We’re counting down from 100 to 1 of the Gold Coast’s most influential people.

Today we reveal 100 to 81. Another 20 will be published here tomorrow, ahead of a gloss magazine featuring the full list in Saturday’s Gold Coast Bulletin.

CHAPTER 2: POWER 100: COAST’S MOST INFLUENTIAL 80-61

CHAPTER 3: POWER 100: COAST’S MOST INFLUENTIAL 60-41

CHAPTER 4: POWER 100: COAST’S MOST INFLUENTIAL 40-21

CHAPTER 5: POWER 100: COAST’S MOST INFLUENTIAL 20-11

CHAPTER 6: POWER 100: COAST’S MOST INFLUENTIAL 10-1

CHAPTER 7: POWER 100: RISE AND FALL OF MOST INFLUENTIAL

100 SIMONE HOLZAPFEL

LIBERAL Party lobbyist, public relations strategist, political donor — call her what you like, Ms Holzapfel has got plenty done on the Coast in the past year. She has worked for former PM Tony Abbott and Mayor Tom Tate and her clients have included casino hopefuls ASF Group and Sunland. She has also worked for Pearls, now known as MiiGroup.

99 LONGHURST FAMILY

FAMILY patriarch and creator of Dreamworld, John Longhurst has invested heavily in property. The family also owns a swathe of other commercial properties. Son Rodney Longhurst (pictured) is head of their company Riviera and is leading the family’s rapid marine industry expansion and is behind a bid to lure the America’s Cup to the Gold Coast.

98 NIKIFORIDES FAMILY

THEIR Oracle at Broadbeach development remains one of the most striking buildings in the city. Con Nikiforides is revered in the city and his sons are continuing his legacy with promising developments of their own including luxury 59-unit tower The Park at Mermaid Beach which broke ground in 2016.

97TREVOR DIETZ

THE CEO of Southport-based BPS Technology — the ASX-listed iteration of Through Bartercard, BPS is the world’s largest trading platform and it has also expanded its software-based payment platforms. Added several digital acquisitions in the past year including Entertainment Publications and finance product GetCapital.

96 DR MANNY POHL

AS founder and CEO of Hyperion Asset Management, oversaw management of more than $3.2 billion, weathering the GFC and earning a swag of accolades. Was a delegate to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund and is well-respected nationally in the finance sector. Appointed to the Bond University Council in 2016.

95 MURRAY D’ALMEIDA

INDEPENDENT non-executive chairman of BPS Technology and founder of local juggernaut Retail Food Group, with which he is no longer involved. Mr D’almeida is director of Beacon Hill Resources; a member of the Gold Coast Light Rail Business Advisory Board; trustee of the Currumbin Wildlife Foundation and more.

94 NEV PASK

ONE of nation’s richest people and most respected developers, Mr Pask has spent 45 years building Pask Group, of which he is chairman. He was presented the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Allen Vogan Distinguished Service Award in March and his Southport-based company is currently planning a new 800-home development in Victoria.

93. SIMON GLOFTIS

THIS popular restaurateur has created two of the Gold Coast’s best-loved restaurants, Hellenika and Fish House, the latter of which he sold during the year. He’s a well-connected and savvy businessman with an instinct for customer service which has driven his success. Has a major project on the cards for 2017 which is likely to see his stocks soar further.

92 JOHN MORRIS

THE GM of RACV Royal Pines Resort is well liked and respected across the city. He has overseen the $30 million-plus remodelling of the Gold Coast resort which in 2016 again hosted the Australian PGA tournament. Royal Pines was awarded the gold medal for Luxury Accommodation at the Queensland Tourism Awards in November.

91. DAVID HARPER

THE CEO of the huge Gold Coast Private Hospital, lead its relocation from the former Allamanda facility into a new $230 million precinct next to the Gold Coast University Hospital. Six months after it opened in March, Mr Harper announced he had fast-tracked a $50 million expansion to keep pace with patient demand.

90 ROBYN ARCHER

GOLD Coast City Council’s cultural consultant is one of the nation’s best-known experts and an acclaimed artist. The passionate and knowledgeable Ms Archer has spearheaded plans for a pedestrian bridge linking Surfers Paradise and Bundall and played a key role in planning for the city’s under-construction cultural centre.

89 GREG JENKE

AS CEO of John Flynn hospital, Mr Jenke is responsible for more than 345 beds as well as and emergency department, intensive care unit, critical care unit, 13 operating theatres, catheter labs, renal unit and more than 50 on-site practices. Is an advocate of daylight saving and trustee of the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Foundation.

88. DYAN CURRIE

THE city’s planning and environment boss has had a baptism of fire in her first year in the role, overseeing the launch of the new City Plan. The well-regarded bureaucrat has been in the game for more than 20 years, including stints in Townsville and Toowoomba. Ms Currie is President of the Commonwealth Association of Planners.

87. WILLIAM OWEN-JONES

THE city finance chair was returned to his Helensvale division unopposed in March, is on the board of Gold Coast Tourism and is well-connected in the business and property community. A vocal advocate for improved facilities and infrastructure for the city’s expanding north.

86. TRISH HOGAN

THE CEO of Pindara Private Hospital has spent four decades in the health sector and also has a sharp business mind. Ms Hogan is on the advisory committees of both Bond and Griffith University Medical Schools and oversaw the hospital’s $50 million expansion, bringing the hospital’s bed capacity to 348 and establishing a neuroscience unit.

85 PROF NED PANKHURST

GRIFFITH University’s senior deputy vice-chancellor is provost of the Gold Coast campus and actively involved in the growth of the city’s biggest university. The NZ-born fish biologist steps in as voice of the campus when vice-chancellor Ian O’Connor is away. Prof Pankhurst is also a director of the Gold Coast Titans.

84. BRUCE MATHIESON

THE poker machine and hotel magnate has a house at Mermaid Beach and was this year ranked the nation’s 43rd richest person with an estimated $640 million in the bank. Among his successes is a hefty stake in listed pharmaceutical company Mayne Pharma, and a 25 per cent share in hotel and pub operator ALH Group.

83. JESINTA FRANKLIN (CAMPBELL)

THE newlywed 24-year-old Miss Universe Australia 2010 is much more than a pretty face, using her name and profile to speak about social issues like mental illness and domestic violence. She also has a hefty social media following and runs her own business. She launched her first book, Live a Beautiful Life, in 2016.

82. DARRYL KELLY

THE Chairman of the Broadbeach Alliance is also the repeat financial saviour of the Gold Coast Titans but you won’t hear him talk about how important he is to the club. The modest, yet shrewd and friendly bloke is as well-liked as he is wealthy. He’s already poured more than $5 million into the club but has said he’d do it all again.

81. MARTIN WINTER

THE Gold Coast Tourism CEO oversaw strong international visitor growth in the past year and is an advocate for increasing ties with China and developing the Broadwater. Mr Winter kept a low profile in 2016 which was a big year for tourism in the city, which hosted the Australian Tourism Exchange and a record number of international visitors.