Candid conversations with directors on the interests and insights that have shaped their careers.
Most valuable career lesson?
Learning the difference between management and leadership. Management is about getting stuff done, whereas leadership is about creating the environment in which people and organisations can be at their best. Leadership is about being in service to your enterprise, your stakeholders and your purpose, but it’s not about subservience. It’s important for boards and entirely consistent with the concept of custodianship for the long term.
Early career risk that paid off?
I joined the graduate program at IBM and ended up on the fast-track development program for more senior executive roles in the corporation. But this meant a lot of travel and my daughter would start to cry every time she saw my suitcase. I thought, this is a great job, but I can’t do this and be the parent I want to be. So I left to join an Australian law firm as director of marketing and strategy.
A lot of people thought I’d lost the plot, but I knew I’d gain skills I didn’t have. It was an awesome chapter in my career and created a good balance to my experience with an international company, which has enabled me to do what I do today.
Top-of-mind governance issues?
Technology is certainly one of them, from both security and strategic opportunity perspectives. Implications of geopolitical scenarios and climate change — and the consequential socioeconomic impact in Australia — are also on my mind. And I think the question of trust has never been more important or more under threat in many ways. We live in a very complicated time.
Favourite way to wind down?
Listening to music, particularly live music, it’s so energising. I love the Melbourne International Jazz Festival and this year we’ve had an incredible line- up with Herbie Hancock and Marcus Miller, as well as fantastic younger talent like Jazzmeia Horn. I also go to the Port Fairy Folk Festival every year. Plus, I’m the number-one fan of a local band called Jerry — my son is their saxophonist.
Favourite book genre?
I read widely, but don’t have a favourite genre. I’m a big consumer of publications like the MIT Technology Review, because it helps me keep up to date with trends. I’ve also been reading about quantum computing and an awful lot about governance issues, particularly around sustainability. I’m in a book club and we enjoy a great diversity of reading. Our current book is Henry Winkler’s biography, Being Henry. It’s not what I expected and I’m really enjoying it.
Favourite dish to cook?
I love to cook feasts for friends and family. I come from an Irish family, so I can assure you there’s a lot of nonsense that goes with it — singing, playing the ukulele, we have a lot of fun. I like to try new recipes, but one of my favourites is Yotam Ottolenghi’s slow-cooked lamb. It has oodles of chillies, which melt right down as it cooks. It’s absolutely divine.
Favourite travel spot?
For me, travel is about exploring places I haven’t been. This year, it was the Kimberley and last year, Scandinavia. My other big driver for travel is connecting with people who are important to me. Being from an Irish family, we are scattered all around the world.
Directorships: Chair Janison, non-executive director AMP, St Vincent’s Health Australia and Datacom, president AICD Victorian Council and a member of the AICD technology and innovation advisory panel.
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