The top 50-41 most powerful people in the Sunshine Coast, Noosa in 2022

The region’s movers and shakers of 2022 have been narrowed down to deliver you the Sunshine Coast and Noosa’s 50 most powerful people of the year. See 50-41 of the list here.

The Sunshine Coast Daily's Power List 2022: 50-41 of the Sunshine Coast and Noosa's most influential people.

The region’s most powerful and influential movers and shakers have been compiled for the past year, in what was another testing 12 months in many ways.

From major housing projects to the region’s largest education institution, these people have risen above the challenges and cemented themselves among the heavy-hitters on the Coast this year.

This year, our two mayors and two state MPs aside, we’ve tried to avoid including politicians in the list in a bid to cast the net wider, but we acknowledge the efforts and influence wielded by all of our federal, state and local representatives.

We’ll roll out 10 a day, with the top 10 to be revealed on Friday, December 2, while our Power Sport list will be revealed on Saturday, shining a light on the heavy hitters on and off the field in 2022.

Here’s 50-41 of the Sunshine Coast Daily’s Power 50 for 2022:

Peter Wise.

50. Peter Wise:

Peter Wise’s family has been occupying Sunshine Coast farmland for eight generations, and in 2022, Mr Wise is now known as ‘Maroochydore’s last farmer’.

Aside from Wises Farm in Buderim, Mr Wise owns a large parcel of land in Maroochydore which served as the point of controversy through the 1980s and 1990s as Mr Wise went through high-profile battles over it with council.

This later served as the basis of his book, titled This Is My Land, which was published in 2013.

Mr Wise made headlines in 2022 after he allowed expressions of interest for potential buyers for the farmland; a decision he made on his terms.

The land had been sought after by numerous developers for decades and what happens on the site will have a significant impact on the future of Maroochydore and Buderim.

John Hutchinson.

49. John Hutchinson:

The other half of the Sunshine Coast Hutchinson power couple, and Kook Multimedia director, John Hutchinson said he was most proud of the community’s “mature conversation on public transport solutions” for the Sunshine Coast.

“That so many people are engaged shows how much we value what we have, and that we’re serious about the solution,” he said.

“Business-wise, our team at Kook has pushed us through some hectic times over the recent past, and they were recognised for that, being finalists in the Sunshine Coast business awards.”

He also seconded his wife’s acknowledgment of the “two new in-laws” his family welcomed in 2022 and said he “couldn’t be more pleased” with his children’s choices.

AJ Mitakos. Picture: Contributed

48. AJ Mitakos:

AJ Mitakos is Walker Corporation’s development and leasing manager and he has played a pivotal role in the Maroochydore City Centre project.

After studying property economics Mr Mitakos followed a career in investment transaction and worked with Lendlease, before beginning a role with the Walker Corporation on the Sunshine Coast.

AJ was one of the top 10 for the Sunshine Coast’s most influential young professional under 30 in 2022.

Peppi Bueti.

47. Peppi Bueti:

With more than 25 years’ experience as a communications and marketing professional, Mr Bueti is the man in the know on the Sunshine Coast.

He rubs shoulders with some of the region’s heaviest hitters for a living and is also part of the communications team at SunCentral, the company overseeing delivering on council’s behalf of the new Maroochydore CBD.

Mr Bueti has worked on large infrastructure projects for companies such as Chevron and Powerlink Queensland to master planned communities such as Lensworth, Stockland and Devine.

The communications expert also tutored Public Relations students at the University of the Sunshine Coast and is an executive member of the Maroochydore Chamber of Commerce, a committee member of the SunnyKids Sunshine Coast Mayoral Ball and the Sunshine Coast Multicultural Advisory Group.

Sandy Bolton MP. Picture: Liam Kidston

46. Sandy Bolton:

Noosa Independent MP Sandy Bolton has been an ever-present voice for the people of Noosa after she was elected in 2017.

Her new role meant she had overtaken a formerly-safe LNP seat, and was now the only independent MP in Queensland parliament - a title she still holds today.

In 2022, she has been a prominent force in several issues facing Noosa residents, including restoring thousands of hectares of land to Tewantin National Park and took a strong stance on the state government’s vaccine mandate.

Sunshine Coast lawyer Chelsea Emery. Picture: Contributed

45. Chelsea Emery:

Formidable criminal lawyer Chelsea Emery is known across the Sunshine Coast as a solicitor who will fight for the rights of her clients who find themselves in the courtroom.

As the principal lawyer of her own eponymous firm, she has been an advocate for defence law since her beginnings in the industry in 1999.

Since then she has had regular appearances in the Doyle’s guide under criminal law, handling several high profile murder and fraud cases, while also being a member of the Sunshine Coast Law Association.

Stockland's Aura project director Josh Sondergeld.

44. Josh Sondergeld:

Stockland project director Josh Sondergeld, who oversees giant housing development Aura, said he had achieved several “big milestones” this year.

Mr Sondergeld said he had helped grow the development’s community to more than 10,000 residents, opened its third school, and supported businesses to create more than 1000 jobs.

Looking at next year, Mr Sondergeld, who has more than 15 years of property development experience, said he would be connecting Bells Creek Arterial Rd, Aura, to the Bruce Highway.

He would also be expanding the sport network and continue to create a diverse range of new housing for residents, with more than 2200 new homes in the pipeline in the major development.

University of Sunshine Coast president and vice chancellor Helen Bartlett.

43. Helen Bartlett:

University of Sunshine Coast president and vice-chancellor Helen Bartlett has plenty to be proud of and look forward to in her position after becoming the education provider’s first female vice-chancellor in 2020.

Prof Bartlett said she was “thrilled” that Good Universities Guide named her university as the top public university in Queensland for teaching quality and overall student experience this year.

Next year, she would be looking to expand the university’s allied health programs, relaunch Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast, and open a $17.5m national PTSD centre at UniSC Thompson Institute.

“(It will be) bringing hope to trauma survivors,” she said.

Brady Sullivan.

42. Brady Sullivan:

Caloundra Chamber of Commerce chief executive Brady Sullivan has been a sharp and active member of the Caloundra community after taking up the role from Olivia Sainsbury who stepped down last year.

Before taking on this role, Mr Sullivan had been well-involved in the community and even attempted to try his hand at local government.

A couple of years ago, he was a candidate to be councillor for the Sunshine Coast Council’s division two before losing out to Terry Landsberg.

Mr Sullivan is well connected within business circles and the Caloundra chamber continues to grow, fuelled by an influx of new development in the Caloundra South area.

Amanda Yeates.

41. Amanda Yeates:

SunCentral Maroochydore’s chief executive has entered the development world as she helps lead the innovative Maroochydore CBD masterplan.

Ms Yeates, a former Deputy Director General at the Department of Transport and Main Roads, was appointed to the role this year.

Throughout her career the Sunshine Coast local has delivered billions of dollars to the development of infrastructure and maintenance of the state’s roads for the government.

Stay tuned as we roll out 10 more of the list each day, with the top 10 to be revealed on Friday, December 2.

Originally published as The top 50-41 most powerful people in the Sunshine Coast, Noosa in 2022