This group of bankers, solicitors, models, board members and professionals, some of whom also happen to be married to some of Sydney’s most high profile — and high net worth — powerbrokers, are organising the 10th anniversary of the invitation-only SunSCHine ball, which has raised over $4 million for the Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick over the past decade. This year’s soiree will be held at the Four Seasons on October 25.

Juggling careers, households, Instagram accounts and empires and drawing on their enviable contact books and eastern suburbs networks, the new committee, who posed as a group exclusively for the Wentworth Courier, is unified in the shared goal to make a difference to the lives of sick kids.

Firmly in place again this year as co-chairs are Nicky Joye, a shareholder in the family’s Coolabah Capital Investments and Sarah Hogan, director of MPA, the leading interior fitout and refurbishment company which has been the presenting partner of SunSHIne since 2015.

Deputy chair Ellie Aitken, sophisticated solicitor and director of Aitken Investment Management with her stockbroker husband Charlie Aitken, fashion designer Marnie Skillings, fashion retailer Chloe Podgornik, wife of stockbroker Andrew, and chiropractor Juliana Medich, wife of property tycoon, Anthony have also remained in place on the committee.

Adding some serious firepower to the already illustrious group this year is former Ascham girl and Australian Ballet Ambassador Board member, lawyer Leah Bischoff, philanthropist and art collector, Dana Lewis and Annie Cannon-Brookes, House of Cannon designer and wife to Atlassian founder Mike Cannon-Brookes.

The couple live at Fairwater, the Point Piper home formerly owned by the Fairfax family. Cannon-Brookes joined after attending last year’s event with her husand. The couple joined Cranbrook families on Skilling’s table and discreetly donated $100,000.

“It’s been a privilege to work with such passionate women supporting the Sydney Children’s Hospital,” Cannon-Brookes, a mum of four kids under eight, not to mention eight backyard chickens, told The Wentworth Courier.

“As a mother of four young children, I know how fortunate we are to have access to world class local healthcare.”

Meeting monthly, the new Committee first convened last December.

They have wasted no time, with Instagram raffling for prizes including tickets to Kylie (a friend of Joye’s), and Hugh Jackman (through Podgornick’s connections) while Hogan has secured tickets to Keith Urban. Tomorrow night, at an intimate soiree at the Podgornick home in Bronte, the committee will thank patrons and partners, who contribute between $5,000 and $60,000. Also on the committee are Natalie Salha, a mum-of-three and successful international model and businesswoman who met Nicky through their Kincoppal, Rose Bay connections; and author Ortenzia Borre, wife of Stephen Moss, son of former Macquarie Banker, Bill Moss. “They are the powerbrokers of Sydney and they are people who really want to make a difference, this is about raising money, it’s not about fluff,” says businesswoman and mum-of-two Hogan, whose friendNicky Dunlop founded the charity after her daughter Pia went into cardiac arrest at the age of two.

Hogan’s own daughter, Sophia, had a seizure at five, and the ambulance was at their Queen’s Park home within five minutes.

“There are no divas this year, everyone is focused on raising as much as possible,” says Hogan. “We have … already cemented $200,000 in patronage … I think now people have more of a social conscience than ever and people are much more aware there is a requirement to give back.”

Hogan makes no bones the committee they have selected is targeted.

“We’ve refreshed our committee by looking at what you need to keep it dynamic and to get the money in the room. “There are new people with new connections, different year groups from different private schools, there’s a balance.

“You can’t just be on a committee. The rigours the foundation expects are not to be taken lightly, there’s no way it’s a token title.”

Hogan stresses there is no rivalry between fundraisers for the Sydney Children’s Hospital, which also comprises The Gold Dinner, The Silver Dinner, The Diamond and Amber Dinners and the SunSCHine Ball. “Everyone is working for the same goal.

“The Gold is the jewel in the crown … but ours is the fun one!” she says of the $450 a ticket ball. Last year, guests danced from entrée to end with guest performers The Veronicas adding street cred and cool.

Also on board for 2019 are ambassadors Zena K’Dor, Noni Smith, Darren Palmer and Terry Biviano, with Mary Coustas as MC.