International Women’s Day 2022: Meet 30 of the most influential woman on the Gold Coast
To mark International Women’s Day on March 8, the Bulletin has compiled a list of the city’s women who are making a difference. SEE LIST AND GALLERY
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THE Gold Coast’s female-dominated tourism industry has gathered to celebrate their “significant contributions“ after its most difficult years.
THE Gold Coast’s female-dominated tourism industry has gathered to celebrate their “significant contributions“ after its most difficult years.
Hundreds of industry heavyweights gathered at The Star casino on Tuesday to mark Destination Gold Coast’s International Women’s Day luncheon, with tickets selling out in just two days earlier this year.
Destination GC CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said: “Our industry is represented more than 70 per cent by women.
“In the last few years it’s been particularly heartbreaking and challenging, so to come through where we’re finally reopening to domestic and international visitors, this is a moment for our women to take some time out, reflect and really celebrate.”
Also attending were Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison, Destination Gold Coast chair Adrienne Readings and Tourism & Events QLD CEO Leanne Coddington.
“As someone who has spent their life working in the tourism and events sector it’s just wonderful it’s so heavy dominated by women at every level,” Ms Coddington said.
“To see females in leadership taking such a strong position into the future and setting the industry up, to see a balance between men and women to take this industry forward, it’s amazing.
“We’re so excited to see borders opening, to see domestic travel very strong.
“We’re looking forward to a very strong Easter (and) seeing that pent-up demand take some interest.
“It’s going to be a long road back but we’re working hard.”
TITANS YET TO KICK EQUALITY GOAL
Despite a massive swell in support for women’s sport in the past 10 years, we are still yet to kick the goal of equal opportunity.
That’s according to Titans National Rugby League Women’s (NRLW) player Karina Brown, who assisted in building the two women’s rugby league clubs in Queensland – Burleigh Bears and Easts Tigers.
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Among the flood of positive comments she reads about her sport on social media, the negative comments – a vast majority of which come from men – still strike a chord.
“The negative comments say our product is inferior (compared to the men’s) – but we’re not given the opportunity to promote our game the best that it could be,” Ms Brown said.
Television timeslots for women’s games were an example of the lack of equal opportunity that still persists in sport, the winger/fullback told the Bulletin ahead of International Women’s Day on Tuesday.
“Our games were all televised from 12pm until 4pm (Sunday), which actually isn’t prime time TV,” she said.
“But when you put on our State of Origin match – the one game a year that we get prime time TV – I think there’s like one million views and that’s because they have actually given us a timeslot where people are watching television.
“That’s something that could be improved on, actually giving us equal opportunity to be able to promote the game.”
Though the number of women’s sporting teams has exploded in recent years, NRLW players still aren’t paid a full-time wage like their male counterparts.
Ms Brown said the barriers this created for women were evident at the weekend when the team played the Sydney Roosters in Wollongong.
Half of the Titan’s team were forced to stay in Sydney overnight Sunday because their flight was cancelled.
“(It) might not be an issue if we’re full-time athletes. But we all have jobs, so half of us didn’t get to come home.”
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Those who did make a flight landed in Brisbane at 11pm, with many having an early start for work the next day.
“The hardest thing is trying to manage the work-life balance,” Ms Brown said.
She added there were plenty of positive things also happening in the game, including the State of Origin equal pay breakthrough that will see female Maroons players receive $15,000 each for this year’s series.
“There is an NRLW, we are paid, we did get paid more than last year, there’s two new teams – so more opportunities for girls to play the sport at the elite level,” the Titans player said. “There are definitely massive improvements – I just still think there are things we’re not doing yet.”
The theme for International Women’s Day is #BreakTheBias.
Events will be held globally to mark the day.
Everyone is being encouraged to use the #BreakTheBias hashtag to encourage more people to commit to helping forge an altogether inclusive world.
Gold Coast’s 30 most influential women, in no particular order:
1. Dr Kylie Alcorn
As Gold Coast Health’s Director of Infectious Diseases, Dr Kylie Alcorn took up her new role after predecessor Dr John Gerrard replaced Jeannette Young as the state’s top doctor in December.
She has been on the frontline leading the Gold Coast Covid fight.
2. Jane Holmes
The Support the Girls founder was crowned the champion at the 2021 Harvey Norman Gold Coast Women of the Year awards.
Her charity aims to lift up the plight of marginalised, disenfranchised women, particularly in regional areas with correctly fitted bras plus sanitary and beauty care packs.
3. Belinda Beasley
With her husband Brett, Belinda Beasley formed the Jack Beasley Foundation to help reduce knife crime.
The tragedy of losing her 17-year-old son Jack, who was stabbed and killed in the streets of Surfers Paradise, was the catalyst for starting the organisation.
4. Simone Patterson
Gold Coast Order of Australia Medal recipient Simone Patterson has used her platform to call for mandatory sentencing for perpetrators of domestic violence.
The founder and CEO of The Sanctuary Women Children and Pets Refuge was named in the 2022 Australia Day honours list for her outstanding service in the protection of domestic violence survivors.
5. Dr Sonu Haikerwal
One of Gold Coast’s most prominent general practitioners, Dr Sonu Haikerwal also runs the Upper Coomera Respiratory Clinic.
She has served on the frontline during the Gold Coast Covid fight.
6. Montana Atkinson
Montana, 13, is an S14 Multiclass National swimmer and her dream is to represent Australia at the Para Olympics for Paris and Rio.
She was named the Champion of Sport winner at the 2021 Harvey Norman Gold Coast Women of the Year awards.
7. Tamika Smith
Gold Coaster Tamika Smith successfully secured a house and land package for the family and children of slain mother Kelly Wilkinson.
The construction entrepreneur was named the Entrepreneur winner at the 2021 Harvey Norman Gold Coast Women of the Year awards.
8. Chloe Fisher
This entrepreneur is the co-founder of Gold Coast hard seltzer brand Hard FIZZ.
The 30-year-old from Palm Beach is also a swimwear designer and model – and one half of the popular Darling Sunshine podcast with good friend Ellidy Pullin.
9. Dr Donna Tanchev
The Bond University graduate opened Her Medical in Southport last year.
The practice, a pink building on the corner of Ferry Rd and Yacht St, is dedicated to women’s health and wellbeing.
10. Narelle Urquhart
This Indigenous Gold Coast artist, who was once forced to live in a chicken coop, overcame poverty to achieve success and raise four children by herself.
She is the First Nations cultural engagement manager at Bond University.
11. Tammy Hembrow
With more than 14 million followers, Tammy Hembrow is one of the country’s top Instagrammers – if not the number one – who resides on the Gold Coast.
She shares her fitness journey through everyday life and even pregnancy as well as a behind-the-scenes to her life with two kids and her fiance.
12. Karina Irby
The owner of Moana Bikini, a Gold Coast swimwear brand, inspires more than 1.2 million Instagram followers with her “real and raw” photos.
Her pictures and videos often highlight her “crazy wild side” and show off her bloated stomach, cellulite dimples and inflamed eczema.
13. Dr Sheree Moko
Dr Sheree Moko boasts an incredible resume – being the first New Zealand Maori woman surgeon.
This married mother of two describes herself as a “passionate reconstructive plastic surgeon” who is “devoted to helping people affected by defects resulting from trauma, tumour, or birth deformities”.
Dr Moko’s volunteer work includes providing plastic surgery services to people in developing countries.
14. Jennine Tax
The Study Gold Coast head of partnerships and trade is a well respected, experienced and passionate senior leader.
Students have faced challenges, transitioning to online study while managing isolation, loss of employment and impact on their families due to Covid-19.
Jennine pivoted the Student Hub online for services and engagement with peers; managed the introduction of accommodation grants; and co-ordinated distribution of 37,000 meal packs.
15. Jodie Forster
Jodie works at Arcadia College – a specialty school for disengaged young people.
Some 15 years later this program has morphed into a purpose-built $18 million school at Robina.
16. Kellie Bradshaw
The Gold Coast Dolphins secretary is only a recent addition to the club’s committee, having joined it in 2020 when her son transferred over from Palm Beach.
Bradshaw’s push for more women on the club’s board has now seen five appointed, a number she hopes will continue to grow.
17. Tahnee Norris
One of Australia’s greatest international players in her heyday, Norris remains a pioneer of women’s football on the Gold Coast and Queensland through her coaching.
Norris has helped transform the Burleigh women’s team into a force on the Queensland state scene.
Her success made her the obvious candidate to take over the Maroons women earlier in 2021.
18. Emma Milikins
Emma led the cultural wave of the Gold Coast 10 years ago.
She transformed a warehouse into creative precinct, Miami Marketta, through countless efforts to change town planning zones and regulations.
19. Caroline Bellenger
She’s a Wellness Warrior who is an inspiration to others. But Caroline Bellenger endured years of harrowing abuse, leading to alcohol and drug addiction, before finding the inner strength to turn her life around.
Today she is a passionate life coach, motivational speaker and creator of ‘Be The Impossible’ courses.
20. Karina Brown
Brown brings a wealth of experience to the Titans inaugural NRLW team, having been a key part of the Australian Jillaroos since 2013.
Off the field, Brown assisted in building the two women’s rugby league clubs in Queensland – Burleigh Bears and Easts Tigers.
21. Renee Gracie
A controversial former Supercars driver who has plans to spend around $1m to make a comeback to the sport.
Gracie retired from driving in the Supercars series at the end of 2017 due to a lack of funding.
She previously raced alongside former Indy Car driver Simona de Silvestro at Bathurst in 2015 and 2016 – and has reinvented herself as a provider of content online.
22. Madison Birtchnell
Madison is an international award-winning youth advocate, speaker and emerging leader.
She is determined to give back to her community, advocating for equality, good youth mental health and social justice.
23. Olivia-Rose Stanbank
Olivia-Rose is six years old and created a charity called Making Rainbows By Liv.
She paints canvases and sells these for $10 and donates 100 per cent of the proceeds to a charity called Rosies that supports those who may be experiencing either homelessness or tough times.
24. Katie Page Harvey
Her 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 last year her company was the naming rights sponsor for the Gold Coast Women of the Year awards.
25. Rebecca Frizelle
The Gold Coast automotive magnate helped save the Gold Coast Titans from extinction in 2017 by forming a consortium with Darryl Kelly to purchase the club.
She continues to be the city’s most powerful woman in both sport and business, leading the way in two male-dominated industries.
26. Donna Gates
A self-proclaimed accidental politician, Gold Coast’s Deputy Mayor Donna Gates has built a reputation as a gutsy advocate for the city’s northern gateway.
As one of the Gold Coast’s highest ranking councillors, Ms Gates is known as a pocket rocket who packs a punch.
27. Brittany Higgins
Last month, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison made a formal apology to former political staffer Brittany Higgins after she alleged she was raped by a colleague in Parliament House in 2019.
She has since joined forces with Grace Tame and former Australia Post executive Christine Holgate to launch a new campaign demanding women’s equality ahead of the federal election.
28. Laura Gerber
Before her political career, Currumbin MP Laura Gerber was a Commonwealth prosecutor who fought against bikies and for kids’ rights.
Ms Gerber was first elected Member for Currumbin in a March by-election, following the sudden resignation of long-running MP Jann Stuckey.
29. Meaghan Scanlon
Before her political career, the Gaven MP was a lawyer who grew up in Nerang.
In 2020 Ms Scanlon was sworn in as Minister for the Environment, the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Youth Affairs.
This made her the youngest Minister in the state’s history.
30. Ellie Gonsalves
This Aussie model and actress is a passionate wildlife conservationist who has worked alongside the Irwins at the Australia Zoo for over 11 years.
She is an ambassador for Wildlife Warriors Worldwide and uses her presence on TikTok to educate people on conservation and the environment.
To mark International Women’s Day, she will be a special guest on TikTok’s livestream event set to kick-off at 7pm on March 8 via the @tiktok — Australia account.
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