Passionate People

Passion is a powerful driving force. When you’re a passionate person, you wear your heart on your sleeve. Being a passionate person is challenging, sometimes heartbreakingly so. It means you lead with your heart, and you put it on the line more often than most.

LIAM FLANAGAN

Triple M radio host, husband, dad, sports tragic and Gold Coaster!

He’s Australia’s leading sports podcaster and host of The Scorecard, as well as co-host of Triple M’s Rush Hour with Leisel Jones, Liam and Dobbo which airs on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane every weekday from 4pm to 6pm – he’s LIAM FLANAGAN and what’s more important is that he calls Currumbin home. He adores the Gold Coast along with his wife Alana and their two small people, Quinn and Mack.

On his move to the GC, Liam explains, “Alana, my beautiful wife is a Gold Coaster, and both my kids, despite being born over the border, are identifying as Queenslanders so I’m locked in.

“I was born in South Australia, lived in New South Wales for a long time and have spent plenty of time overseas, but there is a sense of pride that Queenslanders have about their state that I haven’t seen anywhere else.”

He is already addicted to the GC way of life, saying “I can go from running unbelievable trails through rainforests and waterfalls to pushing my kids into waves on the best beaches in the country. The place is a living advertisement to ‘get outside’!”

Liam is one passionate guy, embracing all aspects of life to the full. Here, he shares his top five favourite pastimes.

Running – because the feeling that hits you 10 to 15 minutes after a run is simply the greatest in the world. They call it a runner’s high for a reason. From a long run on a trail, or a short sharp Saturday Park Run at Kirra, there’s no such thing as a bad run.

Podcasts - I think audio is better than video because if you’re watching a video, you can’t really do anything else. All of your attention is dedicated to the visuals. But with audio, you can be driving, exercising, cleaning, cooking almost anything while you’re listening. And what I love about podcasts is that there are no rules! You can go from listening to an hour-long True Crime episodic podcast trying to crack an unsolved 50 year old case, to a seven minute sporting podcast like The Scorecard with Liam Flanagan (wink) that gives you a daily fast fun hit of sport.

Port Adelaide - I decided to become a Port supporter in 1997 when I was 12 years old because the rest of my family were Adelaide Crows supporters and I thought it would be funny! 25 years later and the joke has gotten old. I’m a sports nut and will happily sit and chew your ear off about any sport and any league in the world but no matter where I lay my head, I have a Port scarf around it. The Beach – the reason we as a family moved to the Gold Coast was for the beach lifestyle. I’m not sure if you’d classify what I do as “surfing” but it’s fun to get out there and have a bash. I grew up doing Nippers at Henley Beach in Adelaide where surf life savers are about as useful as air conditioning on a motorbike but I loved everything about the surf club world. My daughter is now old enough to get involved so I can’t wait to spend Sunday mornings with her at Nippers.

Food - I’m just dipping my toe or I guess my tongue into this world. I am a competent cook at best, but a good friend of mine Michael Weldon was a contestant on the most recent series of MasterChef, so I am keen get more involved. Also, I’m pretty excited about trying out all the cracking eating joints on the Gold Coast.

PASSIONATE PEOPLE

MARIO EVANGELO

Principal, Panthera Group

Mario Evangelo is Principal of Panthera Group and visionary construction development industry leader with a successful career spanning over three decades. Mario has led and delivered landmark construction projects including Primus Hotel Sydney, Grace Hotel and Sydney’s best waterfront restaurant precinct King Street Wharf in Darling Harbour. Here, Mario shares his inspiration, his motivation and his love of family.

Tell us about your family and background The most important people in my life are my wife and children, my parents, my business partners and close friends.

I was born in 1965 in Sydney to George and Anna Evangelo, Greek Cypriot migrants who arrived in Australia in 1962 looking for a better life for their family. I have four siblings. My brother Jim and I are twins and incredibly close.

I married my teenage sweetheart Janelle in 1992 who continues to be my rock and have three amazing children; Georgia, Lauren and Nicholas. My parents had incredible work ethic which immensely influenced my upbringing. My father would open his corner shop daily taking only half a day off each year for Christmas lunch.

My mother was incredibly social and would always host small gatherings at home among her small Cypriot community. Our home was an open house for our family and friends. What I love the most about our Greek culture is Philotimo, a unique word to the Greek language. When directly translated in English it is the union of two words, filos and timi meaning friend and honour. Simple acts of selflessly caring and giving to those around us is an act of philotimo and a way of life for me.

What led you to your career path? My father George was a house builder in Cyprus. When he arrived in Australia, he wasn’t able to continue his profession due to the language barrier. Watching him build and renovate our family home inspired me to continue in construction. He encouraged my journey and would regularly visit my sites during his retirement to report to me on progress, safety and quality.

You have been an industry leader in construction and development field for over three decades. What are your proudest career accomplishments and current project you are working on?

Over the past 30 years I was responsible for delivery over $2 billion in mixed-use construction projects throughout Australia and New Zealand. I commenced my career in 1984 in Sydney with RLB Quantity Surveyors and later joined Multiplex in 1996. I founded my construction group in 2000 which became a leading construction company with over 200 employees and successfully delivered over 100 projects. After leaving construction in 2015 I co-founded Panthera Group, a development company, with my best friend and business partner, Chakyl Camal. I own and I am currently developing The Lanes Retail Resort in Mermaid Waters. What is the advice you would pass on to your protégés? Some of the best advice I have given is to be true to yourself. While life is about compromise, our values do not need to be. Do not be scared to work hard. Don’t simply chase the dollar when starting your career. Despite your starting pay grade, you will be rewarded in the long term with experience and knowledge which will serve you well into your career. Be open to technology and innovate. Don’t be afraid to do things that may be different. Creativity leads to change and continuous improvements. Visualise, Verbalise and Materialise.

Best advice received? Best advice I received was from my late father. While lighting up a cigarette and sipping on his scotch he said, ‘son best that you don’t smoke or drink’. I have since lived a life of health and wellness and do my best to instil this lifestyle in those around me.

What are you passionate about and what are the two words that best describe your purpose? I have relentless passion for excellence in delivering bespoke and innovative mixed-use asset projects and serving the community through mentoring future generation construction industry leaders and philanthropy. “Inspiring Greatness” are two words that I keep at front of mind each day in all I do.

What do you like most about the GC? The GC is a more relaxed environment to live, work and play. The people are friendly, the roads are safer, the beaches are world-class and the restaurant scene is improving each year.