A CHAMPION surfer, criminal lawyer, resort owner, politician, researcher and the boss of a beer brewer make the list in our next instalment of the Gold Coast’s Power 100.
Here’s 80 to 61 of the city’s 100 most influential people.
Another 20 will be published only at goldcoastbulletin.com.au tomorrow ahead of a gloss magazine and online reveal of the full list Friday.
80. CAMPBELL MACCALLUM
A SPECIALIST in criminal defence who has represented some of the highest profile people in the city and beyond.
His profile has been boosted in recent years by his representation of criminal motorcycle gang members and Gold Coast Titans players who were facing drugs charges.
FLASHBACK: POWER 100 FROM 2016 - WHO MADE THE 80-61 LIST
SUBSCRIBE TO THE GOLD COAST BULLETIN
79. STEFAN ACKERIE
THE hairdressing and boating supremo Stefan has a lot of stock in, and spends much of his time on, the Gold Coast.
His growing Boating World showroom and homewares business at Coomera is gaining momentum, he’s opened a new JoJo’s Restaurant in Brisbane and he remains one of the nation’s most successful businessmen.
78. STEVE CAVALIER
THE Hedges Avenue resident is the head of Harvey Norman’s Queensland Commercial operations.
Mr Cavalier keeps a low profile but is still a business heavyweight with a big heart. He is active in the community as a member of the Gold Coast Community Fund committee and helped broker a major Commonwealth Games sponsorship deal for the company.
77. SHANE O’REILLY
THE managing director of O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat is among the most influential tourism identities on the Coast.
In the past year, he’s got approval for Queensland’s first ever eco-tourism development in a national park.
He is chairman of the Queensland Tourism Industry Council and has also served as a director of Gold Coast Tourism, the Queensland Wine Industry Association, Tourism Queensland and more.
76. JOHN MORRIS
THE GM of RACV Royal Pines Resort is well liked, connected and respected across the city. He has overseen the stunning $30 million-plus remodelling of the Gold Coast resort which again hosted the successful Australian PGA tournament last month.
75. PROF MARK von ITZSTEIN
THE director for Glycomics at Griffith University is among the world’s most respected medical researchers.
He is renowned for his life-changing influenza treatment and heads a team that is tackling some of the worst diseases known to humans.
His team’s malaria vaccine was successfully tested on humans this year.
74. NEIL FISKE
THE Billabong International CEO is charged with turning around the iconic Gold Coast company which collapsed into near-oblivion four years ago.
Soft retail conditions have not helped his cause, with the company posting a $77.1 million loss in FY17 despite a turnaround in its US and European markets.
The group employs 4000 people and has stock in 100 countries.
73. ROB BORBIDGE
THE former Premier was Member for Surfers Paradise for almost 20 years and is chairman of Study Gold Coast.
He is also a member of Griffith University Council, patron for the Gold Coast Community Benefit Fund, chairman of engineering firm Rotec Design, chairman of Cedar Creek Cellars and chairman of the Executive Task Force for the Institute of Glycomics at Griffith.
72. ROB MOLHOEK
THE former city finance chief is a well-connected Southport MP who knows his patch well and was comfortably returned to his seat in last month’s poll.
Has had some controversy during the year, being linked to a pharmaceutical company selling unapproved therapeutic goods.
71. PETA FIELDING
THE co-founder and CEO of Burleigh Brewing is also on the board for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
With husband and brewer Brennan, opened Burleigh Brewing’s cool new premises in 2016 and is the beverage of choice at all the city’s key functions.
70. MICHAEL MCGEE
THE CEO of Burleigh-based Transit Australia Group is responsible for running the nation’s largest privately-owned public transport company.
TAG employs more than 1400 people on the Gold Coast, Townsville, Sunshine Coast, Rockhampton and beyond and is negotiating a lucrative deal which could see the company run rapid transport in the new one billion-person city of South Dubai.
69. BILLY & JACKIE CROSS
LOCAL night-life pioneers Billy and Jackie Cross this year continued their long-running involvement with GC entertainment at the Supercars 600 Sounds, Schoolies Nation and Falls Festival bar management.
The founders of Manpower continue to enjoy success with their `Australia’s Thunder from Down Under’ male revue, which is the longest-running Australian act ever to run in Las Vegas.
68. STEPHANIE GILMORE
THE Coast’s golden girl is a six-time world champion surfer and a household name.
As well as wowing on the waves, Gilmore is an accomplished guitarist who has graced the stages of some of the nation’s biggest music festivals.
Her photos and tweets are watched by more than 240,000 people and the world’s biggest brands are climbing over each other to have her name on their products.
67. DARRYL KELLY
THE Chairman of the Broadbeach Alliance is the repeat financial saviour of the Gold Coast Titans.
This year he angled to save them yet again, teaming up with Bec Frizelle in a bid to buy the club.
66. GARY CARROLL
NEW TO THE LIST
WAS only appointed the CEO and Managing Director of Gold Coast-based G8, the country’s largest ASX-listed childcare operator this year, but is already having a rough time.
The company lost a quarter of its value, $458 million, in a day after cutting its earnings forecast.
Since Mr Carroll was appointed in January, the company has acquired 19 new centres, adding to its portfolio.
65. ANDREW & LUKE HENDERSON
THE real estate moguls are the main players in the Hedges Avenue millionaires’ row.
The family also has a racing empire with Gai Waterhouse and had a 2013 Melbourne Cup win with Fiorente.
Luke is a board member of the Turf Club and the pair are both strong supporters of surf lifesaving.
64. TED WILLIAMS
NEW TO THE LIST
THE Yugambeh elder works on three committees for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games: the Yugambeh Elders Advisory Group; indigenous Working Group, and the Volunteers Committee.
Mr Williams and fellow elder Patricia O’Connor were the first traditional owners in Commonwealth Games history to attend a Queen’s Baton Relay launch and Mr Williams was the only person to make a speech at the historic ceremony.
63. TOM & JACK RAY
THESE business-savvy brothers are executive directors of Ray Group, a developer and marketer of masterplanned residential and resort communities.
The pair have managed development projects worth billions, have success in business and asset management, and their developments include major service stations and Salt Village at Kingscliff. The family founded the Salt Surf Lifesaving Club.
62. CRAIG DAVIDSON
THE CEO of Dreamworld is responsible for more than 1000 employees on the Coast and is on the board of Gold Coast Tourism.
Has presided over a dark year since four people died at the theme park, with the tragedy also taking its toll on parent company Ardent, which posted $62m loss and a 30 per cent drop in attendance.
61. JOHN HOWE
THE engineer and boss of iEDM is a driving force behind the Chinatown precinct in Southport.
A Southport Parklands trustee, Mr Howe heads up the Committee for Southport, maintains links with Griffith University and Bond University and is an adviser in major motorsport event design, creating the circuits for the GC600 and for the new race in Newcastle.
Add your comment to this story
To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register
Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout
Re-enter the dragon: The fight to revive lucrative Chinese tourism
Gold Coast tourism bosses are fighting to rebuild the city’s relationship with what was once its most lucrative market - China. INSIDE THE PUSH
Full list: Every Gold Coast candidate for state election
There are 50 candidates standing in the Gold Coast’s state seats at the October 26 election. Find out who they are and what they stand for. FULL PROFILE LIST