th 2017 200810 MEN OF INFLUENCE 2017 THE 10TH EDITION OF OUR MEN OF INFLUENCE LIST FEATURES A HUGELY DIVERSE COLLECTION OF MEN FROM VERY DIFFERENT PROFESSIONS AND VERY DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE...

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‘You’re not very important so be nice to people. Learn people’s JADDAN names and ask them questions.’ COMERFORD FOUNDER & CEO, UNIFIED MUSIC GROUP 33

Comerford started UNIFIED in 2011 to consolidate a number of things he was doing in the area of artist services and is now considered one of the most influential young music executives in the world, encompassing a label, artist management, merchandising, licensing and more. “I take what I do very seriously. People sometimes say we’re not saving lives or curing cancer. This is obviously true but at the same time, we are dealing with people’s lives, their careers and we are contributing to culture. In the current state of the world, a song or an amazing concert can change someone’s life, even if it’s only for 45 minutes.” NAZEEM NICK MIKEY RHYS HUSSAIN KYRGIOS ENRIGHT NICHOLSON

COMEDIAN 31 TENNIS PLAYER 22 BUSINESSMAN 45 COMEDIAN 27

You have to credit a man who The most talented Australian The stylish Brit behind bar/salon An increasingly regular and PETER helped soften the views of a right- player of his generation has also The Barber Shop in Sydney’s York distinctive presence on ’s STEFANOVIC wing shock jock as influential. seemed, in the past couple of Street and at Barangaroo has also comedy festival circuit, the The creative force behind stage years, the most troubled. recently launched an eponymous camp lad from Newcastle who JOURNALIST 34 show Fear Of A Brown Planet and Headline-grabbing incidents scented men’s grooming range, says he dresses like a “lesbian SBS show Legally Brown did that in which Kyrgios has been Enright’s Original Gin. debutante” nails a bitchy, rapid- What responsibilities during his stint on I’m A Celebrity... offhandedly rude and dismissive “I’ve been in the hospitality fire observational style. come with influence? My Get Me Out Of Here where he about fans, opponents and even industry for over 25 years but Does a high profile bring with responsibilities are reporting forged a surprising friendship with his own interest in the sport started my career in hairdressing. it responsibility? accurately and fairly. The work hyper-opinionated Steve Price. have cast serious doubt on his Since then I’ve owned a gin “I could word this really I do can be highly influential Price later credited one of his chats motivation to become one of bar, grooming product range, carefully, or I could just say don’t as it informs viewers about a with Hussain for helping him tennis’ next giants. The Barber Shop York St and be a dick,” he says. “It’s pretty easy story or situation. They can better “understand the pressure But as he proved during the Barangaroo and have another bar not to be a dick. You’re not very then form their own opinion Muslim Australians are under”. recent Davis Cup quarter-final in the works. How’s that for a full important so be nice to people. so it’s very important that the “I’m very irresponsible, and win over the Americans in circle in your career?” Learn people’s names and ask information I provide is correct. probably not equipped to be Brisbane, and twice in earlier As for the implications of the them questions.” What talent are you proud of? My influential,” he tell us. “I’m victories over Novak Djokovic this ‘influence’ tag, Enright is direct. What would he like his legacy work ethic is very strong. I’ve actually very easily influenced. year, on his day he’s Australia’s “Treat people as you would like to to be? worked hard ever since I was a My responsibility is therefore to best chance of another major be treated, never sell yourself short “Either ‘He worked really hard stablehand at 12 years of age. surround myself with people who winner. If can just keep injury and remember, integrity is key on some pretty dumb stuff’ or Work hard, things happen. will influence me positively. I need and his sometimes troubled mind to your success. We only get one ‘Miss Universe 2019’.” What’s a weakness you’d to drop a lot of my friends.” at bay. chance at this!” admit to? Food. Always food!

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DANNY HARLEY WILL MUSICIAN/PRODUCER 27 EDWARDS

FOUNDER, ARCHIE ROSE Probably better known as The DISTILLING CO. 28 Kite String Tangle, the multi- instrumentalist and vocalist from When Will Edwards fulfilled his Brisbane gained attention after dream of opening a spirits distillery releasing “Given The Chance” in 2015, it was the first such facility in 2013, a song that put him on to open in Sydney since the 1850s. the music festival circuit, led to Now Archie Rose is already a acclaimed solo shows, and even ‘name’, both for the whiskys, gins TOBY made ’s Hottest 100. and vodkas it’s producing at the PRICE Now Harley has started a label, distillery but also for the adjacent Exist.Recordings and released bar in inner-city Rosebery. ENDURO RIDER 29 new work, “Selfish” on the back ‘I hope I can be the role model I “In the most romantic sense, of a sold-out national tour, needed when I was a kid struggling what we’re trying to do at Archie The first Australian to ever win confirming him as one of the Rose is make the best quality, the famed Dakar Rally in 2016, most influential exponents of new to come to terms with who I was.’ most innovative spirits we NSW country boy Price has electronic music in these parts. possibly can while showcasing racing in his blood. A five-time other incredible Australian winner of the Bikes category in growers, producers, coopers, the famously tough Finke Desert bartenders and retailers,” says Race in Australia, he also races Will. “I hope we end up being cars and Stadium Super Trucks. known for first of all, the quality performing to a high level even of our spirits, but also the fact shortly after a gruelling and JASON BRENTON that we helped in some way to seemingly endless list of breaks BALL THWAITES raise the profile of the Australian and fractures sustained during Distilling Industry.” races. Now he’d like the Dakar to ADVOCATE 29 ACTOR 27 come to Australia. “If I can get two or three Dakar wins to my Ball achieved something of a The former Home And Away name ... maybe I can convince national profile after he took on star originally from Far North them into it, bring them on here the not inconsiderable challenge Queensland has a veritable stack to Australia.” of combatting homophobia in of new film work coming up, sport, most notably by starting a including a chunky role in Pirates change.org petition directed at the Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell The Nine political correspondent AFL in 2012. Ball, a lower level No Tales alongside your Depps, and sometime Today presenter is a AFL player, had earlier come out Rushes and Blooms. Later, the relatively fresh face on our screens as gay. Since then he’s become lead in an intense WW11 drama but already has a few exclusives an ambassador for beyondblue, Ghosts Of War. under the belt. “As a reporter, the a Greens candidate in the 2016 “One minute you’re auditioning greatest influence you can have is Federal election and Victoria’s and you’re unemployed, the presenting facts and letting viewers Young Australian of the Year 2017. next minute, you’ve booked a make up their own mind,” says “Growing up, I thought being huge movie,” the father-of-one Croucher. “These days there are so gay was the worst thing a person told AAP of his States-side many so-called influencers yelling could be,” he says. “I didn’t have experiences. “I don’t know how at cameras, bashing at a keyboard any positive gay role models and actors do it man, [but you’ve] and blindly pushing their cause, therefore I didn’t see a future for just got to relax, take it easy, wait the challenge has become sifting myself. I guess I hope my legacy for the next thing to come and CHARLES through the bullshit.” is that I was able to be that role don’t freak out.” CROUCHER What’s something we don’t model that I needed when I was know about him? “My first job a kid struggling to come to terms JOURNALIST 29 was in a bottle shop at age 14. You with who I was.” could do that in a small town.”

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BRYAN WRENCH

LAWYER 29

Working for high-profile and sometimes controversial Sydney solicitor Chris Murphy means that Bryan Wrench, with his square jaw, powerlifter’s frame and dapper bouble-breasted suits, ‘My thumbnails are wide. Unusually is often seen alongside high- wide. I’ve been using them as an profile, sometimes controversial ice-breaker for years, but now I’m clients as they try and escape TV cameras while leaving court. DAMIEN 28 I feel it’s time to move on .’ Next up – the Anthony Bell RINALDO divorce case which has all of HAIRDRESSER 41 Sydney talking. How does BEN ISAIAH SCOTT he handle the idea of being Rinaldo was recently named influential? “You can never LUCAS FIREBRACE GRIFFITHS Australian Hairdresser of the have a bad day and, if you do, FOUNDER, FLOW ATHLETIC 38 SINGER 17 RESEARCHER 28 Year in recognition of his work Scotch.” How would he like to at his Boris The Cuttery salon in be remembered? “A lawyer who Personal training followed an The angelic looking indigenous Currently at the University of Adelaide. died on his feet, not on his knees.” NRL career and led Lucas to kid with the amazing, soulful , Griffiths works in the “I’d like to be thought of What’s a secret he can tell us? establish Flow Athletic with voice from small-town Moama area of male body dissatisfaction as someone who pushes the “I sometimes carry an empty Kate Kendall in 2014. As well in southern NSW is currently and eating disorders, including perspective of beauty in my briefcase. If you can’t be good, as working with corporates and gaining internatonal exposure muscle dysmorphia, anorexia creative work,” he says, when look good.” TV presenters, Lucas has spread as Australia’s representative at nervosa, body dysmorphic disorder asked about a legacy. “But also the healthy living message via a Eurovision 2017. and anabolic steroids. He’ll speak simply just being a good father, Youtube channel and concepts It follows some ‘growing-up- on these subjects at this year’s boss and friend to everyone I’ve such as Flow After Dark, 30 Days in-the-spotlight’ years where he TEDxSydney conference in June. had the privilege to come across Clean and Sofa 2 Surf. painfully crashed out of The X “People more readily assume in my life.” “I’d like to be remembered as a Factor competition as a 15-year- I’m right about things, including Asked for a little known fact leader with integrity and a strong old when he forgot some lyrics, outside my area of expertise,” he he’d care to reveal about himelf, moral compass who took risks and only to return as a 17-year-old and says of being influential. “I’ve been he confesses: “I always hated had a genuine drive to help others win the talent show. wrong countless times and will be getting my hair cut. If I had a succeed,” he says. A rare talent, Firebrace shapes in the future. It’s important people choice of going to the dentist Lucas ran 37 full marathons as an interesting artist to watch call you out when you’re wrong, and or getting my hair cut I would between 2007 and 2011. mature in coming years. to listen to what they have to say.” choose the dentist.”

Bringing design principles to former Marc Newson protege industrial processes, Caon has says. “Ultimately, however, I been responsible for a number would like my legacy to be what DAVID of significant projects including our studio could become locally Qantas aircraft interiors and and internationally, both the work CAON lounges, as well as tableware, and the process...” DESIGNER 40 architecture and furnishings for Away from his Sydney studio, workplace and home. Caon is obssesed with golf and “Any designer wants to be classic Italian cars. “And I’m known for designing an iconic completely aware that one is project and I’m no different,” the cool and one isn’t.”

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DEVON TERRELL

ACTOR 24

Born in the US but raised in Perth, the 2013 NIDA graduate gained immediate notice for his portrayal of Barack Obama in last year’s autobiographical film of the former President, Barry. Terrell’s mastery of Obama’s vocal cadences and personality traits ‘If not me, who? If not now, when?’ marked him as a gifted young actor to watch. “I read the story and I had such an emotional connection to it and I said, ‘that’s me, someone just summed up my life’,” Terrell has JORDAN TA J PATRICK LUKE said of the Obama role, his first NGUYEN PABARI KIDD GRANA official acting credit. “I’ve had very similar experiences, moving BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER FOUNDER, FIFTYSIX CREATIONS 17 FOUNDER, PATRICKS 39 FOUNDER & CEO, GRANA 33 to Australia and having to change my accent and go to school.” The UTS Sydney graduate has Brisbane teenager Pabari is the From Bondi to the world, Patrick Sydney-born Grana has created become a frequent and passionate founder of a social enterprise Kidd has taken an iconoclastic an ambitious fashion e-tailer presenter on his pet subject, the which helps children “build approach to building a high-end, based out of Hong Kong, with use of innovative, intelligent and create tech, rather than just beautifully packaged range of a focus on clothes for men and and assistive technology to consume it”. Tabari’s FiftySix men’s hair products. women in superior fabrics (think improve lives, particularly for Creations provides component “I hope to leave people inspired Japanese denim, Irish linen, those with physical disabilities. tablet kits which kids put together, to become self made because there Italian flannel). Nguyen gained exposure for his like “Lego for the 21st century”. is a lot of pride in that,” says Kidd. Grana sees his legacy as PhD project, a mind-controlled “I want all young people in “It took many years, prototypes “making quality accessible to wheelchair. Australia to know that age is just and redesigns, two failed everyone, not just in apparel but “I’m of the mindset that instead a number and they too, have manufacturing attempts, blown encouraging people to ensure of trying to change the world the power, the mindset and the deadlines, surviving corporate quality exists in every experience myself, greater impact comes from resources to create the world we sabotage and a whole lot of hustle, they have in life whether it be big empowering those around me live in, rather than merely consume but we’ve grown from a small or small.. it’s why I started Grana.” towards realising we can all take it,” says Pabari. “We [can] raise start-up to a multi-million dollar Had he not done this? “Back part in shaping our future,” says awareness around issues and be a business with award-winning in Manly I almost became a Nguyen. driving force to solving them. If not products stocked by some of the professional tennis player!” me, who? If not now, when?” world’s best stores.”

Apart from Sydney’s Lance atop the AFL ladder at the time Franklin, Dangerfield is arguably of print. the biggest name in AFL these Beyond the field Dangerfield is days after his transfer from the also a polished media performer Adelaide Crows to high-profile – articulate and measured – who PATRICK Geelong in 2016. also now writes a regular column DANGERFIELD The reigning Brownlow for the Herald Sun in Melbourne. FOOTBALLER 27 Medallist has a tireless work ethic Will his influence bring backed up by some sublime skills Geelong another premiership? and his influence has already been There’s every chance. felt at the Cats, who were jointly

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‘You have a responsibility to be true to the ideas that made you start doing what you’re doing...’

CLANCY OVERELL SAM OMAR SEBASTIAN & ERROL PARKER MCCLURE MUSA GOLDSPINK DANIEL

BETOOTA ADVOCATE CHANNEL 7 AFL JOURNALIST 25 POET & AUTHOR 33 CURATOR 43 CONN F45 DIRECTOR 31 In the age of fake news, the Nicknamed “Scoop”, McClure has Broaching the worlds of hip hip, The Sydney-based independent ‘reports’ by satirical Australian been a bright new presence on rap, poetry, slam poetry and curator is the man behind the There are plenty of ex-NRL first website Betoota Advocate are not Seven’s AFL coverage having been literature, Musa is a growing artist-run ALASKA projects graders who move into the fitness only fake but very, very funny. The an Age journalist, radio regular and voice on the Australian cultural space in Sydney’s Kings Cross industry once they leave the field work of Clancy Overell and Errol winning the 2015 Clinton Grybas scene. and specialises in emerging art. for the last time but few become Parker, who claim to have met as Rising Star award at the AFL His debut novel Here Come Since opening in 2011, the space a global phenomenon like F45, cadet journos in Townsville and Media Association Awards. The Dogs, about disempowered has seen 500 artists across 100 the team training method used now run “arguably Australia’s “My responsibility is to break and disaffected multicultural exhibitions. Goldspink has also across an ever-growing number of oldest newspaper” based in the stories and report them accurately youth in suburban Australia, was curated exhibitions nationally in studios here and internationally, Queensland Channel country, and fairly,” he says. “One of my long-listed for the Miles Franklin Australia and internationally in and for which Conn has been the the Betoota can be relied on by a mentors Caroline Wilson always Award and well reviewed, Los Angeles, New Orleans and face... and body. growing online audience to prick says that it’s the story that someone following on from a rap poetry Christchurch. “I practice what I preach with pomposity, highlight absurdity doesn’t want you to write that performance of incredible verbal “Influence means you have a re- regards to fitness so it’s easy to and generally take the piss, be it can be the most significant one. dexterity at TedxSydney in 2013 sponsibility to do good and also to keep it real,” says Conn. “I always politics, culture, society or sport. Reporting stories that upset people which drew a standing ovation be true to the ideas that made you try to display a positive attitude In March they even managed to in the industry is something (watch it on Youtube). start doing what you are doing,” and sense of self through health get PM Malcolm Turnbull to sit journalists struggle with on a daily The lad from Queanbeyan also he says. “My job has lots of aspects and fitness, encouraging people on a couch with them and drink basis, but it’s part of the job.” has three books of poetry under but at its core it’s about creating to be aware of their own mental beer, though the invitation to go Was journalism always his his belt and last year released dynamic exhibitions for audiences strengths and weaknesses.” out on the balcony and “share a passion? “Yes, but I was a striving Dead Centre, a hip hop EP in and working with artists to realise Where does he take it now? dart” went unaccepted. thespian when I left school. I which he collaborated with other their visions.” “I’ve always wanted to work in Of course they were drinking unsuccessfully auditioned for the Australian artists. And away from the day job, what the film industry – acting or their own beer, Betoota Bitter. Victorian College of the Arts after should we know? “My nerdy secret presenting. Strangely, I feel at school and it was then that is that I’m passionate about Vexillol- home in front of the camera.” I turned to media.” ogy, which is the study of flags.”

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