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Produced by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD)
Hosted by Bennett Mason, Boardroom Confidential brings you candid conversations with some of Australia's most influential company directors, business leaders, and experts. Together, we explore their paths to the boardroom, lessons from their careers, and the ideas shaping modern governance.
Whether you're an experienced director or just starting your governance journey, each episode offers practical insights into leadership, decision-making, culture, risk, and strategy—straight from those who sit at the board table.
Tune in for fresh perspectives on what it takes to lead with purpose in today's complex business environment.
Hosted by Bennett Mason, Boardroom Confidential brings you candid conversations with some of Australia's most influential company directors, business leaders, and experts. Together, we explore their paths to the boardroom, lessons from their careers, and the ideas shaping modern governance.
Whether you're an experienced director or just starting your governance journey, each episode offers practical insights into leadership, decision-making, culture, risk, and strategy—straight from those who sit at the board table.
Tune in for fresh perspectives on what it takes to lead with purpose in today's complex business environment.
35 Episodes
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Co-chair of Supply Nation and Fortescue director Penny Bingham-Hall joins Boardroom Confidential to unpack some of the major issues facing today's boards: harnessing AI's predictive power, overseeing cyber risk in a "when, not if" world, and lifting climate governance from compliance to capability. We also explore the craft of a high-performing board (diverse, collegiate, agenda-sharp), how to build a deliberate portfolio career, and why First Nations procurement is a powerful, practical lever for impact. Key Themes: AI readiness starts with data — know what data you hold, who owns it, and whether your architecture can use it. When cyber hits: plan, then get out of the way — management runs the incident; the chair streamlines comms. Climate governance in action — treat year one of mandatory reporting as a learning year; close data gaps early. Board craft — diverse yet collegiate boards, agenda discipline, safe debate Portfolio building — define your value proposition, test culture and values fit, and be deliberate about mix. Procurement for impact — First Nations supplier engagement as a practical pathway to Reconciliation. Click here for video versions of our podcasts on YouTube
Former NRMA Chair Tim Trumper joins Boardroom Confidential to talk about AI in the boardroom, data-led transformations, and the craft of modern chairing. Drawing on his book AI: Game On, Tim explores one of the central governance questions of our time — "who or what decides?" — and how directors can set guardrails that protect customers while still unleashing innovation. Tim shares practical playbooks from the NRMA's reinvention journey, why whole-of-board learning beats delegating AI to a single expert, and how great chairs keep the "silent voice of the customer" present in every discussion. Plus: chair succession that actually works, and leading through an era where volatility is the constant. Key Themes: · AI in the boardroom — deciding who or what decides, setting boundaries, and avoiding inaction · Guardrails without brake lights — a "data/AI Hippocratic oath" to do no harm while innovating · Leaders must use the tools — boards should get hands-on with AI, not delegate it to one expert · Customer-first data — using insight to solve problems in real time and define "what good looks like" · Chair craft — curiosity, empathy, and the "silent voice of the customer" in every meeting · Chair succession — start early, plan for fit not just skills, and communicate openly · Boards in a VUCA world — adapt fast, think creatively, and stay flexible amid uncertainty Click here to watch a video version of the podcast on YouTube
From founding her first company at 21 to building and exiting multiple tech ventures, Taryn Williams has spent her career at the intersection of talent, media and innovation. In this episode, the award-winning entrepreneur and director reflects on the mindset behind scaling fast-growing businesses, the challenge of stepping back as a founder, and how she's navigating the next wave of disruption through AI and digital transformation. Now serving on several boards across technology and creative industries, Taryn shares her perspective on how boards can better engage with brand and reputation — and why curiosity and emotional intelligence are fast becoming some of the most valuable skills in the boardroom. Key Themes: · From founder to director: shifting from execution to oversight · Building strong teams, mentors and advisory boards · Boards' growing responsibility for brand and reputation · Balancing AI opportunity with governance and guardrails · The future skills boards will need — and why EQ matters most Click here for the video version of the podcast on YouTube
David Gallop AM — former CEO of the NRL and Football Australia —share lessons on leadership, crisis, and culture from a career spent in the spotlight. In this conversation, David reflects on two decades at the helm of high-profile sports, the experiences he's carried into the boardroom, and what makes an effective chair in today's governance landscape. Now chair of Venues NSW and Step One Clothing, and a director at Tabcorp and Cricket NSW, David gives insights on handling crises, the balance between board and management, and the art of succession planning. Key themes: • Staying calm and focused under scrutiny • Building trust and boundaries between board and management • The chair–CEO relationship and what makes it work • Diversity, gender balance and leadership pipelines • Culture, communication and respect in times of change
Naomi Simson is an experienced director, successful entrepreneur, and acclaimed author. She co-founded Big Red Group and helped it grow to become Australia's largest experience network. In this candid conversation, Naomi reflects on two decades of building and scaling businesses, the lessons learned stepping back from the CEO role, and why small business remains the backbone of Australia's economy. Naomi also shares her views on the evolving role of boards: how curiosity outperforms expertise, why brand and reputation belong in every risk conversation, and what directors can learn by "sitting in the customer's shoes." Key themes: · Why curiosity can be a director's greatest skill · The board's role in brand, culture, and customer connection Purpose-driven leadership and culture Balancing growth with governance The human cost of overreliance on AI Protecting and empowering small business
This special podcast will take you inside the AICD's flagship Company Directors Course (CDC). Whether you're a current board member, aspiring director, or senior executive – the CDC is the gold standard in governance education. For more than 50 years, the course has helped shape more informed, capable and confident directors. In this podcast, you'll hear from three of the CDC's over 100,000 participants. We'll be unpacking what the course offers, how it equips board members for real-world challenges, and why the CDC is the right next step on your director journey. Thanks to our guests Shirley Chowdhary GAICD, Tim Longstaff GAICD and Nicky Sparshott GAICD. Click here for more information on the Company Directors Course.
Steve Hasker is the CEO and President of Thomson Reuters, plus a director with ASX-listed Appen. He was visiting Australia recently and took part in a special event with the AICD. We talked with Steve about the rise of artificial intelligence, lessons from his experiences with private equity, and the future of news and information.
Kate Jenkins AO GAICD is the Chair of the Australian Sports Commission and the Creative Workplaces Council. She's also a former Sex Discrimination Commissioner and led the landmark Respect@Work report. We talk with Kate about: her chair role at the ASC, gender targets for sports boards and progress since the release of the Respect@Work report. Click here for the AICD guide: "Positive duty to prevent workplace sexual harassment" Click here for research from the AICD and ACSI: "Positive duty: preventing and responding to workplace sexual harassment – Insights from Australian directors" Click here to read about the ASC's Sport Governance Principles
Rebecca McGrath FAICD is the Chair of Investa Property Group, plus a director with Macquarie Group and Bank, Djerriwarrh Investments and Melbourne Business School. We talk about: OZ Minerals' multi-billion-dollar acquisition by BHP, learnings from working overseas, and preparing for meetings at a new board. Plus, key insights on the board's role in an effective decarbonisation plan.
Lisa Chung AM FAICD is the chair of Australian Unity and the Front Project. She also has board roles with PwC Australia, AVJennings and the Foundation of the Art Gallery of NSW. We discuss: advice for new directors, governance at PwC Australia and lessons on being a successful chair. Plus, why boards need a sense of humour.
Audette Exel AO is the Chair of Adara Group and a director at Westpac. She's also a former board member at Suncorp and ex-Chair of the Bermuda Stock Exchange. We discuss: Adara's mission & purpose, learning from mistakes, and social entrepreneurship in action. Plus, what can boards do to better promote philanthropy?
Jessica Bulger MAICD is the CEO of the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute and the Co-Chair of Outward Bound Australia. We talk about: First Nations peoples' perspectives on governance, balancing executive and board roles, plus the benefits of a co-chair model.
David Kirk MAICD is the chair of Bailador Technology Investments, KMD Brands and KiwiHarvest. He's also a former CEO at Fairfax Limited and captained the All Blacks to their first Rugby World Cup victory. We discuss: investing in Australia's tech start-ups, what big companies can learn from smaller ones, and tips on preparing for board meetings. Plus, lessons from the sporting field on how to build high performing teams.
Jane Spring AM is the chair of the Australian Disability Strategy Advisory Council and the NSW Disability Council. She's also chair at Sydney University Sport and a board member with Venues NSW. We speak with Jane about: advice for new board members, the importance of lived experience for boards in the disability sector, and her key questions for management.
Dr Susan Neuhaus AM CSC FAICD is a Council Member at the Australian War Memorial, plus a director with Aspen Medical, Medical Insurance Group Australia and Defence Health Limited. She's also a practising surgeon and had a distinguished 20-year career in the Australian Army and Army Reserve. Susan talks with us about leadership lessons from the Australian Defence Force, governance at the Australian War Memorial and transferring skills from the operating theatre to the boardroom
Dr Ian Oppermann GAICD is a co-founder of ServiceGen, plus the former Chief Data Scientist for the New South Wales Government. He speak to us about: artificial intelligence opportunities, governance safeguards around the use of data, and what scientists can add to the boardroom.
Dr Larry Marshall FAICD is a director with Fortescue and Nanosonics, plus a former CEO at the CSIRO. We talk about: challenges in the transition to net zero, future technology trends and the board's role in fostering innovation at their organisation.
Virginia Bourke FAICD is the Chair of Mercy Health, Pro-Chancellor of the Australian Catholic University and a director with Catholic Health Australia. She speaks to us about: lessons from the pandemic on crisis management, challenges for the NFP sector and tips for resolving conflicts in the boardroom.
Andrew Penn AO is a director with Coles Group and a council member at the National Gallery of Victoria. He's also a former CEO of Telstra and served as the Chair of the federal government's Expert Advisory Panel on cyber security strategy. We talk about: lessons for boards on cyber security, advice around effective Chair-CEO relationships, and governance issues at the National Gallery of Victoria.
A new season of the AICD's Boardroom Conversations podcast is set to launch soon. We'll be talking to more of Australia's top directors about their careers, leadership lessons and the key issues facing today's boardrooms. Each episode will have important insights for experienced directors, and people who are just beginning their board careers.
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