Ashurst Business Agenda Podcast: Recent Episodes
Ashurst
2021 is shaping up to be a momentous year for business leaders and those who advise them. Across every sector, powerful forces of change will challenge organisations and create opportunities like never before.
- This is a time of economic and political change…
- …a time of digital transformation and energy transition…
- and a time of rapidly shifting expectations from consumers, shareholders and employees.
So, amidst all this change, what are the strategic priorities on the global business agenda? How are the best leaders uncovering opportunities for growth and creating value?
To find out, listen to our new podcast: Ashurst Business Agenda.
Join us, as we tap into Ashurst’s deep industry knowledge and wide network to speak with thought leaders and experts from across the globe. We’ll be covering the key trends and opportunities emerging from advances in data and technology, the energy transition and the changing dynamics impacting banking and finance, real estate & infrastructure and much more.
To ensure you don’t miss a single episode, subscribe to Business Agenda now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your wherever you listen to your podcasts.
How do you plan for the unexpected and build a Games that leaves more than memories behind?
In Part 2 of this two-part episode, Andrew McCormack, partner in Ashurst’s Project and Energy Transition Team and lead of the Brisbane 2032 working group, returns to the conversation between Ashurst's global co-head of energy, Dan Brown, and Olympic risk expert Bob Walker. The discussion moves beyond operational logistics to focus on legacy, culture, and leadership.
Bob reflects on the importance of agility in planning, drawing on real-world examples from the Sydney Olympics and other major events. He also speaks candidly about the need for meaningful First Nations engagement, not only in ceremonies, but across volunteer programs, leadership teams, and long-term planning. With Brisbane 2032 on the horizon, this is a moment to get inclusion right and deliver genuine, community-driven outcomes.
This podcast contains general information and does not constitute legal advice. Ashurst is not a sponsor, licensee, or promotional partner of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Olympic movement, nor any Olympic body, event, team, or athlete. Nothing in this podcast is intended to suggest any such sponsorship, license, or promotional affiliation.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What does it take to plan and deliver a safe, people-first Olympic Games in today’s fast-changing world?
In Part 1 of this two-part episode, Andrew McCormack, partner in Ashurst’s Project and Energy Transition Team, revisits a standout conversation from the 2032 and Beyond podcast series. Ashurst's global co-head of energy, Dan Brown, sits down with Bob Walker, who played a key leadership role in crisis and risk management for the Sydney 2000 Olympics, to explore the practical realities behind delivering one of the world’s largest and most complex events.
The discussion covers the core elements of successful Olympic risk management, from large-scale crowd planning and emergency preparedness to leadership that places people at the centre. Bob reflects on the value of human connection, strong culture, and flexible contingency planning in delivering not just a safe Games, but an experience that resonates with communities long after the final event.
This podcast contains general information and does not constitute legal advice. Ashurst is not a sponsor, licensee, or promotional partner of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Olympic movement, nor any Olympic body, event, team, or athlete. Nothing in this podcast is intended to suggest any such sponsorship, license, or promotional affiliation.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Can we build the world’s most sustainable Games by rethinking waste, design, and supply chains from the ground up?”
In this third mini-series episode, Andrew McCormack, as partner in Ashurst’s Project and Energy Transition Team and lead of the Brisbane 2032 working group, reconnects with Jodie Briscout, Aurecon’s circular economy lead, to unpack the bold ideas driving the Brisbane 2032 legacy. They explore how the shift away from the “take, make, waste” model is reshaping the way we plan, procure, and deliver major infrastructure projects.
Jodie outlines the three pillars of a circular economy “designing out waste, retaining value, and regenerating nature,” and makes the case for urgent, systems-based change. She also shares how digital tools like material passports and twins could soon be standard in Olympic Games infrastructure, and why strong partnerships between government and industry are key to lasting impact.
This podcast contains general information and does not constitute legal advice. Ashurst is not a sponsor, licensee, or promotional partner of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Olympic movement, nor any Olympic body, event, team, or athlete. Nothing in this podcast is intended to suggest any such sponsorship, licence, or promotional affiliation.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How can a mega-event like the Olympics become a catalyst for cutting emissions and building smarter cities?
In this episode, Andrew McCormack is again joined by Ashurst Risk Advisory Director Mike Duggan to explore the Queensland Government’s strategy for managing the environmental footprint of the Brisbane 2032 Games. Mike explains how every gram of carbon saved will count toward the Games' climate goals: “Every single ounce of carbon that we actually save is going to be reflected in the downward pressure we see on that carbon budget.”
The discussion covers practical innovations like decentralised energy systems, scalable efficiency measures, and how communities can co-create a low-carbon legacy. It also dives into the complexities of measuring long-term impact and why integration across legacy themes will be critical to lasting success.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What does it take to host an Olympic Games that leaves more than just memories?
In this bite-sized episode, Ashurst’s Andrew McCormack revisits insights from the 2032 and Beyond series, shining a spotlight on Brisbane 2032’s ambitious sustainability and legacy goals.
The episode emphasises that the legacy of the Games extends far beyond the venues themselves. From the creation of green spaces to job opportunities, Brisbane’s long-term strategy is being designed with the future in mind, ensuring the community continues to benefit long after the final medal has been awarded. “The one thing the organising committee has really done well from the beginning is set strict, best-practice sustainability standards for all the infrastructure projects,” says Ashurst Risk Advisory Director, Mike Duggan.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should seek legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Even with the best planning, disputes are inevitable in projects of olympic scale. The key is how you manage them.
In part two of this special two-part conversation, Ashurst’s Andrew McCormack continues the discussion with Melissa Yeo, Partner in Ashurst’s Dispute Resolution team, and Michael Duggan, Director in Ashurst Risk Advisory, turning the focus to how dispute resilience can be embedded into project delivery and legacy planning.
Melissa explains how dispute boards, governance mechanisms and collaborative contracting can help reduce impact once issues arise, while Michael reflects on the role dispute management will play in shaping Brisbane 2032’s long-term infrastructure and reputation. They also explore what legacy looks like when dispute resilience is treated not as a legal afterthought, but as a leadership mindset.
This podcast contains general information and does not constitute legal advice. Ashurst is not a sponsor, licensee, or promotional partner of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Olympic movement, nor any Olympic body, event, team, or athlete. Nothing in this podcast is intended to suggest any such sponsorship, license or promotional affiliation.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hosting the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is a high-stakes, high-pressure undertaking. With less than seven years to plan, build and deliver, the risk of disputes is real, and the cost of getting them wrong could be enormous.
In this first of a two-part conversation, Projects and Energy Transition Partner Andrew McCormack speaks with Melissa Yeo, Partner in Ashurst’s Dispute Resolution team, and Michael Duggan, Director in Ashurst Risk Advisory, about how early planning and a risk-based approach can help prevent disputes before they arise.
They explore why dispute management is mission-critical for Brisbane 2032, how robust contracts and early collaboration can manage complex interfaces, and why a proactive culture matters when timelines are tight and public expectations are high. Michael also outlines how governance and risk systems can actively support both dispute prevention and resolution from the outset.
This podcast contains general information and does not constitute legal advice. Ashurst is not a sponsor, licensee, or promotional partner of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Olympic movement, nor any Olympic body, event, team, or athlete. Nothing in this podcast is intended to suggest any such sponsorship, license or promotional affiliation.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As part of the Powering Change mini-series, this episode dives into the evolving role of biomethane in the energy transition. Host Cameron Smith, a partner in Ashurst’s Projects & Energy Transition team, is joined by Philipp Lukas, CEO of Future Biogas, one of the UK’s leading developer and operator of anaerobic digestion plants.
They discuss how Future Biogas is helping corporates like AstraZeneca take steps to decarbonise its operations using biomethane, and why partnerships, feedstock strategy, and supply chain transparency are critical. The episode also explores the path forward for biomethane and what barriers and opportunities remain.
Listen to this episode to understand the key role biomethane will play in the net-zero future and what businesses need to know to stay ahead. To explore the insights discussed during this episode, check out our Powering Change: A New Era for the Energy Transitionreport.
To listen to this episode, search for “Business Agenda” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast player. And to find out more about the full range of Ashurst podcasts, visit ashurst.com/podcasts.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the latest episode of our Powering Change mini-series, Ashurst’s Bree Miechel is joined by special guest Simon McFadden, a digital infrastructure expert at Aurecon. Together, they discuss how data centres – often referred to as “the factories of the digital age” – are evolving to keep pace with demand in Australia, the Asia Pacific and beyond.
Simon reveals the inside story of Aurecon’s extensive work across the data development lifecycle and explains why proximity to urban hubs, skilled labour, and supply chains remain vital, even as conversations around rural, renewables-linked data centres attract attention. He also tackles pressing issues such as water scarcity, artificial intelligence and regulation, and weighs up the relative merits of utility-scale batteries and modular nuclear reactors.
To listen to this episode, and to subscribe to future episodes, search for “Ashurst Business Agenda” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about the issues covered in this episode, read Ashurst’s latest Powering Change report. And to read an ongoing series of Ashurst insights on data centres visit this web page.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Part of the Powering Change mini-series, this episode explores the key trends shaping the global energy transition. Host Bree Miechel speaks with Rory van Weerdenburg, Project Director of Gippsland Skies, one of Australia’s first offshore wind projects, about the sector’s rapid evolution.
With Australia positioning itself as a leader in offshore wind, they discuss the opportunities and challenges ahead, from securing infrastructure and investment to navigating policy and building social license. As Victoria targets 9GW of offshore wind by 2040, collaboration between developers, government, and communities will be critical to success.
Listen now to learn how offshore wind is set to transform Australia’s energy landscape. Download Ashurst’s latest Powering Change report for more insights.
To hear this episode search for “Ashurst Business Agenda” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast player. And to find out more about the full range of Ashurst podcasts, visit ashurst.com/podcasts.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On 3rd December, the International Day of people with disabilities, we recognise and celebrate the stories of two individuals who have who have transformed their own experiences of disability into powerful journeys of innovation and advocacy.
In this special episode we celebrate the International Day of People with Disability by exploring the power of inclusive design and accessibility. Louise McMillan, a systems analyst at Ashurst, speaks with Matthew Walker, co-founder of Adapt Ability, a company creating innovative mobility solutions. Both guests share inspiring, personal journeys of resilience and adaptation, demonstrating how workplaces can empower individuals by embracing inclusive practices and human-centered design.
Matt shares his story of how a life-changing accident inspired him to create mobility devices that emphasise freedom and independence, such as the Omeo, a revolutionary device that’s changing perceptions of disability.
While Louise opens up about how Ashurst’s support transformed her experience as she adapted to life in a wheelchair, “They've never made me feel disabled. They've always made me feel able and supportive in order to get me what I need to do to be.”
This episode is part of Ashurst’s special Outpacing Change mini-series that includes a collection of conversations with innovators and disruptors who have challenged the status-quo and are changing the world around them.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Whether she’s burning around race circuits in a Lamborghini or giving business leaders a steer on diversity, Charlie Martin always gives it everything she’s got. In this podcast, Charlie shares hair-raising tales from the track and her inside story of being a transgender woman in a male-dominated industry.
Outpacing the competition? Breaking the status quo? Life or death decisions? As a motor racing driver and LGBTQ+ activist, Charlie Martin knows a thing or few about all these things, and more.
In this episode of the Outpacing Change mini-series, Charlie takes us on an incredible personal and professional journey: from humble beginnings, to paying her dues on the club racing circuit, to becoming the first transgender driver to compete in the legendary Nürburgring 24-hour race in 2020 and securing a podium finish in the Super Trofeo opening race at LeMans this year.
Along the way, Charlie explains her approach to innovation in motorsport and shares her advice for business leaders to champion diversity in their organisations. “The environments we create for our teams in business – it's one of the most important investments we can make,” she says. “A big part of it is encouraging empathy and compassion. It comes down to trust, sharing and psychological safety.”
Subscribe to Ashurst Business Agenda and listen to all our Outpacing Change episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the latest episode of our Outpacing Change mini-series, tech founder Christy Laurence shares the inside story of Plann, a social media scheduling tool that secured $1m+ bootstrapping within two years before achieving more than three million downloads – and counting.
In this entertaining discussion, Christy:
- Discusses her personal and professional forays into generative AI and how she encourages everyone in her business to participate in product development and innovation
- Offers tips to business leaders on social media
- Shares what she learned from her time in Silicon Valley
Along the way, Christy talks about how to take bold steps into the unknown, reflects on how the pandemic changed LinkedIn for the better, and explains why Plann has a “No Monday Meetings” policy. She also talks about her passion for art and admiration for a marketing campaign fronted by a sad, angry owl (aka Duolingo).
“Social media and business can be fun,” Christy concludes, “and if I could impart any knowledge from my journey, it’s that the more fun we have, the better our results are.”
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Our latest Outpacing Change episode takes us to Gotenburg, Sweden and an insightful discussion with Volvo Trucks Director of Environment and Innovation, Lars Martensson, and the innovative world of electric, autonomous and connected freight solutions aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the logistics sector and improve road safety.
Quality, safety and environmental care are three themes that have been synonymous with the Volvo brand since its inception in 1927, and today the company remains razor focused on their importance, “I work with what is fun and what is important. Environment is what is really important, while fun is obviously innovation,” states Volvo Trucks, Director of Environment and Innovation Lars Martensson, “In my role I primarily think about climate and circularity.”
Volvo Trucks' commitment to innovation in creating electric, autonomous, and connected trucks, which not only advance the industry but also significantly reduce the environmental impact of freight transport is central to Martensson’s work where his focus on developing sustainable technologies steers the company's dedication to environmental stewardship and its leading role in moving towards a more sustainable future.
In the episode, Lars emphasises the concept of circularity as a longstanding practice at Volvo Trucks that is becoming even more pertinent today, while discussing the company's approach to integrating recycled materials into new trucks, ensuring longevity, and enabling the remanufacturing of parts. The synergy between different branches of Volvo, and across the industry, is presented as a critical factor in driving forward these environmental initiatives.
The power of partnership and collaboration in achieving rapid change is a strong theme in Outpacing Change episodes and is critical too at Volvo Trucks. Lars mentions the importance of working together with suppliers, customers, transport buyers like Amazon and IKEA, and energy companies to implement new technologies and ensure access to green energy and infrastructure. This collaboration is viewed as essential to meeting climate goals and adhering to the Paris Agreement, and Volvo Trucks positions itself as a leader in fostering these necessary alliances. “Our mantra in a way is that partnership is the new leadership,” Lars concludes.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, which forms part of a special Powering Change mini-series, we look at the current energy-from-waste (EfW) market, flag the major opportunities and challenges, and consider what lies ahead.
Ashurst's 2024 Powering Change report shows that energy-from-waste is one of the core technologies of the energy transition, with 41% of surveyed G20 energy sector leaders currently investing or planning to invest in EfW. So, in this podcast episode, we pause to consider recent developments and the current state of the market.
We discuss how, in the UK’s maturing market, funders are adjusting their risk tolerance levels, and we explore how the Emissions Trading Scheme and other challenges are impacting the sector. We also cast our eyes overseas, to consider opportunities in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. And we discuss how the EfW industry may evolve in the years ahead.
This discussion features Ashurst partner Cameron Smith alongside two fellow experts on energy transition and infrastructure: Stefan Barrow and Andrew Howie. Stefan is a director in the infrastructure team at MUFG ,. Andrew Howie is director of EfW Development at Encyclis.
To listen to this episode, and to subscribe to future episodes, search for “Ashurst Business Agenda” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In our latest episode of 2032 and Beyond, our podcast mini-series focusing on the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we explain how circular economy models will help government and businesses deliver a climate-positive Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Our guests in this episode are Jodie Bricout, who leads Aurecon's dedicated circular economy team, and Andrew McCormack, an Ashurst partner in the Projects and Energy Transition team. Together with Ashurst host Mike Duggan, they unpack Brisbane 2032's contractual commitment to being the first climate-positive Games and the vital role that circular economy models must play.
Jodie shares her expertise as a recognised expert in the circular economy and life cycle thinking by emphasising the importance of having suppliers understand the environmental impacts of their products and highlighting the lessons learned from the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London and Paris.
Andrew explains how collaboration will be paramount to creating the circular systems that government and businesses require. He describes how legal advisors can help parties feel comfortable sharing data and removing barriers to innovation and outlines the likely contractual impacts for projects that promote the circular economy.
This podcast contains general information and does not constitute legal advice. Ashurst is not a sponsor, licensee, or promotional partner of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Olympic movement, nor any Olympic body, event, team, or athlete. Nothing in this podcast is intended to suggest any such sponsorship, licence, or promotional affiliation
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In our first episode of our new Future Forces mini-series, Ashurst Australia partner Ratha Nabanidham, who specialises in mergers and acquisitions with particular expertise in the infrastructure, energy and resources sectors, speaks to the Head of Global Infrastructure at QIC, Ross Israel, and Mark Barges, Ashurst partner in our Paris projects practice about the expected extraordinary growth and innovation in the world’s infrastructure sector.
In this episode, three infrastructure experts discuss how megatrends, such as the race to net zero and accelerated digitalisation, present incredible infrastructure opportunities for construction, transport and IT companies. They share an overview of how infrastructure investment has changed over the past five years, the outlook of the infrastructure sector and why the infrastructure industry should embrace the concept of "resilience". They also discuss how government and businesses can overcome barriers to build a platform for communities to thrive in the future. For more information on the economic, geopolitical, and social megatrends to watch out for and the capabilities infrastructure businesses require to navigate these trends and tap the opportunities for growth, read the Future Forces Infrastructure report here.
To get a flavour of the topics we'll explore in our future episodes, you can check out our Future Forces 2023 Report, which highlights the megatrends that will shape businesses over the next decade. Read it here.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A brand new podcast mini-series is coming to Ashurst's Business Agenda. In each episode, we’ll discuss the major forces shaping the future of different industries – and how business leaders can get on the front foot.
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In this new episode of our Outpacing Change series, Australian futurist Dr Ben Hamer offers a glimpse of the future of work and explains how business leaders can rise to an array of strategic challenges and opportunities. This entertaining conversation between Ben and Andy tackles generative AI, climate change, hybrid working, career planning, and much more.
Climate change. Geopolitical conflict. Artificial intelligence. Rising energy costs. The list goes on. “This is arguably the most challenging environment that business leaders have ever had to work through,” reflects Australian futurist Dr Ben Hamer. “A lot of leaders are coming to me asking ‘Where do I start? There's so many things coming at me, where do I focus?’”
In this episode of Outpacing Change, Ben provides some strategies to help leaders answer these questions. He discusses how to balance short-term and long-term challenges and, along the way, he explores:
- Low unemployment and employee value propositions: Why the factors that make people join an organisation are not the same as the factors that make them stay.
- The next wave of generative AI: How ChatGPT is only the tip of the iceberg, and why organisations will be hiring more AI managers in the years ahead. (“If there was one specific thing that I would encourage people to do after listening to this podcast, it would be to watch a YouTube video on Prompt Engineering.”)
- Future careers: How professionals need to “hack” their daily routines, to prepare for the multiple careers they will have tomorrow. (“We need to be spending 15% of our working week upskilling and reskilling in order to remain current. Not to get ahead of the game – but just to remain current.”)
While acknowledging the many challenges that business leaders will face in the coming years, Ben remains upbeat about the future. “There's a lot of talk at the moment that ‘the robots are coming to take our jobs’. And the thing to really remember with this is most of the jobs that exist today are still going to exist in 10 years’ time. They're just going to look very different because of technology ... I see the exciting potential of technology and automation, and how it help us do our jobs better, rather than necessarily replacing and displacing us.”
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, Ashurst's Global Chair Karen Davies is joined by James Harayda, skipper and team principal at the Gentoo Sailing team to discuss the topic of resilience.
James will be one of up to forty competitors in November 2024, lining up for the start from Brittany and France for the Vendée Globe race. James and the other competitors will have very little sleep, usually obtaining snatches of 40-90 minutes and contact with the outside world will be by way of text, email and radio exchanges from time to time.
It is most noticeable that the closet people to the competitors at times will be astronauts on the International Space Station, as they will be several thousand miles from the nearest land.
James discusses the importance of having resilience when it comes to the twenty-four hour, eighty day solo race. Revealing how he relaxes during races and sharing his tips for managing stress, fear and pressure - which are useful for anyone in business.
Ashurst are delighted to have partnered with Gentoo Sailing Team whose innovative vision and sustainability ambitions reflect our own. To find out more about our partnership, visit our partnership page.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, Ashurst Partner Cameron Smith is joined by James Harayda, skipper and team principle at the Gentoo Sailing team.
Businesses need to be able to adapt in the ever changing political and economic climate, law firms with regulatory changes, clients' evolving needs and risk changes. Failing to adapt brings a whole host of challenges and the same can be said for the world's top sport professionals.
As a solo offshore yacht racer, James is the navigator, tactician, helmsman, crew, sail maker, electrician, rigger and hydraulics expert. He discusses how he prepares for each race and the importance of adapting throughout it.
James also considers what parallels businesses can learn from offshore sailing.
Ashurst are delighted to have partnered with Gentoo Sailing Team whose innovative vision and sustainability ambitions reflect our own. To find out more about our partnership, visit our partnership page.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Inspired by nature, Pierre Paslier and his colleagues at Notpla are reinventing food packaging to protect the environment and end single-use plastic packaging.
Last year, the world used 139 million tonnes of single-use plastics, up from 133 million tonnes in 2019 – a one kilogram per person increase. Made from oil, these plastics now generate as much greenhouse gas emissions as the United Kingdom, according to recent analysis by the Minderoo Foundation. And many of these plastics will clutter up the earth for hundreds of years before they finally biodegrade.
In this episode of our Outpacing Change mini-series, we meet a visionary who is determined to reverse this trend. As co-founder of Notpla, Pierre Paslier, is literally making packaging that disappears. Notpla’s packaging solutions are made from seaweed and plants that is biodegradable and home compostable.
This is a conversation that covers the highs and lows Pierre’s journey. From experiments and crowdfunding in his student kitchen in London, to breakthrough products and winning the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for the environment. Along the way, Pierre shares his tips for business leaders who are seeking to introduce radical change, and he reveals a mega trend that could make or break their organisations.
This episode is part of Ashurst’s special Outpacing Change mini-series that includes a collection of conversations with innovators and disruptors who have challenged the status-quo and are changing the world around them.
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Innovator and entrepreneur Wayne Gerard outlines the ambitious sustainability goals of the 2032 Brisbane Games, and the huge potential for businesses and communities to play a part.
Our special guest in this episode is Wayne Gerard, founder of tech company Red Eye, the Immediate Past Queensland Chief Entrepreneur, and currently a member of the 2032 Games Legacy Committee. In the latter role, Wayne is taking a holistic view of what the lasting legacy of the Games will be for Queensland – spanning economy, community, the environment, and more.
“We're thinking about all of the infrastructure that gets built to enable us to deliver the Games – and how do we make that climate positive?” explains Wayne. “We're thinking about the actual Games themselves and how do we make all of the aspects of the Games – the food, the power, the water, the transportation, the venues, the technology – how do we make all of that climate positive?”
Further, Wayne says the Committee is considering how the focus on a climate positive legacy can set up the local economy “to be leaders in products and services that are really environmentally friendly, really responsible from a manufacturing perspective, and how we then go on and position ourselves globally to be a leader in that domain.”
In conversation with Ashurst’s Michael Duggan, Wayne explains how the Games is considering procurement, talent, and AI. He also has a call to action for businesses and communities across Queensland: “I think every local government is keen to see how their industries, their economy, their businesses can participate in Brisbane 2032. And I encourage people in those local chambers of commerce and local communities to get together and start talking about what they're best in the world at; what they're known for; and what they could do to put their town, their city, their community on the map for Brisbane 2032.”
This podcast contains general information and does not constitute legal advice. Ashurst is not a sponsor, licensee, or promotional partner of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Olympic movement, nor any Olympic body, event, team, or athlete. Nothing in this podcast is intended to suggest any such sponsorship, licence, or promotional affiliation.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, Ashurst Risk Advisory Director Michael Duggan and Partner in the Project and Energy Transition Team, Andrew McCormack are interviewed by Ashurst’s Global Leader Client Centre of Excellence Kim Wiegand, about their opinions and insights into the sustainable infrastructure themes and measures to come out of the Brisbane 2032 Master Plan and recently released Elevate 2042 consultation paper, including sustainable stadium developments, transport and environmental and social stewardship initiatives.
Andrew talks about some of the recent sustainable stadium developments in Australia and overseas that the 2032 Brisbane Games can look to as benchmarks for sustainability (“Suncorp Stadium features energy-efficient lighting, water-efficient fixtures and a rainwater harvesting system for irrigation”). Michael also speaks about what the infrastructure legacy of the Games looks like sharing the four themes of the Elevate 2042 consultation paper, (“The key to the final legacy plan will be in identifying how these four themes are integrated to enable impact.”)
This episode is part of Ashurst’s Beyond 2032 podcast mini-series, that examines the range of important issues which touch on the preparations for, delivery of, and legacy flowing from the 2032 Games.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Life is made up of key moments and for quadruple amputee Cor Hutton, these moments have been significant. In June 2013, Cor nearly lost her life after suffering acute pneumonia and sepsis. Surgeons were forced to amputate both her hands and her legs below the knee. But she didn't let this setback stop her, and the impact that Cor has had since this trauma is truly remarkable.
Cor Hutton is the founder of Finding Your Feet a charity that supports families affected by amputation or limb difference. Post amputation, Corr, has broken four world records, has won countless awards and achievements and amazingly has recently had a double hand transplant. In this conversation, Cor shares her lessons and insights into a life that really defines outpacing change and leading from example with courage and compassion.
“The difference it makes to me to help other people. It might sound selfless, but it's actually almost selfish, it's me taking my mind off myself. I think that's a huge way of staying grounded and real. I think we could all do that more often, listening to other people, putting yourself in other people's positions, trying to imagine what life might be like in someone else's position. And maybe don't take life too seriously.” Cor Hutton.
This episode is part of Ashurst’s special Outpacing Change mini-series that includes a collection of conversations with innovators and disruptors who have challenged the status-quo and are changing the world around them.
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Transport innovator Jeral Poskey reflects on his extraordinary career journey – from rural Texas and Washington DC, to Stanford and Silicon Valley – and explains his passion for better connecting cities and communities.
In this episode, Swyft Cities CEO Jeral Poskey explains how he turned his personal passion for transport into a formidable career.
While at Google’s real estate division, Jeral began a plan to get people to work conveniently which, in turn, helped the company get the green light to build more office space. “That’s when the light bulb went off for our leadership,” he recalls. “Solving these transportation problems allows you to print more land – and in Silicon Valley, that’s printing money. So now we could come up with all sorts of crazy transportation ideas and [attribute] a return on investment to them.”
At that point, transportation became strategic for Google, explains Jeral. “It wasn’t just an employee service any more it was a strategic element in Google’s real estate plans and office plans … The mandate was there to find a [transport] solution, prove a return on investment, and then make it happen.”
After a process of testing and learning, Jeral and his colleagues introduced smart gondolas with autonomous cabins that travel on fixed cables – moving passengers at a lower cost per mile with fewer carbon emissions than conventional transport alternatives. Jeral and the core team have since left Google and, with Swyft Cities, they are in the process of bringing their innovative mobility to public and private real estate projects across the globe.
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Find out how social enterprise entrepreneur Kimberley Abbott blends business savvy, ethical intent and engineering know-how in her ground-breaking FinTech start-up Vested Impact.
About this episode
How do you solve the world’s biggest problems? That’s what CEO and Founder Kimberley Abbott wrote on her whiteboard one day that set in train the origin story for Vested Impact, a FinTech company whose mission is to redefine what it is to be a millionaire.
“The single biggest impact a business leader can have in achieving meaningful change is to pick a solution to a problem that matters. For us it meant redefining what it is to be a millionaire to be a person who impacts millions of lives.” Kimberley Abbott, CEO and Founder of Vested Impact.
In this episode, Kimberley discusses how setting up a social enterprise in India as a 21 year old, influenced her decision to want to create scale and make a positive and world changing impact on as many lives as possible. Kim worked for the United Nations on her way to establishing Vested Impact and its unique algorithm that enables people to make decisions on where to invest their money based on where it makes the biggest impact on society.
This episode is part of Ashurst’s special Outpacing Change mini-series that includes a collection of conversations with innovators and disruptors who have challenged the status-quo and are changing the world around them.
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A collection of conversations with innovators and disruptors who have challenged the status-quo and are changing the world around them. Make sure you don't miss our Outpacing Change mini-series, subscribe to Ashurst Business Agenda on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Crown Estate's Dan Labbad delves into how placemaking impacts people's land, lives, leisure and learning.
Placemaking is about much more than bricks and mortar – it directly affects people’s employment, leisure, education, and communities. In this wide-ranging interview, special guest Dan Labbad joins Richard Vernon to reflect on how placemaking can contribute to social and economic prosperity – and why collaboration and partnerships are more vital now than ever.
As CEO of The Crown Estate, Dan certainly has a unique perspective to share on placemaking. His organisation occupies the space between the private and public sector, with a portfolio that includes city and country properties across the UK, including a substantial rural holding and Windsor Great Park. It also manages the seabed around England, Wales and Northern Ireland and plays a major role in the UK’s offshore wind sector.
In this podcast, Dan talks with Ashurst partner Richard Vernon about how placemaking can rise to the challenges of climate change, threats to the natural world, and social sustainability. And they discuss the need for learning, experimentation and collaboration to enable long-term social mobility. “We’ve got to be careful not to over-corporatise placemaking,” says Dan. “This is ultimately about people, families, and communities.”
This episode forms part of Ashurst’s Reimagining Real Estate Campaign, which also includes Richard Vernon’s previous podcast interview with British Land’s David Lockyer.
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Infrastructure leaders Adrian Dwyer from Infrastructure Partnerships Australia and James Heath from the UK’s National Infrastructure Commission talk with Ashurst's Harvey Weaver about how their sector can help address some pressing global challenges.
Climate change. Supply chain shortages. Cost of living pressures. The list goes on. There’s a dizzying array of challenges facing today’s business and government leaders.
Given the right funding, strategy, and creativity, the infrastructure sector could play its part in addressing these challenges, including helping nations like the UK and Australia hit ambitious net zero targets. That’s the message from infrastructure leaders in this episode of Ashurst Business Agenda, who call for greater collaboration and long-term policy settings from governments.
“What we’d like to see is governments focus [on intervention] where there is genuine market failure,” says Adrian Dwyer from Infrastructure Partnerships Australia. “But those interventions should be first and foremost by setting the rules of the game not playing the game... because [getting directly involved] inevitably begins to distort the incentives which begets more intervention.”
James Heath, from the UK’s National Infrastructure Commission, adds that the UK government has set positive climate goals in many areas. For those to be achieved, he says, the government needs to provide consistent, long-term policy to give investors greater confidence.
This podcast conversation reflects on issues raised at the McKinsey Global infrastructure Initiative Summit, recently held in Tokyo.
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In this second episode of our mini-series on psychosocial risk you'll hear how organisation’s can get ahead of the curve and crucially, what to start or stop doing to achieve the productivity and strategic benefits that comes from having a mentally healthy and safe workplace.
You’ll hear about the regulatory complexity across Australia and the importance of organisation’s to look inwards and be authentic to ensure that the actions taken to respond to psychosocial risk truly drive the values and behaviors of the business. For leaders it’s all about asking the right questions. Do you have the right information to be able to address the risk? And what tools do you need to ensure you get it right?
The episode features four experts on psychosocial risk, Trent Sebbens, Employment and Safety Partner at Ashurst, Anthony Gibbs, CEO of Sentis, Tony Morris, Partner at Ashurst Risk Advisory, and Amy Hawkes, a leading psychologist from Sentis.
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Psychosocial risk has shot up corporate agendas in the past 12 months becoming a critical feature for an organisations safety landscape. Leaders and organisations must not only come to grips with what psychosocial risk is, and why it's so vital to operations, but also what needs to happen to address it.
In this first episode, Ashurst announces its partnership with cultural transformation specialists Sentis who support a range of businesses through safety and cultural diagnostics to discuss what psychosocial risk is, why it's a hot topic, and the trends developing across the market. Importantly, the episode shares genuine insights and practical considerations in order to manage the risk and what the partnership with Sentis means for Ashurst clients.
The episode features four eminent authorities on psychosocial risk, Trent Sebbens, Employment and Safety Partner at Ashurst, Anthony Gibbs, CEO of Sentis, Tony Morris, Partner at Ashurst Risk Advisory, and Amy Hawkes, a leading psychologist from Sentis.
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The Brisbane 2032 Games promises to be a game changer to the way we view global events. As the world's first climate-positive Olympic games, the Brisbane games is set to be the catalyst for some of Australia’s largest infrastructural, cultural, and technological projects.
Ashurst has extensive experience in the delivery of global games, including creating mandates for the Olympics in Sydney, London, and Tokyo, and currently in the delivery of the Melbourne 2026 Commonwealth Games. Throughout the 2032 and Beyond series, experts at Ashurst will showcase the common challenges and themes for the incoming Brisbane 2032 Games.
In this episode, Ashurst Global Lead for the Client Centre of Excellence, Kim Wiegand, speaks to Transport and Infrastructure partner, Andrew McCormack, and Ashurst Risk Advisory business director, Mike Duggan, who specialises in strategy and sustainability, on the key concepts in the planning for the 2032 Games; legacy and climate-positivity.
This not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.
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Welcome to the first episode of our new mini-series from our partnership with McKinsey & Company on their Global Infrastructure Initiative (GII).
The GII Summit took place in Tokyo in October 2022 with senior stakeholders from around the globe meeting to discuss the pathway to sustainable infrastructure
In the first episode of our mini-series, Ashurst's Global Sustainability and ESG Partner Anna-Marie Slot is joined by Kevin Klowden, Chief Global Strategist at the Milken Institute.
Anna-Marie and Kevin met at the GII Summit and share their key takeaways from the event, including the importance of cost evaluation and risk assessment in employing sustainable infrastructure.
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This episode is the fourth and final episode in our Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) mini-series where we explore the future of work and WHS trends in Australia.
In this episode, Ashurst Risk Advisory director Lauren Brignull is joined by Ashurst Partner and global head of the strategic advisory division Lea Constantine and Scott Taylor, a leader in the space with an extensive background working in safety.
Together they explain what safety leadership is, why it's so vital for organisations, how to build a safety culture in the workplace and how to prepare for, and respond to a crisis.
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As part of Ashurst’s ‘Reimagining Real Estate’ campaign, our Practice Group Head Richard Vernon speaks with Selina Mason, Director of Masterplanning at Lendlease, and Bek Seeley, Managing Director for Development in Europe at Lendlease. In a widespread discussion, the trio discuss the mystery around placemaking, what do we mean by 'placemaking' and how we know it has been achieved.
During the conversation, Beck and Selina each share a scheme where Lendlease have made a 'place' and the criteria they used to measure both the benefits to Lendlease and others.
The trio also discuss the importance of thinking through, planning and maintaining your investment, why you should always pay attention to the fabric of the place and the evolvement of placemaking to meet the Net Zero agenda.
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This is the third episode of our miniseries about trends in workplace health and safety.
In the latest episode of our miniseries in trends in work health and safety we discuss psychosocial hazards in the workplace, and the importance of proactively managing these risks.
This episode is hosted by Tony Morris, partner at Ashurst Consulting and leader of our national work health and safety consulting team in risk advisory at Ashurst. Joining Tony is Ashurst Employment partner Julia Sutherland andDr Rebecca Michalak, "Dr Becs", an expertin psychosocial risk, focusing on business performance and corporate governance.
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As part of Ashurst’s ‘Reimagining Real Estate’ campaign, our Practice Group Head Richard Vernon speaks with David Lockyer, Head of Campuses at British Land. In a wide-ranging discussion, the two of them discuss what is meant by ‘placemaking’, why it’s so important, and how it can best be achieved.
During the conversation, David reflects on the lessons learned from the ongoing transformation of Broadgate, a 32-acre office-led Central London campus. He explains how a shared vision, clear placemaking principles, and careful consultation helped capitalise on the existing asset and create deeper connections for the people who spend time there.
Richard and David also discuss how to strike the balance between financial pressures and creating an outstanding place, how to measure success, and what more can be done to elevate environmental, social and governance factors in placemaking.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.
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In this episode of our mini series we are looking at the future of work, what the more enduring changes the pandemic has brought will be, particularly around safety.
This episode is hosted by Bob Walker, a director in risk advisory at Ashurst. Joining Bob is Ashurst Employment partner Trent Sebbens and Siobhan Casey, who is a director with ACS, and has been at the forefront of helping tech entrepreneurs over the last several years, navigate what is an incredibly changing, and fast moving technology landscape.
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This is the first episode of our miniseries about trends in workplace health and safety.
In this episode, we tackle cognitive endurance which has recently emerged as a priority for all employers across all industries. We discuss the enormous performance and productivity pressures for boards and executives at the individual and organisational level, and most importantly, what can be done to maximise cognitive endurance.
Our guests for today's episode are Dr Erin Quinane, Head of Cognitive Health at Ashurst Jamie Ng, our global head of consulting at Ashurst, and James Hewitt, who is a former elite cyclist and now high performance and endurance scientist whose clients have included top-ranked sports teams and Fortune 500 companies.
For more information on the Ashurst Cognitive endurance program, please get in touch with Erin.
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In this podcast, Lawrence Slade, CEO of the Global Infrastructure Investor Association (GIIA), Mark Elsey, Ashurst Partner and global Co-Chair of Infrastructure and Michael Burns, Ashurst Partner and global Co-Chair of Energy speak about the latest report to be released by Ashurst's Infrastructure group.
The trio discuss findings of the report, factors challenging resilience, emerging infrastructure technologies and what it means for the global infrastructure investor community.
For more insights on Resilient Infrastructure click here to read the full report.
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International Day for People with Disability (IDPwD) is marked annually on 3 December around the world, and aims to increase awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and celebrate their achievements and contributions.
Learning difficulties are a common form of disability experienced by many families, with between 1 and 3 students in every NSW classroom experiencing difficulties with learning.This year, the disABILITY Network are pleased to be raising awareness of the challenges, barriers and opportunities for people who live with learning difficulties by way of podcast interview. In this fascinating discussion, Jennie Mansfield (Partner, Sydney) sits down with Ashurst-alum Georgina Perry (Executive Officer, SPELD NSW) who shares her personal journey of living with dyslexia and dysgraphia whilst being a corporate lawyer and how it led her to her current role at SPELD NSW, an organisation supporting children and adults with specific learning difficulties.
Georgina also shares information on what adjustments can be made to help individuals living with learning difficulties to thrive in the workplace. This podcast aims to challenge the way you think about disability and hopes to foster a more inclusive and accessible workplace.
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This is the third episode in our Road to Brisbane series, where we explore the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
In today's conversation, we're taking a detour out of Australia and exploring the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
In this episode Infrastructure partner Alex Guy speaks to Counsel Shmel Graham and senior associate Tristan Robinson, who both played a part in the journey to the Los Angeles Games.
Tristan was involved in the successful bid by the City of Los Angeles to host the 2028 games; and Shmel was part of the Mayor's office during the creation of the Twenty-eight by 28 initiative.
The LA Games are unique, because without any new permanent constructions build for the games, all the resources are focused on advancing social and public policy goals around equity, sustainability, the equitable distribution of resources in cities, and a shared community experience around sport.
Similarly, the Brisbane Games are also set to utilize existing infrastructure whilst also delivering lasting social benefits to the community.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.
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Ashurst and design engineering and advisory company Aurecon recently announced an advisory alliance as the global transition towards a low carbon future gathers momentum.
In this podcast, Paul Gleeson, Group Director of Sustainability at Aurecon, Michael Tafe, Principle Infrastructure Advisory and Head of Risk and Assurance Strategy Services at Aurecon, Elena Lambros, Ashurst Partner and Paul Curnow, Ashurst Partner and Global Co-Head for Energy speak about the alliance.
They discuss how the alliance plans to work with clients on their most pressing challenges, where asset and legal risk exposures and opportunities cross the launch offerings of the alliance and how the alliance will create opportunities for their clients in a deep decarbonization future.
Find out more about our podcast channels on Ashurst.com/podcasts.
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We are proud to share the second episode in our Road to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics Podcast series, where we bring together people from our Ashurst teams around the globe to share their experience working on Olympic games of the past, and the future.
In this episode Energy and Infrastructure partner Dan Brown speaks to Trent Wallace, Ashurst's First Nations Advisor and lawyer.
Trent yarns with Dan about his journey to joining Ashurst, the legacy of First Nations involvement in the Sydney 2000 Olympics, and his hopes for community engagement and a lasting Olympic legacy for First Nations Australians in the delivery of Brisbane 2032.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions
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We are proud to share the first episode in our Road to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics Podcast series, where we bring together people from our Ashurst teams around the globe to share their experience working on Olympic games of the past, and the future.
In this episode Energy and Infrastructure partner Dan Brown speaks to Bob Walker, a director in the Ashurst Risk Advisory team.
Bob helped lead the crisis, risk and emergency preparedness for the 2000 Sydney Olympic games and provides key insights for business on lessons learned from past Olympics in successful leadership and risk management – and what's ahead for Brisbane 2032.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.
The Ashurst Group is global, and comprises Ashurst LLP, Ashurst Australia and their respective affiliates (including independent local partnerships, companies or other entities) which are authorised to use the name "Ashurst" or describe themselves as being affiliated with Ashurst. Some members of the Ashurst Group are limited liability entities.
Ashurst Risk Advisory Pty Ltd (ABN 74 996 309 133) provide services under the Ashurst Consulting brand. Ashurst Consulting services do not constitute legal services or legal advice, and are not provided by Australian legal practitioners. The laws and regulations which govern the provision of legal services in the relevant jurisdiction do not apply to the provision of non-legal services.
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The automotive industry is constantly evolving and is about to embark on what may be its most significant period of change.
In this podcast, Ruth Nic Aoidh, Executive Director at luxury supercar maker McLaren Automotive, Tara Waters, Partner and Head of Ashurst Advance Digital and Thomas Sacher, Corporate Partner and in charge of automotive at Ashurst, share their views on future digital industry roadmaps and skillsets.
Ruth, Tara and Thomas also discuss the importance of different industries collaborating to learn about new technologies in digital transformation, how data has and will continue to have a positive impact on innovation and why high-performance teams are key to success.
Find out more about our podcast channels on Ashurst.com/podcasts
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What is slowbalisation? Or Techceleration? Across Asia, we assess the economic consequences of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the bifurcated outlook for the economies in the region.
To shed some light on these extraordinary and uncertain times, Ashurst Partner and Head of Region for Asia, Jini Lee is delighted to be joined by Janet Pau, Hong Kong Director at The Economist Corporate Network. Together, they discuss the economic impacts of uneven vaccine rollouts, government lockdowns, and escalating trade tensions.
The episode also looks at the likely risks and opportunities stemming from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). And there’s a glimpse into what the future may hold for working practices in the Asia region.
Find out more about our podcast channels on Ashurst.com/podcasts
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Winds of cultural change are blowing through many sectors, and the legal and medical professions are no exceptions. In part two of their discussion, lawyer Chris Georgiou calls out the culture of learning that the legal profession must embrace, while surgeon James Kinross explains the “patient safety culture that has been the biggest healthcare revolution in my professional lifetime”.
Kinross describes a “no-blame learning environment” where morbidity and mortality data is meticulously recorded and appraised to discuss “what went wrong, and why, and how do we make sure this never happens again”. There are lessons here for many professions, legal among them.
The two men also discuss the mental pressure that is heaped upon professionals, and the prevalence of anxiety, depression and burnout. And they reflect on the increased need for professionals to have technology expertise to perform at the top of their game, while understanding the limits of tech and how humans still add value.
Find out more about our podcast channels on Ashurst.com/podcasts
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What can business leaders learn from a surgeon about risk management? What can they learn from a lawyer about transformation? And what do these two industries have in common? Quite a lot, it turns out, in the first of this two-part interview.
James Kinross from Imperial College London is no stranger to risk. Every time he steps into an operating theatre, the 'consultant colorectal surgeon with a special interest in robotics and laparoscopy surgeon knows there is a patient counting on him to succeed. And every time he and his colleagues introduce a new innovation, there are potential unintended consequences.
In this discussion, Head of Ashurst Advance Chris Georgiou and James reflect on how data and robotics can augment human decision-making and mitigate risk. The conversation also explores how technology is altering the rites of passage for junior professionals, why traditional hierarchies are problematic, and how leaders can create the optimal conditions for innovation.
Find out more about our podcast channels on Ashurst.com/podcasts
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Like many companies across the globe, 2021 is shaping up to be a defining year for Shell with a huge number of transformation projects at play. In this first episode of Business Agenda, Fraser Hill, General Manager of Digital and Process Transformation at Shell and Esther Wu transformation program lead at Ashurst Advance share their unique transformation programs of work that are driven by efficiencies gains and value creation.
Esther and Fraser discuss the drivers that have influenced their very different (yet in some ways similar) transformation journeys including, the benefits and weaknesses of systematic whole of organisation transformation projects, the skill sets required by legal professionals of the future (including coding!) and the use of technology across the entire contracting and commercial space.
“If you are a supplier to an organisation, you need to bring ideas and solutions that enable their business strategy….You need to start with the objective, the end game, the user in mind, and then apply what it is that they need, rather than pushing your own agenda. Intimacy and understanding and being very clear about the role you play in the value chain is critical.” Fraser Hill, General Manager of Digital and Process Transformation at Shell.
Find out more about our podcast channels on Ashurst.com/podcasts
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2021 is shaping up to be a momentous year for business leaders and those who advise them. Across every sector, powerful forces of change will challenge organisations and create opportunities like never before.
Join us, as we tap into Ashurst’s deep industry knowledge and wide network to speak with thought leaders and experts from across the globe. We’ll be covering the key trends and opportunities emerging from advances in data and technology, the energy transition and the changing dynamics impacting banking and finance, real estate & infrastructure and much more.
To ensure you don’t miss a single episode, subscribe to Business Agenda now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your wherever you listen to your podcasts.
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