Battleground Chats

In this unique episode of Battleground Chats, I take a moment to share my personal journey from a graduate at KPMG to leading Battleground Group. Reflecting on pivotal moments, I discuss my early days in financial audit, my transformative experience at Deloitte, and the creation of the innovative Bamboo tool. I delve into the challenges and revelations that led me to establish my own consulting co...

In this episode of Battleground Chats, I sit down with Greg Gokavi-Whaley (https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-gokavi-whaley-30b4352/) to explore his fascinating journey into the world of risk and resilience. We delve into Greg's unique career path, which began with a move from music to financial services, eventually leading him to become a risk professional and CRO. Greg shares insights on the impor...

In this episode of Battleground Chats, I sit down with Jag Narayan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagnarayan/) on the sidelines of RMIA 2026 in Canberra. We delve into Jag's fascinating career journey, from his start in Westpac's internal audit to becoming the Chief Risk Officer at State Super. Jag shares insights into his career transitions, including his move from audit to credit analysis and his...

In this episode of Battleground Chats, I sit down with Zack Gurdon (https://www.linkedin.com/in/zack-g-751719a/) at the RMIA 2026 conference in Canberra to explore his fascinating journey in the world of risk management. From his early days in security and intelligence to his pivotal roles at Australia Post, Telstra, NBN, and now as Chief Risk Officer at ASIC, Zack shares insights into how he navi...

In this episode of Battleground Chats, I sit down with Chris Krause (https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-krause-7495511b/) to explore her fascinating journey in the risk and resilience sector. Chris shares how she unexpectedly found herself in the world of risk management after starting her career in accounting and auditing at KPMG. We delve into her experiences transitioning from external to in...

In this episode of Battleground Chats, I sit down with Jack Salkild (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacksalkild/), a former paramedic turned risk and resilience expert. Jack shares his journey from working with New South Wales Ambulance to his current role at Battleground, highlighting the critical lessons learned along the way. We delve into the importance of decision-making under pressure and the H...

Join Joe McDavitt & Paul Minter, on Battleground Chats as we dive into the world of non-financial risk management, Fit and Proper Non-Financial Risk Management. Paul Minter, a former regulator, and Joe explore the complexities of non-financial risk, the challenges of aligning risk management with operational leadership, and the significance of CPS 230. We discuss the often adversarial relationship...

In this episode of Battleground Chats, I sit down with Helen Lipscombe (https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-lipscombe-fbci-b14a1621/) live from BCI World Hybrid in London. Helen shares her unique journey from working on oil rigs as a geologist to becoming a leader in business continuity and crisis management. We delve into how her scientific background shaped her structured approach to resilience pl...

Join me, Craig Goldberg, on Battleground Chats for our special year-end episode, "Battleground Chats - 2025 in Review with the Battleground Crew." I'm joined by Directors Luke Smailes, Joe McDavitt, and Peter Duffy as we delve into the lessons learned from a transformative 2025. We explore the challenges of keeping business continuity plans relevant and the importance of understanding severe but p...

In this episode of Battleground Chats, I sit down with my long-time friend and resilience expert, Jodie Wentworth (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodie-wentworth-12896a33/). We delve into Jodie's journey from her early days in the UK, where she stumbled into the field of business continuity, to her pivotal role at London Underground and then in Australia across consulting, utilities and critical infr...

In this episode of Battleground Chats, I sit down with Sarah Hobday-Mitchell https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-hobday-mitchell-b9bb713/ at the BCI World Conference in London. We delve into her unexpected journey into the world of risk and resilience, beginning with a role at the CDC and leading to her pivotal work with the US Navy. Sarah shares how her early experiences, like navigating family roa...

In this episode of Battleground Chats, I sit down with Paul Minter, a seasoned expert in risk and resilience. Paul shares his unique journey from the UK regulator's economics team to consulting roles and his current work at Battleground. He delves into the importance of understanding the connections within risk management systems and how simplifying data processes can enhance decision-making. Paul...

Join me, Craig Goldberg, on Battleground Chats for a special live recording during Disaster Reduction Week. I'm thrilled to welcome Simon Levy from the RMIA as we delve into the critical themes of disaster reduction and resilience. Together, we explore the economic impact of disasters and the urgent need to shift funding toward resilience. Simon shares compelling stories, like Coca-Cola's communic...

Join me, Craig Goldberg, on a special milestone episode of Battleground Chats as we celebrate over 20 insightful conversations with leaders in risk and resilience. In this reflective episode, I explore key themes from our journey so far: the foundational role of risk and the ultimate goal of resilience, the importance of business continuity as a daily practice, and how crises serve as stress tests...

In this episode of Battleground Chats, I sit down with James Ng (https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-ng-0149243/), a long-time friend since our Deloitte days in 2009. James shares his fascinating journey from IT audits at Deloitte to becoming a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). We delve into his career transitions, highlighting the pivotal role of networking and mentorship. James recounts h...

In this live episode of Battleground Chats, I sit down with Kate Gannon (https://www.linkedin.com/in/aa-kategannon) at the COBA 2025 event in Brisbane to explore her fascinating career journey. From starting as a chartered accountant and auditor in Australia to becoming a process and operating model consultant, Kate shares her experiences working in risk management across the globe. We delve into...

In this live episode of Battleground Chats, I sit down with Elsbeth Torelli (https://www.linkedin.com/in/elsbeth-torelli-52218421/), a seasoned expert in risk and resilience, at the Customer Owned Banking Association conference in Brisbane. Elsbeth shares her fascinating career journey from a legal executive to a Chief Risk Officer (CRO) at a mutual bank and her transition to board roles, includin...

In this episode of Battleground Chats, I sit down with Paul Perkins (https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulperkins/), a seasoned professional in the risk and resilience space, to explore his fascinating career journey. Starting as an electrical engineer, Paul transitioned into software development, project management, and eventually found his niche in risk and resilience. We delve into the evolution of...

In this episode of Battleground Chats, I sit down with my long-time friend, Craig Walsh (https://www.linkedin.com/in/crwalsh/), to explore his remarkable journey from a 25-year policing career to a successful transition into the corporate world. We delve into Craig's experiences in various elite units, including the Armed Robbery Squad and Special Operations Group, and how these roles shaped his a...

In this episode of Battleground Chats, I sit down with my good friend and colleague, Peter Duffy (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-duffy-6830782), to explore his fascinating career journey in risk and resilience. From his early days at Ernst & Winnie to navigating the challenges at HIH Insurance and Ansett, Peter shares insights into the world of insolvency and the lessons learned from high-stake...

In this episode of Battleground Chats, I am thrilled to sit down with Jane Couchman (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-couchman-89839622/), Chief Risk Officer and Group Executive for Sustainability at Aware Super. Jane shares her journey from a country solicitor to a leader in risk management and sustainability. We delve into her passion for banking and finance, her views on the evolving role of ri...

In this episode of Battleground Chats, I sit down with Martin Simpson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-simpson-1260/), founder and CEO of a boutique advisory firm in the UK, to explore his fascinating journey from aspiring fighter pilot to resilience expert. Martin shares how his career path took unexpected turns, leading him through roles at GE, Deloitte, and PwC, and ultimately to founding Bi...

In this episode of Battleground Chats, I sit down with my long-time friend and risk management expert, John Murton (https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-murton-169a3643/). As John prepares for a well-deserved break from the industry, we delve into his fascinating career journey, spanning from law and tax to risk management and business continuity. John shares insights from his time at Fosters and Aust...

In this episode of Battleground Chats, I sit down with Vivek Chopra (https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivek-chopra-b-com-m-acc-fcpa-gaicd-amiia-aicgg-96a72140/), a seasoned expert in risk and resilience. Vivek shares his fascinating journey from external auditor to becoming a key figure in risk management. We delve into the importance of storytelling in transitioning careers, the challenges of keeping...

In this episode of Battleground Chats, I sit down with my long-time friend and risk expert, Simon Levy (https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-levy-gaicd-mrmia-2862068), CEO of RMIA. We delve into Simon's fascinating career journey, from his beginnings in science and manufacturing to leading the RMIA. Simon shares insights on how risk and resilience have evolved beyond mere theories to become integral...