Mining magnate Gina Rinehart, Prime Minister Julia Gillard, and Westpac boss Gail Kelly have all been named in Forbes magazine’s list of the world’s most powerful women.
Gina Rinehart is the highest placed Aussie at number 16, leapfrogging the Prime Minister who sits in the 28th spot.
The mining magnate with an estimated wealth of $17 billion — making her the wealthiest person in Australia according to the BRW rich list also published this week — is described by the magazine as a “wannabe Rupert” referring to her media interests.
“Rinehart has been purchasing large shares in Aussie media companies Channel 10 and Fairfax Media, the only non-Murdoch broadsheet company in the country,” her description reads.
According to Forbes, Rinehart’s wealth and influence makes her more significantly more powerful than the Prime Minister (and Beyonce).
Gillard slipping grip on the nation’s top job could be part of the reason she has fallen a spot on the list, her bio citing “approving ratings at 37 per cent as she continues to blast her opponent Tony Abbott as a misogynist”.
They both outrank the Queen (number 40) and Angelina Jolie (37) in the list topped by German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the third year running.
Brazil’s Dilma Rouseff comes in at number two followed by Melinda Gates who co-chairs the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with her philanthropist husband, US First Lady Michelle Obama, and former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton rounding off the top five.
CEO of Westpac Banking group Gail Kelly is the only other Australian to feature on the list, falling two spots from her 2012 ranking to number 62.
She was praised by the magazine for her leadership style and commitment to getting women in top jobs.
“Kelly surprised many when she hit her target of having women fill 40 per cent of top managerial positions at Australia’s second largest bank two years early.”
