We’ve debated whose power rose and fell in 2016 and now it’s your turn.

CHAPTER 1: COAST’S MOST INFLUENTIAL 100-81

CHAPTER 2: COAST’S MOST INFLUENTIAL 80-61

CHAPTER 3: COAST’S MOST INFLUENTIAL 60-41

CHAPTER 4: COAST’S MOST INFLUENTIAL 40-21

CHAPTER 6: COAST’S MOST INFLUENTIAL 10-1

CHAPTER 7: RISE AND FALL OF MOST INFLUENTIAL

20 DALE DICKSON

The CEO of the city’s most complex company, the council, Mr Dickson is in charge of more than 3000 staff. In 2016 he finally saw the council break ground on the new cultural centre, a goal he’s worked on for 13 years. Makes and guides councillors in key city planning decisions, and helped establish the council’s GC2018 department.

19 MICK FANNING

The world champion surfer launched a brewery with fellow surfers in May before triumphantly taking out another event title in July at J-Bay, a year after he was famously attacked by a great white shark at the same place. He’s a face of Queensland Tourism and makes world news pretty much every time he goes for a surf.

18 KATE JONES

The personable Tourism Minister has maintained her connection to the Gold Coast despite losing the Commonwealth Games portfolio. Ms Jones brokered an extension of the deal for Supercars to stay on the Coast, and has advocated for the city in the high-potential growth market of China.

17 RI YU LI

The chairman of Ridong group has lived on the Gold Coast for years and is the local in charge of the $1 billion Jewel development. Mr Li was instrumental in attracting the attention — and finances — of Asia’s richest man, Wang Jianlin, to the Gold Coast. Mr Wang’s Wanda Group recently sold its large swathe of land at Nerang to a rival Chinese theme park company

16 PROFESSOR TIM BRAILSFORD

The Bond University Vice-Chancellor and President is an expert in business, finance and industry, and has been in the job since 2012. Prof Brailsford has also served on the board of the Queensland Rugby Union. In 2016, Prof Brailsford sat on the Queensland independent Remuneration Tribunal, which decides State and council politician payrises.

15 REBECCA FRIZELLE

The Gold Coast Titans chairwoman is, with husband Brett, a director of the successful family business — James Frizelle’s Automotive Group. The Frizelles sponsor a lot of charities and events. The Titans snared drawcard player Jarryd Hayne, had their best on-field season in years in 2016 and will be looking for more of the same this year.

14. GEOFF HOGG

Star Entertainment Group’s Queensland managing director played a key role in winning the bid to build Brisbane’s Queen’s Wharf casino, and has had a huge year with the ever-growing $845 million redevelopment of Jupiters Gold Coast, which will become The Star Gold Coast in early 2017. Mr Hogg also sits on the board for Broadbeach Alliance.

13 HARRY TRIGUBOFF

The mark of this billionaire developer can be seen across the Coast, most recently with the Sundale development which launched in 2016 at Southport. His company Meriton is Australia’s largest residential developer and recently purchased a block on the Surfers Paradise Esplanade where he plans to build a $1 billion apartment tower.

12. SOHEIL AND SAHBA ABEDIAN

The heads of listed property company Sunland Group have already shaped the skyline with Q1 and Palazzo Versace but suffered a setback in 2016 with the delay of Mariner’s Cove. Their $240 million Abian tower in Brisbane was a sellout; The Lakes at Clear Island Water is set to transform the central Gold Coast and they have promising projects south of the city.

11 PROFESSOR IAN O’CONNOR

The Griffith University Vice Chancellor oversees more than 17,000 students from Australia and overseas at the Gold Coast campus. Prof O’Connor has attracted some of the world’s best researchers to the city and is respected by both political and business leaders. Has played a lead role in developing the Parkwood precinct into a world-class health and knowledge hub.