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Corporate ethics

May

FILE - Elon Musk arrives before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Kevin Lamarque/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Musk pushes Grok AI on US government, raising ethics issues

Elon Musk is using his privately owned AI bot to scoop up information from US government emails and data.

The president's sons, Donald Jr (left) and Eric are executives in the Trump Organisation.

A tiny bank in Trump Tower is making the president’s sons rich

Donald Trump jnr and Eric Trump have been picking up corporate jobs and acquiring millions since their father was re-elected – but one deal stands out.

Billionaire Sam Arnaout has a stake in casinos, property developments and a number of hotels.

The Rich Listers whose financial success (or pain) remains a secret

Billionaire Sam Arnaout’s private company Iris Capital has been able to shield his gambling profits from prying eyes. Corporate governance experts are asking why.

April

University of Technology Sydney vice chancellor Andrew Parfitt is off to the US.

UTS chief jets to US amid cost-cutting purge

The lure of alumni events in Los Angeles and New York has Andrew Parfitt flying across the Pacific.

Ramsay Health CEO Natalie Davis says digitisation and AI are a big part of the hospital operator’s plans.

Ramsay Healthcare chief says the age of AI care is coming

The CEO of Australia’s biggest private hospital operator has flagged greater AI adoption as a way to help improve services.

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Strongroom founders Max Mito (right) and Christopher Durre (middle) with EVP’s Misha Saul on March 13.

Venture capital firm EVP was right to call the cops on StrongRoom

EVP committed venture capital heresy by reporting StrongRoom AI to the police. It angered fellow investors but has shown moral courage rather than selfishness.

Christine Holman at the ACSI conference on Wednesday was told she would never get another board role in Australia.

WiseTech whistleblower warned she would never get another board role

ASIC boss Joe Longo warned of an outbreak of “issues in the bedroom migrating to the boardroom” as Christine Holman revealed the threat made to her.

March

Corporate Australia did itself no favours by campaigning so actively in support of the Yes vote.

Qantas chairman says business should not be woke or anti-woke

Corporate Australia should pick its battles carefully. However, mainstream DEI and ESG initiatives have largely proved to add value to companies.

ASIC chairman Joe Longo says that regulatory complexity “is a clear and present danger to our law enforcement”.

Why ASX corporate governance principles need a shake-up

Questions must be answered, including whether the broad consensus-based approach of the council should continue or it should be an advisory body to the bourse.

February

There is a market perception that Richard White, the founder and brains behind WiseTech’s business success, has won.

WiseTech must find new independent directors or risk ASX suspension

The fine print of the bourse’s corporate governance principles shows Richard White and the remaining board members are in a rather urgent pickle.

This banker email shows Dutton is right on ESG going too far

A construction company received a 37-point compliance list before funding would be considered, in addition to the standard credit application.

Arnaud Soirat of Rio Tinto.

Internal files show Rio had early warning of Oyu Tolgoi blowouts

The mining giant held an “urgent” crisis meeting into a nine-month delay on its copper project in the same week it told investors it on was on schedule.

Shemara Wikramanayake, chief executive officer of Macquarie Group Ltd.

Banks must hold firm on net zero

Macquarie’s decision to exit the Net Zero Banking Alliance risks its bottom line and leaves its carefully built reputation as a green bank in tatters.

January

Security is already being stepped up ahead of the global elite’s arrival in Davos on Monday.

Has Trump killed DEI? Davos might have the answer

The World Economic Forum summit, where the liberal cosmopolitan elite gathers to network and self-congratulate, will be an early litmus test for Trump 2.0.

December 2024

Kevin Corbally and Shayne Elliott at ANZ’s half-year results in May 2024.

ANZ risk boss fed up with bank leaks

Executives are cracking down on would-be informants before the bank’s AGM as the board hopes to convince investors it has been tough enough on cultural failings.

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This image provided by the New York City Police Department shows a man wanted for questioning in connection to the investigation of the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (New York City Police Department via AP)

Manhattan murder frightens executives everywhere

Many companies view investor meetings such as the one that the UnitedHealthcare boss was walking to as security risks because they are highly publicised.

October 2024

Commonwealth Bank told investors earlier this month that it would tread carefully in rolling out uses for AI. But ASIC says that, across the banking industry, demand for AI is booming.

Everything we know (so far) about how banks and insurers are using AI

It has been two years since ChatGPT burst onto the stage – and artificial intelligence is becoming more complex. An ASIC survey sheds more light on the future.

March 2024

Keep AI on a tight leash or embed bias, experts say

AI’s potential to reinforce discrimination is one of its most worrying effects. New regulations aim to keep the powerful technology in check.

Capitalism is about harnessing the energy of self-interest.

Why we need an Australian Institute for Applied Ethics

Capitalism depends on government to provide a trusted framework of rules around it. But when politics turns into reality TV, we must ask the ethical questions ourselves.

February 2024

Telstra CEO Vicki Brady

AI should do what humans can’t, not what we want

The best deployments of AI are helping us discover solutions to big problems and work smarter, without taking the humanity out of creativity or selling junk.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/corporate-ethics-1mt8