifesaver and shark spotting drone that is now permanently based at Bilgola Beach.
He has been chairman of the Board of Governors of the Heart Research Institute and a member of the Council of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.
Mr Blackmore has also opened up the Warriewood campus — providing a Halloween fun zone, health talks, music and entertainment, kids activities and food stalls.— to raise money for local community and environmental organisations that provide important health and welfare services across the northern beaches.
Blackmores is also a longtime financial supporter of the Macular Degeneration Foundation.
JAMES GRIFFIN
He had big shoes to fill when he stepped into the seat formerly occupied by Premier Mike Baird, who shocked everyone when he announced he was retiring from politics in 2017.
However, James Griffin, a former Manly Council member, has made his own mark in the community, as well as being regarded as a rising star in the Liberal Party.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s affectionate nickname for him is ‘teacher’s pet’, proving that he has the approval and the backing of the state’s most senior politician.
She has held several press conferences in Manly, with Mr Griffin by her side.
Among his achievements include setting up an economic recovery task force to help Manly businesses following COVID.
He’s also worked hard to attract big events to the peninsula including major surfing competitions attracting the world’s best surfers, and is behind a push to open up North Head to concerts and events.
He is also the Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment and Veterans.
NAGI MAEHASHI
Former corporate executive Nagi Maehashi gave up a well-paid job in 2014 to write a food blog called Recipe Tin Eats.
Within eight months it was getting one million monthly views, within 12 months she had turned it into a six figure business.
The Mona Vale resident is now Australia’s top food blogger, with three million followers on Facebook.
She started out with a $50 Wordpress website, a $250 second-hand DSLR camera and props, including old cutlery and plates she found at Kimbriki tip.
There’s no doubt if you like cooking you’ve probably stumbled across her recipes on the internet.
While she puts in 12-hour days, she’s her own boss and can take the day off is she knows the weather is nice.
She shares the spoils of her success with Dozer, her golden retriever, who is also gaining some fans of his own, thanks to his blogger mum.
ANTHONY JOHNSTON
The managing director of URM, one of Australia’s largest privately owned garbage collection services, is also a major sponsor of the Manly Sea Eagles.
URM, with Mr Johnston at the helm, has arguably had a huge impact on all of our lives on the peninsula.
Not only is his company responsible for removing our rubbish, it also employs more than 700 staff globally.
The company comes from humble beginnings, having been founded by his father under the name of Johnston Waste, and with just one single garbage collection vehicle to its name.
Now there are 350 vehicles and multiple processing facilities in Australia and as far afield as the UK.
Mr Johnston has owned waste management companies since 1990 and has been the managing director of the URM Group following its incorporation in 1997.
A solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW, Mr Johnston maintains a direct role in contract negotiation.
This year the company and the Manly Sea Eagles are celebrating 25 years as partners.
Having grown up on the northern beaches and played league as a kid with the Avalon Bulldogs, he has always been a Sea Eagles fan.
As a result of his long association with the club he has won the praise of Sea Eagles Chairman, Scott Penn, for always sticking with them through thick and thin.
Mr Johnston’s influence on the peninsula was cemented last month after URM was included in the new Northern Beaches Monopoly Edition.
BRAD HAZZARD
The last 12 months have seen Wakehurst MP and NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard’s profile go stratospheric because of COVID.
He has been a regular feature of the NSW Health conferences since the pandemic started.
It is widely thought NSW has dealt with the health crisis well, withstanding the Ruby Princess fiasco. Nevertheless Mr Hazzard as Health Minister must be able to justifiably claim he has had something to do with NSW’s success.
On a local level he was also the Health Minister who oversaw the opening of Northern Beaches Hospital in 2018.
The private-public enterprise was a disaster to begin with, but now two and half years on, and one parliamentary inquiry later, it is scoring consistently well in its quarterly health reports.
It has been suggested Mr Hazzard is on the verge of retiring.
He has certainly put in a decent innings having represented Wakehurst since 1991.
During that time he has held many ministerial posts. Before politics he was a solicitor and a teacher.
RHIAN ALLEN
Just over 10 years ago Rhian Allen started an online business called Healthy Mummy, designed to help mums regain their body confidence after giving birth.
She quit her job in corporate media, sold her home and invested every dollar to create a healthy and sustainable program and app, with budget friendly meal and exercise plans.
It took off.
Since then she has helped women lose a collective three million kilos.
She has more than 1.5 million followers across social media as well as one million users each month on the website.
Ms Allen, 42, who lives in Seaforth with an office based in Manly, has since expanded to the UK and the US.
She employs 150 people, the majority working mums.
As well as creating the program, she has also written books, produced magazines, as well as created a protein powder, nutritional supplements, a skin care range and a frozen food delivery service.
Recently, she launched The Healthy Man, which is a separate website and product designed to help men live a healthier life.
Undoubtedly, she is very influential on the beaches, as well as globally.
ANDREW NEWTON
As the CEO of Northern Beaches Hospital Andrew Newton is responsible for providing emergency care and other health services for the entire population on the peninsula.
Mr Newton took over the reins in 2019 during a parliamentary inquiry into the running of the hospital which was called after staff struggled to cope following the opening in 2018.
Under the hospital’s private operator Healthscope, he runs a huge operation and was able to step up well when COVID hit.
In the latest quarterly report the hospital saw an extra 17,000 patients come through its doors, due to people seeking COVID tests.
The hospital’s performance has improved and largely remained steady under his authority, although waiting times in emergency took a slight dip in the last quarter.
However, his hard work in saving the brand seems to have paid off and at the beginning of this year he was awarded a Health Manager Leadership Award by the Australasian College of Health Service Management.
He was nominated by his peers for his work to improve the reputation of the hospital and build relationships with doctors and staff.
Under his stewardship he has opened a medical school, in conjunction with Macquarie University, to help encourage students into a life of medicine and a career at the Frenchs Forest hospital.
Although his family home is in Parkes, in country NSW, he bases himself in Warriewood and goes back every two weeks.
JASON FALINSKI
Mackellar Liberal MP Jason Falinski is the northern beaches politician who most demands the attention and action of the Prime Minister.
He was elected to the federal seat of Mackellar in 2016, after ending his predecessor Bronwyn Bishop’s 30-year reign by beating her for preselection.
While Ms Bishop was regarded as right of centre, Mr Falinski is described as a moderate and part of a new wave of Liberals who wants to modernise the party.
He’s consistently spoken out about concerns over the environment and housing affordability.
He’s also a self-confessed “nerdy economist” and is chairman of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Tax and Revenue.
With a background in business – he founded his own company in 2004, designing and manufacturing health care equipment and furniture for age care homes and hospitals – he’s also worked in financial services, banking and corporate governance.
He holds an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management, a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance from the Securities Institute of Australia and a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics from the University of Sydney.
A recent video on his social media shows him interviewing Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.
Last month he was pictured with PM Scott Morrison, both barefoot on the sand at Collaroy Beach, during an announcement of funding for Surf Lifesaving.
The father and Nipper’s dad lives in Collaroy.
TRACEY SPICER
In the light of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins’ recent claims of rape in the workplace, it is worth remembering the influence Tracey Spicer has had in this sphere.
The former newsreader turned best-selling author, who was a recipient of an Order of Australia in 2018, was listed for her efforts in campaigning to change media misogyny and gender imbalance in workplaces.
She was the Australian face leading the fight in the #MeToo movement, when it took hold around the world in 2017.
Ms Spicer collected stories of sexism and abuse from “more than 1000 women” after issuing a Twitter plea for Australian women to speak up.
It triggered a national debate on protecting women in the workplace.
In her 30-year career, Ms Spicer has reported and presented for programs including ABC TV, Network Ten, Channel 9 and Sky News.
Ms Spicer, a mother-of-two and author of The Good Girl Stripped Bare, is also the co-founder and national convener of Women in Media, a nationwide mentoring and networking group, backed by the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance.
She is also an ambassador for multiple charities.
ROB STOKES
Tipped as a future premier of NSW, Pittwater MP and NSW Minister Planning, Rob Stokes, has held a host of ministerial roles since he was first elected in 2007.
He’s currently the Minister Planning, but has previously served as Minister Education, Minister Environment, Minister Heritage, Assistant Minister Planning, and Minister the Central Coast.
When NSW’s Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s position came under pressure last year following revelations she had a “close, personal” relationship with the disgraced former Member for Wagga Wagga Daryl Maguire, Mr Stokes’ name was bandied around by senior Liberals as a prospective replacement.
The father-of-three has previously worked as a solicitor in Mona Vale and the Sydney CBD, and has an impressive list of educational achievements with a double degree in arts and law, a Masters of Science from the University of Oxford, and a PhD in planning law.
Locally, the closure of Mona Vale Hospital’s full emergency service has been an issue that has dogged home over the past few years.
However, he won his seat comfortably at the last election, despite a campaign to oust him over it.
LIME CORDIALE
There’s no doubt that brothers Louis and Oli Leimbach are having a huge influence on Australian music right now.
Their band Lime Cordiale was nominated for eight ARIAS last year, and while most people who are into music on the peninsula would be well aware of these guys, this was the moment they finally received wider recognition for their talents.
In the end they only walked away with one award which was best Breakthrough Artist for 14 Steps To A Better You. But with a loyal and growing fan base they were playing to large crowds around Australia and on the up before COVID “slapped them in the face”.
Louis Leimbach, 29, the vocalist who founded the band with his brother and lead guitarist Oliver, 30, 11 years ago, grew up on Scotland Island and both now live in a shared house in Elanora Heights.
The band – which also includes drummer James Jennings, Felix Bornholdt on keyboard, Nick Polovineo on trombone and guitar and Brendan Champion on trombone – started their careers gigging at house parties and have played at the old Mona Vale Hotel, Palm Beach RSL and Narrabeen RSL.
When the pandemic is over, expect to see a lot more of Lime Cordiale, both on the peninsula and internationally.
LEE FURLONG
The new President of the executive of the Warringah Federal Electorate Conference was voted into the top position on Saturday.
The Chairman of the NSW Taxi Council will have an important role leading the 1100 member strong party through the upcoming local government elections, as well as the federal preselection process and the next federal election.
He is a moderate but is described as someone who can unify all sides of the party which has been heavily divided for more than a decade.
He was up against last minute candidate Brendan King, a local businessman, but won the vote 75 to 49.
One Liberal source said Mr Furlong has the backing of senior Liberals within the party.
They said Mr Furlong and the other members of the executive represent a “less conservative” position than has been seen in the past and more in line with what the electorate expects.
He and his team will be bunkering down raising funds and getting ready for the Warringah preselection, which will get a lot of attention as the candidate will be going up against independent Zali Steggall, who ousted former prime minister Tony Abbott from the seat in 2019.
It’s thought his win is indicative of the way members of the party will vote in terms of candidates for preselection.
CANDY BINGHAM
When it was announced that The Freshwater class ferries would no longer run on weekdays on the Manly to Circular Quay route, Northern Beaches Deputy Mayor Candy Bingham threw herself into saving all four iconic vessels.
Under pressure, the NSW Government later confirmed it would save two of the iconic ferries to run on the weekends and public holidays.
Nevertheless Ms Bingham continued her fight to save all four and said she would like to see them converted to electric.
With members of the campaign group in tow she collected 22,000 signatures from people wanting to save the ferries, thus forcing the issue to be debated in parliament.
With the replacement ferries already ordered and built, it will be quite a turnaround if she manages to overturn the decision.
Born and bred in Manly, Ms Bingham served as the Lady Mayoress, alongside her husband John Bingham who was Lord Mayor of Sydney from 1989 to 1991.
She joined public office in her own right as an independent in 2012, when she was elected to Manly ward.
During her time on council she has served on many committees and has particular interests in the arts and the environment.
She talks about local issues on her social media platforms Good for Manly, which has 5000 followers.
DEBORAH WILLCOX
As CEO of Northern Sydney Local Health District Deborah Willcox has overseen public healthcare at Royal North Shore, Ryde, Hornsby, Macquarie, Mona Vale and the Northern Beaches hospitals, as well as community health centres, since 2017.
She started her career in nursing at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and was a nurse for 17 years, mostly in intensive care. She later studied law having been admitted as a Legal Practitioner in New South Wales.
She has gone onto take roles in both government and non-government organisations and her experience spans clinical, corporate services, government departments, the research environment and senior government advisor roles.
Prior to Ms Willcox’s appointment as CEO of NSLHD, she held a number of senior executive and leadership positions within NSW Health including the Director of Operations Sydney Local Health District and General Manager, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, the Director, Customer Service and Corporate Governance HealthShare NSW, and Director Executive of and Ministerial Services, NSW Health.
She has also held senior positions in government both as Chief of Staff in the portfolios of Planning, Housing and Aboriginal Affairs where she played a pivotal role in the development and implementation of the Government’s policy agenda in the portfolios of Planning, Housing and Aboriginal Affairs, and as an advisor to the Deputy Premier and Minister Health, overseeing clinical areas including planned surgery, critical care, and emergency departments for these portfolios.
She is currently NSW Health Acting Deputy Secretary, while also remaining top boss at the NSLHD.
MELINDA GAINSFORD-TAYLOR
Olympian Melinda Gainsford-Taylor is one of the greatest Australian sprinters of all time.
The mum and businesswoman from Collaroy Plateau is an inspiring role model for young athletes on the northern beaches.
She was the big name female athlete alongside Cathy Freeman at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
She is still the current Australian record holder for the 200m. Until recently she also held the Australian 100m record.
In 2017 Ms Gainsford-Taylor was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to athletics as a sprinter, at national and international level, and as a role model.
Since retiring from professional sport Gainsford-Taylor has worked as a TV commentator, public speaker and a coach and mentor to young athletes.
She fell into coaching organically and helps young athletes with their technique and fitness at training sessions in Narrabeen.
She said she was also keen to promote healthy eating, good lifestyle choices and support young people in setting and achieving goals.
FLUME
There’s no doubt about it, this former Seaforth Public schoolboy is an out and out superstar.
He was born Harley Streten, but is known to millions as Flume.
For those who don’t know him, the 29-year-old is a multi award-winning, electronic music producer and has played to massive crowds all over the world.
His first introduction to music was playing the saxophone at primary school.
But it was when he got a free giveaway CD ROM in a box of Nutri-Grain that got him on the electronic music path.
That CD ROM allowed him to compose and record an entire piece of music in his bedroom. He never looked back.
Regarded as being a pioneer of the future bass genre, Flume’s self-titled debut solo album was released in 2012.
Since then he has won a string of ARIAS, a Grammy and was nominated in this year’s Grammy Awards for The Difference featuring Toro y Moi.
He has topped the Hottest 100 previously and came third in this year’s list.
Flume has more than a million followers on his Instagram and more than nine million monthly listeners on Spotify.
PHIL PRINGLE
The charismatic New Zealand-born founder of C3 Church, founded what has become one of Australia’s largest megachurches, at Dee Why in 1980, with his wife Chris.
It was called Christian Centre Northside then. Their first service was in the Dee Why surf club. They told their early parishioners that they converted to Christianity while living in a hippy commune,
The church, which had changed its name to Christian City Church, moved to Oxford Falls before changing its name to C3.
Each week hundreds of worshippers, many of them in their late teens and early 20s, make the trip up Wakehurst Parkway to attend services based on The Bible.
Since the church has gone international — now called C3 Global — it has a global weekly attendance of close to 100,000 and 579 churches worldwide. There are more than 100 C3 complexes across Australia.
It hosts annual pilgrimages, or “Presence Conferences”, and has its own “C3 College” offering arts and ministry courses.
Mr Pringle also developed a TV show called Your Best Life. “to inspire and empower people from all walks of life”.
WENDY HARMER
Journalist Wendy Harmer is on our radios in Sydney every weekday morning.
The co-host of the ABC Radio Sydney talk show is on air between 6.15am and 10am during the week.
The 65-year-old and mother-of-two lives in Collaroy and the northern beaches often comes up in conversation on the show.
But her journalistic career started further afield in Melbourne.
It was also where she started dabbling in stand-up comedy.
As she became more well known for her comedic talents she got roles on TV, as well as radio.
She also performed at the Edinburgh Festival several times.
Over the years she has hosted numerous radio shows including the highly rated 2 Day FM’s The Morning Crew for 11 years.
In 2016, she returned to radio presenting the morning program on ABC Radio Sydney alongside Robbie Buck.
During her career she has also written books, as well as plays.
She is a self-confessed Manly Sea Eagles tragic.
Ms Harmer is also very active on Twitter with more than 73k followers.
JOHN BROGDEN
In 2002 John Brogden, then the Liberal State MP for Pittwater, was elected Leader of the Opposition. He was just 33, and the youngest person ever to lead a major political party at Federal or State level in Australia.
He was diagnosed with depression in 2006, after a suicide attempt in 2005, and has gone on to a successful corporate career — he is now the CEO at Landcom, the NSW Government’s land and property development organisation — as well as giving his time to help those who have battled mental illness and advocating for suicide prevention strategies.
Mr Brogden is chair of Lifeline, the non-profit organisation that provides free, 24-hour telephone crisis support service across Australia with volunteer crisis supporters providing suicide prevention services, mental health support and emotional assistance.
He also has a deep passion for the Surf Life Saving movement and is a patron of the Bilgola and Avalon clubs.
MATTHEW JOHNS
This former NRL star, who helped take the Newcastle Knights to their first premiership in 1997, has transformed himself into a cheeky, and well informed footy pundit and author as well as a TV talk show host.
Born in Cessnock, and now calling Collaroy home, Johns has played for the Cronulla Sharks, teamed up with Wigan in the UK Super Leaguea nd represented Australian and the NSW State of Origin teams.
He has parlayed his playing days into a successful media career that has included co-hosting a popular morning FM radio show, The Grill Team, and presenting his own night time variety show on Channel 7 for a year.
Johns is now one of the star broadcasters on Fox Sports (Australia) with The Matty Johns Show and The Late Show. He also does a regular Matty Johns Podcast, analysing and criticising issues associated with the NRL.
As well as his influential sports media work he has been a community campaigner on the northern beaches
I 2018 he spoke out against plans by the NSW Government to put clearways and no parking zones along Pittwater Rd at Collaroy because it would “destroy the family-owned small businesses, and will severely impact the community culture of Collaroy”.
Beaches council backs call to allow ‘fat bikes’ on footpaths
A proposal by a NSW parliamentary inquiry to allow e-bikes to be ridden on footpaths at up to 15km/h has been backed by Northern Beaches Council.
Push for entertainment precinct to boost night-life in seaside suburb
Music venues, eateries and bars in a northern beaches tourist hub could stay open longer if a new push to create a “special entertainment precinct’’ is successful. See what it means here.