Alan Joyce has been name as the most influential person in business for the coming year in The Australia‘s ‘Top 50/2012’ list of the most influential people in business.

Selected by The Australian‘s editorial team, the list identifies business figures anticipated to wield the most power in Australia and explains why.

The publication has released the list behind its pay wall, with access only available to premium subscribers at $2.95 a week.

Included in the list are key influencers from sectors such as aviation, telecommunications, health, investment, mining, retail and gaming. The CEOs of two banks – ANZ and NAB – and leaders from two media organisation – Kim Williams from News Ltd and Kerry Stokes from Seven Holdings Group – made the list.

The top 10:

A breakdown of the list reveals that the average age of the Top 50 is 55, with a gender split of 86% male and 14% female. Most key influencers reside in NSW.

The list also looks at people with the potential to make a significant impact on the nation this year, giving a separate Top 20 people to watch in 2012.

Editor of The Australian, Clive Mathieson, says, “Everybody with an interest in business will have their own view about who should be in the Top 50 and the order in which they should be listed. We hope our list will stir debate and get people talking.”