One of the joys of sitting down each year to discuss who is making a real difference in Australia is that it prompts us to reflect on the trends of the past 12 months and to what extent those trends may have required strong leaders, or indeed been triggered by outstanding leaders.

The past year has been characterised by significant social change. In 2017-18 many Australians decided they wanted a more transparent, progressive society that looked after its most vulnerable members. Even in business the profit motive no longer reigned supreme as companies started to define a sense of purpose other than simply to line the pockets of investors. A “social licence to operate” became the corporate must-have as organisations throughout the country wondered out loud how to regain the trust of the community.