Shepparton’s top 10 most influential: Peter Copulos, Paul Briggs OAM, Suzanna Sheed
From the migrant who built Shepparton as we know it, to the visionary fighting for the region’s youth. These are Shepparton’s top movers and shakers. SEE THE LIST
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Shepparton’s most influential people come from all across the world.
They are a mix of politicians, business people and community advocates — some in the public eye, others in the background.
All are trying to move the Goulburn Valley forward.
Here’s our list of Shepparton’s top 10 movers and shakers.
Peter Copulos
Peter Copulos is a Shepparton businessman and philanthropist.
He migrated to Australia as an eight-year-old from Macedonia, and worked on his family orchard and then as an apprentice carpenter and joiner, before getting into property development as a young adult.
In what became the Copulos Group, Mr Copulos developed an extensive food retailing, manufacturing, mining and property development portfolio in Shepparton and beyond, including the $16m Riverside Plaza development in Kialla.
He and his wife Maria have donated to projects through the Peter and Maria Copulos Foundation, including $300,000 to the Peter Copulos Cancer and Wellness Centre at Goulburn Valley Health and $1 million to the new Shepparton Art Museum development.
Damian Drum
Damian Drum is the Federal Member for Nicholls.
Having grown up in Shepparton, he started his working life as a carpenter, before moving on to a football career.
He coached Fremantle for three seasons before trading the footy field for parliament, where he climbed up the Nationals’ ranks in state politics.
Mr Drum launched his federal campaign before the 2016 election, where he was elected Member for Murray.
When the boundaries were redrawn, he was re-elected as Member for Nicholls in 2019.
He’s a leading voice on water policy and has recently become a prominent voice for regional Victoria through the COVID-19 restrictions.
Suzanna Sheed
Suzanna Sheed is the Independent Member for Shepparton.
She was raised in Jerilderie, just out of Deniliquin, and after studying law at Melbourne University, returned north to work and raise her two daughters in Shepparton.
After living and working in Shepparton for three decades, she decided to run for state parliament and was elected as an independent through grassroots campaign.
Since being elected, Ms Sheed has called for better health, education, rail and water outcomes in the region, which has seen new infrastructural development across town.
Seema Abdullah
Seema Abdullah has been Greater Shepparton City Council’s mayor for the last four years.
She grew up in Pakistan and migrated to Australia in 2004, and then made the move to Shepparton in 2009 with her husband and two children.
She holds a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Information Systems, from London School of Economics, and has worked as a project management professional in Malaysia, Melbourne and Shepparton.
Ms Abdullah was elected into local council in 2016, was elected mayor in 2019, and will be running for council in the upcoming October elections.
She’s been a prominent voice in getting more women involved in local governance through the Greater Shepparton Women’s Charter Alliance Advisory Committee.
Wendy Lovell
Wendy Lovell is the Member for Northern Victoria.
She grew up in Shepparton where she attended Wanganui Park Secondary College and studied Business Studies at Shepparton TAFE.
Before her parliamentary career, she operated Lovell’s Shepparton Newsagency and was heavily involved with the community through Shepparton South Rotary and the Blue Ribbon Foundation.
Throughout her time in parliament she has overseen portfolios, including Minister for Housing, Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development while in government.
She is an advocate for any community concerns, particularly related to health, small business and youth.
Azem Elmaz
Azem Elmaz is a restaurant owner and philanthropist who was awarded an OAM in 2016.
Hailing from Macedonia and an active member of the Shepparton Albanian Society, Mr Elmaz has owned Lufte’s Shish Kebabs on Wyndham St for three decades.
Throughout that time, has given free meals to anyone unable to afford them.
Among his countless efforts to support those struggling, Mr Elmaz coordinates a soup kitchen each week through his charity ‘People Supporting People’and is an advocate for the homeless in the region.
He has recently provided free meals to firefighters during the bushfires, and has promised free meals for anyone struggling to make ends meet through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lisa McKenzie
Lisa McKenzie is the chief executive of the Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project and a fierce advocate for the region’s youth.
The organisation is dedicated to improving the outcomes for children across the region, which involves close to 450 volunteers across more than 20 different settings and nearly 40 business partnerships.
Under Ms McKenzie’s leadership, the organisation uses data to guide their efforts, which has seen real benefits in lifting outcomes for young people throughout Shepparton since 2014.
David McKenzie
David McKenzie is considered one of Australia’s leading experts in water market analysis and water valuation, as well as a fierce advocate for regional communities.
He is a North East Water chair, a Goulburn Murray Water director, a Opteon Goulburn North East director, and is involved in a plethora of other organisations.
He was notably appointed chair of the Goulburn Regional Partnership by the Minister for Regional Development and Agriculture in 2016.
Mr McKenzie also chaired the statewide Regional Development Advisory Committee.
Jim Andreadis
Jim Andreadis is a businessman and philanthropist.
Starting with Europe Deli and Cafe on Fryers St, he eventually established SPC Ardmona Factory Sales, which attracted shoppers from around the state and further.
He was a costarter of the Shepparton Motor Museum, was a founding member of the Committee for Greater Shepparton and has been heavily involved in community fundraisers.
Paul Briggs OAM
Paul Briggs is a Yorta Yorta man who has lead the advocacy for Aboriginal people’s rights since the 1970s.
He has founded and lead numerous community organisations, including the Kaiela Institute, First Nations Foundation, the Rumblara Football Netball Club.
He was appointed the inaugural chair of the AFL’s national Indigenous Advisory Board.
Mr Briggs was awarded an OAM for his contribution to the community and the nation.
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Contact Madi Chwasta at madi.chwasta@news.com.au
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