MOVERS and shakers of business, tourism, sport and real estate feature in our fourth instalment of the Power 130, showcasing the Gold Coast’s most influential people.
Check out who took out the positions of 51 to 70 below. We’ll be counting down to number one every day this week.
70. BIKASH RANDHAWA:
IN two decades at Sea World Resort and theme park, Bikash Randhawa has built a wealth of tourism industry connections – which he has put to exceptional use across the Sea World businesses. The resort is recognised among the nation’s best, with its 90 per cent occupancy rate the envy of the industry.
Bikash Randhawa oversees one of the most successful resorts in Australia.
69. MICHAEL MCGEE:
THE likeable chief executive officer 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.
68. STEVE CAVALIER:
THE Hedges Avenue resident is the head of Harvey Norman’s Queensland 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.
67. JOHN MORRIS:
THE GM of RACV Royal Pines Resort is well liked and respected across the city. He has overseen the stunning $30 million-plus remodelling of the Gold Coast resort which has hosted the Australian PGA and the Ladies Masters golf tournaments.
66. KENTON CAMPBELL:
THE Gold Coast coffee king founded Zaraffa’s in a Southport backstreet in 1996. Recent years have seen him open drive-through stores and continue the chain’s expansion into a truly global chain. He launched a conservation group, Ecoforce, in 2009.
65. PROFESSOR 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. Highly influential within and beyond his field.
64. MICK DOOHAN:
THE former world champion MotoGP racer is also a successful businessman. He hosts some of the world’s most famous faces in his Coomera mansion – Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s family stayed over last year and Johnny Depp, Amber Heard and controversial dogs Pistol and Boo had sleepovers in 2015. When he speaks, people listen.
63. CLIVE PALMER:
THE eccentric Sovereign Islands billionaire was once the undisputed number one on the Power 100. No more. His foray into politics is fraying almost as much as the carpets in his Palmer Coolum resort and he’s credited with stuffing up the PGA. He does, however, have plans for a new suburb and a billion dollars - in itself a powerful thing.
62. 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 at Coomera is gaining momentum and he remains one of the nation’s most successful businessmen. Not many people can invite the Premier and Ministers to a party and have them turn up.
He’s zany and he’s successful — Stefan Ackerie
61. GEOFFREY SCHUHKRAFT:
HE has managed some of Australia’s biggest names in sport and music and is a confidant of the Mayor. Most recently based in Dubai, Mr Schuhkraft is senior adviser on Middle East relations for the Queensland Government and City of Gold Coast and is credited for attracting Middle Eastern investment to the city.
60. ADRIENNE READINGS:
THE boss of the city’s biggest indoor entertainment centre, the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, plays a crucial role in attracting big business and industry conventions to the Coast. The centre has had a bumper year for conventions and Ms Readings is a familiar face at the city’s important events.
59. CAMERON CALDWELL:
HIS resolve to fix planning issues and cut the council’s legal appeals has not gone unnoticed and he maintains strong ties within the LNP at all levels of government. He has a strong social media presence and is popular in his northern Gold Coast division. Ambitious and has not yet reached his political peak.
58. JOEL PARKINSON:
THE pro surfer has 11 ASP world titles under his belt and a massive following online. His influence and ability to attract big-brand sponsors make him a powerful name in our city and beyond.
57. BILLY AND JACKIE CROSS:
LOCAL nightlife pioneers Billy and Jackie Cross have significantly expanded Cross
Promotions in the past 12 months. The founders of hit male revue Manpower are also the brains behind music festivals and just staged their second wildly-successful V8 Superfest as part of the GC600.
Promoter supremos Jackie and Billy Cross
56. NEIL FISKE:
THE new Billabong International CEO has steered the once-sinking ship into calmer and more profitable waters with a promising and dramatic restructure since his instalment late in 2013. Billabong posted its first profit in three years this year, turning over $13.8 million compared to a loss of $126.3 million last year.
New Billabong CEO Neil Fiske is steering the once sinking ship into more profitable waters
55. BARRY ROBINSON:
THE president and managing director South-East Asia and Pacific Rim for Wyndham Hotel Group and Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific is head of one of the Gold Coast’s largest private employers - with about 600 locals on the books. Mr Robinson oversees 70 hotels and resorts and more are under development.
54. STEPHANIE GILMORE:
THE Coast’s golden girl is a six-time world champion surfer and a household name. 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.
Gold Coast world champion surfer Stephanie Gilmore
53. 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 the past year by his representation of criminal motorcycle gang members and Gold Coast Titans players who were facing drugs charges.
52. TOM AND JACK RAY:
THESE business-savvy brothers took the reins of the family property group after the untimely deaths of their parents Brian and Kathy Ray. The pair, both executive directors of Ray Group, have managed development projects worth billions and also have success in business and asset management.
51. ROB BORBIDGE:
THE former Premier was Member for Surfers Paradise for almost 20 years and is chairman of CareFlight and of Study Gold Coast. He is also a member of Griffith University Council, patron for the Gold Coast Community Benefit Fund and chairman of the Board of Advice at the institute for Glycomics at Griffith University.
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
‘Good luck with that’: Legendary developer’s stark warning
More than $5bn worth of developments are coming for the Gold Coast – but experts say it’s just a drop in the ocean of what’s needed. Read our special report on the city’s deepening housing crisis.
Why locking up damaged kids just won’t work
“Children are being placed back into abusive environments with no advocacy, ending up on the streets in sexploitation, criminal gangs, and juvenile justice systems because they do not have a voice,” writes Dr Cher McGillivray