Ai Group Podcasts Ai Group

Business is a human-centred endeavour, and the one thing you can guarantee about people is that they change constantly.

So one of the challenges for businesspeople is to keep up-to- date with the shifting needs and attitudes of your customers and stakeholders.

In this episode, James and Leanne discuss ways to engage the multiple relationships within your supply chain eco-system, how to get the best from the relationships and how to ensure your ideas and goals are understood, accepted and implemented.

In an engaging conversation James and Leanne share stories and anecdotes and seek ways to be better at managing ‘our customers’.

Leanne says we need to ask ourselves, our customers and our suppliers: “What is it that they need to achieve, to achieve success? And as a business, if we can align our solutions to that, then we're creating products and services that are very sticky and very desired by that audience.”

About Leanne
Leanne Farnworth, the Founder of LAMP, brings over 25 years of design and business expertise. As an awarded design leader and entrepreneur, she has achieved transformational results, including her work with Deloitte in the Federal Government's Entrepreneurs' Programme where she advised and facilitated 120+ businesses across Australia.

Leanne's design-led approach is highly sought after by diverse, high-performing businesses across industry sectors. She empowers leadership teams to cultivate customer-focused, purpose-driven strategies that fuel innovation and create value.

Connect to Leanne on Linked In here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannefarnworth/

In this episode, we hear a story of Australia, of Australian manufacturing, of innovation and change, of resilience and adaptability.

And of the ups and downs of family ownership as the business grows, adapts, and changes from generation to generation.

It’s not a sexy business or a sexy range of products. But it’s the story of persistence, resilience and change.

It’s the story of Everhard Industries, a 98 year-old business in Geebung, Brisbane, Queensland: an Australian family-owned manufacturer of Drainage, Wastewater and Environmental solutions for residential and commercial applications. Everard has been the long-time market leader in laundry units and sinks for the home.

Back in 1926, Everhard pioneered the original concrete laundry tub in Queensland – a key part of homes in the suburbs and in the bush. From this humble beginning, the company has built itself into a modern manufacturer and importer of environmentally conscious materials and sustainable manufacturing techniques.

Gina Boyce- Rowe is a direct descendant of the founder of the business and now has the top job, having taken over the Chair from her mum; She shares with us the story of the business, the challenges, the big decisions to change, and her role as Chair. She also tells us how she went from being a critical care nurse to Chair of one of Queensland’s best manufacturers.

It’s a fascinating story- one not to be missed.

To coincide with Anzac Day, this episode unpacks the concerning emerging issue for ex-Defence personnel in your business and your supply chain. The Defence Amendment (Safeguarding Australia’s Military Secrets) Bill 2023 came into law in Australia on the 8th April 2024. The act has two arms: the first impacts ex-Defence personnel and ex-Department of Defence staff, the second affects ‘Australian citizens’. Both carry penalties up to 20 years imprisonment.
At face value, the need to safeguard Australian military secrets makes total sense- it’s a no-brainer… but as the episode’s guest explains, the Act has raised concerns in the business community. To many, it looks like it achieved ‘The Law of Unexpected Consequences’.
And today’s guest is not only perfect for the task at hand, she’s also a fascinating guest in her own right: Rhiannon Willis is an emerging leader in her field, a highly qualified lawyer. She has a history in procurement and business, and she is extremely knowledgeable in the impacts of this new regulation. James and Rhiannon have an engaging and interesting conversation. Well worth a listen.
In this episode, James learns about Rhiannon (an interesting tale) and her career to date (also fascinating) and then the two deep dive into the new regulations:
• What is it?
• How will it impact individuals and companies?
• What it might mean for the hiring of highly trained ex-Defence people?
• The possible implications for your upstream and downstream supply chains.
• And more.
James and Rhiannon also discuss other current legal issue such as cyber-security and ESG.
And we find out of the connection between Rhiannon and England and Wales.
To find out more about SAMS, here are some helpful links:
• Here’s the main defence page explaining SAMS.
• Here’s the parliament site which sets out the history of the legislative process for this Act and includes explanatory memoranda, links to the various versions of the Bill and ministerial speeches on the intended impact of the Bill.
• Here’s the link to the Act itself.

Generative AI is here and is a major game-changer for business and supply chains. In this episode, A.I. specialist Dave Phung guides us through the confusing and often challenging task of understanding the opportunities and challenges of AI in the workplace, and in implementing it.

Dave tells us what AI can do for your business and how to help staff accept it. He also addresses the elephants in the room and clarifies many of the concerns that currently exist with the new technology.

A good episode with lots of chunky nuggets of insights and learning.

About Dave Phung:
• Dave is the Chief Disruptor at GPTStrategic, where he leads the implementation of Generative AI strategies for clients. With a career spanning over two decades, he has a track record of blending human-centered design with disruptive technology to deliver impactful projects for organizations such as GE, Fidelity Investments, Australian Open, Penfolds Wine, US Golf Association, Sony Playstation, and many others.

• Connect with Dave on LinkedIn at https://au.linkedin.com/in/davidphung

Here’s the link to the new Ai Group podcast DBrief: Episode 1 https://www.aigroup.com.au/news/podcasts/2024/d-brief/episode-1-march-2024/

Ai Group’s head of National Workplace Relations Policy, Brent Ferguson, speaks to Thomas Oriti on ABC NewsRadio, discussing Ai Group’s submission to the Fair Work Commission on the minimum wage.

Sarah returns to provide clarity to the confusing plethora of announcements coming out of government regarding the Defence Industry. With her usual insightful commentary Sarah explains what’s going on, what is means for business and what we should do next to capture the opportunity.

In a wide-ranging and engaging conversation, Sarah explains the many recent announcements and what they provide for businesses:
• The review of Australian Navy surface fleet review (Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant review )
• The important (to business) ‘The Defence Industry Development Review’
• The plans for building a very large SovereignDefence Ship Building capability
• The challenges of creating sovereign supply chains with truly Australian SMEs
• The concerns regarding skills shortage in STEM
• The steps businesses should take to get ready for the emerging Defence Industry
• And much more.

This is a fascinating, important, and timely conversation and one not to be missed.