The Australian has named 60 individuals who have significantly shaped Australian life over the past six decades.
Among them are two iconic figures of Greek heritage: Peter V’landys, the influential sports administrator, and George Miller, the renowned director.
Peter V’landys: Reshaping Australian sport
Peter V’landys, 62, has been a driving force in transforming Australia’s sporting landscape over the past 20 years. As the head of Racing NSW and the Australian Rugby League Commission, V’landys has overseen the explosive growth of two major billion-dollar industries.
Under his leadership, Racing NSW introduced The Everest, the world’s richest horse race on turf, and the NRL expanded its reach with a spectacular Las Vegas opening round.
V’landys attributes his success to long-term vision, explaining, “A lot of people in sport and business talk about a three or five-year plan, but I think you’ve got to do more than that… It’s all about capturing the next demographic coming through.” His strategies have seen the NRL reach a record $700m revenue and Racing NSW secure $600m.
A skilled dealmaker, V’landys brokered numerous key agreements, including a $235m government funding package for equine influenza management and a $100m win in the High Court regarding sports betting.
George Miller: The visionary filmmaker
George Miller, 79, is another of the 60 chosen, credited with putting Australian cinema on the global map. A trained doctor, Miller chose filmmaking over medicine, creating some of the most iconic films in history. His breakout film, Mad Max (1979), which starred a young Mel Gibson, made more than $100m worldwide and launched the New Wave of Australian cinema.
Miller’s portfolio includes Oscar-nominated films like Lorenzo’s Oil (1992) and The Witches of Eastwick (1987), but it was his Babe (1995) and Happy Feet (2006) that solidified his international reputation, with the latter earning him an Academy Award. Miller’s work continues with the Mad Max franchise, with Furiosa released last year.
Source: The Australian.
