Now we're really getting down to the serious end of the two lists that are ranking the most influential and powerful people in TNQ for 2017.

Today we reveal positions 30 to 21 on TropicNow's TNQ Power 50 List and The Cairns Post's most influential list.

Check out both lists below, and tell us what you think on TropicNow's Facebook page.

Don't forget: the full list will be published in the next edition of Tropic Magazine, due to hit the streets of Cairns next week.

Cairns Post most influential vs TropicNow Power 50

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Positions 50-41

The Cairns Post's list differs greatly from our own. For starters, TropicNow's list looks back across the past 11 months to rank those who have contributed and influenced throughout 2017.

In contrast, the newspaper has included Labor candidate Cynthia Lui on its list, despite being virtually unknown up until a month ago when the state election started ramping up.

We've also left Cairns stalwart Bill Cummings off our list, while he ranked at 43 on the Post's list.

And rather than rank each of the 10 Cairns councillors individually, we've grouped them together. Their relatively low collective ranking reflects the nature of the power base at council HQ.

For our reasoning behind each ranking, make sure to pick up edition 9 of Tropic Magazine when it hits the streets next week.

Positions 40-31

So this is where the two lists begin to look very, very different from each other. 

There are some shock inclusions this far down the list by The Cairns Post. Darren Halpin and Professor Sandra Harding rank at 37 and 34 respectively, despite being two of the most high-profile and respected organisational leaders in the region.

The Cairns Post has also decided to go with some long-term local stalwarts who have done great things in the past, while here at TropicNow we've chosen some new faces who stepped up in 2017 to deliver wider influence throughout the year.

The Post has selected Allan Tan, Gary Young and Bishop James Foley in this bracket, while TropicNow has elevated Stephen Foster, Cairns Regional Council's head of Cultural Services, and architect Carlo Amerio, who designed both the Nova City towers and hotels for Crystalbrook Collection, both projects that will shape and influence our skyline for decades to come. 

Positions 30-21

For the first time in the countdown, there are some similarities to the two lists.

But only some.

Local business leader Sally Mlikota is ranked in this bracket on both lists, though here at TropicNow we've ranked Sally higher at position 25 compared to number 30 on the Post's list.

We have grouped regional mayors such as Julia Leu, Tom Gilmore and John Kremastos in position 30, while the Post has singled out Cr Leu and placed her in position 27.

Once again, The Cairns Post has opted for three "old guard" local identities in this section, ranking Col McKenzie, Ross Moller and Clive Skarrott in positions 24, 23 and 22 respectively.

In contrast, TropicNow's list features a mix of old and new local personalities and leaders, from Skyrail's Ken Chapman and police boss Paul Taylor to foodies Nick Holloway and Davy O'Rourke and CQUni's Jodie Duignan-George.

TOMORROW ON TROPICNOW:

The countdown heats up as we reveal positions 30 to 21 from both the Cairns Post and TropicNow lists.