Director Download

Greenwashing is a growing risk for Australian organisations, with regulators closely examining environmental statements and court decisions demonstrating the consequences of getting them wrong. For boards, the challenge is not simply avoiding misleading claims. Organisations can also create problems by saying too little about genuine sustainability progress. Tim Stutt, Partner and Head of ESG at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, joins us to unpack the enforcement priorities of ASIC and the ACCC, lessons from recent legal cases, the growing scrutiny of climate commitments and how regulatory approaches differ between voluntary claims and mandatory disclosures.  He also shares practical guidance on what directors should be asking, where accountability should sit, why environmental claims, particularly forward-looking statements, need to be properly substantiated and kept under review as circumstances change. We cover: 03:00 - The significant consequences organisations can face for greenwashing 05:00 – The key areas of greenwashing attracting scrutiny from ASIC and the ACCC 10:30 – What organisations can learn from recent greenwashing cases and penalties. 17:00 – The risks organisations face when they avoid communicating their climate commitments and progress. 23:00 – Where responsibility for managing greenwashing risk sits within an organisation. 31:00 – Tim shares the key things directors need to understand about their organisation's exposure to greenwashing risk.  Learn more:  AICD principles on setting climate targets - https://www.aicd.com.au/risk-management/framework/climate/principles-for-setting-climate-targets-a-guide-for-australian-boards.html   Connect:  Tim Stutt on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/timstutt  AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/ Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/ Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/  This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society. 

Artificial intelligence is creating a new cyber security reality. As AI tools become more powerful, they are helping cyber criminals identify vulnerabilities, launch more sophisticated attacks and exploit weaknesses faster than ever before. The rapid development of frontier AI systems has also highlighted how unexpected behaviours and risks can emerge as these technologies become more capable and widely deployed. In this episode, Stephanie Crowe, Head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre, explains what frontier AI means for cyber risk and why directors need to be alert, not alarmed – yet. She shares practical guidance on the questions boards should ask about cyber resilience, patching protocols, supplier risk, AI adoption and the governance guardrails needed to support responsible use. Stephanie also discusses the risks hidden in legacy systems, the importance of scrutinising third-party providers, and how smaller organisations can strengthen their cyber defences with limited resources.   We cover: 01:30 - What frontier AI is and why it increases cyber risk 17:00 - The questions boards should be asking their IT teams to help mitigate AI risks 21:00 - The technology risks boards need to be reassessing with a sense of urgency 22:00 - The governance questions boards should be asking their external suppliers 24:00 - Stephanie's advice for smaller organisations with fewer resources to manage cyber risk  Learn more:  ASD AICD Board Guidance - https://www.aicd.com.au/news-media/research-and-reports/asd-board-guidance-frontier-ai-cyber-threats.html  AICD Cyber Security Security Principles V2: Cyber Security Governance Principles | Version 2 | AICD  Connect:  Australian Signals Directorate on Linkedin - https://au.linkedin.com/company/australian-signals-directorate  AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/ Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/ Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/  This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society. 

Australia's economy has become less dynamic. Fewer workers are switching jobs, fewer businesses are entering and exiting markets, and investment in research and development has weakened. A new report commissioned by the AICD and prepared by Mandala Partners suggests reversing some of these trends could add at least $20 billion a year to Australia's GDP over the next decade. In this episode, Adam Triggs, Partner at Mandala, explores why Australia's productivity growth has slowed, what's driving the decline in dynamism, and how regulation may be contributing to the problem. He explains what Australian governments can learn from international approaches to reform and where the biggest opportunities for economic growth could be found. Adam also discusses the practical questions boards should be asking about compliance, risk appetite and growth, and the role boards can play in helping restore a more productive and dynamic economy. We cover: (01:00) - What Australia's declining economic dynamism means for businesses and living standards (06:30) - How much of Australia's productivity challenge can be attributed to regulation? (20:00) - The questions boards should be asking management about compliance costs and complexity. (22:00) - What needs to change to unlock Australia's $20 billion productivity opportunity? (27:30) - Lessons from international approaches to regulatory reform. (28:30) - How AI could improve Australia's economic dynamism and productivity. (31:00) - Practical steps boards can take now to support economic growth.  Learn more:  AICD's free webinar unpacking the research on 12 Nov, 12PM AEDT. Register here: https://www.aicd.com.au/courses-and-programs/all-webinars/WEB0002-H261112-01/the-stagnant-nation-reviving-australias-economic-dynamism.html AICD & Mandala Partners research - https://www.aicd.com.au/news-media/research-and-reports/lifting-australias-dynamism.html    Connect:  Adam Triggs on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/adam-triggs-74385430  AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/ Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/ Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/  This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Gunaikurnai peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society. 

Australia's economic outlook remains uncertain. A range of domestic and global pressures are shaping the conditions in which organisations operate, and for boards, understanding which economic signals matter most is critical to making informed decisions. AICD Chief Economist Mark Thirlwell joins us to examine the outlook for interest rates, inflation and economic growth, the indicators directors should be watching, and whether traditional economic levers are still enough to address Australia's economic challenges.  Mark also discusses the latest Intergenerational Report and Australia's long-term growth prospects, the potential for AI to lift productivity. We look at what's driving the global bond market sell-off, and whether many of the economic and political narratives that have dominated recent years are becoming less convincing to voters, consumers and markets. We cover: (01:00) - Why Australian consumer confidence has fallen (04:00) - Whether interest rates alone can bring inflation under control. (06:00) - The key economic indicators boards should be watching, and what could signal a shift in the outlook. (08:30) - The role of government spending in Australia's inflation challenge. (18:30) - What the Intergenerational Report reveals about Australia's economic growth over the next 40 years. (21:00) - Whether expectations of an AI-driven productivity boom are overly optimistic. (22:30) - What's behind the global bond market sell-off and why it matters.  Learn more:   Mark's weekly newsletter - https://www.aicd.com.au/news-media/economic-weekly.html   Connect:  Mark Thirlwell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-thirlwell?originalSubdomain=au   AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/ Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/ Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/  This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society. 

AGMs are one of the clearest tests of shareholder sentiment. As investors are becoming increasingly willing to vote against boards when expectations are not met, Philip Foo of proxy adviser CGI Glass Lewis says directors should expect closer scrutiny in several key areas during the 2026 AGM season. In this episode, Philip shares the issues likely to attract investor attention at upcoming AGMs, including auditor relationships and independence, executive remuneration, board composition, culture and AI governance. He explains how shareholder voting behaviour is changing, what effective engagement with investors looks like, and why succession planning conversations should start well before they become urgent. Philip also explains the questions investors are increasingly asking and what distinguishes a well-prepared organisation from those facing unexpected opposition. We cover: (03:00) - The issues Philip expects to attract attention during the 2026 AGM season. (09:00) - What he suggests effective engagement looks like, including why discussions about succession and contentious remuneration decisions should begin well before the AGM. (13:30) - How shareholder voting behaviour has changed, with investors becoming increasingly willing to vote against remuneration reports. (18:00) - What investors are looking for in board composition as organisations contend with changing technology, the energy transition and other emerging risks. (19:30) - How investor expectations around climate, ESG and board diversity are evolving, including differences between international markets. (25:00) - What distinguishes firms that navigate AGM season smoothly from those caught off guard.   Learn more:   AICD guide on governing with stakeholder insight - https://www.aicd.com.au/news-media/research-and-reports/stakeholder-governance-guide.html  Connect:  Philip Foo on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/philip-foo-cfa-ca-8097a231  AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/ Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/ Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/  This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.