Bundaberg’s most influential people of 2023 revealed

Whether it be through politics, advocacy, social media or industry, these people have had a strong hand in shaping the region in the past 12 months. See the final 10 in the list here and who has been ranked Bundaberg’s Most Influential Person of 2023.

We are revealing the most influential people in the region.

Today The Bundaberg NewsMail reveals the 10 most influential people in our region in 2023, giving you exclusive insights into why they made the cut and where they rank in the region’s Power 10.

Click here to see #30-#21 of Bundaberg’s Most Influential people of 2023

In one way or another these men and women have the strength and breadth of power and or influence to shape the region and its future.

Click here to see #20-#11 of Bundaberg’s Most Influential people of 2023

Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service chief executive Debbie Carroll helped steer the region through the Covid-19 pandemic.

10. Debbie Carroll

Debbie Carroll is the CEO of the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service, after joining the service in 2006 as executive director of nursing and midwifery services.

With more than 40 years’ experience throughout Queensland hospital services, Ms Carroll helped guide the Bundaberg region through the pandemic crisis.

She has received several awards for her service to the community including two Queensland Health Australia Day Awards in 2008 and 2014.

In 2018, she was part of a team recognised at the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service Excellence Awards for the Procurement Optimisation Project.

Bundaberg Tourism chief executive officer Katherine Reid helps promote the region’s beauty and attractions. Picture: Patrick Woods.

9. Katherine Reid

Bundaberg Tourism chief executive Katherine Reid leads the organisation which is dedicated to promoting the region’s beauty and attractions.

She was appointed to the position in October 2015, after two years working as marketing manager.

She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Queensland Tourism Industry Council and remains the current elected deputy chair of the Queensland RTO Network.

Through her destination development work, the wider region has won several awards for cultural and heritage tourism, eco-tourism and visitor attractions.

The Bundaberg region also recently became the fifth ,location in Australia to be awarded the prestigious ECO Destination Certification through Eco-Tourism Australia.

Marketing and experience manager of the Bundaberg Rum Visitor Experience Duncan Littler oversaw an expansion to the distillery.

8. Duncan Littler

Bundaberg Rum marketing and experience manager Duncan Littler oversaw the company’s million-dollar expansion of its visitor experience and museum at the distillery.

Leading the iconic brand on the ground, Mr Littler has been influential in bringing more tourists to the region and spreading Bundaberg’s name nationally and around the world.

Despite a global pandemic, the beloved and iconic brand continued to go from strength to strength, releasing new brews and helping venues around the country with its $11.5 million Raising the Bar initiative.

Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett was cutting railway sleepers long before he became a politician.

7. Stephen Bennett

Since becoming the Member for Burnett, Stephen Bennett has championed a number of causes across the region, from calls for flood mitigation to supporting health service whistleblowers.

He also served as the Shadow Minister Child Safety, Youth and Shadow Minister the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence and Shadow Minister Veterans, Member, Agriculture and Environment Committee, Shadow Minister Environment, Heritage Protection and National Parks.

He is known across the region as district chairman of the local Rotary Youth Exchange program.

He has received several awards for his commitment to the community including Australia Day Achievement Medal from Department of Public Works, Indigenous Training Torres Strait.

He is also the four time recipient of Rotary International's Award, Paul Harris Fellowship.

Through two degrees in public sector management he was able to rise up from cutting railway sleepers to the politician he is today.

Keith Pitt has been the Member for Hinkler since 2013. Picture: Gary Ramage

6. Keith Pitt

Keith Pitt has represented more than 100,000 residents across the Hinkler electorate since 2013.

Mr Pitt was re-elected in 2022 as Federal Member for Hinkler.

Throughout his career he has served in a number of positions including Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, Assistant Minister Trade, Tourism and Investment and Minister Resources and Water.

In late 2022 Mr Pitt attended the NATO 68th Annual Session in Madrid, Spain as part of an Australian Government delegation, and was given the opportunity to address the assembly.

He took the opportunity to illustrate Australia’s continued support for the people of the Ukraine, during ongoing turmoil.

He has overseen a number of projects including upgrades to the Hervey Bay airport, a palliative care facility in Hervey Bay, Isis Highway works, the Hinkler AgTech Hub and the Royal Flying Doctor Service aviation training facility in Bundaberg.

Bundaberg Canegrowers chairman and farmer Mark Pressler campaigns for his industry.

5. Mark Pressler

Mark Pressler is a long time Bundaberg sugarcane farmer who has spent more than a decade championing his industry.

Through his position as chairman for the Bundaberg Canegrowers, Mr Pressler serves as a representative for the Queensland Cane Growers Organisation, a not-for-profit public company representing canegrowers across the state.

Prior to his promotion to chairman, Mr Pressler served as director of the Bundaberg Canegrowers for eight years. He is also the current director at the Bundaberg Regional Irrigators Group.

The group works with cane, fruit and vegetable growers across 55,000ha of farmlands to ensure irrigation remains consistent and dependable.

Through these positions Mr Pressler serves as an industry representative to hundreds of canegrowers across the Bundaberg region, one of the largest cane growing areas in the state.

Tom Smith was elected as Bundaberg MP in 2020.

4. Tom Smith

Before his election into the political sphere as the Member for Bundaberg in 2020, Tom Smith was a primary school teacher.

He has strongly backed a number of state government projects including upgrades to Paradise Dam and several education initiatives including TAFE agricultural education upgrades.

Mr Smith has also been vocal in his support of the existing health services across the region, and a staunch supporter of the construction of the new Bundaberg Hospital.

He has also been a strong grassroots advocate for community events that matter most to locals, including calling for the Pageant of Lights to make a return.

Claire Maslen joined Sweet Potatoes Australia in 2021.

3. Claire Maslen

As general manager for Sweet Potatoes Australia, Claire Maslen is the driving force behind one of the largest sweet potato businesses in the nation.

The joint venture between Bundaberg farms Greensill Farming and Holt Farming, Sweet Potatoes Australia is the face of Australian sweet potatoes on the international market.

Through her role Ms Maslen oversees dozens of employees and the behind-the-scene marketing, negotiation, sales, logistics and planning that goes into managing a global enterprise.

Since she took on the position in 2021, Ms Maslen has visited Dubai, Singapore, and Bangkok with trips to Hong Kong planned for this year, to promote the brand and Australian sweet potatoes on the international market.

With almost of decade of experience in the produce industry, Ms Maslen has a unique understanding of what it takes to be a leader in a rapidly changing industry.

Patient advocate Beryl Crosby outside Bundaberg Hospital. Photo: Paul Beutel

2. Beryl Crosby

As co-founder of the Bundaberg Hospital patient support group, Beryl Crosby has advocated for patients across the region.

Through her support she has been able to provide access to medical and psychological care as well as liaising with the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service, Queensland Health, government representatives and attorneys to assist those struggling with the health system.

Her background with patient safety is extensive, from her time as a patient safety champion for the World Health Organisation, to being a founding member of Health Consumers Queensland.

Ms Crosby is also a consumer representative for the Health Quality Complaints Commission, and has been a consumer representative for the commission on safety and quality.

She has been instrumental in the introduction of the state government’s mandatory reporting legislation and has also helped drive the review into Mackay Base Hospital’s obstetrician and gynaecology department.

Her campaigning prompted a review into medication at Bundaberg Hospital, and she also has an ongoing petition calling for the dismissal of the Wide Bay hospital service’s board.

Bree Watson from Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers. Picture: Patrick Woods.

1. Bree Watson

As Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ chief executive officer Bree Watson is the face behind the massive food bowl that is the Bundaberg region.

With more than a decade of experience in the not-for-profit sector, Ms Watson is a born and bred Bundaberg woman who represents horticulture producers across the Wide Bay Burnett.

Ms Watson holds a number of representative positions including on the Queensland Horticulture Council, Regional Development Australia Wide Bay Burnett, Regional Business HQ, SunWater Irrigators Advisory Committee and the Coastal Burnett Groundwater Management Advisory Committee.

She also works closely with all levels of council and government bodies to promote agribusiness within the region, and promote the interests of local growers.

With an education background including a bachelor of science (hons) and a bachelor of environmental science, Ms Watson is highly educated in the key issues that affect the region’s agriculture industry.

She has represented growers in national and international markets, as well as grassroots projects which support students looking for a future in the agricultural industry.

Further proving her advocacy for the region, Ms Watson was recently unanimously voted the chairwoman of the Queensland Horticultural Council.

Originally published as Bundaberg’s most influential people of 2023 revealed