Game Changers: Recent Episodes
Robyn Foyster
Be inspired by Australian Game Changers. GameChangers champions Australia’s most inspiring entrepreneurs and leaders and is a window into the exceptional men and women who create the products and services that keep our local and global economy moving forward. Our series unveils a new breed of disrupters, showcasing their business acumen, celebrating their innovations and success. These Australians are challenging the status quo, revolutionising and transforming the world we live in.
From empowering couples around the world, to transforming the corporate world, Lissy Abrahams‘ mission is to help people unravel the mysteries of their own mind so they can learn how to end internal suffering, and have more meaningful relationships. So, is she a Game Changer? Let’s find out.
From witnessing unnecessary legal disputes to creating a digital suggestion box, Shirli Kirschner’s web-based tool proves that early intervention is key to finding solutions. Streamlining concerns, so organisations can respond quickly, and ensuring issues don’t end up as problems. Is she a game changer? Let’s find out.
From empowering emerging companies to levelling the venture capital playing field, Tando and Margaret Matanda help founders build healthier ventures, and find the right funding. Their intelligent platform and proprietary venture health assessment tool brings a holistic and objective lens to allow funders to easily source, screen and scale diverse ventures. This dynamic mother-daughter duo is using technology to remove barriers to capital and drive equity in investment. So are they game changers? Let’s find out.
From engineering solutions and data analysis to ensuring more sustainable and ethical global supply chains, this husband and wife powerhouse are teaming up their companies helping other businesses reassess how their information is used to become more competitive. They’re part of a community of Trust Architects, solving one of the most challenging global problems. So are they game changers? Let’s find out as Game Changers host Tracey Spicer Interviews Rebecca and Zachary Zeus from BizCubed.
Roccoco Botanicals is the fastest growing Australian beauty brand you’ve probably never heard of. With over $4.2million in revenue this year, this beauty business has doubled its turnover in the last two years, but with more than 80% of its customer base in the US it’s an Australian brand making big waves internationally, but little known in Australia.
Founded by Jacine Greenwood and headquartered in Queensland, Roccoco Botanicals is the result of Jacine’s 17-year commitment to studying beauty ingredients and products, in the hope of creating products that were highly-effective in treating common skin conditions - from adult acne to irritating eczema. Like so many entrepreneurs, it was a journey inspired by Jacine’s own skin problems, and her frustrations at being sold ‘hope in a jar’ that never delivered on its promises.
Here journalist Giulia Sirignani talks to Jacine about how being ‘skin obsessed’ and learning from her first business’s failure helped her crack the US highly competitive market, and why her uniquely Australian approach to business and skincare has resonated with an international market.
Find out more about Roccoco Botanicals here: https://au.roccoco.com/
Game Changers host Gemma Acton interviews Damien Boehm, the founder and CEO of Urban Clean.
Damien launched his commercial cleaning company Urban Clean in 2008 with a mop, vacuum and a laser focus on income growth. Today, Urban Clean is Australia’s second biggest locally owned commercial cleaning brand operating in over 500 commercial spaces every day.
Urban Clean has 150 franchises and is expanding globally, first in New Zealand and later this year in the United States.
Damien is setting new benchmarks in business. He’s successfully pioneered a franchising model which uses advanced systems, technology and meticulous training and support devices including A custom built App, Janiflow, which tracks work in real time.
Damien’s founder story features in his book Clean Up with Franchising, published this year.
Find out more about Urban Clean here: Entrepreneur Damien Boehm launched his commercial cleaning company Urban Clean in 2008 with a mop, vacuum and a laser focus on income growth. Today, Urban Clean is Australia’s second biggest locally owned commercial cleaning brand operating in over 500 commercial spaces every day.
Urban Clean has 150 franchises and is expanding globally, first in New Zealand and later this year in the United States.
Damien is setting new benchmarks in business. He’s successfully pioneered a franchising model which uses advanced systems, technology and meticulous training and support devices including A custom built App, Janiflow, which tracks work in real time.
Damien’s founder story features in his book Clean Up with Franchising, published this year.
From pioneering financial solutions to streamlining information management, Equifax's Sarah Moorhouse and Bianca Saccaro are transforming how our supersensitive employment income details are exchanged and verified, meaning Aussie’s can secure those big ticket life aims more quickly and safely. So are they game changers? Our Game Changers host Gemma Acton finds out.
Founder of the award-winning Kamalaya Koh Samui, Karina Stewart is a renowned authority on holistic health and wellbeing. An acclaimed speaker, author and innovator, Karina has more than 40 years of experience in the study and practice of diverse Asian healing and spiritual traditions.
Named ‘Owner & Operator of the Year’ by American Spa in 2018 and ‘Spa Personality of the Year’ at the AsiaSpa Awards in 2009, Karina has received more than 35 industry awards on behalf of Kamalaya. Most recently Kamalaya was named ‘Worldwide Health & Wellness Destination of the Year’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards 2022 in London.
As the creative force behind the legendary Kamalaya, Karina’s vision was to create programs and experiences that draw on many of the influences and healing modalities of east and west. Kamalaya is undoubtedly unique because of how all the various healing elements have been curated and brought together in a truly holistic way. Kamalaya opened in November 2005, and from the very beginning, Karina’s wellness concept has been based on the idea of synergy. Karina develops holistic wellness programs that access the healing power within and support harmonious integration of heart, body, mind and spirit. To date, she has introduced 17 bespoke wellness programs at the property.
With her passion for food and healing, Karina has established the philosophy of food for healing, Food as Medicine for Kamalaya. The result is a multi-award-winning cuisine recognized not only for its health impact but also for its exceptional flavors.
Karina has a Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine from Yo San University in California, followed by training across structural therapies including Hellerwork and Cranial-Sacral Manipulation, yoga and Taoist philosophy and practice. She has a B.A. from Princeton University in Cultural Anthropology with a focus on Asian religions.
Prior to founding Kamalaya, Karina pioneered work in the field of medical detoxification, establishing a health centre in Kathmandu in Nepal and collaborated on research projects in the USA. Together with Dr James Dahlgran, an environmental toxicology expert and founder of the B Well Centre, and Dr Maoshing Ni, founder of the Tao of Wellness, Karina developed medical detoxification protocols combining modern medicine, TCM and Naturopathy. She also designed and directed a medical detoxification program at the Hall Centre in California.
Born and raised in Mexico until the age of 15, she then moved with her family to her father’s home state of Texas. Her mother’s interest in natural healing, meditation, yoga and Asian spiritual philosophies sparked an early and enduring interest in self-discovery and healing modalities.
Karina met John Stewart in 1982 while visiting a meditation retreat in India under the tutelage of the same Himalayan yogi master. Together they conceived and developed Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary, a profound expression of their life journeys and deep commitment to service and positive contribution.
Michael Nettlefold is a leader in outdoor advertising, a man with advertising in his blood and a natural born salesman.
Michael Nettlefold has advertising in his blood. As an 18-year-old, Michael worked from the back of a company van, climbing ladders and slathering posters with splodges of paste to make sure his dad’s outdoor advertising sites across Melbourne were up to date and generating revenue for the family company.
His father, David, is regarded by many as Australian advertising royalty. “Dad’s been in the industry since he was very young as well,” says Michael, who strayed from advertising for a while to become an AFL player with St Kilda – and, later, the club’s CEO – before coming back to the family fold.
“Recently Dad was inducted into the advertising hall of fame. He’s the only outdoor advertising executive that’s had that bestowed upon them. Dad’s effectively been the pioneer of the Australian advertising industry as we know it today, but back in my early days when I was 18 it was a poster business and today it’s a massive digital industry, with digital media.”
Indeed, the industry in Australia has blossomed from a value of $550 million a year in 2013 to today being worth more than $1 billion annually. That rise has been driven by the explosion of digital advertising that is now on display along the streets of our cities, at our airports and railway stations, as well as internationally.
Michael played a significant role in the development of the outdoor advertising industry, and he was among the first entrepreneurs to bring outdoor advertising to airports in Australia.
Michael, now 61, says anyone looking to start their own business today needs to believe in themselves.
“You need to be brave,” he says. “You need to back yourself. You need to be prepared to take the risk and you need to work pretty hard. Everybody works hard but you need to work exceptionally hard because you have a lot of challenges along the way."
She was on track towards a career as a dentist, but Tehani Legeay’s path took a vastly different course with her now helping Australians to protect against identity fraud.
Our Game Changers host Gemma Acton talks to Tehani, General Manager of Identity and Fraud at Equifax, about the technology tools which verify people are who they say they are and how her work takes her into financial counter-terrorism.
Fighting sophisticated cyber criminals and implementing gold standard cybersecurity practices, Head of Security Advisory & Risk at Equifax Sulata Bhattacharjee is a leading advocate for women in security.
Sulata is especially passionate about financial inclusion thanks to her origins from a small town in India.
She tells Game Changers host Gemma Acton how she could easily have been part of the unbanked population without access to credit, education and the opportunity to buy a property or travel.
From implementing world standard cyber security practises, to fighting increasingly sophisticated online criminals, Sulata Bhattacharjee’s team ensures faster and more secure solutions for its customers. And, she’s a strong advocate for women in security. So is she a game changer? Let’s find out! I’m Gemma Acton, welcome to Game Changers.
TV Presenter Natarsha Belling talks to The Healthy Mummy CEO Rhian Allen in the latest episode of Game Changers.
Ten years ago, Rhian Allen realised that mums were one of the most overlooked and forgotten people when it comes to health and wellbeing. So, Rhian started her own business to help mums find their healthy mojo and regain their body confidence.
Everyone knows that mums are busy looking after everyone in the family, from the kids to dad and even the family pet. But just who is looking after the mums? That’s a question that entrepreneur Rhian Allen set to answer just over a decade ago when she established an online health and fitness program specifically aimed at mothers.
Today, Rhian heads up The Healthy Mummy, the largest and most successful health and fitness programs aimed at mothers in the world, with more than 1.5 million social media followers as well as more than one million users on The Healthy Mummy website who are making positive changes to their lives and regaining their body confidence.
In fact, Rhian’s clients have collectively shed more than three million kilograms of unwanted weight so far, with more unwanted kilograms disappearing every day.
But, as Rhian says, her business is not just about shedding kilos – it’s about discovering a better way to live well.
“The thing I really love about our business is that it’s not just about weight loss, it’s about empowering mums to live a healthier life,” Rhian told Natarsha Belling on the set of GameChangers. “It’s about educating mums who in turn educate their families. “I feel proud because we’re actually doing something good in the world and I feel humble everyday at the feedback we receive and that we are actually making a difference to people’s health and their longevity.”
Roni Millard is about helping Australians secure those memorable moments, like owning their first home or buying a car.
Our Game Changers host Gemma Acton talks to Roni, Chief Marketing Officer at Equifax ANZ, about how credit scores work, tips on how to improve your rating, and Equifax’s role in rebuilding trust in the construction industry.
Call it meaningful storytelling or marketing with purpose, Roni Millard’s message is helping everyday Aussie’s live their financial best. Plus, rebuilding trust in our construction industry. The result? A stronger and improved Australian economy. So, is she a game changer? Let’s find out! I’m Gemma Acton, welcome to Game Changers.
Fighting against cyber-crime and identity theft while monitoring Australians’ credit, Melanie Cochrane has a vital role in our economy as Group Managing Director of Equifax (A/NZ).
Our Game Changers host Gemma Acton talks to Melanie about her career commitment to diversity and inclusion and her role in giving all Australians access to products that will secure their financial futures.
From leading a team, delivering unique insights and innovative solutions, to playing a pivotal role in our economy, Melanie Cochrane’s aim is to empower customers and consumers to make great decisions. And in an industry perceived as cutthroat, she’s passionate about diversity, inclusivity and equality. So, is she a game changer? Let’s find out! I’m Gemma Acton, welcome to Game Changers.
Our Game Changers host Gemma Acton talks to Kari, Executive General Manager for Data and Analytics at Equifax, about how she and her team are making credit scores more transparent and predictive, and why data analytics is anything but dry.
She once taught statistics at university, now Kari Mastropasqua is helping everyday Australians reach their financial goals. Our Game Changers host Gemma Acton talks to Kari, Executive General Manager for Data and Analytics at Equifax, about how she and her team are making credit scores more transparent.
Gemma Intro: From teaching statistics at university, to solving complex problems using cutting edge tools, Kari Mastropasqua and her team make credit scores more transparent and predictive to help everyday Aussies reach their financial goals. So, is she a game changer? Let’s find out! I’m Gemma Acton, welcome to Game Changers.
NewDirection Care CEO Natasha Chadwick tells Natarsha Belling "In business, values matter not profit."
Creating a solid set of values is a good foundation for a better business and for better outcomes in the Australian Age Care sector, says NewDirection Care CEO and founder Natasha Chadwick.
There are always people ready to tell you what you can’t do when you start a new business, says Natasha Chadwick, a former Telstra Business Woman of the Year and the CEO and founder of NewDirection Care. But sometimes, Natasha says, the best advice comes from within.
“I think it’s really important to back yourself,” Natasha told TV presenter Natarsha Belling when she recently returned to the set of Game Changers. “There are plenty of people who want to tell you what you can’t do but it’s really important to listen to yourself about what you can do and make sure you plan for it but also be flexible because sometimes things just don’t work out the way we would like.
“I think if you come at a business from a values perspective rather than from a ‘what can I get out of this’ perspective it sets a solid foundation for a business to operate from. It’s really about what can I, as the person leading the business, bring to the table? What are my values? How am I going to operate this business? That really matters.
“You need to think about it from a values perspective, not about profit and not about, what do I get from this? I think those are the important lessons for anyone who is moving into business.”
If anyone knows the importance of values and the difference they make in business, it is Natasha Chadwick. She was named the 2019 Telstra Business Woman of the Year Award for her pioneering work in the Australian Aged Care sector with the foundation of NewDirection Care, an innovative and original approach to providing more fulfilling lifestyles for the aged and those with dementia.
NewDirection Care, at Bellmere in Queensland, provides care and services in what Natasha calls a “microtown” environment designed to provide a high-quality lifestyle for both the elderly and those with dementia, including younger people.
“What we have done at NewDirection Care is create a small town,” Natasha says. “It’s just like a suburb anywhere in Australia. It has all the shops and services you would find in a small town.
“There are 17 houses each with seven residents that live there. Anything that happens in your home or mine happens at NewDirection Care in Bellmere.
“We also have a full community with shopping, with a hairdressing salon, a GP, a dental clinic and a spa and a gym. All the things you would normally do in your life in any community, you can do at our microtown at Bellmere.”
Cass Spies is the CEO and co-founder of Twisted Healthy Treats. Here, she talks to TV presenter Natarsha Belling about her successful frozen yogurt and ice-cream treats business.
Like many business owners across the country Cass Spies, founder of Australian frozen yoghurt company Twisted Healthy Treats, felt the sudden shock of the COVID-19 lockdown and pandemic when her business crashed to a complete stop overnight. But, in a remarkable turnaround, Cass’s planned expansion into overseas markets, turned 2020 from potential disaster to tangible delight.
Back in March when Australia felt the first pangs of the COVID-19 pandemic, with lockdowns and business closure across the nation, Cass Spies, the founder of Twisted Healthy Treats frozen yoghurt company, watched her business disappear.
“When the lockdown first occurred, our business went to zero overnight, which was an incredibly scary place to be as a business owner,” says Cass, who had spent the past 11 years building Twisted Healthy Treats into a national success through several development phases and significant investment.
The overriding emotion at the time was panic, she says. “The first things were panic and sadness because we had really built the business to a point where I felt very confident and strong in terms of the position we were in,” Cass explains.
“My first thought was, how do we get through this together as a team? How do I make sure I am looking after the people on my team? I had people’s livelihoods in my hands…that was really first and foremost in my mind, as well as the safety of the team.”
Indeed, the business prospects appeared bleak as the public’s attention shifted from frozen treats to hoarding toilet paper and other essentials during an uncertain and, at times, frightening period in the country’s history.
Cass and her company create frozen yogurt and ice-cream treats that are not just delicious but are also good for you. Twisted healthy Treats come in low-sugar, zero-sugar, gluten-free and probiotic varieties that are sold in thousands of supermarkets across Australia, as well as school canteens.
“We lost our school canteen business, our grocery sales pretty much plummeted,” Cass recalls. “Then, just as things were starting to look grim from the sales perspective, our first purchase order from corporate retailer Costco in the United States came in and we were able to turn our attention and all our energies to that. And that was a real game changer for the business.”
At the heart of that abrupt change of fortune were years of dedicated demanding work. “It was a project we’d been working on for just over two years,” Cass says, “We had hoped it would land at some point in 2020. We’d done so much groundwork, the licenses and approvals from Canberra, the ability to export Australian dairy is not for the faint-hearted. But we got there, and the team was amazing in terms of getting behind it.
“I think the most exciting thing about that time was the first four forty-foot containers of frozen Australian dairy product was meant to last three months on the US shelves, but it actually sold out in three weeks. So, on the back of that, we have generated more and more and more product, and were about to close the door on the 20th forty-foot container for the year, which is really exciting.”
The success hasn’t just benefited Cass and her company. “It’s been amazing for everybody in our supply chain,” says Cass. “It’s all Australian dairy – something I am very passionate about – but also our packaging is from an Australian manufacturer, so in hindsight, it’s been a wonderful year.”
In our latest Game Changers episode, TV presenter Natarsha Belling talks to Robyn Foyster about launching her new thought leadership agency InProfile. Robyn talks about her career as an award-winning magazine editor, tech entrepreneur and the importance of thought leadership.