The 26 Most Influential Men In Health & Fitness
1 Brett Sutton
Chief health officer of Victoria, keeper of calm in a time of upheaval
Given the thankless task of managing the COVID-19 response for a state with the world’s longest continuous lockdown, the job of Victoria’s chief health officer, Brett Sutton, was always going to be a tough one. But thanks to a commitment to dealing in facts, Sutton managed to disseminate vital information and earn public trust.
About those facts. Victoria’s second wave killed more than 800 people. On Aug. 6, new infections peaked at 725 cases. Facing the prospect of the virus spiralling out of control, the Victorian government went in hard and managed to reduce the state’s case load to zero by Oct. 26, the first of its ‘donut days’.
As the face of the response, Sutton played a key role in synthesing health advice, marshalling resources and providing clarity and context to a hungry media and nervous populace.
Importantly, he wasn’t afraid to deliver hard truths to his leader, Premier Daniel Andrews. According to The Age, Sutton advocated for the politically dicey elimination strategy. Earlier, on June 30, he’d earned the Premier’s ire when he sent an email containing a genomics report showing the surging second wave could be traced to two hotels. Sutton didn’t just email the Premier’s office; he sent the explosive missive to others working on the pandemic response, creating a political headache for the Premier. Andrews would shun Sutton at a press conference later that day, but ultimately it was this report that would shape the state’s fightback.
Sutton also stood out in his praise for health workers and selflessness in a crisis. But it was his commitment to the cause, whatever the costs, that truly proved his mettle.
2 Mark Manson
AUTHOR, BLOGGER NO NONSENSE SELF-HELP SAGE
There was a time not too long ago when being known as a reader of self-help books was akin to admitting you pick your nose. In other words, something you should probably do in the privacy of your own home. Then Mark Manson came along. The American revolutionised the genre, writing books that are not only intensely readable but powerful agents of change in readers’ lives, whether it’s sharing bestsellers under his belt before the age of 40, Manson is the no-bullshit therapist we all need from time to time.
