Boardroom Confidential

Rebecca McGrath FAICD is the Chair of Investa Property Group, plus a director with Macquarie Group and Bank, Djerriwarrh Investments and Melbourne Business School. We talk about: OZ Minerals' multi-billion-dollar acquisition by BHP, learnings from working overseas, and preparing for meetings at a new board. Plus, key insights on the board's role in an effective decarbonisation plan.

Lisa Chung AM FAICD is the chair of Australian Unity and the Front Project. She also has board roles with PwC Australia, AVJennings and the Foundation of the Art Gallery of NSW. We discuss: advice for new directors, governance at PwC Australia and lessons on being a successful chair. Plus, why boards need a sense of humour.  

Audette Exel AO is the Chair of Adara Group and a director at Westpac. She's also a former board member at Suncorp and ex-Chair of the Bermuda Stock Exchange. We discuss: Adara's mission & purpose, learning from mistakes, and social entrepreneurship in action. Plus, what can boards do to better promote philanthropy? 

Jessica Bulger MAICD is the CEO of the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute and the Co-Chair of Outward Bound Australia. We talk about: First Nations peoples' perspectives on governance, balancing executive and board roles, plus the benefits of a co-chair model.

David Kirk MAICD is the chair of Bailador Technology Investments, KMD Brands and KiwiHarvest. He's also a former CEO at Fairfax Limited and captained the All Blacks to their first Rugby World Cup victory. We discuss: investing in Australia's tech start-ups, what big companies can learn from smaller ones, and tips on preparing for board meetings. Plus, lessons from the sporting field on how to buil...

Jane Spring AM is the chair of the Australian Disability Strategy Advisory Council and the NSW Disability Council. She's also chair at Sydney University Sport and a board member with Venues NSW. We speak with Jane about: advice for new board members, the importance of lived experience for boards in the disability sector, and her key questions for management.

Dr Susan Neuhaus AM CSC FAICD is a Council Member at the Australian War Memorial, plus a director with Aspen Medical, Medical Insurance Group Australia and Defence Health Limited. She's also a practising surgeon and had a distinguished 20-year career in the Australian Army and Army Reserve. Susan talks with us about leadership lessons from the Australian Defence Force, governance at the Australian...

Dr Ian Oppermann GAICD is a co-founder of ServiceGen, plus the former Chief Data Scientist for the New South Wales Government. He speak to us about: artificial intelligence opportunities, governance safeguards around the use of data, and what scientists can add to the boardroom.

Dr Larry Marshall FAICD is a director with Fortescue and Nanosonics, plus a former CEO at the CSIRO. We talk about: challenges in the transition to net zero, future technology trends and the board's role in fostering innovation at their organisation.   

Virginia Bourke FAICD is the Chair of Mercy Health, Pro-Chancellor of the Australian Catholic University and a director with Catholic Health Australia. She speaks to us about: lessons from the pandemic on crisis management, challenges for the NFP sector and tips for resolving conflicts in the boardroom.

Andrew Penn AO is a director with Coles Group and a council member at the National Gallery of Victoria. He's also a former CEO of Telstra and served as the Chair of the federal government's Expert Advisory Panel on cyber security strategy. We talk about: lessons for boards on cyber security, advice around effective Chair-CEO relationships, and governance issues at the National Gallery of Victoria.

A new season of the AICD's Boardroom Conversations podcast is set to launch soon. We'll be talking to more of Australia's top directors about their careers, leadership lessons and the key issues facing today's boardrooms.  Each episode will have important insights for experienced directors, and people who are just beginning their board careers. 

Sally-Ann Williams GAICD is the CEO of tech incubator Cicada Innovations and the Chair of the Federal Government's "Diversity in STEM" Review. She's also a director at Qudos Bank and a member of the CSIRO Data61 Advisory Board. We discuss: directors' role in boosting diversity in STEM fields, the importance of shared values in the boardroom, and governance at start-ups. Plus: how Cicada helps tech...

Arlene Tansey FAICD and Heith Mackay-Cruise FAICD are company directors and board members at the AICD. We discuss their first board roles, the shift from an executive career to being a director, and the importance of mentoring. Plus: how should you decide which boards to join? This special episode of Boardroom Conversations was recorded live at the AICD Staff Summit.  

Shelley Reys AO MAICD is the CEO of Arrilla Indigenous Consulting, plus a Board Member and Partner and KPMG Australia. She's also a board member with the organising committee of the Brisbane Olympics and the Chair of the Council for the Order of Australia. We talk about: the referendum on the Voice to Parliament, how boards can approach reconciliation, and planning for the Brisbane Olympics.  

Jenn Morris MAICD is a director with Argonaut, Liontown Resources and Sandfire. She also won gold medals for Australia in hockey at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. We discuss: lessons from Jenn's career in sports, advice on picking your company's next CEO, and boards' developing approach to climate change. Plus, what's the right composition for a sports organisation's board?

Bruce Cowley FAICD is the Chair of the Queensland Trust for Nature and a board member with the Australian Retirement Trust. He's also one of the speakers for this year's AICD Essential Director Update (EDU). We talk about advice before taking your first board role, potential improvements to Australia's Corporations Act, and the importance of stakeholder engagement. Plus, we discuss some of the top...

Jacqueline Chow GAICD is a director with Boral, Charter Hall, Coles, and nib. She's also one of the speakers for this year's AICD Essential Director Update (EDU). We discuss: planning for CEO succession, the importance of chemistry in the boardroom, and tips on shifting from an executive career to becoming a board director. Plus, we speak about some of the topics Jacqueline will address at the 202...

Professor Alan Duffy GAICD is an astronomer and scientist.  He's also the Pro Vice-Chancellor of Flagship Initiatives at Swinburne University, plus the co-founder and CEO of mDetect , a muon technology company. We talk about: the governance of space, how STEM professionals can contribute to the boardroom, and the dangers of using jargon in communication. Plus, what's a "muon" and why is Alan's com...

Judy Slatyer MAICD is the Chair of the NSW Net Zero Emissions and Clean Economy Board, plus Natural Carbon. She's also a leader of the National AI Centre's Responsible AI think tank, a Director with WWF Australia and a former CEO at the Australian Red Cross. We discuss: why artificial intelligence is an important issue for boards, advice for directors on avoiding greenwashing, and changing attitud...

John M. Green is a director at Challenger and board member with the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre. He's also a former Deputy Chair at insurance giant QBE. John talks about: the risks around the increasing use of artificial intelligence, questions for directors to ask on cyber security, and lessons for boards from the pandemic. Plus, we discuss John's career as a novelist and his role...

Graeme Innes AM GAICD is the Chancellor of Central Queensland University and a board member with the National Disability Insurance Agency. He's also a former Disability Discrimination Commissioner and former Human Rights Commissioner. Graeme talks about: why NFP organisations should pay their directors, the chair's role in a successful merger, and the dangers of staying on a board for too long. Pl...

Marina Go MAICD is the Chair of Adore Beauty, and a director with Energy Australia, 7-Eleven and Transurban. She tells us how her media career prepared her for the boardroom. Plus: advice on being an effective chair, tips for finding your first director position, and lessons from the boardroom of an NRL club.   

Andrew Fraser is the former Deputy Premier of Queensland and the chair of super fund Australian Retirement Trust. He's also the chair of NFP Orange Sky, the President of Motorsport Australia, and a director with the Brisbane Broncos. We talk about his path from politics to the boardroom, mergers in the superannuation sector, and the importance of succession planning.

Dr Kirstin Ferguson AM FAICD is an author, columnist, and company director. She's the former Acting Chair and Deputy Chair of the ABC, and currently on the boards of PEXA and Envato. We talk about leadership lessons from Kirstin's military career, her first director positions and the importance of feedback in the boardroom. Plus, we discuss Kirstin's new award-winning and best-selling book "Head a...