This Month
Why no one wants to be a CEO any more
Burnout, scrutiny and liability have turned the top job toxic, and rising stars are opting out.
Some founders regard directors as ‘something to be tolerated’
The scandals that have rocked high-profile founder led companies such as WiseTech and Mineral Resources are a wake-up call for all board members to conduct thorough due diligence, say top directors.
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.
Mullen is on the money on genuine board diversity
The right way forward is a proactive approach to genuine diversity that would rightly reject performative box-ticking.
Qantas chairman warns directors of ‘dominant CEOs’ in board search
The successful careers and dominant personalities of founders and overly powerful CEOs can trip up even the most seasoned corporate players, John Mullen says.
From Death Star to Raccoon Feet: Have meeting room names gone too far?
Creative titles are now an inescapable – but not always funny – part of work life. The practice that grew from reimagining the office in the 1990s may need a rethink.
February
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.
Killing ASX diversity rules should be start of governance reset
John Wylie’s new “first principles” rule book should be the starting point for the debate about what best practice corporate governance should now look like.
I’m an ESG insider. Here’s the truth behind how it went off the rails
Advocacy for moral concerns should be left to those with the proper mandate and ESG professionals should practice what they preach about good governance.
Boardroom diversity shouldn’t be a box-ticking exercise
Corporate strategy should be shaped by people from different backgrounds whose fresh perspectives on solving problems and seizing opportunities can add value.
Broadening the director talent pool could help fix the ‘founder problem’
Innovative entrepreneurs with the relevant skills and experience are disqualified from serving on the boards of companies that would benefit from their presence.
There is no push for mandatory diversity on ASX boards
There has been no recommendation requiring the release of personal information about directors and executives, despite the recent misunderstandings seen on this topic.
January
I was sex discrimination commissioner, but Trump has a point about DEI
The old biases the women’s movement railed against so persuasively have been replaced by new biases, almost as unfair and opaque as those of the ancien régime.
Driving innovation
Join the most influential voices shaping the future of Australia’s workforce to unpack on the critical issues reshaping how we work, lead, and collaborate.
December 2024
Blake Lively turns the shame around
The actress is suing a Hollywood studio alleging sexual harassment and a smear campaign. It may prolong the pain but the only way to end impunity is to speak up.
November 2024
Wanted: more bosses on the shop floor
Too many leaders avoid spending time with workers doing the jobs the business depends on. But it can be easy for them to get caught up in the daily crossfire of drama.