John Witheriff is Managing Partner of leading Gold Coast law firm Minter Ellison and as Chairman of the GC 17 bid team helped turn a vision for AFL football on the Gold Coast into reality. Gold Coast citizen of the Year in 2005, he is a former director of many of Queensland's largest companies including Sure Smart Water LTD, Energex Retail, Seaworld Ltd and the Queensland Transmissions Supply Corporation.

Witheriff is Chairman of the Gold Coast City Council’s Regional Economic Development Advisory Board and has been Chairman of the Indy 300 Event Advisory Board, the Gold Coast Combined Chambers of Commerce and the Regional Council of Commerce Queensland (Gold Coast). He also served as a director of Gold Coast Tourism and Commerce Queensland, was Queensland Convenor of the Tourism Task Force, and until recently was a member of Queensland's Liquor Appeals Tribunal. He is a recipient of the 2002 Gold Coast Tourism Award, the highest community and government accolade for contribution to the tourism industry and development of the Gold Coast.

Alan Mackenzie has been president of Southport Football Club for more than 34 years and has been involved in AFL football as a player, volunteer medical officer, coach, selector and administrator. He was elected Southport president in November 1973 and has overseen the growth of arguably Australia’s No.1 domestic football operation. As President he has seen his club play in 29 senior grand finals for 18 premierships while the licensed club has grown into a much-admired $20 million business.

He served the Brisbane Bears/Lions for six years (1992-98) as club doctor, selector and match committee chairman, and has filled countless similar roles with the Allies State of Origin side, Queensland Open and junior representative teams, and Gold Coast representative teams. A Life Member of AFL Queensland, he received the Australian Sports Medal (2000), the AFL Merit Award (2003) and was the inaugural recipient of the Gold Coast Bulletin Sports Award (2003).

Bob Gordon recently retired as Editor-in-Chief of the Gold Coast Bulletin newspaper. Bob spent 50 years in journalism including 17 years in Canberra where he created and launched the Sunday edition of The Canberra Times and played a significant hand in the re-design, the content and layout of the daily paper. As Editor of the Brisbane Sunday Mail he built circulation from 290,000 to over 629,000, the second largest selling paper in Australia. On the Gold Coast he helped lift the profile and circulation of both The Gold Coast Bulletin and The Sun. The Bulletin is now the fastest growing newspaper in Australia.

Malcolm Blight began his football career at the Woodville Football Club in Adelaide moving to Melbourne in 1974 where he played 179 games for North Melbourne including multi-tasking as player-coach in 1981. At North Melbourne he played in two premierships in 1975 and 1977, won a Brownlow Medal (AFL Best & Fairest Player) in 1978, a Coleman Medal (AFL Leading Goal Kicker) in 1982 and club Best and Fairest in 1978.

In 1989 he moved into full time coaching at the Geelong Football Club and took them to three Grand Finals. After a brief stint at the Seven Network as a commentator in 1995-1996 he returned to coaching with the Adelaide Football Club and coached them in back to back premierships in 1997 and 1998. He plays a key figure in the club’s history with their Best and Fairest award being named after him.

Bob East is the Chief Executive Officer of the Mantra Group. Bob has guided Mantra Group since 2006, when the company was then known as Stella Hospitality Group.

Under Bob’s leadership the group has grown from 50 properties to more than 131 properties in Australia and New Zealand under the Peppers, Mantra and BreakFree brands. While expanding the portfolio Bob has developed and implemented Australia’s largest apartment brand in Mantra Hotels and Resorts.

Bob has worked extensively in the tourism sector, domestically and internationally. He holds tertiary qualifications in Education and an MBA. With over 3000 staff in Australia and 15 000 rooms under management, Bob has positioned Mantra Group as the second largest operator within Australia and there are plenty of plans for growth.

Paul Scurrah was appointed CEO of Queensland Rail in July 2010. He previously held the position of Executive General Manager of the QR Passenger business from May 2008 and led the business as Interim CEO through the transition to separate QR Ltd’s passenger services from the coal and freight businesses.

Paul has more than 20 years experience in travel, tourism and customer service. He started work in the travel industry as a reservations consultant with Australian Airlines and has worked in various senior roles at American Express, Ansett, Tourism Queensland and Flight Centre. In 2002, he was one of 4 founding executives that established REX airlines.

During his time with Queensland Rail, Paul has overseen significant improvements to the business’ safety, customer service and on-time running performance.

Paul has an outstanding management and leadership record. In 2009 he won the Australian Institute of Management award for Professional Manager of the Year and several years ago he won the Young Manager of the Year award. 

Janelle Manders is Managing Partner of the Gold Coast office of HLB Mann Judd Accountants and Business Advisors. Janelle provides strategic tax and business advice to a range of Gold Coast businesses. Her areas of expertise are strategic planning, risk management, taxation, global business, governance, and financial reporting.

Janelle is also involved with a variety of professional and community organisations including Chairman of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Gold Coast Committee, Director/Treasurer of Careflight (Qld) Ltd and a Director of the Gold Coast Institute of TAFE.