The Business Of: Recent Episodes
Level 25 Media
"The Business Of" podcast is the idea of founders Will Chapman and Charlie Selth. It is their ambition to provide a medium for a diverse audience to hear about and learn from Australia's great businesses and business people.
In this episode, we sit down with Larry Anthony AO – third-generation Federal MP and former Minister for Social Security in the Howard government – for a deep dive into life in and out of Parliament.
We cover the early days of his political career, including his unconventional campaign methods (including riding a push bike around Byron Bay), his infamous hungover Question Time appearance in Parliament, and what it's really like managing the largest spending portfolio in the Commonwealth in his role as Minister for Social Security.
We also dig into the mechanics of being a Cabinet Minister, the behind-the-scenes workings of government, and how a young person can look to get a start in a political career.
Plus, Larry shares his reflections on the Anthony family's political legacy, the transition from Parliament to business, and his work today as Chairman of the SAS Group.
It's an honest look at politics, legacy, and leadership – from someone who's lived it all.
We hope you enjoy!
Follow our socials:
- X
- TikTok
Welcome to the first episode of Sweat Capital – the next chapter in our journey of exploring ambition, effort, and the long game in business and life.
In this launch episode, we introduce the new brand, share what Sweat Capital stands for, and set the stage for the conversations ahead. At its core, Sweat Capital is about doing the daily work, making the most of opportunities, and building something real over time – careers, companies, and character – with no shortcuts.
Joining us is Dimitri Gremos, Head of Creative & Strategy at Sweat Capital, who has played a key role in shaping the brand’s identity and vision. Dimitri takes us behind the scenes of the rebrand, how we landed on Sweat Capital, and what listeners can expect from this new era of the podcast.
If you’ve been with us since the early days, thank you for being part of the journey. If you’re new here, welcome – we’re just getting started.
This episode was filmed at the University of Sydney's ThinkSpace.
Martijn Wilder AM has spent decades at the intersection of climate, capital, and policy—shaping the way governments and private markets respond to the challenge of decarbonisation.
In this episode, we unpack Martijn’s career journey—from starting out in law and founding Pollination Group, to playing a key role in the National Reconstruction Fund and sitting on boards like WWF and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. He shares what drew him to emerging markets and frontier projects, how he thinks about sustainable investing, and why public-private partnerships are crucial for climate outcomes.
We also dig into Australia’s policy landscape, the future of energy and innovation, and what advice he has for young people who want to build a meaningful career in climate or capital.
Andrew Purcell – Energy, Emerging Markets, and the Value of Going Off-Piste
From investment banking in Hong Kong to drilling exploration wells in Cuba, Andrew Purcell has built a career that defies convention. In this episode, we sit down with the Executive Chairman of Melbana Energy to explore how and why he’s always chosen to operate in the world’s harder-to-navigate markets.
We talk about his early leap from banking into energy and infrastructure, what keeps him committed to jurisdictions like Cuba, and the strategic thinking behind deals like the recent Santos farm-in. Andrew also shares reflections from decades of investing across Asia—Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia—and the lessons he's learned about political risk, capital allocation, and long-term conviction.
Justine Morton started her career on the trading floor at Lehman Brothers in London—where she was the only woman in a sea of 100—and was offered the role of Global Head of Hedge Fund Sales in her twenties. But despite the prestige and momentum, she made the rare and courageous decision to walk away.
In this episode, we dive into that early chapter of Justine’s career—life in the high-stakes world of London finance, the lessons from working with world-class hedge funds, and the turning point that led her back to Australia.
Now an Executive Advisor at Providence, Justine helps families and not-for-profits make long-term, values-aligned investment decisions. We explore how she brings clarity to complex information, her approach to sustainable investing, and what it really means to be a trusted adviser across generations.
Following last week’s episode on intrapreneurship inside a Big Four firm, this week we sit down with someone doing something just as bold—on the legal side.
Xavier Keary is the co-founder of G&T Ventures, a specialised group inside Gilbert + Tobin dedicated to supporting startups, scaleups, and investors. After starting his career as a capital markets lawyer, Xavier made the leap into the early-stage ecosystem—at a time when many questioned whether law firms had a role to play in backing founders from day one.
In this episode, we unpack what it really takes to build a startup-facing offering inside a top-tier law firm, why legal advice needs to be fast, human, and commercially savvy, and the common traps founders fall into when raising capital. Xavier also shares his views on Australia’s innovation landscape, how he’s scaling a relationship-led business, and what the legal profession can learn from venture-backed models.
Amanda Price didn’t follow the traditional Big Four path. After building and scaling startups early in her career, she brought that same founder mindset into KPMG—where she now leads High Growth Ventures, a division built to serve Australia’s most ambitious startups.
In this episode, Amanda shares how she carved out a space for startup-focused work inside one of the world’s largest professional services firms, and how she overcame early scepticism to build a nationally recognised offering. We dive into the unique challenges of integrating top-end advisory services with early-stage companies, how her team works like “portfolio managers,” and why trust, speed, and empathy are central to their model.
We also talk about intrapreneurship, what makes a great founder to back, and the personal tools Amanda relies on to handle pressure and maintain clarity.
For our 100th episode, we’re joined by Cathie Reid—an entrepreneur, board director, investor, and trailblazer whose career is anything but conventional. Cathie opens up about how a breakup in her early twenties sparked the journey that would see her build and scale a pharmacy empire, move into aged care and then founded a global cancer care business.
We talk about losing 60% of revenue overnight in the early Epic Pharmacy days, navigating exits, chairing an ASX-listed company during a hostile takeover, and what she's learned along the way about leadership, pressure, and reinvention.
She also shares insights into her work with Arc31, the family office she runs, her time on the Brisbane Lions board, and what it means to invest with purpose. A story of grit, growth, and not being afraid to start over—Cathie Reid is the perfect guest to mark our 100th episode.
Dr Nick Coatsworth became a household name during the COVID-19 pandemic, fronting national press conferences as Australia’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer. But behind that calm presence is a remarkable career in medicine, public health, and humanitarian aid.
In this episode, we explore Nick’s path from medical school to conflict zones with Doctors Without Borders, his time working in the Northern Territory, and how he found himself unexpectedly stepping into one of the country’s most visible health leadership roles.
We dive into the personal toll of high-stress environments, how he thinks about mental health and burnout, and what keeps him driven today outside of the public spotlight.
This is a conversation about resilience, purpose, and the unexpected turns careers can take—even at the highest levels.
Few lawyers can claim a career as dynamic and globally mobile as Lewis Grimm. With decades of experience across New York, Europe, and now Australia, Lewis has built a reputation as a trusted legal adviser on some of the most complex and high-stakes leveraged finance and restructuring deals in the world. From billion-dollar chapter 11s in the U.S. to groundbreaking Australian schemes of arrangement, Lewis has consistently found himself at the centre of transactions where the law meets commerce—and where the stakes couldn’t be higher.What makes Lewis particularly unique is his ability to marry legal precision with commercial acumen. Starting his career in New York’s high-pressure legal scene and now advising in Australia on cross-border sponsor-backed transactions, Lewis has worked alongside some of the world’s most prominent financial institutions, sponsors, and funds. Whether it’s the record-fast Southcross Holdings restructure or advising Macquarie on the Beauparc Utilities acquisition, his approach blends strategy, creativity, and deep legal expertise.In today’s episode, we delve into Lewis’s global legal journey, what it takes to be a truly great deal lawyer, and how the role of legal advisers is evolving in an increasingly commercial world.We also explore trends in private credit, insights into sponsor-led deals, and the legal intricacies behind some of the most fascinating transactions in recent memory.
Stephen Cole oversees four mining hubs, thousands of employees, and the daily operations that keep one of Australia’s largest iron ore producers running. In this episode, we sit down with Fortescue’s Director of Mining Operations to explore what that leadership actually looks like—on the ground and from the air.
We talk about his early days at BHP, the cultural shift he experienced moving to Fortescue, and how operational decisions get made at speed in a high-pressure environment. Stephen also opens up about the personal side of the job—the toll it can take, how he manages mental health, and why showing up on site still matters.
We also discuss Fortescue’s push into green iron and hydrogen, building a culture of safety and inclusion, and what it means to lead in a cyclical, capital-intensive industry.
Recorded after a tour of Fortescue’s Perth office, this episode is a candid look at leadership, resilience, and transformation in the mining sector.
Innovation is often talked about in terms of breakthroughs and big ideas—but the real challenge lies in turning those ideas into investable, scalable businesses. That’s where today’s guest comes in. Ken Jefferd is the Executive Director of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation at the University of Melbourne and Managing Director of its commercialisation arm, helping guide one of Australia’s most significant research portfolios into the hands of industry, investors, and end users.Ken’s background bridges both corporate and academic worlds. Before joining the university sector, he held senior global roles at BP, including as Head of Research & Technology and later CEO of one of BP’s Australian subsidiaries. Now, he oversees a $1.5 billion research and innovation enterprise, helping shape the infrastructure, capital pathways, and partnerships that fuel Australia’s knowledge economy.In today’s episode, we dive into Ken’s global experience, how Australia can better capitalise on its research strength, and the impact of new initiatives like Tin Alley Ventures and the Jumar Bioincubator.We also unpack the policy settings, funding gaps, and collaboration models that are shaping the future of commercialisation in Australia. We hope you enjoy this conversation with Ken Jefferd.
Turning world-class research into real-world impact is no easy task. It takes deep scientific knowledge, a sharp commercial eye, and a whole lot of persistence. Few people understand this better than our guest today, Dr. Peter Devine, CEO of Uniseed—Australia’s longest-running venture fund focused on research commercialisation.
Peter’s career has spanned the lab bench and the boardroom. With a background in biochemistry, microbiology, and a PhD in gynaecological oncology, he’s spent time in both academia and industry, giving him a unique perspective on how breakthrough science can become investable innovation. Before leading Uniseed, Peter worked in commercialisation offices like UniQuest, helping university researchers navigate the complex world of IP and tech transfer.
In today’s episode, we dive into Peter’s journey from scientific research to venture capital, his leadership at Uniseed, and what it takes to back high-risk, high-reward science-driven startups.
We also unpack the challenges of early-stage investing in Australia, the profile of successful deep-tech ventures, and Peter’s advice for young scientists looking to turn research into a career in innovation or investing. We hope you enjoy this conversation with Dr. Peter Devine.
Check out Peter Devine's Music: HERE
In the world of financial services, where every process must be airtight and every action traceable, documentation isn’t just admin—it’s risk management, compliance, and operational continuity. Yet teams still spend 4 to 6 hours manually writing SOPs and process guides—until now.Our guests today are Finn and Oliver, co-founders of Fluency, a company that’s reimagining how operations teams work. Best mates who learned to code while juggling university and part-time jobs, Fluency was born from Finn’s time in investment banking and an internship at HESTA, where he saw firsthand the inefficiencies of legacy documentation. What started as a side project quickly grew into a category-defining product.Fluency is 50x faster documentation. Their AI captures every step of a process with a simple 5-minute screen recording, transforming it into clear, compliant documentation in seconds. Already trusted by major players like AON, KordaMentha, and Bennelong Funds Management, Fluency is becoming critical infrastructure for financial services teams with high regulatory overhead and limited time.But they haven’t stopped there. After speaking to customers, they realised the deeper issue: operations teams were flying blind. So they built real-time process observation—a module that gives operations teams live visibility into workflows, bottlenecks, and compliance risks, similar to what sales and engineering teams get through CRMs.With $1.5 million in pre-seed backing and a bold mission to bring AI to enterprise operations, Finn and Oliver are just getting started.
It’s always fascinating to examine the economy from two different angles—especially when one is through the eyes of a wealth adviser and the other from the perspective of a business and restructuring specialist. While both are navigating the same macro environment, their day-to-day realities couldn’t be more different. In this episode, recorded just before the announcement of the latest Trump tariffs, we explore how both individuals and businesses are responding to what has become an increasingly complex and volatile economic climate.To help us do that, we’re joined by two senior professionals from Vincents—our podcast sponsor and one of Australia’s leading multidisciplinary advisory firms. Kenneth Beanland, from Vincents Private Wealth, and Steven Staatz, from the firm’s Restructuring & Insolvency division, bring years of experience in advising clients through both prosperous and uncertain times. From helping clients build resilient investment portfolios to working with struggling SMEs on turnarounds and restructuring, the breadth of their insight makes for a really unique and timely discussion.Hello and welcome back to The Business Of, I’m Will, and I’m Charlie. In today’s episode, we unpack the current economic climate from both the boardroom and the balance sheet—how small-to-medium businesses are coping with sustained rate pressure, and how investors are adapting their portfolios to meet both near-term needs and long-term goals.We also explore the federal government's Small Business Restructuring initiative, the rise of private markets in investment strategies, and wrap up with a few lighter questions—including a stock pick for 2025. We hope you enjoy this special episode featuring Kenneth Beanland and Steven Staatz from Vincents.
In a country as vast and decentralised as Australia, the heavy vehicle industry is the lifeblood of our economy—connecting farms to ports, factories to distribution centres, and towns to cities. It’s easy to overlook just how critical the sector is, but without trucks, Australia stops. At the centre of this essential industry is our guest today, Todd Hacking, the CEO of the Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia.
Todd’s career is as interesting as it is relevant. From his early days in federal politics, working in government roles and regulatory affairs, to leading advocacy at Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia, he’s spent years building the policy and negotiation skills that now serve him so well at HVIA. It’s this blend of political instinct and industry insight that makes him uniquely suited to represent over 300 of Australia’s most important transport manufacturers and suppliers.
In today’s episode, we unpack Todd’s career journey, from Parliament House to the Brisbane Truck Show, and hear how he helped double HVIA’s membership during a pandemic while pushing for major policy reforms like the instant asset write-off.
We also dive into the future of heavy vehicles in Australia—from electrification and hydrogen innovation to safety, workforce development, and what’s being done to keep this vital industry moving. We hope you enjoy this conversation with Todd Hacking.
Brisbane has never been more front and centre. With the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon, the eyes of the world are firmly fixed on the River City. But beyond the stadiums and sporting headlines, Brisbane is undergoing a broader transformation—economically, culturally, and globally—and few people are better placed to talk about that than today’s guest.
Anthony Ryan is the CEO of the Brisbane Economic Development Agency, or BEDA, the city’s lead organisation driving tourism, investment, major events, and economic growth. With a background in community leadership and social enterprise, Anthony brings a unique perspective to one of the most strategically important roles in Brisbane’s future. Under his leadership, BEDA has adopted a data-driven and impact-focused approach to preparing Brisbane not just for the Olympics, but for long-term, sustainable success.
In today’s episode, we dive into the sectors that are energising Brisbane’s economy—from medtech and tourism to private capital and infrastructure—and what the path to 2032 and beyond could look like.
We’ll also unpack insights from BEDA’s State of the City Report, talk about the surge in international tourism, and hear Anthony’s vision for what a truly successful Olympic Games could mean for Brisbane.
Very few businesses in Australia can claim a history as rich and enduring as Washington H. Soul Pattinson. Founded in 1872 as a single pharmacy, it has since evolved into a diversified investment powerhouse, yet remarkably, it has remained a family-led enterprise for over 150 years. As the second-oldest ASX-listed company, Soul Patts has not only weathered world wars, economic depressions, financial crises, and evolving industry landscapes—it has thrived. It stands as a rare example of a business that has successfully balanced tradition with transformation, consistently delivering strong returns across multiple generations including this year earning the title 'Dividend Aristocrat' - a title afforded to a company that has grown its dividend every year for 25 years.
At the centre of this extraordinary journey is our guest today, Robert Millner. A direct descendant of the original founders, Rob has been on the board of WHSP since 1984 and Chairman since 1998, overseeing the company’s transition from its pharmaceutical roots to one of Australia’s most respected and diversified investment houses. Under his leadership, WHSP has expanded into telecommunications, energy, financial services, and beyond, all while maintaining its reputation for patience, discipline, and long-term value creation. Known for his pragmatic approach and contrarian investment philosophy, Robert has guided WHSP through multiple market cycles, making bold decisions that have positioned the company as a steady and strategic force in Australian business.
In today’s episode, we explore the remarkable history of Soul Patts, Rob's approach to leadership and investment, and how the company has built a reputation for resilience and strategic foresight.
We’ll also discuss WHSP’s bold investment moves, its role in shaping corporate Australia, and Robert’s insights on long-term investing and navigating economic uncertainty. We hope you enjoy
If there is one thing that Australians have always loved, it is property. The Great Australian Dream is the desire for every Australian family to own their own home.
Owning your own home on your own block of land was a symbol of success. If you are lucky you may even manage to get yourself an investment property. However, the opportunities to invest in real estate are more expansive than they have ever been before.
In today’s podcast, we are joined by one of the best real estate minds in Australia, MA Financial Joint-CEO – Julian Biggins who oversees much of the MA Financial business but has built a particular name for himself in real estate.
On today’s podcast, we unpack with Julian:
-
The rise of altnerative real estate investment opportunities and where MA Financial is seeing value for investors across various strategies such as pubs and marinas
-
We discuss Australia’s current “housing crisis” and the variables that are contributing to the shortfall in supply & development activity
-
We hear from Julian about the growth of MA Financial in his time since starting the firm alongside Chris Wyke
We hope you enjoy!
The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science are Australia’s most prestigious awards for achievements in scientific research and research-based innovation. The 2024 Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation was received by Professor Andrew F Wilks & Dr Chris Burns who are credited with the invention of momelotinib a drug to help treat myelofibrosis, a rare form of blood cancer that impacts one in 100,000.
The path to momelotinib achieving US FDA approval was a long one. Today’s journey follows the journey of Andrew Wilks, a young boy from Liverpool born to a working-class family who through his own innate curiosity and obsession with science has seen first-hand the good of what significant public and private investment into solving some of the world’s most challenging problems can provide to society.
On today’s podcast, we share an insight into the formative experiences of one of Australia’s great scientific minds.
We hear about his leap into entrepreneurship or what he calls “the dark side”.
Finally, we hear about the launch and early success of SYNthesis BioVentures, Andrew’s venture capital fund providing Ultra High Net Worth Individuals with access to a portfolio of exciting early-stage opportunities.
We hope you enjoy!
Navigating the world of alternative assets requires not just technical expertise, but a deep understanding of what investors across different markets truly value. Few people have had to adapt to those shifting demands as much as our guest today, Claire Smith. From Sydney to London and now back to Australia, Claire’s career has taken her across global financial hubs, where she has raised billions for infrastructure debt, private equity, and private credit strategies—gaining firsthand insight into the evolving appetite for alternative investments.
Claire started her career at Macquarie, where she transitioned from structured finance and derivatives into infrastructure debt investment, eventually leading fundraising efforts in Europe and securing over £4 billion in commitments for large-scale projects. In 2017, she joined Schroders in London, helping drive the firm’s expansion in private markets before returning to Sydney to lead business development for Schroders’ Australian private markets division. Her expertise spans infrastructure, real estate, private equity, and credit—sectors that have grown exponentially as institutional investors shift away from traditional asset classes.
In today’s episode, we explore Claire’s career in global finance, her perspective on the future of private assets, and what makes Schroders’ approach to private equity different from the traditional buyout model.
We’ll also discuss how she identifies high-potential investments, working with founder-led businesses, and her advice for young professionals looking to build a career overseas. We hope you enjoy
Building a global technology company from scratch is no easy feat—but building one out of a demountable office in an industrial business park is something else entirely. That’s exactly how TechnologyOne began. What started in the car park of JL Mactaggart Industries with a small investment and a big idea has since grown into one of Australia’s most successful enterprise software companies, now worth nearly $10 billion on the ASX.
At the helm of this extraordinary journey is our guest today, Adrian Di Marco. As the founder of TechnologyOne, Adrian pioneered one of Australia’s first true tech startups, navigating an industry that was still in its infancy. From creating cutting-edge relational database technology to taking on global giants like Oracle and SAP, he has spent decades proving that an Australian software company can not only compete but lead in the global enterprise market. Under his leadership, TechnologyOne has consistently doubled its revenues and profits every four to five years since listing on the ASX in 1999, all while maintaining an unwavering commitment to innovation.
In today’s episode, we dive into Adrian’s remarkable career, from his early days in Brisbane to the founding and expansion of TechnologyOne into international markets.
We’ll also explore his thoughts on leadership, innovation, and what it takes to build a tech powerhouse in an industry dominated by global giants. We hope you enjoy
For many people in finance, the dream is to one day work in New York—the global hub of capital markets, where deals are made, trends are set, and some of the biggest investment opportunities are uncovered. Our next guest, William Liu, is living that dream. As a research analyst at Wilson Asset Management, he sits in New York, covering global equities for WAM —all at a relatively young age.
Will’s journey to WAM Global is a fascinating one, and in today’s episode, he takes us inside the world of global stock picking, sharing how he sources and evaluates investment opportunities from the heart of the financial world. We’ll also hear about some of his top picks at the moment, the trends shaping markets, and the investment philosophy that guides his decisions.
In today’s episode, we dive into Will’s path to landing a job in New York, his insights into the current investment landscape, and his advice for young professionals looking to break into the world of funds management.
The transition to a cleaner energy future is one of the biggest challenges—and opportunities—of our time. Critical minerals, the energy transition, and the innovation imperative for mining are all at the center of this global shift. Few people understand this landscape better than our guest today, Peter Bryant. As the Board Chair of Clareo and Co-Founder of the Development Partner Institute, Peter has spent his career advising global leaders on how to drive innovation, sustainability, and strategic growth in the resources sector.
Peter’s work spans some of the world’s most influential mining and energy companies, including Anglo American, BHP, and Rio Tinto. He has spoken at leading forums such as COP26, IMARC, and CERAWeek, and he leads the Key Minerals Forum, engaging with U.S. policymakers to shape the future of the global mining sector.
In today’s episode, we explore Peter’s insights into the evolving role of critical minerals, and how mining companies can balance economic growth with environmental responsibility.
We’ll also discuss the importance of innovation in the mining sector and how strategic leadership can position Australia as a global force in the energy transition.
The ability to apply a specific skillset across vastly different industries is a rare and valuable talent. Our next guest, Mitch Hooke AM, has done this exceptionally well. From pioneering reduced tillage farming systems on the Darling Downs to shaping market-oriented grain policies at the Grains Council of Australia, and later driving sustainable development as CEO of the Minerals Council of Australia, Mitch’s career demonstrates how expertise and adaptability can lead to profound impact across sectors.
Starting on a sheep property in Victoria and moving into public policy, Mitch has consistently bridged the gap between industry and advocacy. His work has influenced national and international debates, from deregulation in agriculture to sustainable practices in mining. More recently, he’s taken on a new challenge as part of the federal government’s Entrepreneurs’ Programme advisory committee, bringing his wealth of experience to support SMEs in commercializing innovative products.
Hello and welcome back to The Business Of, I’m Will, and I’m Charlie. On today’s episode, we explore Mitch’s remarkable journey across agriculture, food, and mining, delving into his leadership style and the lessons he’s carried between industries.
We’ll also discuss his views on sustainability, his vision for the future of Australian industries, and the advice he has for young professionals entering public policy and advocacy.
We hope you enjoy this On-Air at IMARC episode!
Starting a transformative business is a bold move—but starting one with your brother, and only five years out of university, takes vision and confidence. In 1987, Terry Paule and his brother Spiro founded Financial Index, now known as Findex, with the goal of revolutionizing how Australians approach accounting and advisory services. What began as an innovative idea has grown into a national powerhouse with over 110 locations across Australia and New Zealand and more than $28 billion in funds under advice.
Terry’s entrepreneurial spirit didn’t stop with Findex. Over the years, he’s diversified his efforts into ventures like Botanical Water Technologies and My Life Biocheese, combining business success with a passion for sustainability and global impact. His journey is a testament to the power of bold decisions and a commitment to making a difference.
Hello and welcome back to The Business Of, I’m Will, and I’m Charlie. In today’s episode, we explore Terry’s remarkable career - from the early days of Findex to the strategic decisions that built it into a national leader.
We’ll also dive into his innovative projects in water technology and plant-based foods, his perspective on mentoring and philanthropy, and how he’s using business as a force for good.
We hope you enjoy.
Visit Terry's website to learn more about his current ventures: https://www.terrypaule.com/
Moving toward net zero is one of the defining challenges of our time, and ensuring that this transition is both effective and sustainable requires careful, considered leadership. Few people are better placed to navigate this than our next guest, Tania Constable, CEO of the Minerals Council of Australia. In her role, Tania is helping to push Australia in the right direction, balancing ambitious sustainability goals with practical decisions that consider the needs of all stakeholders.
Tania’s career journey is interesting. From her work at the CO2CRC, Australia’s leading research body for carbon capture and storage, to her tenure in government and now leading the MCA, she’s been at the forefront of critical issues shaping Australia’s resources and energy sectors. Her expertise and dedication have earned her widespread respect, as well as a Public Service Medal for her contributions to these industries.
Hello and welcome back to The Business Of, I’m Will, and I’m Charlie. On today’s episode, we explore Tania’s transition from public service to leading the MCA, her approach to advocating for the mining sector, and the challenges and opportunities she sees in balancing economic growth with sustainability.
We hope you enjoy this On-Air at IMARC episode!
Maintaining an entrepreneurial spirit while working in a large organisation isn’t always easy, but for our next guest, Owen Hegarty, it became a defining part of his career. While at Rio Tinto, Owen saw opportunities others might have overlooked, particularly in junior resources. This mindset ultimately led him to make a bold decision—to turn down a safer, high-profile executive role at Rio Tinto and instead take a leap of faith to found Oxiana, a move that would go on to redefine his career and the Australian mining landscape.
Owen’s journey began with a foundation in economics before transitioning to mining, where he spent 25 years at Rio Tinto, gaining unmatched experience across commodities and continents. Guided by an entrepreneurial vision, he built Oxiana into a leading copper and gold miner, eventually merging it into OZ Minerals in a $12 billion deal. Today, as the founder of EMR Capital, Owen continues to shape the mining industry with his innovative approach to investment and development.
Hello and welcome back to The Business Of, I’m Will, and I’m Charlie. On today’s episode, we explore Owen’s remarkable career, from his transformative years at Rio Tinto to building Oxiana into a mining powerhouse.
We’ll also discuss his insights into the evolving resources industry, the challenges of global operations, and his vision for Australia as a capital markets hub for mining.
We hope you enjoy this On-Air at IMARC episode!
Making the most of opportunities, no matter how far out of your comfort zone they may seem, can be the key to an extraordinary career. For our next guest, Jake Klein, this meant going to China to evaluate Chinese gold assets whilst he was still at Macquarie in his 20s. That experience not only took him halfway around the world but also set the stage for a career that would see him lead transformative ventures in the global gold mining industry.
Jake’s journey began far from the world of mining, with a background in accounting and corporate finance. From his time at Macquarie, where he helped spearhead the Asia Resource Capital joint venture, to founding Sino Gold and ultimately selling it for $2.2 billion, Jake has consistently challenged conventional wisdom and charted bold paths forward. He is a great example of someone who has carved out a very successful career in a field he did not study in and that his initial lack of knowledge of resources was only a mere hurdle, rather than a barrier.
Hello and welcome back to The Business Of, I’m Will, and I’m Charlie. On today’s episode, we dive into Jake’s unique career journey and how a chance meeting with a visiting key Chinese official to the Macquarie offices led to Jake exploring a career in gold.
We explore the formation of Evolution Mining, the company he is now CEO of, and we also explore Jake’s views on Australia’s potential as a capital markets hub for mining.
We hope you enjoy this On-Air at IMARC episode!
We’ve heard countless success stories throughout our time hosting this podcast, but
perhaps none are as eye-opening and truly against the odds as this one. Our next
guest, Matt Kratiuk, has faced challenges that would break even the strongest
among us. From experiencing homelessness as a teenager to being caught up in
gang life and the grip of addiction, Matt’s story is a testament to resilience,
transformation, and the power of redefining one’s life.
Matt’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Today, he holds the role of Chief
Growth Officer at Tactic and is a passionate ambassador for the Vinnies CEO
Sleepout, where he’s helped raise enough funds to make a tangible difference in the
fight against homelessness. But the path from those early struggles to his current
influence in Queensland’s business community is filled with lessons, turning points,
and unwavering determination that we get the pleasure of unpacking today.
Hello and welcome back to The Business Of, I’m Will, and I’m Charlie. In today’s
episode, we explore Matt’s incredible turnaround,
how he transitioned from hardship to the boardroom,
And we’ll also hear about Matt’s work with Vinnies and what drives him to make a
difference.
We hope you enjoy.
Mentorship can be one of the most pivotal aspects of acareer, offering guidance when the path ahead isn’t always clear. Today’s guest, Frank Danieli, knows the power of mentorship well. Throughout his career, he’s not only sought advice from industry veterans but has also become a mentor himself, guiding others through the intricacies of private credit and finance. Starting in audit and consulting, Frank’s journey led him to advisory roles and ultimately to heading the credit investments and lending platform at MA Financial.
Frank has worked on some of Australia’s most complexrestructures and mergers, like the Slater & Gordon deal, and brings a wealth of insight on navigating high-stakes transactions. He brings a unique perspective on the rise of private credit and helps us unpack the hype on today’s episode.
In today’s episode, we explore Frank’s journey and how this has shaped his approach to leadership and mentorship, we’ll discuss MA Financial’s strategic partnership with HummGroup and finally we will delve into MA Financial’s "war games" risk management method—a unique system that’s as innovative as it is rigorous.
We hope you enjoy
On-Air at IMARC
In this week's episode Dino Otranto, CEO of Fortescue, joins us to peel the curtain back on his lessonsfrom a career in the mining industry and to share what drives him every day in his current role.
Throughout the discussion we unpack some interesting discussion points with Dino including:His formative years as the son of migrants growing up in WA and how his passion for being on-site, amongst the action, has underpinned much of his time in the industry.
We get a strong appreciation for the conviction that Dino has in the "Real Zero" target that Fortescue has set for its mining operations and what actions the business is taking to get there.
We get an appreciation of why Dino believes that culture is so important to any organisation and how he works to inspire over 15,000 people within his organisations are binded by the "light on the hill".We would like to say a big thank you to Nicky Hamer from Fortescue as well as Sherene Asnasyous & the broader IMARC crew for the work that they did in pulling the interview together.
We hope you enjoy!
Alternative investments have gone from niche to nearlyessential in today’s portfolios, offering investors the chance to diversify and seek returns uncorrelated with traditional markets. Our guest today, Stephen Darke, has spent his career at the forefront of this shift. As the CEO of Navigator Global Investments, Stephen’s work is centered on providing growth capital to alternative asset managers, supporting the innovative strategies that are reshaping the industry.
Stephen’s career journey has been fascinating starting outas a lawyer at Allens before transitioning to asset management and working internationally primarily in New York for Macquarie. His role now is leading Navigator on the ASX, where he’s driven impressive growth as Navigator looks to continue to find and invest in impressive alternative investing strategies.
Hello and welcome back to The Business Of, I’m Will, and I’m Charlie. On today’s episode, we dive into Stephen’s unique perspective on the role of alternative investments in today’s market, his insights on managing uncorrelated strategies, and the trends shaping the future of asset management.
We have heard numerous times from guests of this podcast that no career is a straight line, but today’s guest, Brett Clark, truly embodies this mindset. From studying pharmacy at UQ to building a successful online business at the height of the dotcom era, Brett’s journey has been defined by his ability to seize opportunities, adapt, and thrive—even when the odds were stacked against him.
Brett’s career took off when he founded ePharmacy, a venture that defied the conventional wisdom of the time and emerged as a dotcom success story. With no business degree or computer skills at the outset, he built the company into a major player that eventually merged with Chemist Warehouse. Now, he’s at the forefront of one of Australia’s largest pharmacy retailers, managing its operations across Queensland and Northern NSW, and leading through periods of significant change and expansion.
Hello and welcome back to The Business Of, I’m Will, and I’m Charlie. On today’s episode, we trace Brett’s journey from his early days in pharmacy to becoming a key figure in the healthcare retail space.
We’ll discuss the strategic merger between ePharmacy and Chemist Warehouse, dive into the recent Chemist Warehouse-Sigma deal, and explore Brett’s unique involvement in the worlds of rugby and ballet—two seemingly unrelated passions where his leadership continues to make an impact.
Lastly, we’ll touch on his philanthropic efforts, his rolewith the Brisbane 2032 Olympics
We hope you enjoy.
Getting an Australian life sciences business through what’s often called the "valley of death"—the treacherous journey from idea to commercialization—is no small feat. Many groundbreaking innovations get stuck in this phase, often starved of the capital and support they need to reach the market. Today’s guest, Anthony Liveris, is one of the few who are boldly tackling this challenge. Through his work at Proto Axiom, Anthony is leading the charge to bring world-class Australian science to the global stage, navigating the risks and obstacles that many never overcome.
Anthony was no stranger to the world of innovation and leadership, his early entrepreneurial spirit saw him launching a data analytics company, Applecart, before even finishing university. Now, with Proto Axiom, he's focused on incubating life sciences startups, ensuring they have both the financial backing and advisory network needed to succeed in a highly competitive global landscape.
On today’s episode, we dive into Anthony’s journey—from his early days as an entrepreneur to his current leadership at Proto Axiom.
We explore how he’s helping to transform Australia’s biotech sector, tackling the “valley of death” that prevents so many innovations from seeing the light of day. We’ll also touch on his passion for Pickleball Australia, a fast-growing sport that has captured Anthony’s attention.
Known for his strategic insights and innovative approach to financial services, our next guest, Mike Davis, is a trailblazer in the realm of private credit lending in Australia. As the Founder and Managing Director of Causeway Financial, Mike has been instrumental in shaping the landscape of alternative finance, providing crucial capital to small and medium enterprises that are the backbone of Australia's economy.Mike's career has spanned various roles in investment management and banking, including a notable tenure as Managing Director at Nikko Asset Management. His journey has been marked by significant achievements, from pioneering new business strategies to navigating the complexities of Asian business integration.Pre-GFC, Mike took a bold step by establishing Causeway Financial, driven by his vision to focus on real and alternative assets. At the time, the term private credit was not even coined.As he shares with us in today's episode, this venture has not only been about creating value but also about transforming the way businesses access capital, especially in a market where traditional bank lending faces increasing regulatory restrictions. On today's podcast, we dive into the early days of Mike’s career and what led him to the world of private credit.We explore the inception of Causeway Financial, the challenges he faced in its early days, and the recent M&A activity in the private credit space as more and more alternative asset managers look to add this growing segment of funds management to their offerings.Finally, Mike gives us a deep dive into the evolving private debt market, the criteria he uses to assess quality borrowers, and the future of private credit in the alternative investment space.We hope you enjoy.
We have all heard stories of the investment banking industry and the high-octane environment in which its people operate. Our next guest took that very industry by the scruff of the neck and by the ripe old age of 28 was Managing Director of UBS. All I can say is that Will & I better get cracking.
Andrew Pridham, an ambitious and hardworking young man from Adelaide who had built a sound understanding of the Australian property market with scribbly handwriting has gone on to become one of Australia’s highest profile and most revered investment banking professionals having held positions as Global Head of Real Estate & Head of Investment Banking for Australasia at UBS including as a member of the UBS Global Investment Banking Committee. He played a leading role as former Executive Chairman of Investment Banking at J.P. Morgan Australia right through to his role as co-founder of MA Financial Group in what was initially a joint venture between New York Stock Exchange Listed Moelis & Company and its Australian executives.
If that wasn’t enough Andrew has also fielded roles in various community positions and philanthropic initiatives. He is a diehard supporter of the Sydney Swans where he holds the position of Chairman of the Board and he is also unfortunately a diehard supporter of the Norwood Redlegs but we will not hold that against him! In addition to his sporting interests, Andrew actively gives back via significant philanthropic contributions to educational institutions, Indigenous programs and other wellness and self-improvement initiatives such as the MA Academy.
On today’s podcast, we unpack with Andrew the origins of his career as an investment banker and how it was that he so quickly rose the ranks of one of Australia’s most successful investment banks.
We hear from Andrew about what drew him back into investment banking and financial markets after some time away from the industry.
And we also hear from Andrew about the vision that he and his trusted management team are executing and further building upon at MA Financial.
We hope you enjoy!
With a career that bridges the worlds of science, entrepreneurship, and venture capital, this week’s guest, Anne-Marie Birkill, has left an indelible mark on Australia’s innovation landscape. With a background rooted in science and ecology, Anne-Marie’s career is a testament to her passion for turning groundbreaking ideas into commercial success stories. From her early days leading companies without a formal background in finance to her pivotal role in building OneVentures into one of Australia’s premier venture capital firms, Anne-Marie’s journey is one of perseverance, strategic thinking, and unwavering commitment to innovation.
Her work has not only fueled her own entrepreneurial pursuits but has also empowered countless other founders through her roles within the University of Queensland and beyond. Today, as a partner at OneVentures and a board member of several influential companies, Anne-Marie continues to shape the future of Australia’s innovation landscape.
On today’s podcast, we explore Anne-Marie’s early career and how her scientific background influenced her entrepreneurial journey.
We delve into the creation and growth of OneVentures, discussing the challenges and strategies involved in raising capital and driving successful investments.
And finally, we explore her approach to board roles and what it takes to make a meaningful impact as a director in today’s fast-paced business environment.
Navigating a dynamic career across law, politics, and corporate governance, this week’s guest, Andrew Fraser, has been at the forefront of significant developments in both the public and private sectors. Starting as a young law and commerce graduate, Andrew quickly made a name for himself by stepping into the public eye as the State Member for Mount Coot-tha at just 27 years old. His meteoric rise continued when he became Queensland’s Treasurer under Premier Anna Bligh, where he led landmark initiatives, including the historic float of QR National.
With a sharp mind for strategy and deal-making, Andrew transitioned seamlessly from public office to impactful roles in the corporate world, including as the Head of Strategy & Investment at the NRL. Today, as Chair of the Australian Retirement Trust, Andrew oversees the retirement savings of over 2.3 million Australians, guiding the strategic direction of a fund managing over $280 billion in assets. His influence extends across various boards, including the Brisbane Broncos, the Bank of Queensland and Griffith University, making him a key figure in both business, education and sports.
On today’s podcast, we explore Andrew’s early beginnings and what brought him to Brisbane.
We delve into his impressive political career, discussing the challenges of earning respect at a young age and managing the complexities of public messaging in capital markets.
And finally, we discuss his current roles in the superannuation sector and various board positions, unpacking what it takes to lead and influence across diverse industries.
'Patient capital invested across public and private markets, building long-term intergenerational wealth.' This is the line that our next guests live by. This week's guests are Nathan Robertson and Josh Derrington from Brisbane-based family office advisory firm, Alvia Asset Partners.
From humble beginnings and valuable lessons learned in their early careers to the inception and growth of Alvia Asset Partners, they offer insights into the challenges and triumphs of building a successful investment firm. They delve into the strategic decisions behind assembling a respected advisory board, including notable figures like former QIC and Telstra Super CIO Jim Christensen, and how these moves have shaped the firm's growth trajectory.
We explore the firm's offerings, with a particular focus on their appeal to family offices and the factors that set Alvia apart in a competitive market. Nathan discusses his transition from larger institutional players to Alvia, sharing what drew him to the firm and his vision for its future. The conversation also touches on the evolving landscape of public versus private markets, with Josh and Nathan offering their perspectives on company exits, the ASX's opportunities, and the role of private equity.
As we dive deeper, Josh and Nathan explain the philosophical underpinnings of Alvia's investment strategy, including their approach to managing a diverse portfolio across public and private markets. They provide a behind-the-scenes look at their process for evaluating and executing investment opportunities and discuss how they keep their team motivated and engaged.
Finally, we hear about the strategic vision for Alvia and their ambitions as leaders in the industry. We hope you enjoy.
Starting his career with a strong foundation in strategic communications, our next guest has built an impressive legacy in the industry. From the inception of his one-person operation to becoming a recognized leader, he has consistently demonstrated innovative thinking and exceptional leadership.
Geoff Rodgers OAM began his journey with humble beginnings, learning invaluable lessons from his first job. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish Rowland, a company that has grown to become a ‘go-to’ agency for big projects and complex problems. Rowland’s unique integrated service model, combining five specialist practice groups, sets it apart from traditional public relations firms, offering comprehensive solutions to its clients.
Geoff's leadership has guided Rowland through pivotal moments since its inception in 1992. His approach to strategic communications has evolved with the industry, and his insights into issues management and stakeholder engagement are invaluable for businesses facing significant public relations crises today. Beyond his professional achievements, Geoff's involvement with organizations like the Brothers Rugby Club, and the CEO sleepout, highlights his commitment to community engagement.
On today’s podcast, Geoff Rodgers shares his journey from the early days of founding Rowland.
He explains the benefits of Rowland's unique integrated service model and its impact on clients.
He provides valuable advice on navigating public relations crises and stakeholder engagement.
And finally, he reflects on his community involvement.
We hope you enjoy.
From her beginnings in engineering to discovering a passion for occupational therapy, our next guest's journey is nothing short of inspiring. She navigated the challenges of a thyroid cancer diagnosis after discovering it herself in her first year of anatomy and emerged stronger, channelling her experiences into a life of helping others and driving innovation.
Amelia St Baker's early career saw her pivot fromengineering to occupational therapy, a move that proved pivotal not only in her personal life but also in her professional path. Her time at the University of Queensland, culminated in her being the youngest ever MBA recipient.
Amelia's journey led to the creation of Ninja Allied Health,a company born from her passion for improving the status quo in the allied health space. Her innovative approach and dedication to service are evident in Ninja's offerings across both the NDIS and Medico-Legal spheres.
On today’s podcast, Amelia St Baker shares what drove her to change from engineering to occupational therapy.
She discusses her passion for continuous learning and how she has consistently defied expectations by proving those who doubted her capabilities wrong.
She provides insights into the founding of Ninja AlliedHealth and its unique approach to client care.
And finally, she offers advice for aspiring entrepreneursand her vision for the future of Ninja.
We hope you enjoy.
Starting his career in business banking, our next guest hasspent over two decades at NAB, rising through the ranks to become a pivotal figure in Australia's banking sector. Known for his strategic acumen and client-centric approach, he has played a significant role in shaping the future of private banking in Australia.Ivano Simonutti, the National General Manager of NAB’sPrivate Bank, began his journey with a keen interest in business banking. His early roles provided him with a strong foundation and invaluable lessons that have stuck with him throughout his career. In 2020, Ivano transitioned into private banking, taking over as General Manager for NAB’s private banking division in Queensland, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory. This move marked a significant shift, bringing new challenges and opportunities.In recent times NAB Private Wealth has undergone asignificant transformation following a strategic review in 2019. The decision to merge NAB Private, JBWere, and nabtrade was a game-changer, leading to substantial milestones in revenues, products, and services. One of the standout strategies has been the "Team of 4" approach, an evolution of the successful "Team of 3" model, which has generated significant new business and provided a seamless, integrated experience for clients. On today’s podcast, Ivano Simonutti takes us through his early career and transition into private banking.He explains the innovative "Team of 4" approachand how it has reshaped client experiences.He shares insights on the strategic direction and futureaspirations of NAB Private Wealth.And finally, he offers invaluable advice for youngprofessionals working in a large firm and discusses the evolving role of private banking.We hope you enjoy.
From his humble beginnings as the grandson of Greek immigrants in Darwin, today’s guests’ path has been marked by relentless determination, exceptional talent, and a visionary mindset.
In today's episode, we delve into the remarkable journey of Andrew N. Liveris AO, a towering figure in global business and leadership.
Andrew's early years, spent in Darwin and later Brisbane, laid the foundation for his stellar academic achievements, including earning first-class honours in Chemical Engineering at the University of Queensland and being awarded the University Medal. His journey then took a significant turn when he joined Dow in Melbourne, a company he once protested against at university as a long-haired non-conforming uni student. His career at Dow would eventually see him rise to the roles of CEO and Chairman of the Board.
Throughout his tenure at Dow, Andrew's focus on innovation and investment in high-value markets transformed the company from a cyclical chemical manufacturer into a science-driven powerhouse. His strategic leadership was evident in landmark achievements, such as the acquisition of Rohm & Haas during economic uncertainty and the monumental $130 billion merger of Dow and DuPont, leading to the creation of three separate entities.
Andrew's book, "Leadership Through Disruption: A Changemaker’s Guide to Twenty-First Century Leadership," encapsulates his philosophy with key lessons on leadership, crisis management, and self-disruption. His ability to navigate complex international business environments, exemplified by his work various global advisory and board roles, further underscores his exceptional leadership capabilities, along with his many charitable contributions.
Hello and welcome back to The Business Of. I’m Will, and I’m Charlie. On today's podcast, Andrew shares his journey from Darwin to global business leadership.
He discusses his transformative vision for Dow and the strategic moves that redefined the company.
He provides insights into his leadership philosophy and international business engagements.
And finally, he talks about his philanthropic endeavours and the lessons he has for the next generation of leaders.
We hope you enjoy.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
In this week’s episode, we are joined by Gaby and Ali Rosenberg to unpack their journey to date in bringing Blossom to the point it is today as an innovative fixed income offering. Nothing in this podcast should be construed as being personal financial advice. It is general in nature only and has not taken into account your particular circumstances, objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the information, strategies and investments are appropriate and suitable for you or seek personal advice from a licensed financial planner before making an investment decision. Past performance does not indicate future performance. BlossomApp Pty Ltd (ABN 74 644 216 151) is a C.A.R. (No. 001284228) of Gleneagle Asset Management Ltd (AFSL 226199).--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
What does the sport of sailing and funds management have in common? Not a lot one would’ve thought, but our next guest was an Olympic sailor, turned fund manager.
This week’s guest is Tom King, Olympic gold medallist and now Chief Investment Officer at Nanuk Asset Management. Tom, after finding the sport of sailing on the back of what was for a large part chance as a teenager, fell in love with it and had a real natural talent for making the margin calls necessary to be successful in the support.
Many competitions later and hours spent on the water, Tom was competing at his home Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000. Tom, along with his partner Mark Turnbull remarkably received gold.
Since leaving the water, Tom has pursued a career in finance where he has held roles at large banks, family offices (including the renowned Consolidated Press Holdings) and is now continuing the strategy of Nanuk Asset Management, a funds management business focussed on investing in the thematic of environmental sustainability and resource efficiency. Nanuk, as Tom explains during the episode, was incredibly early to this trend, perhaps even too early as Tom even admits during the interview.
Now however, Nanuk sits poised as an experienced and seasoned player in the space with a portfolio of companies it thinks can outperform and deliver investors strong returns.
On todays podcast we unpack Tom’s days as a professional sailor and how these skills set him up, oddly, for a career in funds management.
Tom unpacks the early days of Nanuk Asset Management and how they went about starting the fund, crafting the investment strategy and raising the initial money.
Finally, Tom outlines where Nanuk sits now and where it is heading in the future.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
It’s not often that you come across someone so hellbent on solving a massive issue in society that they dedicate their entire life to it. This week’s guest has worn a dress made entirely of women’s pads, campaigned tirelessly to get GST removed from women’s sanitary items and put an issue that otherwise wouldn’t get talked about, in the forefront of our minds.This week’s guest is Rochelle Courtenay, founder of Share the Dignity. She has spearheaded a movement that has made a profound impact on the lives of countless women and girls in need. Through her dedication and tireless efforts, her organization has distributed an insane volume of sanitary products to those experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and poverty. She transformed a grassroots initiative into a nationwide charity, all while overcoming numerous challenges along the way. Her journey is both inspiring and empowering, and today we’ll delve into her passion for creating positive change and the powerful stories that have shaped Share the Dignity into the remarkable organization it is today.On today’s podcast we unpack the origins of Share the Dignity from inspiration to idea to first donation. We hear the progress of Share the Dignity and the challenges Rochelle faced and worked through.And finally she shares what’s next for the foundation and the huge Bloody Big Survey which is the largest data gathering on Women’s menstruation in the world. It is linked below in the show notes - please fill it out! https://www.sharethedignity.org.au/end-period-poverty/bloody-big-survey-2024--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
Hailing from New Zealand, this week’s guest has made his name in Australia’s burgeoning property market. Jason Huljich, co-founder and still co-CEO of Centuria Capital Group, has led Centuria to the point where it is one of Australia’s premier investment firms.
Jason started Centuria in 1999 with John McBain, who he was many years his junior, with Jason using his property consultancy experience to find properties that he saw immense value and upside in.
Now with over $21.1bn, Centuria is diversified across investments in not just property but private credit and investment bonds, and has been delivering its investors consistent, outsized returns.
On today’s podcast we unpack Jason’s career to date and how he went about founding Centuria,
We explore Centuria’s key investment strategies,
And finally, we pick his brains about Australia’s property market and its key differences compared to its overseas counterparts.
We hope you enjoy!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
We are all familiar with a wicketkeeper in cricket or a goalkeeper in soccer but rarely are they the hero of a sporting fixture. However, a mistake can be incredibly costly and your role in keeping the ship sailing smoothly is paramount. Being a corporate lawyer is very much the same.
This episode's guest, Tim Gordon, has made a career out of being one of the most dependable and highly revered corporate lawyers in the country. Tim is Executive Partner at Gilbert + Tobin, a firm that is renowned for their unwavering dedication to client service and for delivering positive outcomes to the relevant stakeholders in their engagements.
As a young lawyer with a passion for working on complex and significant deals, Tim worked his way successfully through the ranks of Gilbert + Tobin to his position today where he oversees a firm that is regarded as a market leader.
On today's podcast we hear the incredible backstory that underpins the remarkable growth of Gilbert + Tobin into a dominant advisor within Australian capital markets.
We gain an insight into life as a lawyer working on highly complex and demanding transactions and how Gilbert + Tobin positions themselves to attract the best talent in the market.
Finally, we explore the future direction of Gilbert + Tobin and how Tim is working alongside his highly talented team to guide the firm forward.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
If your parents told you that you were going to be packed up and taken to a country in which you couldn’t speak a word of their native language, at the age of 15, you would have been excused if you came with a sense of resentment towards the cards you were dealt. But our next guest, Alex Vynokur, has seen his move to Australia far differently.Alex Vynokur is the Founder of BetaShares – an investment manager serving thousands of advisers and over 1 million investors, Betashares currently manages over $37 billion in assets across the broadest range of ETFs on the market. Founded in 2009, the company is focused on its three key principles of providing simplicity, cost-effectiveness through their low fee structures, and transparency.Alex’s journey from Ukraine to Australia presented to him opportunities that he had never thought possible.His intellect was apparent from a very young age, with a strong academic prowess earning him an academicscholarship and paralegal position at a law firm where he got his first taste of the “big city life”.Attracted by the opportunities that presented themselves in the fields of law and finance, Alex examined the various cogs of the corporate ladder but was somewhat deterred by the hierarchal approach adopted by many institutions of his time.Alex’s entrepreneurial capabilities equipped with his financial prowess led to the ideation of what would become BetaShares. An organisation that debugged the notion that investing was only for the rich and made cost-effective investing opportunities through the form of ETFs available to investors of all classes. Since founding the business back in 2009, Alex has now grown the business into a $37bn behemoth that records 1 in every 9 Australian investors on its books.In today’s episode we unpack with Alex his transition out of the oppressive soviet regime to Australian soil. We explore the idea of meritocracy in the workplace and how this has driven much of Alex’s approach to business and staff at BetaShares.We understand the genesis for the ETF style-products offered by BetaShares.Finally, we gain an insight on the BetaShares strategy and their recent strategic acquisitions – particularly in the superannuation landscape.We hope you enjoy!--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
NEW EPISODE - "Up & Coming" Series Part 2 🎙
In this week's episode, Will Chapman and Charlie Selth are joined by Mitchell Hughes.
Mitch is a busy man. In conjunction with his role as an Analyst 1835i, he is the driving force behind Australia's first student-led VC in NextGen Ventures.
Mitch and his team have a vision for what the future of student entrepreneurship in this country can get to and are on a mission to channel further financial and operational support to the sector.
The NextGen team have recognised that the student startup component of the Australian ecosystem is widely misunderstood. With this in mind, the team have undertaken the mammoth effort of producing a Student Funding Report that aims to educate the ecosystem, allowing for biases to be broken, more informed decisions to be made, and greater support given to the startup ecosystems’ grassroots.
We look forward to following the journey of Mitch and his team and would encourage any interested entrepreneurs to reach out to us here at The Business Of or to NextGen Ventures directly.
We hope you enjoy!
AustralianStartups #StudentFounders #Leadership
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
Known for his pragmatic, courageous and committed leadership approach, our next guest, Australia’s 25th Prime Minister, John Howard, is one of Australia’s most respected, renowned and revered leaders.Serving as Prime Minister from 1996 to 2007, Mr. Howard's tenure is marked by significant achievements that have shaped the course of our nation. From social, industrial and economic reforms to pivotal decisions on the global stage, his leadership has left an indelible mark on Australia's history.Mr Howard had been interested in politics and the law from a young age and at not even the age of 30, he ran for the marginal state seat of Drummoyne in the NSW state election which he narrowly lost. Just 6 years later he successfully contested the seat of Bennelong in the 1974 federal election and with that began his illustrious political career.Fast-forward to 1996 and Mr. Howard had overcome an election defeat to enter his first term as Prime Minister of Australia. What would ensue over the next 11 years, as he outlines to us on today’s podcast, undoubtedly changed this nation for the better.On today's podcast we unpack the formative years of Mr Howard's life and what drew him to a career in politics.His journey to becoming Prime Minister.And finally, he gives us a behind-the-curtain look into some of the most important decisions he made as Prime Minister including Gun Reform, Economic reform and Australia's role within the ANZUS treatyWe hope you enjoy.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
Set on a mission to stop the number 1 killer of Australians, this week's guests have taken a huge leap at a big opportunity. Meet Jake, Lachlan and Griffo, from Naturally Cooked, 3 boys taking sun safety seriously.
Struck by the impacts of skincancer on the Australian population, the boys decided to revitalise the act of putting sunscreen on. They have an exciting plan that is in place to engage young people and particularly young men to get them back wearing sunscreen to fight these shocking numbers that they speak to this episode. And along the way they are donating 10% of their profits to supporting Mental Health.
Hello and welcome back to the Business Of, this is the first episode of our new series – “Up and Coming”.
In this 4-part series we are speaking with some of the most exciting up-and-comers as they let us into the behind-scenes of their young careers and exciting ideas.
In this episode, we unpack with Jake, Lachie and Griffo the genesis for starting their own business in a niche market;
The challenges of running a business in conjunction with working full-time;
And finally, we look towards the future for Naturally Cooked and their goals.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
In chatting with some of Australia’s greatest business leaders and figures over the past 50 plus episodes, the common theme that has emerged is that people will ultimately play a significant role in any business.
Our next guests are experts in people. Loretta McGeachin and Sara Villella have formed a strong duo which they started through the process of developing a market leading Workforce Advisory offering at a big 4 accounting firm and have since transitioned to Vincents to be part of what is now an exciting expansion for one of Australia’s leading mid-tier advisory firms.
The Workforce Advisory offering addresses many of corporate Australia’s most neglected challenges including Change Management, HR Due Dilligence, Leadership Optimisation, Succession Planning and Workforce Diversity & Inclusion and is capable of working with businesses with no existing HR function as well as slotting in to work alongside experienced HR teams and C-Suite management to achieve valuable outcomes.
In the episode, we unpack with Loretta and Sara what is involved in the Vincents Workforce Advisory offering.We talk through the commercial relevance of the offering to business owners.Finally, we discuss the current workforce environment and key topics at the Board, government and employee levels including the likes of working from home and the right to disconnect.
We hope you enjoy!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
In a South Vietnam battlefield where the fog was so thick you could barely see 10 metres in front of yourself, with no direct fire support and just a platoon of young soldiers in tow to take out an occupied enemy bunker, it was under these sets of circumstances that our next guest, Sir Peter Cosgrove, pulled off his first of many remarkable military feats.
The son of a soldier, Peter joined the army when he was just 18 years old. Across his 40 years of military service Peter was the epitome of bravery, courage and selflessness. He rose quickly through the ranks of the army, commanding the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment in the mid-1980s.
But it was in 1999 that Cosgrove was thrust into the public eye, when, as major general, he led the INTERFET in a peacekeeping mission to East Timor. Peter led the mission, despite the highly delicate situation he faced, with poise and pragmatism leading to its massive success. Following the mission, Cosgrove was one of the nation’s most respected military leaders and this ultimately led to his role as Chief of the Defence Force from 2002-2005.
Upon retiring from the military, Peter could have easily hung up the boots, but instead he played crucial roles in the Cyclone Larry taskforce and took on board roles at Qantas and Australian Rugby Union before ultimately being recommended for Governor General in 2014.
His tenure as Governor General saw 3 Australian Prime Minister’s be sworn in and over 4,200 public engagements in 5 years of service.
Hello and welcome back to the Business Of, I’m Will and I’m Charlie. On today’s podcast Peter unpacks his formative years with us which led to him joining the military,
He sheds light on the governor-general role,
And finally, He shares some invaluable leadership lessons with us his thoughts on what makes a good prime minister.
We hope you enjoy.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
You would all be familiar with Australia’s status as a resources powerhouse. Digging stuff up out of the ground has long been our specialty with it not being uncommon for a figure on the AFR’s Rich List to have a resources background.
Our next guest, Benjamin Cleary, is a subject matter expert. Ben heads up Tribeca’s Natural Resources business but alongside David Alyward has been critical in growing the entire Tribeca business. Ben’s role in building Tribeca into a multi billion dollar Fund manager with expertise across asset management, wealth management, and corporate advisory has been significant. Ben’s role in growing Tribeca’s business throughout Singapore has been a catalyst for getting the business to today’s position.
Through Tribeca, Ben has cornerstoned over $10b in natural resources transactions working closely
alongside financial advisers and companies. Today he heads up the ASX-listed Tribeca Global Natural Resources Fund, investing across listed companies locally and overseas, direct investments in carbon credits, commodities and private sector debt.
Hello and welcome back to The Business Of, I’m Charlie and I’m Will.
On today’s podcast we unpack with Ben the genesis for his rise at Tribeca on the back of a shake up in the financial services industry post GFC.
We get Ben’s thoughts on the regulatory environment in which local and global resources companies are operating.
Finally, we get Ben’s take on the impact of electrification on demand for critical minerals and resources such as copper while considering potential issues associated with the supply of the goods.
We hope you enjoy!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
Working at the interface of industry, government and universities seeking to drive research value into the community, our next guest is Paul Nicholls, Executive Director of Research Partnerships at the University of Queensland.
Universities such as UQ are the backbone of some of the most important research that solves some of the biggest issues facing Australia and more broadly, the world. Paul heads up the crucial team at UQ that connects industry to world-class researchers to ensure that the brilliant research and findings are turned into real community and social impact.
Hello and welcome back to the Business Of, I’m Charlie and I’m Will. On todays podcast we unpack with Paul how he became involved in the wide-world of university research.
How UQ is working in consultation with industry to create meaningful research outcomes that drive our society forward.
And finally, he provides an insight into the sheer depth of UQ’s research team.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
When you say the name Liz Ellis to someone, their train of thought could justifiably go in a multitude of different directions. She is someone who has accomplished so much.
Whether it be her unbelievable netball career in which she was named Australian Netball’s most valuable player on 4 separate occasions, her role as a commentator in the coverage of Australia’s domestic netball competition, or even her role on the hit tv show I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here – chances are that you know Liz Ellis AO.
Liz’s undeniable ability to manage a multitude of commitments has characterized her life for many years. In her early days as an aspirational professional netballer she remarkably completed a law degree from Macquarie University – proving that even for a professional netballer it is possible to balance a wide array of commitments.
Although it may sound as though Liz is one of those annoying people who is just good at every endeavour she undertakes, it is undoubtedly her laser focus and willingness to persevere in the face of adversity that has seen her achieve these feats.
Hello and welcome back to the Business Of, I’m Charlie and I’m Will.
On today’s podcast we unpack with Liz her formative years as an elite athlete,
The keys to her longstanding success at the top of her chosen discipline, even in the face of an injury that would justifiably be enough to step away.
Finally, we hear from Liz about her career post netball and how this has taken her down paths she probably never thought she would travel.
We hope you enjoy!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
Credited as being the firm that brought the sharemarket to ‘Mum and Dad’ investors, our next guest is Tim Crommelin of Morgans Financial Limited, Australia’s largest full-service stockbroking and wealth management network.
Tim played a crucial role in the formative years of the company, having started in 1986 and working closely with founder Paul Morgan. As you will hear, Tim has lived and breathed the markets since he was 19 after he failed a handful of uni subjects and then having to get a job to fund his studies.
Tim has seen brutal bear markets and crashes and incredible bull runs throughout his career that spans not just broking but also corporate finance as Morgans was built to a company that today has more than 240,000 client accounts, 500 authorised representatives, 59 branches, and close to 1,000 employees with offices in all states and territories.
Morgans’ rich history includes raising over $30 billion in new capital in over 1,500 transactions including for ASX market stalwarts Dominoes, Lovisa, Data 3, Beacon Lighting and Bank of Queensland. As the financial services and stockbroking industry has changed, Morgans has adapted and as Tim will go on to explain, Morgans, which has recorded a profit every year since its inception, looks set for a bright future.
Tim is now Chairman of AP Eagers and we hear the story of how he became involved with the company.
Hello and welcome back to the Business of, I’m Will and I’m Charlie. On today’s podcast we delve into Tim’s former years and how he was drawn to the stockbroking industry.
We explore the rich history of Morgans and the role Tim played in its formation
And Tim shares some invaluable stories and advice.
We hope you enjoy.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
In this week’s episode Will Chapman and Charlie Selth are joined by Ronni Kahn AO to discuss her role in founding one of Australia’s most recognised and impactful charities in OzHarvest.
The discussion reveals some invaluable insights into Ronni’s efforts in becoming one of Australia’s leading social entrepreneurs and voices for meaningful change.
Key talking points from the discussion include:
- The issue of food waste and how it was through Ronni’s initial time spent in the events management industry that she identified a major flaw in the way in which we handle food as a nation.
- Scaling a Charity and aligning its interests with the best interests of the community by unlocking social, environmental and economic benefits through OzHarvest’s programs.
- Ronni speaks to OzHarvest’s current initiatives and how they are making life easier for people who need it – never more important than in the current economic climate.
We hope you enjoy!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
What does an auditor and arguably the nation’s leading finance journalist have in common? Not a lot you would think. However, our chat with our next guest suggests otherwise.
Anthony Macdonald is the 2nd-in-charge of the highly regarded Chanticleer column at the Australian Financial Review.
Crediting much of the early lessons taught by his parents, Anthony has always shown signs of being someone willing to do the hard yards in pursuit of excellence.
As many students across the nation still do today, he started out in PwC’s traineeship program where he undertook the incredibly challenging task of balancing both work and university.
Anthony was effectively set inside the four walls of PwC for a career in professional service. Something that arguably 25% or more of corporate Australia have pursued at some point in their life. So, what he does next we find absolutely remarkable.
In this episode, we unpack with Anthony:
•The genesis for his passion for journalism including his early days writing new for the local Bowral newspaper.
•His early days at the AFR breaking news in Street Talk
•Finally, we hear from him about his significant role in the narrative surrounding corporate Australia through his role in the Chanticleer column.
We hope you enjoy!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
Daryl Holmes is the founder of 1300Smiles, a pioneer in the dental industry. Despite toying with the idea of being a physio post-school given his love of sport, a chance run-in with one of his most trusted school teachers, who pointed him toward dentistry, began a career that would shape the way dental practices operate across Australia.
Daryl's idea was simple, yet brilliant, bring aging dental practices back up to speed through injecting them with brand-new equipment and state of the art systems and operating them under the one brand.
This brand would become an icon in North Queensland and around Australia after Daryl successfully negotiated the naming rights to the North Queensland Cowboys' stadium.
Daryl's business career and achievements are incredible but it is through his charitable contributions via YWAM that have delivered his most pronounced legacy. As Daryl explains in the episode, YWAM are doing amazing things, delivering life changing dental surgeries to those that simply cannot access proper dental care in the South-East Asian and Pacific regions.
We hope you enjoy!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
This weeks guest has had an illustrious career in 2 of Australia’s most prominent spheres. Anna Bligh AC, former premier of QLD and now CEO of the Australian Banking Association has had a career that has seen her leave a lasting impact on the state of Queensland and now more broadly the whole of Australia.Starting out as an Arts student with a keen interest in politics at the University of Queensland, as Anna tells us during the interview, it was her motivation to address the issue of domestic violence that initially spurred her into the political arena. As she grew and got some of that crucial life experience that Anna explains as pivotal to a career in politics, she had a vision for the state of QLD that would ultimately see her succeed Peter Beattie and be elected by the state of QLD to return as premier in the 2009 election, becoming the first popularly elected female premier in Australia in doing so. Her leadership during the QLD floods was globally recognized as the state looked to their leader during the turmoil. She also led some of the largest economic reform QLD has seen along with introducing Prep year in schools and fluoride into our water.Now, Anna heads up the Australian Banking Association and ensures the banking system’s stability for all bank customers.Hello and welcome back to the Business Of, I’m Will and I’m Charlie.On todays podcast we delve into Anna’s political career and her advice to people looking to seek a career in politics.She sheds light on her famously emotional interview imploring Qlders to stay strong during the devastating 2011 floods.And finally she sheds light on her current role and how she went from a career in politics to overseeing one of Australia’s most pivotal industry bodies.We hope you enjoy.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
For aspiring lawyers the pathway post uni is fairly simple, direct, and perhaps boring – you become a grad lawyer at the best firm possible then go from there. Or so we thought…
This week's guest is Mel Scott, Global Senior Legal Counsel at Megaport, and she is trying to change the way people view working in-house as opposed to a law firm. Mel’s career started at a large law firm before she was given the chance to work on secondment at QSuper – giving her a taste of the in-house lawyer life which she swore to never leave once given this first taste.
Her first official in-house position was at Brisbane Airport Corporation before she landed in her current role at Megaport. Not only does Mel have a busy professional life, but she is adding value to the broader legal community through her podcast ‘Counsel’ where she interviews prominent people in the in-house lawyer community to give people of all stages of their legal career insights into what life is like on ‘the other side’.
Through her podcast, Mel has amassed quite a prominent social media following with a combined following of over 12,000 people across TikTok and Instagram as she continues her crusade of convincing young lawyers to try working in-house.
Hello and welcome back to the Business Of, I’m Charlie and I’m Will.
On today's podcast, we go through Mel’s background and path to in-house lawyering.
We speak about the pros and cons of working in-house and considerations that all young lawyers should make.
And finally we hear about her podcast ‘Counsel’ and what prompted her to start it.
We hope you enjoy!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
In this week's episode we were lucky enough to be joined by Marcus Simpson - founder of QIC's private equity division. Marcus has a lot of great lessons he imparts on us in this interview where he stresses the importance of taking opportunities as they come. Marcus' career is a perfect example of letting opportunities come and taking them when they present themselves. Marcus went on to found QIC's private equity division and now involves himself in a lot of mentoring to give back.
We hope you enjoy!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
Peter Lock, CEO of Heritage Bank, joins us this week to shed light on his career path to such a coveted role and to give us an insight into all things Heritage Bank. Peter's career is a great example of how tenacity, persistence and lateral thinking can get you promoted within these large organisation
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
Invention to innovation – as listeners you might be thinking don’t these words mean pretty similar things. Our next guest, Larry Marshall, will help you understand that Australia has historically punched above its weight as inventors but have left a bit to be desired in terms of our ability to commercialise and innovate game-changing inventions on home soil.
With a PHD in Physics from Macquarie University in Sydney Larry spent much of his early years studying blue green lasers under professor Jim Piper. Through Jim, Larry was introduced to the dean of research at Standford University Bob Byer, the university where Larry wrote up his thesis on laser physics. Larry’s time in the US saw him spend extended periods in the renowned Silicon Valley where he founded and worked in an array of startups over a period spanning more than 25 years.
More recently, Larry has served as Chief Executive Officer of the CSIRO. From the time of his appointment on 15 January 2015 to the end of his time on 30 June 2023, Larry was the organisations longest serving Chief Executive in the past 50 years.
Larry sought to live his innovation mantra through his leadership of the business. Among his many initiatives, Larry oversaw the creations of the CSIRO Innovation Fund – Main Sequence Ventures, he developed the CSIRO’s ON program (a national science accelerator), and in 2020 Larry led the establishment of CSIRO’s Missions program which aims to bring together research agencies, universities, industry government, and community to tackle urgent problems facing the country.
Larry now sits on the board of the Australian National University where he continues to champion innovation amongst some of our nation’s brightest young minds.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
In this week’s episode Charlie and Will are joined by Ross Israel (Head of Global Infrastructure at QIC). The discussion unpacks:
- The motives behind his transition from tax to finance
- His experience working overseas and how this held him in good stead for the privatisation of many of Australia’s government owned assets
- The establishment and growth of QIC’s Infrastructure team from two desks and a blueprint into a business with billions under management and five offices globally
We hope you enjoy!
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
Our next guest debuted for QLD in State of Origin at just 18 years of age and now heads up the organization that is Queensland Rugby League.
Although Ben Ikin began his sporting pursuits as a keen AFL player, his transition to rugby league came as a result of his time spent battling away in interschool sport, where he quickly showed potential and was thrust into the rugby league pathway.
Whilst injuries hampered Ben’s career, forcing him into retirement at just 26 years of age, as you’ll gather from the interview, Ben didn’t feel sorry for himself or become frustrated but instead quickly found ways to create a career outside of professional league.
After attaining a degree and picking up a commentary gig at Channel 9, Ben quickly made a name for himself in the media before eventually being picked up by Fox for the launch of NRL360.
From there, Ben has moved on from the media spotlight, taking a role at the Broncos before his current role now as CEO of the QRL.
On todays podcast we hear about Ben’s playing career and how that shaped him into the business leader he is today.
We hear about his transition from the high paying, high octane world of professional league to life after football.
Ben gives us an overview of his current role as CEO of QRL and everything his job entails.
And finally we hear about his thoughts on the future of the NRL and the likely further expansion teams.
We hope you enjoy.
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
Campbell Newman, whether you like him or not has certainly done a lot in the world of business and politics. In this episode Campbell is generous enough to take us behind the scenes of what it is like to have a career in the heavily scrutinised sector. Campbell’s insights are from the perspective of someone who has performed roles in both the private and public sectors – a unique characteristic to many of us. In this episode, Campbell shares stories about the challenges and triumphs working in the army, as an MBA-qualified consultant, as Lord Mayor, and as Premier of QLD. We want to be clear that the purpose of this podcast is not to promote political agendas. We think this interview transcends politics and provides some valuable insights into the trials and tribulations of public office versus a career in the private sector. We hope you enjoy!
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
Today’s guest is literal career rocket scientist Michael Smart – chief technology officer and co-founder of Hypersonix. A world leader in scramjet technology, Michael spent 10 years as a Research Scientist at the NASA Langley Research Center: Scramjet Branch. A pioneer in scramjet engine and hypersonic vehicle design, Michael was awarded Australia’s top scholar in his field of Aviation & Aerospace Engineering in 2020. Michael is the vehicle and technology architect of DART AE, Delta Velos, Delta Velos Orbiter and the Wirraway satellite launch system — all products in the exciting rollout portfolio of Hypersonix.
While there are currently over 100 small launch vehicle companies in development internationally, few use green hydrogen as fuel, and none use scramjet technology for small satellite launches. Hypersonix is leading the world in green scramjet engines and hypersonic aerospace design and engineering and today we hear from the man who has essentially built it all.
On today’s podcast we delve into the fascinating company that is Hypersonix. We hear about its world leading technology, it’s real life applications and the future of this exciting Qld born company who with the backing of organisations such as Trade and Investment QLD are taking their world-first offering global.
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
This week, Charlie and Will were lucky enough to be joined by Llew Jury. Llew successfully founded and exited two businesses in his time including leading web design, app development and digital agency Alfresco in 2006 followed by his successful development and sale of digital marketing agency Reload Group to Hardie Grant Media in 2022.
Now Llew puts his time into his role as Founder and Executive Chairman of Sprint Ventures – a venture capital firm based out of Brisbane.
With minimal track record in funds management prior to starting Sprint, Llew has developed the VC into a highly respected presence in the Australian Venture landscape. How has he managed to do this you might ask? One word that drives private markets more than interest rates, inflation and P/E ratios combined - relationships.
On today’s podcast we unpack with Llew the considerations for any business that is going through global expansion, the art of managing an exit process and we get an insight into what Llew looks for when investing in a business.
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
This week’s episode is the greatest insight into a career in investment banking available. Will and Charlie are joined by one of Australia’s most highly regarded investment bankers, Tim Foy. From the mouth of a long-lived investment banker, the discussion unpacks Tim’s journey into investment banking, what it is like working on a live deal, and finally we yield some invaluable advice for aspirational bankers who are pursuing what Tim details as a highly demanding yet rewarding career in finance.
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
On today's podcast, Charlie and Will were lucky enough to be joined by Playbook Co-Founder Chelsea Murphy. Playbook is an online marketplace that connects people who love playing sport to coaches and mentors so they build confidence and enjoy the sport they play. Chelsea and husband, Kieren's journey of building Playbook from the ground up, with numerous challenges along the way - including having to sell their house - is nearly unfathomable. Hearing from the founder of a start-up was extremely eye-opening for Charlie and Will as they gained a behind the curtain look into what it takes to start and grow a business. On today's podcast we unpack the origins of a Brisbane-based startup with a national presence and global ambitions, Playbook. We explore the steps Chelsea and Kieren took to take it from an idea to a business. We hear about some of the extreme challenges they faced early on. And finally, she leaves prospective founders with some great advice.
Photo credit: Courier Mail
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
On this week's podcast, Will and Charlie learnt about one of the most pressing issues facing contact sports in across the world. The man aiming to fix this problem by putting objective data around the detection and prevention of concussions is Mike Vegar - CEO and Founder of HitIQ. Through specialised high-tech and highly accurate sensors implanted in a mouthguard, HitIQ's technology can measure the number of head injuries sustained over the course of an athlete's life along with the level of force of each concussion.
Throughout the episode, we unpack with Mike his background in US college sport which led to his interest in solving the concussion problem. He walks us through the origins of HitIQ and what it is like to develop a Medtech startup. He outlines how his company helps prevent the long-lasting effects of concussion through early detection. And finally, he lets us in on how he goes about running a small ASX-listed company as CEO and how he manages all the moving parts.
Please leave a 5-star review if you enjoyed.
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
On today’s podcast, Will and Charlie were lucky enough to be able to sit down with rugby league legend, turned highly successful businessman, Darren Lockyer and his equally as successful business partner Grant Wechsel. During the interview we delve into a side of Darren Lockyer’s life that is underexplored – his illustrious business career. We hear the story of how Grant approached Darren and convinced him to become his business partner. We learn about the pair’s current business interests. We hear about Darren’s transition from the sporting world to the business world, and finally, we sneak in time to get his thoughts on the upcoming origin series.
We hope you enjoy this exclusive and rare insight into Darren’s post playing career alongside his business partner Grant.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
In this week's episode, Will and Charlie get to talk to one of Australia's more successful property investors - Warren Ebert - the founder and CEO of Sentinel Property Group. On the podcast, we get to unpack how Warren has built Sentinel Property Group to become the largest private property fund in Australia. Warren's story of how he got started in property is fascinating and his obsession with reading and acquiring more and new knowledge has held him in good stead in fashioning his property investment style to deliver terrific returns to investors for over 20 years. Warren also tells us on the podcast why he has not listed any property funds and why he champions giving investors consistency. We also delved into the general property market in Australia and what is coming in the coming years.
We hope you enjoy!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
This week on The Business Of we had the privilege of interviewing Australian sporting legend Kieren Perkins OAM. With Kieren, we got into the simultaneously lucky and unlucky story of how he started swimming, his transition from athlete to executive and go into his current role as head of the AIS and ASC. Since his time in the pool, Kieren has held executive positions within NAB Personal Bank, President at Swimming Australia, CEO of Australian Unity Bank and currently CEO of the Australian Institute of Sport and the Australian Sports Commission. Kieren unpacks his rise to CEO of the AIS and ASC and the story of how he initially turned down the role, before some persistence from the AIS finally got him over the line. Kieren also gave us an insight into the funding side of the AIS and ASC and how they allocate this to best ensure Australia performs across all its competing sports.
We loved the chat and thank Kieren for his time.
As always if you enjoyed please leave a 5-star rating as it really helps, follow the podcast and follow our LinkedIn and Instagram!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
Graham Turner, affectionately known as Skroo, grew up in Stanthorpe driving tractors from 7 years of age before studying veterinary science. Hardly the typical upbringing of one of Australia’s best business people. In 1973, Skroo and 2 mates made the decision to buy a run-down double-decker bus for 650 pounds while travelling in England. One bus turned into two and so on until they formed Top Deck Travel. Skroo and his mates grew Top Deck Travel from essentially, as Skroo describes it, an excuse to party on a bus with some mates, to a fleet of over 65 buses that went all over Europe. This business would have been more than enough to live a great, comfortable life, but through their time observing travel overseas – Skroo returned to Aus with greater plans.
“Bucket shops” as they were known in London would sell an airline’s excess seat inventory. Skroo saw an opportunity to bring this principle to Australia and a few short years after Flight Centre’s formation in Australia, the government introduced legislation to allow for the sale of discounted tickets and Flight Centre was full systems go. With a headstart on the pack, Flight Centre took off and has since survived industry-threatening events such as the GFC, 9/11 attacks and Covid-19 through Skroo’s determination to make Flight Centre the $4.75 billion company it is today.
On todays podcast, we explore the formative years of one Australia’s greatest business people, we unpack the iconic story of Top Deck Travel and the early years of Flight Centre and finally we gain an insight into how the composed leadership style of Skroo has left FlightCentre in the strong position it is today.
We hope you enjoy!
Remember to follow our LinkedIn and Instagram by searching for The Business Of. And leave a 5 star review if you enjoyed!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
In this week's episode, we were able to sit down with Brett Godfrey to hear about his career to date. We delved into how his career began, how he came up with the idea to take Virgin Airlines to Australia, the execution of this plan, and then talked about some of his current business interests. In the discussion we were amazed about how large of a step it was to bring Virgin to Australia at a time where the airline industry was dominated by 2 players - Qantas and Ansett. The details behind how he brought Virgin to Australia so successfully was awesome to hear and we certainly learnt a lot of lessons from the discussion.
Today, Brett runs the Australian Walking Company alongside ex-Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon and is Chairman of Tourism Queensland, the very topical Tasmanian AFL Taskforce and is a director at Rugby Australia. And as always we get some awesome advice at the end of the podcast.
We hope you enjoy!
**
Please leave a 5-star rating if you enjoyed the podcast as it helps others find us!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
In this week’s episode, Charlie and Will are joined by Ani Satchcroft to discuss her role as Senior Managing Director, Head of Infrastructure Investments, Real Assets ANZ at Macquarie.
Some of the key talking points include Ani’s passion for investments that impact communities on a grand scale, what it was that drew her to a career in infrastructure financing at Macquarie, and her thoughts for ambitious young professionals looking to follow a similar path.
The Business Of team would like to take this opportunity to thank Macquarie and Ani for being so accommodating. We cannot speak highly enough of our experience.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
In this week's episode, Will and Charlie were lucky enough to be able to join the founders of the incredibly successful Equity Mates Media - Bryce Leske and Alec Renehan - in their studio in Sydney. Throughout the episode, we learn about what brought Alec and Bryce to start an investing podcast, how they have helped break down the barriers to get started investing and what their future plans are for the business. They also gave us a great insight into the corporate side of the business and how they have dealt with buy-out offers, raising money and finding key investors and mentors to help them on their business journey. The pair's tenacity and drive was what stood out to us and we certainly learnt many lessons that have relevance for business far beyond simply media and podcasting. As always, we hope you enjoy!
Please leave a 5-star review if you enjoyed this episode and remember to follow us on Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-business-of/?viewAsMember=true) and Instagram (instagram.com/businessofpodcast/)
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
Nathan Bell joins Will and Charlie to discuss how he went from a role as financial analyst at Deutsche Bank into work at Intelligent Investor where he has worked his way to Portfolio Manager. Recently, Nathan has been a key part in the launch of Intelligent Investor’s new fund The Intelligent Investor Select Value fund, an actively managed ETF that can invest in market leading companies locally and worldwide. On today's podcast, Nathan outlines his career to date and gives some great advice for anyone wanting to pursue a career as a research analyst or client adviser. He gives us a run down of the new fund and some companies in the fund. He tells us some stories behind his best investments. And finally, he gives us 3 of his favourite small caps right now.
We hope you enjoy!
Nothing on this podcast constitutes financial advice.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
In this week's episode, Charlie and Will were able to sit down with Terry Svenson - the CEO of QLD Cricket. The boys talk about how he runs the complex operation that is QLD cricket, his thoughts on privatising the BBL - which is very topical at the moment - and how he approaches domestic players leaving QLD cricket to pursue overseas opportunities. Terry has had a fascinating career thus far that has culminated in him leading one of Australia's most successful sporting organisations. The business lessons we learnt from Terry's leadership this episode were invaluable and the way he leads his staff and players in allowing them to put themselves first was both interesting and applicable for workplaces today.
We hope you enjoy!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-business-of/message
A holiday! Something we could all do with. This week’s podcast unwraps all things to do with tourism as current Experience Co. (ASX:EXP) CEO and former Tourism Australia Managing Director John O’Sullivan joins Will Chapman and Charlie Selth to unpack the state of the industry, pathways into working in tourism/entertainment, and John educates us on Experience Co. and its future as one of Australia’s premier providers of adventure experiences. John has worked at the likes of Football Australia, Fox Sports and Queensland Events, in what has been a highly interesting career journey that we were very keen to unpack with John on the podcast. Amongst this, John also gave us great insights into the process behind the acquisitions Experience Co made, and its relationships with the government to secure funding. We hope you enjoy!--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-business-of/message
In today's episode, Will and Charlie were lucky enough to sit down with the Principal of one of Australia's top schools, Jacinda Euler from Brisbane Girls Grammar. In this episode, Jacinda outlines her career pathway to teaching and we gain key insights into how BGGS consistently ranks in the top schools in Australia academically. As Jacinda stresses to us though, students' experience at BGGS is about much more than great academic results - it is a well-rounded student experience where students are given the chance to excel whether sport, the arts or music, be their calling. Jacinda also gives us a great insight into some of the key issues facing the education system today, including technological advancements and their impact on education through tools such as ChatGPT. All of this culminated in us getting a great understanding of how pivotal education institutions such as BGGS are for educating our next generation of business leaders.
Listen in to hear one of our most insightful episodes to date!
On this episode of The Business Of, Will and Charlie were lucky enough to be joined by Australian business royalty, Glen Richards. On this podcast, the boys discuss the story behind how Greencross Vets started, Glen's current interests and what he looks for when investing in a company, how he became a shark on Shark Tank and he leaves us with some great career and business advice that we found invaluable. Glen's wealth of experience across multiple industries cannot be understated and it was invaluable hearing him speak on the details surrounding his decisions in regard to why Greencross went public and what he looks for in business leaders.
Remember to find us on LinkedIn and Instagram and please consider giving the show a 5-star rating as it helps others find us!
In this episode, Will and Charlie hear some of the debate around Australia’s energy future and the factors influencing Australia’s mining industry. The discussion draws on the perspective of Bowen Coking Coal (ASX:BCB) Executive Chairman, Ballymore Resources (ASX:BMR) Chairman and co-founder of Stanmore Coal Nick Jorss. Nick is an incredibly passionate advocate of Australian mining and is not afraid to express his views on issues affecting the industry. In his discussion with the boys, he also shares what he believes is critical to being a good dealmaker and how he has always sought to make positive opportunities out of poor economic times.
In this episode, Charlie and Will reflect on some of the key lessons they've learnt from their first 16 episodes. With clips from previous episodes and a focus on what is going to be needed for the future young professional, this episode is a great overview of some of the fascinating interviews the boys have been a part of thus far.
In this episode, Charlie and Will were lucky enough to sit down with the co-host of the We Got The Chocolates podcast to discuss the business of podcasting. The following that Leigh, brother Mitch and mate Andrew, have amassed through the podcast is nothing short of extraordinary. With nearly 500k followers on Instagram, 252k subscribers on Youtube - to go along with nearly 100 million total views - and a podcast that consistently ranks in the top 50 podcasts in Australia, Leigh has helped build an incredibly captive audience. They're now at the interesting stage of commercialising their show and have already struck great success with a partnership with Amazon to promote The Test. Through leveraging their talent agency Born Bred Talent - which also houses the likes of the Inspired Unemployed - they are looking to grow their suite of partnerships and turn their once part-time hobby into a full-time business. He even hits us with his best dad joke in true Leigh fashion, to finish the podcast. We hope you enjoy!
Please give the podcast a 5-star rating if you enjoyed as it helps others find the show! Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn through the links below!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/businessofpodcast/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-business-of/?viewAsMember=true
Listen to the We Got The Chocolates podcast through the below link:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3QkkyFnuYXawKzcDdfylDv?si=76HtqSeDSoi8jRNSC5x6Yw
James Fielding, CEO of Audeara (ASX: AUA), joins Charlie Selth and Will Chapman to discuss the fascinating company that he founded. James talks to the origins of the company and how it aims to address hearing loss before it's too late - a problem that greatly impacts the quality of lives for many Australians. Further to this, he discusses the psychological shift that needs to be made in regard to how we think about hearing health. It is through engagements such as Audeara's healthy hearing partnership with the Brisbane Lions that Audeara is continuing to spread this message.We hope you enjoy this episode. Please follow us on LinkedIn/Instagram and rate the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts as it helps others find us!Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-business-of/?viewAsMember=trueInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/businessofpodcast/?hl=en
Charlie and Will are joined by Hyrdalyte North America (ASX:HPC) CEO, Oliver Baker, to discuss his pathway to becoming the CEO of an ASX-listed company and how his innate understanding of marketing and strategic partnerships has held him in good stead for this challenging role. Oliver has been facing some headwinds as they attempt to grow Hydralyte in America due to a slight variation in consumer preferences in which products that are tried and tested in one region may not be as hot overseas. To educate his consumer, Oli has partnered with Shay Mitchell - famous Canadian actress and influencer - which represents a significant expense for the company but one that they hope will help consumers better understand their product, thus making it a household brand like it is in Australia. If you want to hear more about Hydralyte and its origins please give it a listen!
If you have a spare second please consider giving the show a rating and following it on your chosen podcast platform. To be updated on when we upload, and to see clips from our recent podcasts, please follow us via our Instagram and LinkedIn:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/businessofpodcast/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-business-of/?viewAsMember=true
Australia Post CEO Paul Graham joins Charlie and Will to discuss an organisation in which we are all stakeholders. In today's podcast, Paul outlines how his career in supply chain logistics led him to the coveted role of Australia Post CEO and the challenges that are present in his role. He also details how the expansion of “e-commerce” is a significant driver for the business and one that he speaks to extensively. We also question Paul about Australia Post’s letter delivery service and how, despite it being a major loss contributor to the bottom line, it is crucial to maintain so Australia Post meets its community obligations. We hope you enjoy one of the most informative and relevant podcasts to date.Please leave a 5-star review on your chosen podcast platform as it helps others find us. Also follow us on our social channels through the links below:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-business-of/?viewAsMember=trueInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessof_/
Join Will and Charlie as they are joined again by Louis Dooley to discuss the financial markets for 2023. They hear Louis’s thoughts on what the key drivers for the 2023 Global economy will be, what industries possess the most value for equities, how the interest rate environment will impact households and our chance of recession. They even surprise him at the end by asking for his favourite stock for the year ahead.
General Advice Warning
Information contained in this podcast does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information, you should consider the appropriateness of the information provided and the nature of the relevant financial product having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. Always do your own research and never take financial advice from a podcast.
Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram and please follow and rate the show!
In this episode, Charlie and Will are joined by Ashes and World Cup-winning Australian cricket coach, John Buchanan. Listen to hear John's meteoric rise to coaching Australia's top team despite having never played for it himself. A masterful motivator of high performing individuals, John explains how his philosophies around coaching have, and continue to be, so relevant to business. We hope you enjoy.
Please give the podcast a rating and a follow on your chosen podcast platform and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram through the below links
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-business-of/?viewAsMember=true
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/businessofpodcast/
Charlie Selth and Will Chapman were lucky enough to be joined, just before Christmas, by ex-professional footballer and current fund manager Jack Trengove. Jack has always been a pioneer in his chosen fields becoming the youngest ever VFL/AFL captain at just 20 years of age whilst also pitching an “Elite Athlete Fund” to his current boss and mentor, David Prescott, at Lanyon Asset Management. We hope you enjoy.Disclaimer: None of what is spoken about in this podcast should be taken as financial advice. The discussions are general in nature and do not consider your personal circumstances.Please feel free to leave a rating and follow the podcast on the below platforms as it helps others find us.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-business-of/?viewAsMember=trueInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/businessofpodcast/
Will and Charlie are joined by Brendan Newell (General Manager – Cyber Pathways) to discuss the topic of cyber security and what corporate Australia should be doing to protect themselves. 92% of cyber security breaches involve a human error allowing the attack to occur. Brendan speaks to the idea of an organisation’s “cyber culture” and what can be done to build a strong one. Cyber attacks cripple the lives of individuals and the operations of businesses, this is a must listen for all.
- Please rate and follow our podcast as it helps others find us!*
Tamara Reid joins Will and Charlie for this week's episode of The Business Of. Voted the Emerging Leader by Telstra Business Women's Awards, community and leadership expert Tamara Reid is the 2 x startup Founder of Beaute Industrie and the Aesthetic and Beauty Industry Council, keynote speaker and brand manager. Tamara worked her way up from therapist to earn her seat at the senior leadership table where she now holds a global position as Head of Partnerships for Timely Business Management Software. We discuss the importance of treating every client as though they could lead to the next great opportunity for your business. Tamara also delves into some of the challenges that beauticians can face in trying to maintain that positive attitude towards their craft over long periods. It is from this challenge that she developed her original company Beaute Industrie which was a professional network for beauty professionals to collaborate and exchange knowledge/experiences. Join Will and Charlie in understanding how positivity in business can attract positive results.Please follow and rate the podcast!Links:The Business Of LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-business-of/?viewAsMember=true The Business Of Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/businessofpodcast/ Tamara Reid LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamarashawreid/?originalSubdomain=au
Paul Vincent joins Will Chapman and Charlie Selth on this week’s episode of The Business Of. Paul elaborates on how he took a risk as a 32 year old manager at KPMG, with a family and a mortgage, to go out on his own. Over 30 years on and Paul has built Vincents into one of Australia’s leading mid-tier professional services firms. Join Will and Charlie in finding out how.
*
Remember to follow the podcast to catch our weekly episode! And follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-business-of/?viewAsMember=true
Will and Charlie were joined by Peter Deans on this episode of The Business Of to talk about risk management and some recent events that have shone a spotlight on the need for modern businesses to manage their risks more closely. Peter has worked as a Chief Risk Officer at Bankwest and BOQ and more recently has started his own risk management firm called Notwithoutrisk Consulting which is an Australian based firm that provides a specialist consulting offering that addresses strategic planning, business planning and various business management issues, taking into account risk management considerations. We talk about the recent crypto crash, FTX and the increase in cyber attacks on Australian businesses. Reminder - nothing on this podcast should be taken as financial advice nor are we licensed to provide any
CEO of Sarina Russo Group, Kathleen Newcombe, joins Will and Charlie to discuss her journey in education and now business. Kathleen left her role as a teacher at St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace to enter the business landscape without knowing what her next job would be. A life-long calculated risk-taker, Kathleen provides us with some invaluable insights and this episode is a great listen for employers, educators, and students.
Andrew Wellington sits down with us to unpack his fascinating career at PwC spanning 32 years. He shared many interesting insights from starting his career in the Bahamas to unpacking some of the weirdest deals he's worked on. We also delve into his role as Chairman of the Lions and the key role he has played in the introduction of the AFLW Lions team and the new Springfield development. He also provides some great advice to younger professionals at the start of their careers.
Karl Morris AO is CEO and managing director at Ord Minnett where he has previously held the role of Executive Chairman. Over his 32-year span at Ords, he has held roles across all facets of the business including stockbroking, funds management, and corporate finance. In 2019, Karl led a management buyout of the company from IOOF (now Insignia financial) and JP Morgan, thereby taking 100% independent ownership of Ord Minnett. He has held numerous key board positions including Chairman of QSuper, and Director’s duties on the board of RACQ. He is currently the Chairman of the Brisbane Broncos.
Join Will Chapman and Charlie Selth as they unpack the career of one of Australia's most highly acclaimed business leaders.
Louis Dooley, Investment Adviser – Morgans North Quay, joins Will Chapman and Charlie in the studio to discuss everything from the broader macroeconomy to the various aspects of his role including managing client relationships, investment analysis, and much more.
Stuart Giles joins Will Chapman and Charlie Selth to discuss his ascension to being an Australian business icon. He co-founded Epic Pharmacy Group, Icon Cancer Group and the Epic Good Foundation along with wife and close business partner Cathie Reid. Through their family office Arc31 they have diversified their portfolio to include Inc. Notably, he has since joined Ian Healy as a founder of the Australian Premier League cricket competition.