Melbourne’s top 10 most influential: Sally Capp, Darcy Vesio, Arron Wood
From famous faces to the quiet heroes mapping our city’s future, Melbourne’s movers and shakers may surprise you. SEE THE LIST
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Melbourne’s most influential people come from all walks of life.
Some have large Instagram followings while others prefer to play a quiet role in our cities future.
Together they lead the way in what Melbourne does next in every aspect of our flourishing city.
Here’s our list of Melbourne’s top 10 movers and shakers.
SALLY CAPP
As Lord Mayor of Melbourne City Council, Sally Capp is one of Melbourne’s most influential people.
Former solicitor and executive director of the Property Council of Victoria, Ms Capp was elected in May 2018 – the first woman directly elected to Lord Mayor.
she previously worked as the Agent-General for Victoria in the UK, Europe and Israel.
An avid Collingwood supporter, Capp is the first female board member of Collingwood FC.
She sits on the board of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, the Mary Jane Lewis Scholarship Foundation and the Melbourne University Faculty of Business and Economics.
ARRON WOOD
Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood has stated he will stand as a candidate for Mayor in the upcoming council election.
After six months as Acting Lord Mayor, Mr Wood said it was time to step up, and his main aim if he gets the top job will be to get the city back to work.
“I was Acting Lord Mayor for 6 months during a tough time for Council and I’m proud of my leadership role in stitching the organisation back together,” he said.
“Whether it’s my idea for a highly successful business support summit in the early days of the pandemic or freezing rates to reduce cost pressures on ratepayers and small business I believe “I’ll be known for not just talking but taking action. I’m a Kensington resident and small business owner in city of Melbourne and I love our city.”
KARL FENDER
Founding partner of Fender Katsalidis, Karl Fender OAM is global leader in architecture, property and development.
Fender learned his craft under one of the greats – Melbourne modernist Robin Boyd.
He spent his formative years based in London and Rome, before completing a Master of Architecture at Harvard University.
He has worked extensively in Southeast Asia, working out of Hong Kong and Bangkok.
He is committed to urbanisation and is the chairman for the Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitats Awards Jury.
He has served as both national and state president of the Australian Institute of Architects.
He is best known for designing and living in the Eureka Tower, one of Melbourne’s most iconic buildings and the tallest residential towers in the southern hemisphere.
ELENA PAPPAS
Law and Advocacy Centre for Women (LACW) co-founder and chief executive Elena Pappas has spent years ensuring a better future the community’s most disadvantaged women.
LACW supports women through legal issues and addressing underlying causes help find ways out of the justice system and stop them falling through the cracks.
A resident in the City of Yarra for the last 15 years, Ms Pappas said LACW helps a huge range of women in Melbourne.
“LACW is integral to Melbourne as we assist some of the community’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable people – women who are caught up in the criminal justice system, and who would otherwise fall through the cracks,” she said.
“These are women who have experienced homelessness, poverty, mental health issues, discrimination and other forms of disadvantage.
“They are overwhelmingly victims of violence, in particular family violence.”
Law and social work students are encouraged to undertake placements at LACW to experience the justice system first hand before embarking on their careers.
VICKI SUTTON
Richmond resident and Melbourne City Mission (MCM) chief executive Vicki Sutton is a champion of Melbourne’s most vulnerable residents.
MCM have recently announced a new youth refuge service to open in Melbourne’s west to break the cycle of youth homelessness.
“We want to position this refuge where we need it most,” Ms Sutton said.
“It ensures we can keep young people connected with their community rather than having to move across town away from the area they know and other support they may have.
“Young people often experienced homelessness due to family breakdown, neglect and family violence, leaving them not only homeless but with other long-lasting issues including their mental health.”
SAM WOOD
As one of Australia’s leading health and fitness experts, Sam Wood leads Melbourne when it comes to personal fitness goals.
Known for staring in the 2015 Australian Bachelor, he captured Melbourne hearts on screen as well as his future partner Snezana Markosk.
His 28 day fitness program is international recognised as an alternative to a gym membership, and he said now more than ever Melburnians need to keep their health up.
“I completely understand that times are tough and with so much going on, it’s easy to let bad habits creep in,” Wood said.
“But if this has taught us anything, it’s that our health is so important.
“Now isn’t the time to be putting additional pressure on yourself, so remember to keep it simple.
“The reason that training at home is so successful is due to convenience and consistency.”
TONY ELLWOOD
NGV Director Tony Ellwood is a leading figure in the Australian arts sector and has seen the NGV become the most visited gallery in Australia.
Beginning his career as the aboriginal art co-ordinator then worked as a curator at the NGV, specialising in major international curatorial projects.
He was director of the Bendigo Art Gallery; deputy director of international art at NGV and director of the Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) prior to returning to the NGV as director in August 2012.
Mr Ellwood says the gallery has very exciting, and very secret plans for Melburnians when the city reopens following the COVID-19 wave.
STEVE BEVINGTON
Community Housing Limited (CHL) founder and managing director Steve Bevington has spent 25 years dedicating himself to providing affordable housing for Australians in need.
CHL is Australia’s largest not-for-profit social and affordable housing provider, based in Melbourne with over 400 staff.
The past three years has seen CHL tackle yet another challenge.
Having worked closely with indigenous tenants since 2004 including those in remote and regional areas, Mr Bevington saw a need to better service Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Although great strides have been made, Mr Bevington said there are still enormous housing challenges in Victoria.
“While the country has come leaps and bounds in 25 years, governments and housing providers alike need to band together to ensure a path to meet the needs of those left behind by the housing market is forged for the next half century and beyond,” he said.
DARCY VESCIO
Now a household name, 27-year-old Darcy Vescio is an AFLW player for Carlton FC.
Vescio emerged as a star player at the age of 18 when she moved from Wangaratta to Melbourne to join the Darebin Falcons.
Winning four back-to-back premierships and the Lisa Hardeman Medal for best of ground there was no doubt she was talent on field.
Signed to the Western Bulldogs in 2014 and Carlton VFLW in 2018 she won the clubs best and fairest boating 9 goals in the final round of the season.
NICK TRAVERS
Techne Architecture and Interior Design director Nick Travers is the face behind some of Melbourne’s most popular venues.
Specialising in interior design, hospitality spots including Brunetti Flinders Lane, Tonka and The Espy’s revitalisation would not be the same without him.
Passionate about architecture, Travers gained experience from Melbourne to Berlin before founding Technē with Justin Northrop in 2002.
His starting point for projects is free hand drawings that become his major source of inspiration.
JUDITH SMART
Historian, RMIT University Adjunct Professor and Royal Historical Society of Victoria member Judith Smart has dedicated her life to preserving Melbourne’s history.
The Royal Historical Society of Victoria (RHSV) was formed in 1909 and is the second oldest historical group in Australia.
With the support of volunteers, the RHSV provide lectures, seminars, excursions, tours and exhibitions for the benefit of members, affiliated historical societies, and the general public.
RHSV are dedicated to understanding the full history of Victoria and are currently working with Aboriginal group to gather a fuller story of the state.
RHSV hope to advocate for additional plaques to be places on city statues and monuments to provide a clearer history of events.
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Contact Grace at grace.mckinnon@news.com.au
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