Gold Coast Power 100 2019: The biggest names in education on the Gold Coast

Topping international rankings for its many schools and three universities the Gold Coast’s $1.7 billion education sector has held its own this year – but not without a fight.

GOLD Coast educators are fast rising among the region’s biggest movers and shakers as the city’s $1.7 billion knowledge sector becomes an economic powerhouse.

Never before have education boffins featured so highly on the list of the city’s most powerful influencers, as the Gold Coast Power 100 countdown continues.

Training and education on the Coast, expected to be one of the region’s biggest sectors in the next decade, employs 17,509 professionals and attracted more than 32,000 international students in the past year.

Rob Borbidge is chairman of the Study Gold Coast board. Photo: David Clark

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The latest analysis shows the sector increased at least 15 per cent from 2017 to 2018 and ranked as the number one regional study destination in Australia.

Proof of that power was illustrated this year when Study Gold Coast CEO Alfred Slogrove and board chairman Rob Borbidge took the Federal Government to task over plans to exclude the city from international student incentives.

Following weeks of lobbying, the Morrison Government overturned the decision, saving the city millions in potential lost revenue.

In the past year the region’s three universities – Griffith, Southern Cross and Bond – have continued to triumph.

Southern Cross University, the fastest-growing tertiary institute in the state, celebrated its 25- year anniversary.

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Alfred Slogrove CEO of Study Gold Coast. Picture: Tim Marsden

Vice Chancellor Adam Shoemaker championed regional universities and continued to pioneer a close relationship with Gold Coast Airport for future studies.

The university also took further leaps in its groundbreaking study on its coral IVF program lead by Professor Peter Harrison, to restore the Great Barrier Reef.

At Griffith University, new Vice Chancellor, Professor Carolyn Evans this month announced a strategic plan for 2025 to invest $1 billion in infrastructure across its campuses.

In research, $2 million was invested into creating a commercial BioSpine to help people walk again and director of big data and smart analytics Professor Bela Stantic made international headlines when he used social media analysis to predict elections.

Bond University celebrated its 30-year anniversary in May.

Vice Chancellor Tim Brailsford also launched an e-sports hub for competitive video gaming.

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Professor Carolyn Evans, the new Vice Chancellor of Griffith University.

The past 12 months has brought significant movement and investment in the Coast’s 68 public and 36 private schools.

Kings Christian College at Pimpama and Reedy Creek pushed ahead with its third campus at Logan Village, which will open early next year.

In July, A.B. Paterson at Arundel opened its $13 million learning precinct the Winton Centre.

Schools like the Gold Coast Christian College refined their specialties making a name for itself as a top F1 engineering school at multiple competitions.

Southern Cross University vice chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker.

Southport State High School received an astonishing multimillion-dollar reparation injection after a devastating fire in October.

St Joseph’s College at Coomera opened in January and will take on its second injection of enrolments next year.

New Coomera school, F oxwell State Secondary College will open for the first time in 2020.

Looking ahead the region will continue to expand with a number of new private and public schools expected to open.

Bond University Vice Chancellor and President, Tim Brailsford.

Alternative facilities like the all boys Men of Business Academy in Southport, the Modern Waldorf School a distance education facility and Arcadia College’s Varsity Lakes campus are also expected to open in early 2020.