Meet the 40 Under 40 leaders creating a happier, healthier and more inclusive Queensland
From tourism to data science, these 40 Under 40 Awards finalists are reshaping the future of Queensland across a diverse range of industries and locales.
Ryan Harvey
Founder, On Point Skin Cancer Clinics
As founder of On Point Skin Cancer Clinics, doctor Ryan Harvey is committed to helping the two out of three Australians who develop skin cancer in their lifetime – and even reversing that statistic. Since 2020, On Point has expanded to launch six new clinics across Southeast Queensland from Noosa to Tweed Heads. Following the astounding success of these skin cancer treatment clinics, Ryan brought his approach to impactful patient experiences to the digital world with the launch of Online Doctor Consult. This tele-health platform marks the next generation of medicine, adopting clients’ smartphone sensors to take vital health information for more comprehensive care. Motivated by the goal to improve the health of Queenslanders, Ryan most recently formed the not-for-profit organisation, Melanoma Academy of Australia, to fundraise and instigate primary skin cancer medicine research as well as conduct education around melanoma and skin cancer for doctors and patients.
One rule you live your life by?
Make time for the most important thing, which is family.
Holly Hunt
Founder, Women in Digital
On a mission to build a more inclusive future for the digital sector, Holly Hunt has played a crucial role in reshaping the business landscape of Queensland and beyond. Launched in 2014, Women in Digital has evolved into a national membership organisation focused on supporting employers and individuals through networking, education and community experiences. Today, Women in Digital’s community consists of more than 12,000 women and men across Australia and has hosted almost 23,000 attendees and 420 speakers through its event series. In addition to this work, Holly also founded Hunt & Co – a boutique digital recruitment agency that provides innovative talent acquisition strategies to build diverse teams. Across this decade of work, Holly’s dedication to forging a more inclusive business scene for Queensland is priming the state for success through more fresh perspectives in the workforce as well as more supportive work environments.
If you could meet any living person, who would it be?
Julie Bishop. I am obsessed with people who can reinvent themselves in their careers, and she’s doing a pretty great job at that.
Edward Ross
Founder, Trademutt
Edward Ross is revolutionising the workwear industry while tackling mental health issues in blue-collar communities. Edward and his friend Dan’s dream of designing vibrant and colourful workwear took a new iteration when Dan lost a close friend to suicide. The pair re-channelled this passion for bold workwear in the launch of Trademutt. TradeMutt is a social enterprise company that makes colourful eye-catching workwear, designed to help start conversations about mental health and “make the invisible impossible to ignore”. The duo also established TIACS, a professional tele-mental health counselling service designed for the blue-collar industry. Through this initiative, patients can receive up to eight free sessions with the same counsellor over a phone call or text. Fifty percent of TradeMutt’s profits are donated to TIACS, helping the service deliver more than $3-million worth of mental health services for free to more than 18,000 clients since June 2020.
If you could meet any living person, who would it be?
John Cleese.
Rhetta Chappell
Data scientist and partnerships lead, Relational Insights Data Lab
As one of Queensland’s leading data scientists, Rhetta Chappell finds the evidence Queensland communities need to solve problems and thrive. In her work at the Relational Insights Data Lab (RIDL) at Griffith University, Rhetta works to generate contextualised data that can help improve decision-making at local, state and federal levels. By taking data from the lab and into the community, Rhetta has played a crucial role in various sectors of Queensland from keeping Queenslanders safe by distilling complex data into accessible infographics during the pandemic to monitoring the effects of mobile apps on price efficiency for Queensland motorists. Outside the lab, Rhetta also heads up the podcast Show Me the Data to make data topics accessible and engaging to the public whilst promoting the understanding and uptake of data science at all levels.
What’s your favourite movie or TV show of all time, and why?
Utopia because working in a government-adjacent sector it’s just too real (sometimes painfully so) and hilarious to not love and have a laugh at all the earnestness and inefficiencies in the sector.
Aspen Forgan
Owner, Barney Creek Vineyard Cottages
In 2021, Aspen Forgan, along with her husband Brendan and two young children took over Barney Creek Vineyard Cottages, forging a new tourism experience in Queensland. As the mother of a neurodivergent child, Aspen is also committed to crafting inclusive holiday experiences for parent carers who so often put themselves last. Whilst the decision to take over Barney Creek was initially inspired by a desire for a better work-life balance, Aspen is now motivated to keep supporting the many incredible local businesses throughout Southeast Queensland that she works with. Over the past year, Barney Creek Vineyard Cottage has experienced a strong increase in top-line revenue year on year. They also took home the Scenic Rim Business Award for Excellence in Tourism and Accommodation in 2023. Going forth, Aspen seeks to establish Barney Creek Vineyard Cottages into a thriving destination that benefits the entire region – supporting local producers, creating employment opportunities and fostering a sense of community.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
Hiking at Hinchinbrook Island.
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