Australian Financial Review (AFR) Cultural Power List 2018

This year’s Australian Financial Review (AFR) Cultural Power List has been released, outlining those who have made a difference to the nation’s cultural landscape in 2018.

In addition to the printed magazine’s in-depth analysis of the trends behind the lists of Australia’s most powerful people and profiles on all entrants, the Financial Review’s website (www.afr.com) will include all Power lists and content, as well as additional interactive graphics.

AFR Magazine Cultural Power List 2018: Australia’s Top 10 Most Culturally Powerful People

1: Saxon Mullins, the woman at the centre of the Luke Lazarus rape trial

2: Qantas chief Alan Joyce

3: Screenwriter-director Tony Ayres

4: Australian human rights activist, health administrator and Alyawarre woman from the Northern Territory Pat Anderson AO

5: Kurt Fearnley and Dylan Alcott are collectively #5, due to symbolising the mainstream normalisation of disability.

6: Comedian Craig Reucassel, for undertaking a multi-platform one-man revolution with documentary series War on Waste

7: Tasmanian-born comedian and writer Hannah Gadsby, following her rise to global stardom with Netflix hit Nannette

8: Aliir Aliir and Majak Daw, Sudanese and Kenyan AFL Players

9: Judith Neilson, arts philanthropist

10: Warwick Thornton, film director/screenwriter/cinematographer

Women took out four of the top 10 places on this year’s Cultural Power List.

Cultural power, for the purpose of the AFR Magazine’s Power issue, is measured by a person’s ability to shape Australia’s view of itself, crystallise an overarching issue in any given year, or reflect us back to ourselves.

According to the 2018 Australian Financial Review Magazine Cultural Power List, the person who most embodied that role was 23-year-old Saxon Mullins, the woman at the centre of the Luke Lazarus rape trial.

In May, she shared the story of her alleged sexual assault at 18, with ABC’s Four Corners in graphic detail.

In second place on the list was Qantas CEO Alan Joyce for the critical role he played in the ‘Yes’ movement for marriage equality in Australia.

Joyce was followed by Australian producer, director and writer Tony Ayres, who came in at third following his recent deal with NBC Universal, and indigenous rights activist and Lowitja Institute chair Pat Anderson, who entered at fourth after using her October 2017 Charles Perkins memorial oration to again underline urgent calls for constitutional change.

Wheelchair athletes Kurt Fearnley and Dylan Alcott collectively debuted at Number 5 on the List, with the Panel citing them as symbolising the mainstream normalisation of disability.

The 2018 AFR Magazine Cultural Power List was decided by an independent panel of key decision-makers from across Australia’s creative and media industries.

The full Cultural Power List is currently available online at www.afr.com

The Cultural Power List, along with Covert and Overt Power Lists, will be available inside the Power issue of AFR Magazine, available in the Financial Review this Friday October 5.

The full Power issue also ranks and reveals the key movers-and-shakers across politics, business, banking, property, sport, technology and education. 

The 2018 Cultural Power List Panel included Museum of Contemporary Art Director Elizabeth Ann Macgregor; Melbourne Theatre Company CEO and artistic director Brett Sheehy; Price Waterhouse Cooper’s chief creative officer; and stylist, writer and influencer Margaret Zhng.

Australia’s 10 most culturally powerful people, as assessed by Australian Financial Review Magazine is available online at www.afr.com