We’ve lost some, we’ve gained some. Some have fallen in ranking, not because they’ve lost power but because others on the list have made greater gains.

Today we reveal the city’s biggest movers and shakers, the 20 people at the very top of our list.

GOLD COAST POWER 100 2019: NO. 100-81

GOLD COAST POWER 100 2019: NO. 80-61

GOLD COAST POWER 100 2019: NO. 60-41

GOLD COAST POWER 100 2019: NO. 40-21

NUMBERS 20-1

20. Stuart Robert (22 in 2018)

POLITICS

With close friend and political ally Scott Morrison winning the Federal Election in May, Stuart Robert maintained his spot in the Cabinet. Despite a chequered record of spending government funds on office expenses such as more than $40,000 in broadband costs and $17,500 on letterhead stationery, he’s been given the portfolio of Government Services, which includes the NDIS.

19. Meaghan Scanlon (16 in 2018)

POLITICS

Labor is determined to retain its only Coast seat in the 2020 poll. The election of Meaghan Scanlon in the northern seat of Gaven has led to major wins for the community – upgrades to the M1, fixing the Oxenford exit, a new police station at Pimpama. The latest announcement has been fast-forwarding the M2, the Coomera Connector just across from her electorate. Ms Scanlon has been an effective voice for the government’s line on all matters Gold Coast. The LNP will have to put up a strong fight to unseat her.

18. John Witheriff (27 in 2018)

TRANSPORT

Gold Coast business leader who remains the go-to person for the State Government on difficult issues. He was given the role of leading the Gold Coast Tourism Advisory Panel’s report based on community consultation on the Gold Coast Global Tourism Hub. The 65-page report was a thorough and even-handed investigation into local support for a GTH on the Gold Coast. The report revealed Gold Coasters do not want a second casino built on public land, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk taking the feedback on, ruling the possibility out.

17. Katie Page and Gerry Harvey (21 in 2018)

BUSINESS AND SPORT

From the time this larger-than-life pair opened their first Harvey Norman store on the Gold Coast in the 1980s (in response to Page’s GC-based sisters’ demands to be able to go shopping), they have made the city their second home. Their Magic Millions racing carnival and horse sale has become a permanent fixture in January and it continues to grow each year. Page continues to be a force for advancing the cause of women in rugby league, racing, business and this year her company was the naming rights sponsor for the inaugural Gold Coast Women of the Year.

16. Chris Hemsworth (7 in 2018)

ENTERTAINMENT

Hollywood heart-throb Chris Hemsworth and his Spanish wife Elsa Pataky are well-entrenched members of the community in their adopted home of Byron Bay. From canteen duty to being spotted on the beach with their tribe of three kids and visiting superstar mates like Matt Damon – it’s all normal for the Melbourne-born actor. With two blockbuster films under his belt this year – Avengers Endgame and Men in Black: International – his star continues to rise. It was hoped the sequel to Thor would be filmed on the Gold Coast, but we’ve lost out to Sydney which will host the production slated to begin filming in August 2020. Cricket legend Shane Warne has also said he would like the star to play him in a movie.

15. Paul Donovan (40 in 2018)

TOURISM

It’s been a busy year for 40-year tourism and aviation veteran Paul Donovan. With massive investment into expanding the Gold Coast Airport, the Queensland Airports Ltd executive has been working hard to secure new international routes for the city. He’s also an integral part of the Gold Coast’s tourism brains trust, serving as the Chairman of Destination Gold Coast and a good guide for new CEO Annaliese Battista. He is also the new chairman of Events Management Queensland which runs the Gold Coast Marathon and has big plans for the event. He’s calling for more investment into the city – luxury hotels and a hinterland cableway as key to attracting and retaining tourism numbers.

14. Amy Shark (15 in 2018)

ENTERTAINMENT

Former Titans employee and homegrown music star Amy Shark continues to shine on the world’s entertainment stage. After cleaning up at last year’s ARIA Awards taking home album of the year, best female artist and best pop release, she also had a highly successful world tour. Unfortunately, she failed to win any of the four awards she was nominated for at Wednesday night’s ceremony after Byron Bay sensation Tones and I cleaned up.

13. Annaliese Battista (56 in 2018)

TOURISM

Since moving from her native West Australia, she has quickly cemented her place as the face of Gold Coast tourism, taking on State and Federal Governments for their lack of infrastructure spending, as well as being totally transparent with what the Destination Gold Coast needs to do to continue to grow and prosper as a global and domestic tourism destination.

12. Professor Tim Brailsford (12 in 2018)

EDUCATION

Celebrating its 30th year since it opened, Australia’s first private university continues to build its reputation as one of the country’s finest tertiary institutions. Bond University Vice Chancellor Professor Tim Brailsford continues to support and develop initiatives, which support the Gold Coast as an innovation hub and has promised to expand into health and digital technology.

11. Professor Carolyn Evans (13 IN 2018)

EDUCATION

After a year in the top job, Prof Evans has cemented herself into GC life. Based on Times Rankings, Griffith University has moved into a higher band and is now in the top two per cent of global universities. Last week she unveiled its new future strategy in the lead up to its 50-year anniversary in 2025, committing $1 billion in infrastructure spending over the next decade.

10. Tony Cochrane

SPORT AND ENTERTAINMENT

The outspoken events promoter and Gold Coast Suns chairman is a key tourism player on the Coast. He is a sounding board for the State Government. Considered very close to the Mayor. Cochrane has been involved in event promotion for more than four decades and is a member of the V8 Supercars Hall of Fame after his success in making the V8 Supercars what is today.

9. Chris Mills (18 in 2018)

TRANSPORT

The CEO of Queensland Airports Ltd is focused on the task of improving connectivity to the city. The $200 million southern terminal expansion will double the footprint of the existing facility, delivering four aerobridges, additional retail space and new boarding, departure lounge, baggage handling and border-control facilities.

8. Dale Dickson

POLITICS

The Gold Coast’s top bureaucrat on a salary higher than the Prime Minister. Back in August 2017, Mr Dickson’s future appeared a bit wobbly until he secured a new three-year deal, presenting a reform map for council which tightened on staff numbers. Under the Belcarra reforms, council CEOs have just had their powers restored, which were lost under the Newman Government which brought in mayoral directives. Mr Dickson and his bureaucrats frame the city’s budget. Colleagues say he is at “the peak of his powers” and will continue for some time at City Hall. Councillors can be a divided lot but they respect his advice.

7. Clark Kirby (20 in 2018)

ENTERTAINMENT

Clark Kirby will start 2020 in his new role as CEO of Village Roadshow, replacing outgoing CEO Graham Burke. Kirby has a big job on his hands to arrest the share price slide which has seen $500 million wiped off the market value of the company. Kirby is committed to the Gold Coast and is determined to continue to invest in Village’s theme parks, ensuring their viability and continued tourist dollar. A $50m investment in Sea World is underway, with three new thrill rides to be opened by the end of next year.

6. Ron Calvert and Ian Langdon (No. 6 and No. 55 in 2018)

HEALTH

Serving as a the CEO and Chairman of Gold Coast Health, this formidable duo do an excellent job running many of our city’s hospitals and health services. Gold Coast Health is the region’s biggest employer with 8262 full-time staff, adding 927 new employees during the 2018-19 financial year. Almost every facet of Gold Coast Health’s service experienced unprecedented growth, based on increasing population numbers and demographics of the region, which has an ageing cohort as well as very young families – two groups who are significant consumers of health services. In a coup, American magazine Newsweek have ranked Gold Coast University and Robina hospitals among the best in the world. Based on a global survey of international doctors, health managers, nurses and other health professionals, Gold Coast University Hospital was ranked number six in Australia, and Robina Hospital number 32.

5. Rebecca Frizelle (No. 5 in 2018)

BUSINESS AND SPORT

Rebecca Frizelle continues to be the city’s most powerful woman, leading the way in two male-dominated industries. With husband Brett, they run family business Frizelle Sunshine Automotive as well as marketing consultancy Torque. As co-owner of the Gold Coast Titans she has a challenging job to get them back to the top of the ladder. And if that doesn’t keep her busy, she’s also on the Board of the Audi Foundation, Sunland Property Group, St Hilda’s Foundation as well as being a vocal advocate for getting more women into the motoring industry. She was recently awarded the MTA Queensland Women in Industry Award, presented to a female leader or business achieving success by their commitment to driving change in the automotive or mobility industry.

4. Soheil and Sahba Abedian (3 in 2018)

DEVELOPMENT

Despite recording a full year profit which was well below its forecast target and 49 per cent lower than the previous financial year, the father-and-son team managed to lift its average sale growth due to its Millionaire’s Row development at 272 Hedges Ave. Sunland continues to shape the face of the Gold Coast with its memorable design styles dotted across the city. They have projects on the go in Mermaid Beach and their Greenmount project is slated to start in 2020. They have also listed land adjacent to their Pimpama development The Heights and the Mariner’s Cove development for sale.

3. Geoff Hogg (4 in 2018)

ENTERTAINMENT

Geoff Hogg continues to be a major advocate for the Gold Coast in his new role, which he took up in July after being named The Star’s QLD MD. He has called for GC tourism operators to work together to attract more domestic and international visitors and has been appointed to the Major Events Gold Coast Board. He is also incredibly vocal in The Star’s lobbying of the State Government in order to block any moves for a second casino operator to be allowed into the city.

2. Harry Triguboff (2 in 2018)

DEVELOPMENT

Harry was born in northern China to Russian parents who fled their native country after the rise of Lenin. Coming to Australia as a teenager, Harry started his career in the textiles industry before turning his hand to development. “High-rise” Harry is Australia’s richest property developer and is said to have built more than 75,000 apartments across NSW and southeast QLD. His latest Gold Coast development, Ocean is well on track and recently announced it had added more one and two bedroom apartments under $600,00 to satisfy demand.

1. Tom Tate (1 in 2018)

POLITICS

Confronted with an increasingly divided council, Mayor Tom Tate still has his core “leadership group” which enables him to continue with favourite policy items like the cruise ship terminal. Stumping up council money before getting the support of State and Federal government, Tate had a big win with the Light Rail 3A extension to Burleigh Heads recently given the green light. He will use this momentum to get Stage 3B to the airport into the construction phase. Despite months of skirting the issue, he announced he would run for a third term and at this stage is a huge favourite to win next year’s Council elections. Critics of his outspoken nature can’t deny he has managed to continue to invest in the city with projects such as the new arts and culture precinct, despite keeping any rate rises in line with CPI.