POWERING TO THE TOP
WHAT is power and does it come from a person’s position or from their character and personality?
That question was posed earlier this week by City of Gold Coast CEO Dale Dickson and it has been debated often in the Bulletin office over recent weeks as we worked to compile our annual Power 100.
The magazine, in the paper and at goldcoastbulletin.com.au today, surprises, delights and informs the city every year on its release and has become a muchanticipated barometer of who is on the make and break on the Gold Coast.
While comparing the diverse intellects and accomplishments of our city’s people is a challenging and unavoidably subjective task, its purpose is to spark conversations and shine a light on just how many big hitters and exciting innovators call the Gold Coast home.
The 2018 list is a reflection of how far the Gold Coast has come in terms of diversifying its economy and attracting world-class talent to share a lifestyle to match.
This year’s Power 100 number one, Mayor Tom Tate, had a remarkable run in 2018 during which he welcomed royalty for the Commonwealth Games, launched the first stage of his legacy cultural precinct and saw progress on many more of the projects he has pushed for years.
After a self-proclaimed horror of a time in 2017, the Mayor has bounced back and is indisputably the person who has the most impact on the lives of current and future Gold Coasters.
The year has been one of great accomplishment for many city power players — and that’s as much reflected in who has left the list as who is on it.
The 2018 Commonwealth Games — the centre of planning for so long — were held in April, leaving a vacuum in the place of the hand-picked team of organisers that graced the city this time last year.
But vacuums are quickly filled on the Gold Coast, as shown in the 17 newcomers to the Power list this year and the 14 members of our watchlist — a collection of promising locals who are increasingly likely to make their mark in years to come.
We hope you enjoy debating the Power 100 — let us know what you think at goldcoastbulletin.com.au