Director Download

Almost 60% of ASX 200 chairs surveyed by law firm HSF Kramer say a private capital board role is more appealing than their current position. It's a striking finding that points to growing pressures on listed company directors and   is a potential challenge for Australia's public markets. With regulatory obligations mounting and directors facing concerns about personal liability and the influence o...

Greenwashing is a growing risk for Australian organisations, with regulators closely examining environmental statements and court decisions demonstrating the consequences of getting them wrong. For boards, the challenge is not simply avoiding misleading claims.  Organisations can also create problems by saying too little about genuine sustainability progress. Tim Stutt, Partner and Head of ESG at...

Artificial intelligence is creating a new cyber security reality . As AI tools become more powerful, they are helping cyber criminals identify vulnerabilities, launch more sophisticated attacks and exploit weaknesses faster than ever before . T he rapid development of frontier AI systems has also highlighted how unexpected behaviours and risks can emerge as these technologies become more capable a...

Australia's economy has become less dynamic. Fewer workers are switching jobs, fewer businesses are entering and exiting markets, and investment in research and development has weakened. A new report commissioned by the AICD and prepared by Mandala Partners suggests reversing some of these trends could add at least $20 billion a year to Australia's GDP over the next decade. In this episode, Adam T...

Australia's economic outlook remains uncertain. A range of domestic and global pressures are shaping the conditions in which organisations operate , and for boards, understanding which economic signals matter most is critical to making informed decisions. AICD Chief Economist Mark Thirlwell joins  us  to examine the outlook for interest rates, inflation and economic growth, the indicators director...

AGM s are one of the clearest tests of shareholder sentiment . As investors are becoming increasingly willing to vote against boards when expectations are not met , Philip Foo of proxy adviser CGI Glass Lewis says directors should expect closer scrutiny in several key areas during the 2026 AGM season . In this episode,  Philip   shares the issues likely to attract investor attention at upcoming AG...

As cyber threats become faster and more sophisticated, boards are being urged to shift their focus from preventing every attack to building organisations that can withstand, respond to and recover from incidents.  So how can directors tell whether their organisation is genuinely prepared? National Cyber Security Coordinator Michelle McGuinness  explain s why cyber security is a board responsibilit...

As trust in institutions declines and economic pressures remain high, understanding community sentiment has become a critical capability for boards. In this episode of Director Download, Sue Vercoe, Managing Partner at SEC  Newgate and Managing Director of its research practice , explains what her firm's "Mood of the Nation" research reveals about the issues shaping public attitudes in Australia. ...

As the global economy shifts, some of the biggest opportunities for Australian  organisations  are  emerging  much closer to home. Across Asia and ASEAN  countries , rapid economic and digital transformation is creating new markets, new  competitors  and new possibilities for growth.   In this episode, David Olsson, International Director at law firm Mallesons, explores what Asia's next chapter me...

Australia's positive duty marked a significant shift in how  organisations   address  workplace sexual harassment and sex discrimination, moving the focus from response to prevention.  For boards, t his means  overseeing how   prevention is embedded across workplace culture,  leadership,  and risk management. In this episode, Australia's Sex Discrimination Commissioner Dr Anna Cody explains what e...

Net Promoter Score (NPS) is one of the world's most widely used customer metrics. It regularly appears on board dashboards, CEO  scorecards  and executive incentive schemes. But what does it actually measure, and  what  doesn't it? In this episode of Director Download, Lyndall Spooner, founder of strategic research consultancy 5D, explores why boards should be cautious about treating NPS as a prox...

The  capabilities  boards need  are  changing  quickly .  As  organisations  navigate  new technologies , shifting stakeholder expectations and an increasingly complex operating environment, finding the right directors has become more strategic than ever.   In this episode of Director Download,   Ren é  Johnson, Managing Director of Pacific Search Partners,  shares insights from the front line of...

Government  boards  play a critical role in delivering long-term outcomes for communities.  But  while  many  governance fundamentals   remain  the same, directors   unfamiliar   with  the  public sector  often  discover  the operating  environment   differs significantly  from   the private sector.  In this episode, former NSW Attorney General  and experienced director The Honourable Gabrielle Up...

Recent global energy shocks have exposed Australia's vulnerability to fuel supply disruptions and accelerated a trend that was already underway: energy is no longer just an operational issue. For many organisations, it has become a boardroom priority. As Australia navigates the energy transition, directors are increasingly being asked to think beyond electricity bills and procurement contracts. En...

Interest rates may grab the headlines, but  they're far from the only economic challenge facing boards today. Geopolitical conflict, trade tensions, supply chain disruption, AI, the energy transition and slowing productivity are creating profound shifts in  Australia's  economy that will influence board decisions for years to come. In this episode, AICD Chief Economist Mark Thirlwell explores the...

The ASX Corporate Governance Principles are undergoing  a  significant review, with proposed changes  aimed at simplifying requirements, strengthening trust and ensuring the framework  remains fit for today's governance environment. In this episode, Chair of the ASX Corporate Governance Advisory Group   and  former Reserve Bank Governor ,  Dr Philip Lowe , explains the thinking behind the proposed...

Directors are expected to make sound judgements on complex issues, often under significant pressure. But how often do boards consider whether directors themselves are in the best position to make those decisions? In this episode, workplace wellbeing expert Dr Rebecca Chabot explains why director wellbeing is far more than a personal health issue, it's  a governance issue. Drawing on neuroscience,...

Organisational culture can be a powerful driver of performance, conduct and risk, yet it  remains one of the most challenging governance responsibilities facing directors. In this episode, we're  joined by  Dr Juliet Bourke, Adjunct Professor at UNSW and Chair of Ovarian Cancer Australia,  and  Sally Linwood, Corporate Governance Lead at the  AICD  and lead author of  an important  new guide,  Gov...

This year marks 20 years since the introduction of Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs), alongside the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC Week.   Around  3, 500  organisations now have  RAP s , but meaningful reconciliation is about more than commitments on paper. It calls for leadership,  ac countability  a nd sustained oversight from the board.   In this episode, Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine...

Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving from experimentation to organisation-wide adoption, creating both significant opportunities and new governance challenges.   As AI becomes embedded across business operations, boards are playing an increasingly important role in overseeing major technology investments, managing emerging risks, and supporting responsible and effective AI use.  In this episo...

We'd like to introduce you to another podcast offering from the AICD - Boards with Purpose.  Every episode features CEOs, founders, executives and non-executive directors in conversation with Phil Butler, the AICD's NFP Sector Lead. They share their purpose-driven governance insights and experiences to guide, inspire, and inform those working within or alongside the NFP sector. Tune in every month...

Effective governance relies on more than  just  technical  expertise . The culture within  the  boardroom  itself  shapes how directors challenge assumptions, navigate conflict, and make decisions under pressure.   In this episode,  global  board adviser and author Joy Harcup explores the dynamics that shape board effectiveness. Drawing on her work with chairs,  CEOs  and directors,  she  explains...

Most  organisations  will face a crisis at some point. The question  isn't  whether it  will  happen, but whether  you're  prepared when it does.   In  this episode,  crisis management expert and  SKMG co-founder Neil Shoebridge  shares lessons from decades  advising  organisations through  cyber-attacks , operational failures, reputational  challenges  and workforce restructures.   Neil explains...

AI promises greater productivity and efficiency, but could it also be weakening critical thinking,  memory  and decision-making?   In this episode,  NeuroLeadership  Institute co-founder and CEO Dr David Rock shares the neuroscience behind AI adoption and explains why boards need to look beyond the technology itself. Drawing on emerging research, David explores the cognitive risks of over-reliance...

Australia's mandatory climate reporting regime has now completed its first cycle,  marking  one of the most significant changes to corporate reporting in a generation.    For boards,  the first wave of reports has  provided  valuable insights into the practical realities of implementation.  Although still in its  early stages ,  the regime is designed to improve  the consistency and  comparability...