The world is in the midst of a pandemic which, while not unexpected, has hit with a speed and scale of impact that is unparalleled. Governments have created economic crises by shutting down society to control the health crises. As Australia and other nations around the world work to move...
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Just months into 2020, Australia’s leaders have faced immense challenges. All levels of government, business and the not-for-profit sector have had to negotiate devastating bushfires and now the COVID-19 crisis. Within months, if we’re fortunate, life will become more normal. But can and should leaders return to business as usual?...
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Climate change is an issue of national and global significance that demands a meaningful government response. So, when we as leaders of businesses, industry groups, public sector agencies or in local communities contemplate “what action should we take to address climate risks?”, it’s important to understand the actions and intentions...
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Within the cut and thrust of the federal election campaign, there’s been a lot of debate about the costs of tackling climate change. Unfortunately, the focus on costs diverts people’s attention from the real issues and leaves them feeling anxious and uncertain – perhaps by design. A little clear thinking...
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Australians have much to lose from inaction on climate change. But there’s also much to gain by acting. A shortage of practical solutions that are scalable, affordable and easy to embrace is an impediment. This is where engineers can play a transformative role if the challenge is approached in a...
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For all the talk of diversity and the monitoring of pay gaps between men and women, many people remain unsure of the benefits of greater inclusion beyond equality of opportunity. What really are the benefits of diversity and inclusion? What attributes of diversity actually translate into better organisational performance? And...
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Who do you trust? If you’re like millions of other Australians, you don’t trust politicians, big banks or the media. In fact, mistrust of key institutions continues to grow, perpetuating a trend that started in the late 1960s [1, 2]. This lack of trust continues to gain attention, and there’s...
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What are your people passionate about? Do you know? What might be possible if you unleashed their latent talents? Indeed, what might be the cost if you don’t? For many years, I worked with one of Australia’s great businesses. SKM, a professional services firm with some 10,000 people around the...
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How do you normally solve problems? What methods do you use? It’s a question I’ve asked numerous policy and program leaders across all levels of government. That’s because governments are routinely asked to solve some of society’s toughest problems – the ones where the issues are complicated, dynamic, constantly changing...
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Humans are amazing. We’re capable of orchestrating moving music, creating beautiful structures and deconstructing the human genome. Why then, when we possess such constructive capabilities, do governments find themselves grasping for answers, businesses struggling to grow, and communities feeling insecure and mistrustful of public and private sector leaders alike? In...
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