Over the past week we have "networked" (from the Latin "Net" = get, "Work" = booze and "Ed" = in tummy) at the Spring Carnival which gave us (free) food for thought.

Here we saw professional celebrities, suck-up artists, stick-thin actresses and brick-thick pastoralists strut around like ostriches with hemorrhoids. They certainly looked important. But are they?

This led us to ponder over mini burgers and maxi pinot noirs who really are the most influential Victorians. And the names surprise.

At first we eliminated those who have crafted an image of importance without actually doing anything. Which means we avoided bloggers, tweeters and talking heads on Q&A. Now influence should not be mistaken for power – which is altogether a different beast. Power is the ability to make people act in a certain way through threat of sanction. So all politicians are eliminated, as they have the power to pass laws.

Influence persuades people to act in a certain way, often without us knowing we are being guided at all. It can be deliberate or an unintended product of another action – and it can be used for good or evil.

Here are our top 12.

Kate Jenkins – Changing police culture.

The report, released late last year, found many policewomen felt intimidated and confirmed a lack of gender equality in promotion opportunities. This resulted in a five-year reform program that will permanently change the face of policing.

Jenkins has since been appointed Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner.

Adrian Bayley – serial rapist and murderer.

The actions of Jill Meagher's murderer Adrian Bayley, who should have been in jail at the time of the crime, have changed parole procedures. Photo: Justin Mcmanus

In 2012 Bayley attacked, raped and murdered ABC staffer Jill Meagher as she was walking to her Brunswick home. He was eventually sentenced to life, with a minimum of 40 years, for a series of rapes and the murder. Bayley should have been in jail when he attacked Jill, as he had breached his parole conditions by committing a serious assault in Geelong. The Jill Meagher case created such public outrage, the government commissioned a series of reforms to the parole system. Hundreds of inmates have been denied parole since, which is why Bayley is one of the most hated prisoners in the system.

Ross Stevenson – Undisputed king of Melbourne radio.

3AW presenter Ross Stevenson's lightning wit and refusal to lecture have made him a ratings winner.

In an industry populated by shock jocks and paunchy political pundits, 3AW's Stevenson has dominated the ratings for 25 years. A lightning-quick wit coupled with a refusal to lecture from the microphone results in one in five Melbourne listeners (AM and FM) tuning to his breakfast double act with former barrister John Burns.

His Rumour File, where unidentified listeners ring in with stories ranging from the bizarre to the believable, often sets the daily news agenda.

May be flirting with a move to television following the success of TV cult show (with Hamish McLachlan) That's Racing.

Waleed Aly – media commentator.

Looks, smarts and a rock band work for media commentator and gold Logie winner Waleed Aly. Photo: Scott Barbour

For some reason his Gold Logie award excited much comment from those who tend to be easily excited. Critics say one of his media vehicles – Channel Ten's The Project – is not a ratings blockbuster. Yet his "ISIS is weak" editorial following the Paris terror attack was shared by over 650,000 on social media – not bad for someone who is irrelevant. He is fearless, funny and frank. He won the 2014 Walkley Award for commentary for his Fairfax Media column and is nominated again this year (Naked City was not, which indicates the judges should be urine tested). He is also a respected academic, a lead guitarist in a rock band and not a bad looker. Doesn't he make you sick?

Stephen Dank – the Doctor Strangelove of sports science.

Stephen Dank's injecting program on Essendon footballers has cost the club its coach, president, reputation and millions in legal fees. Photo: Getty Images

Dank has cast a long pharmaceutical shadow over the AFL through his baffling, uncontrolled and discredited injecting program conducted on Essendon footballers.

The fallout has cost the club its coach, president, reputation and millions in legal fees.

Dank still refuses to front any official inquiry, and snipes from the sidelines. He continues to blow his own trumpet without ever blowing the whistle.

Recently the victim of an unexplained drive-by shooting, which indicates that his enemies are about as accurate as Bomber forwards.

If he had designed the Titanic he would still insist it didn't hit an iceberg and had arrived in New York ahead of schedule.

Caroline Wilson – AFL commentator.

Fairfax senior sports journalist Caroline Wilson refuses to become prisoner to her sources. Photo: Justin McManus

Wilson treats football as a business rather than a game. Has a nose for news and an appetite for scandal that means she is not an AFL cheerleader.

Refuses to become prisoner to her sources and is always prepared to write stories that will make her unpopular with some. Took a strong stance on the Essendon drug scandal and refused to back down when attacked by the brain dead on social media.

By staring down those who made jock jokes about holding her head under icy water, she instigated thousands of conversations about gender bullying.

Spreads her views in The Age, on 3AW and Channel Nine, and in many ways is ahead of her time, managing to sack James Hird 10 months before he walked the plank.

Ron Iddles – Police union boss.

Ron Iddles is determined to improve the way police struggling with mental health issues are treated. Photo: Simon Schluter

With the quaint title of Police Association secretary, Iddles sounds like he is a social event manager. In fact, he is in charge of one of the most powerful and cashed-up unions in the country.

Family violence, ice, and a spate of shootings has put law and order on the political agenda, and politicians of both sides will duchess the former homicide squad veteran before he retires next year. Will be looking to extract promises of increased police numbers from both sides of politics.

Is determined to improve the way police struggling with mental health issues are treated – an issue that is rapidly moving from a problem to an epidemic.

Ross Guenther – Assistant Commissioner (counter terrorism).

Assistant Commissioner Ross "The Boss" Guenther has no need to blow his own horn. Photo: Jason South

Guenther is the type we don't want to see in the headlines. His group monitors about 200 potential terrorists in Victoria aged from early teens to mid-30s. Guenther favours early intervention rather than trying to thwart developing plots. Sadly, all the experts say it is no longer a case of if but when such attacks occur.

Guenther had a unique journey to law enforcement as he was a professional saxophonist before becoming a policeman and was once a member of the Channel Nine Showband.

Rowen Craigie – Crown Casino boss.

Crown Entertainment's Rowan Craigie (left), whose polarising casino business caters for about 100,000 visitors on a busy day. Photo: Jared Lynch

There is no Melbourne business that polarises views as much as Crown Casino. While some see it as a vice den propped up with the cash from problem gamblers it remains hugely popular with locals and visitors. It has 77 licensed venues; 1800 rooms; and on a busy day caters for up to 100,000 visitors, from high rollers to the barely mobile.

Melburnian Craigie has held senior executive posts with Crown for more than 20 years and is now chief executive officer and managing director. He is an optimistic racehorse owner and a member of the influential Dolci Hawthorn Supporter Cartel. Probably won't be holidaying in China anytime soon.

Frank Costa – Food mogul.

Frank Costa has dragged both Geelong Football Club and the fruit and vegetable industry into the sunlight. Photo: Josh Robenstone

Costa was brought in by Coles Myer to clean up the fruit and vegetable industry when the business was as rotten as a month-old banana. It was a time when Italian organised crime figures effectively controlled the price of produce and the cost of the bribes was passed on to us.

After the 1992 murder of market identity Alphonso Muratore, Costa was employed as the new broom. Despite sabotage attempts and death threats he succeeded and made a fortune along the way.

Became president of the Geelong Football Club and dragged it out of the kitty litter.

Alistair Clarkson – Premiership coach and tactical innovator.

Hawthorn coach Alistair Clarkson's tactical reforms have changed the way football is played. Photo: Paul Jeffers

Third-choice coach at Hawthorn when the club was barely functional in 2005, the diminutive Clarkson has become an AFL giant. In 12 years he has taken the team from basket case to trophy cabinet, contesting nine final series and winning four premierships.

His continual tactical reforms have been followed by most clubs, which means he has altered the way the game is played. Nine other teams employ Clarkson students in coaching positions.

Passionate, compassionate and occasionally confrontational, like most coaches he is obsessed with the game. A serial hugger.

Tarini Casinader – Bureau of Meteorology Victorian regional director.

Tarini Casinader helps Victorians decide what to wear and what to do at the weekend. Photo: Supplied

For the past four years in this job, Casinader has helped us decided what to wear daily and what to do at the weekend. She helps footy coaches select their teams, horse trainers decide when to race and farmers to time crop planting. She oversees the bureau's annual output of 100,000 forecasts and 2000 warnings that dictate our moods, movements and lifestyles.

Her 55-strong team operates around the clock and works closely with emergency services during floods, bushfires and storms. They not only save the washing, they also help save lives.