The Canberra Business Podcast

Canberra Business Chamber

A podcast about all things Canberra Business. 

  1. How Mediation Helps Businesses Fix Disputes Early

    2d ago

    How Mediation Helps Businesses Fix Disputes Early

    Workplace conflict almost never starts as a crisis. It starts as a small issue that lingers, gets avoided, and slowly turns into factions, formal complaints, stress leave, or a long workplace investigation where nobody feels safe to talk. We sit down with James Judge, Principal of Mediation Canberra, to unpack what mediation really looks like for businesses and how leaders can step in earlier with better options than “let’s wait and see.”  James breaks down the kinds of disputes where business mediation can help fast: unpaid invoices, supplier and contractor conflict, partnership breakdowns, and staff tension that is starting to affect performance and wellbeing. We walk through the real process: confidential intake conversations, assessing whether mediation is suitable, and choosing the right format, from same room sessions that let ideas evolve on a whiteboard to shuttle mediation when dynamics or anxiety make separation safer. Along the way, James shares why half day mediations often beat all day marathons, especially when emotions are high.  We also move upstream into leadership. Many “mediation problems” are really management skill gaps: avoiding hard talks, poor feedback habits, and performance discussions that only happen once a year. James shares his practical framework for performance management: Prepare, Discuss, Record, Reflect, plus tactics for when an employee shuts down or resists feedback. We connect conflict management to psychosocial hazards at work, modern expectations of workplace culture, and simple self care practices leaders can model, including the memorable “3 4 5 approach.”  If you want practical conflict resolution, better performance conversations, and leadership tools that prevent problems before they become legal or safety issues, subscribe, share this episode with a manager who needs it, and leave us a review. What’s the hardest conversation you’ve been putting off? You can reach out to Mediation Canberra by visiting their website www.mediationcanberra.com.au.

    33 min
  2. Training That Keeps Canberra Working

    Jun 3

    Training That Keeps Canberra Working

    Fifty thousand certificates is a big number, but the more interesting story is what it takes to keep training useful, compliant, and genuinely connected to work. I’m joined by Mark Field, Managing Director of Access Recognised Training in Canberra, to talk about how a local registered training organisation (RTO) delivers nationally recognised qualifications and high-demand short courses across hospitality and business. We get practical about what employers actually need day to day, from RSA and food safety supervisor certificates to fast help when a compliance inspection is happening and someone cannot find their paperwork. We dig into how vocational education and training has evolved toward blended delivery: online theory through learning management systems, plus real workplace evidence signed off by supervisors. Mark explains why apprenticeships are still one of the most compelling pathways for students who want to earn while they learn and avoid HECS-style debt, and why the apprenticeship model only works when employers make time and take responsibility for coaching. We also cover the hard reality behind the scenes: shifting government funding priorities, reduced incentives in hospitality, and the admin headaches when apprentices move between employers. Mark shares a candid small business case study too, from doubling engagement during COVID training initiatives to investing in CRICOS registration and a purpose-built facility, only to be hit by sudden international student policy changes that made the numbers unworkable. The conversation lands on what smart pivots look like, including corporate training in conflict management, conflict de-escalation, and psychosocial hazards, plus how AI tools can help a small team create better training materials while staying alert to hallucinations, privacy, and data security. If you care about apprenticeships, upskilling, hospitality workforce development, or the future of training in Canberra, listen now. Subscribe, share this with a business owner who’s hiring, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

    33 min
  3. The Skill of Voice in Leadership

    Jun 1

    The Skill of Voice in Leadership

    Your leadership decisions don’t get to wait for calm weather. When the economy tightens, uncertainty rises, and everyone feels the strain, the real question becomes: how do we stay clear, human, and effective while we’re still in the storm? We sit down with Maike Brill from Zeitgeist Leadership Journeys to talk about modern leadership development and organisational development through the lens of complexity. Micah shares why today’s leaders need to understand their triggers, their stress responses, and even their “shadows” that can surface in challenging moments. We unpack resilience in a practical way, using her preferred term psychological flexibility: learning to accept what’s happening, create a little distance from emotion, and act from values when you don’t have all the answers. Micah connects this to Viktor Frankl’s idea that between stimulus and response there is a space, and that space is where better leadership lives. Then we move into a surprising but powerful leadership tool: your voice. Micah explains vocal presence as a trainable skill that shapes trust, connection, and impact in meetings, pitches, and public speaking. We explore pitch, tempo, pauses, and why trying to sound “perfect” can actually disconnect you from your audience. We also talk accents and second language confidence, plus a new at home voice training approach that measures key voice elements before and after a five week program to help founders, entrepreneurs, and students make their ideas land. If you care about executive presence, resilient leadership, and communication that connects, hit subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review with the one voice habit you want to improve.

    27 min
  4. What Disability Inclusion Looks Like At Work

    May 26

    What Disability Inclusion Looks Like At Work

    Tim Cologan has Down syndrome, a job he loves, and a message that cuts through corporate noise: people with disabilities are human too and they deserve respect, acceptance, and real work. Alongside Susie Walford, GM Federal Self-Insurance at EML, we dig into what disability inclusion looks like when it moves from good intentions to everyday practice in the workplace. Tim shares his path into employment, from his first role in the property sector to being made redundant during COVID, and then landing at EML after a simple conversation that turned into an interview and a “yes”. He also talks about building confidence over time, how dancing (jazz and hip hop) helps him feel stronger, and why the best part of work is belonging, making friends, and being trusted with meaningful tasks that keep the office running. Susie brings the employer perspective with refreshing honesty: many organisations want to hire people with disability but don’t know the pathway, overthink “risk”, and underestimate the value that real diversity brings to teams and customers. We walk through practical steps for inclusive hiring in Canberra, how onboarding support from Down Syndrome Australia can help, and why leadership, flexibility, and culture matter as much as any policy on paper. If you care about disability employment, inclusive workplaces, and tapping into an overlooked talent pool, this conversation will give you both heart and a clear next step. Subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review with one thing you’ll do to make your workplace more inclusive.

    20 min
  5. How Canberra Employers Can Build Inclusive Trades Teams

    May 18

    How Canberra Employers Can Build Inclusive Trades Teams

    The construction skills gap keeps getting louder, yet a huge pool of capable people still sits on the sidelines. We sit down with Greg Lackey, Social Inclusion Manager at Programmed, to talk about what happens when you stop treating workforce inclusion like a feel-good extra and start building real pathways into the trades, especially for people with disability and others facing barriers to employment in Canberra. We dig into how Programmed’s work on the ACT public housing maintenance contract creates practical opportunities, from “stepping stone” jobs that build confidence to hands-on workshops that let participants try real tasks like patching plasterboard and adjusting hinges alongside licensed contractors. Greg shares a story that captures the whole point: a participant taking photos of tools during training because his mum is at Bunnings buying them so he can fix the walls at home. That’s what capability looks like when it’s given room to show up. We also get specific about what makes these pathways work for employers: safety-first culture, white card readiness, asbestos and silica awareness, mental health support, and clearer connections to apprenticeships and ASBAs. Then we tackle the big misconceptions head-on, including the myth that employing people with disability is always expensive or complicated, and we unpack how JobAccess and other supports can reduce risk and help teams thrive. If you employ trades, manage contracts, or want a stronger local workforce, this conversation offers practical steps you can take tomorrow. Subscribe, share this with an employer who needs to hear it, and leave a review so more Canberra businesses can find these inclusive hiring ideas.

    26 min
  6. A Small Business Owner’s Plan For A Confident Exit

    May 5

    A Small Business Owner’s Plan For A Confident Exit

    If your retirement plan is “sell the business one day,” you’re not alone, but you might be taking more risk than you realise. We sit down with Craig Phillips from Phillips Wealth Partners, a Canberra-based financial planning firm, to unpack how small business owners can build a clear business exit strategy without guessing their way through the biggest financial decision of their lives. We dig into why business owners often have lower superannuation balances than employees, and how irregular income and an all-in bet on one illiquid asset can leave you exposed. Craig explains sequencing risk in plain language: the market might not cooperate when you want to sell, even if you’ve picked a perfect date on the calendar. From there we get practical, starting with a retirement spending plan and a target income number, then stress testing what happens if the business sells for less than expected. We also talk business valuation and why an independent view from a business broker can be a game changer, even if you are years away from selling. We cover superannuation strategy beyond “set and forget,” including reviewing investments, fees, and performance, plus what changing rules like payday super mean for compliance and cash flow. We finish with the tax side of exiting, including the reality of capital gains tax and why small business CGT concessions can depend on timing, structure, and early planning. If you want more choice and control over your retirement timeline, this conversation lays out the checklist and the team you need around you. Subscribe for more practical Canberra business insights, share this with a business owner who keeps putting retirement off, and leave a review with the one question you want answered about exiting your business.

    26 min
  7. Why Owners Must Own Cybersecurity Decisions

    Apr 20

    Why Owners Must Own Cybersecurity Decisions

    Chaos loves a vacuum, and small businesses feel it first. We sit down with Mike Meyer of M31 to explore how leaders can cut through noise, make smarter decisions, and take ownership of cybersecurity without turning into the IT department. The conversation starts with the shift from old, linear playbooks to a world where assumptions change overnight. Mike explains why divergent thinkers thrive under complexity and how leaders can turn that creative energy into practical structure that protects revenue and trust. We get honest about cyber risk. The most damaging incidents often aren’t cinematic hacks; they’re everyday failures like an unencrypted laptop left in a cab or a lost USB stick full of client data. Mike reframes information as the secret sauce of a business—systems, workflows, pricing logic, and client history that create leverage—and shows how to safeguard those assets with simple, repeatable practices. We dig into the growing reality of director liability and why “the tech team has it” no longer satisfies duty of care. Instead, owners need fluency: the ability to ask clear questions, set risk appetite, and demand evidence that controls actually work. If you run a small team, the trap isn’t ignorance—it’s over-delegation. Feeling out of depth, many owners outsource judgment instead of tasks, creating a grey zone where no one owns trade-offs. Mike offers a fix: curiosity, courage, and a light systems mindset. Learn enough to read the signals, require plain-English reporting, assign decision rights, and test basics like backups and recovery times. We also talk about fractional talent, integrating multiple specialists, and using simple templates and checklists to keep security aligned with fast-changing products and markets. We wrap with details on a leaders-only workshop delivered with ISO Matters: cybersecurity for leaders, not technicians. Attendees map their critical assets, clarify roles, and leave with practical templates to raise maturity without bloat. Subscribe, share this with a fellow owner who’s juggling risk and growth, and leave a review telling us the one cyber safeguard you’ll implement this quarter.

    22 min
  8. Delivering Culturally Competent Care Service in Canberra

    Apr 10

    Delivering Culturally Competent Care Service in Canberra

    A migrant-led business can be commercially sharp and still lead with mission, and Himayat Support Services is proof. We’re joined by Waheed Jayhoon to explore what “trading for purpose” looks like on the ground in Canberra, from culturally competent community support to building a model that can scale without losing integrity.  We dig into the real settlement barriers migrants and refugees face, including language and cultural friction in hiring, limited social support, and the complicated reality of qualification recognition and licensing. Wahid shares a powerful reminder that the cost of underemployment is not just personal, it is economic too, and that many obstacles are more solvable than we assume when services are designed with people at the centre.  From there, we get practical about disability support as an NDIS provider: why trust and in-language care matter, how to reduce exploitation risks for support workers, and what it takes to lead a diverse team working across seven or eight languages. Wahid also speaks candidly about living with ADHD, leaving a comfortable public service career, managing early business risks, and why mentors, feedback, and strong partnerships are essential for any founder, especially in the social enterprise space.  If you care about social impact, small business growth, migrant entrepreneurship, and the future of culturally competent care in Canberra, this conversation will give you both perspective and usable ideas. Subscribe, share the episode with someone building a purpose-led business, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

    28 min
See All (105)

About

A podcast about all things Canberra Business. 

Information

  • Creator
    Canberra Business Chamber
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    105
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Canberra Business Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Canberra Business Podcast