Leann Webb is widely regarded the undisputed pioneer of the bid management industry in Australia. With over 20 years in the industry, Lean has a deep expertise in managing bid responses for major and mega project bids, particularly in the construction, infrastructure, transport, and defence sectors. She also helps small-to-medium sized enterprises to successfully respond to bids and tenders.

In conversation with host James Scotland Leanne shares the secret to successful bidding and tendering. She also shares the pitfalls and common mistakes.

The market is slowing in Australia and most businesses are experiencing softening demand and sales. This is a timely conversation and one not to be missed.

This is the final episode of ‘What on Earth...’ for now. Over the summer break we did a strategic review and we’ve decided to take a break for now- we’ve covered the key issues many times and a short break will give provide an opportunity for the issues to develop before we re-analyse.

The good news is the monthly ‘What on Earth….’ will be replaced by a new monthly podcast addressing the broad issues of Industry Development and Industry Policy. Stay tuned.

In this last episode, Paul is unavailable so James and Tennant look at the year ahead in the transition to the post carbon Australia.

• Tennant gives a detailed review of the UN Climate Conference in Dubai, what he learnt by attending and what it means for Australai.

• The two discuss the Federal Government plans for a Climate Related Final Disclosure reporting process.

• The proposal for Fuel Efficiency Standard for Australia and National Emission Targets.

• And much more.

It’s a fascinating episode and well worth the listen.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our program. It’s been a pleasure to bring you our opinions and analysis. Let’s talk again, soon.

Brand is business; business is brand’ with David Schloeffel, Chief Enabling Officer, Brandness.

In this insightful episode, David talks about using the company brand to build resilience into the business.

“Brand is your biggest asset and it’s critical to the success of any business, regardless of size”, he tells host James Scotland.

In this fascinating conversation, David reveals:

• why a brand is essential to operations and supply lines;

• how the expectations and performance level on B2B (business-to-business) companies have changed as a result of our experiences with B2C (business-to-consumer) companies;

• why it’s important to ensure brand management is across the whole business and isn’t just a boardroom strategy;

• how to carry out a brand analysis that includes customers, suppliers and staff and

• how to transform from being product-based to brand-based — and why it’s important. 

Find out more about David on LinkedIn.

In this first episode of 2024 James speaks with his colleague at Ai Group, the Director of Research and Economics Dr Jeff Wilson. In a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation, James and Jeff talk through the lessons from last year and the current economic trends framing the year ahead.

They then discuss the findings of the recently released report ‘Australian Industry Outlook 2024’. This annual report is an analysis and summary of the opinions of what is ahead in 2024 according to 300 business leaders in Australia. The official release of the report says:

After three years of pandemic-induced disruptions and volatility, Australian industry enjoyed much more stable conditions in 2023. But as business leaders look out into the new year, they have real worries about uncertainty and stagnation in 2024.

This year, more than 300 senior leaders from across Australia responded to our eleventh annual Industry Expectations Survey. The report, due for release on 22 January, is a must-read resource to understand how business leaders plan to tackle the opportunities and challenges facing the Australian economy. It provides critical insights into how they anticipate the coming year will evolve.

Industry leaders go into 2024 with significantly more caution and concern than 2023. They have identified uncertainty, ongoing cost pressures, labour shortages and weakening demand as the key challenges for the coming year.

It’s a fascinating report full of insights, and Jeff and James walk us through the key learnings. Its an episode that will help listeners prepare their business for the year ahead

To find out more about the various reports from Jeff’s team and to get details of the webinar on the details of the CEO report, head over to www.aigroup.com.au

Louise McGrath has been working in international trade for decades and now represents Ai Group and Australian industry at global industry meetings around the world.

In this engaging conversation James and Louise share humorous stories and insights into the keys to effective cross-cultural communication in business, supply chains and international meetings.

Louise also share her thoughts on the current state of international trade and what it means for Australian business.

Industry topics discussed include:

• The current effectiveness of Free Trade Agreement’s

• The implications for Australian business with the USA Inflation Reduction Act

• Insights into international trade meetings

• The future of digital trade documents.

The two have a lively discussion on international communication including

• The impact of the power differential

• The importance of words vs intent in communications

• An understanding of socials norms and being positive

• And much more.

James and Louise are clearly good at communicating with each other and with the world at large, and this is a fun conversation of serious topics.

Worth a listen.

For this last episode of the year James chats with Kerryn Fewster, the CEO of Change 2020 about the year that’s been, the year ahead and the leadership issues of both: the two dissect multiple questions like: What have we learnt? what has changed? What do we need to do to prepare for the year ahead?.

They investigate the generational change underway in the workplace, the impact of Work from Home, A.I. and other new ways of collaborating and achieving.

And they discuss how to holiday, how to rest, rest, recover and rebu ng episode on Leadership, Rest and Reset.

It’s a lovely chat to finish another great year of engaging chats and conversations.

ild. It’s a fascinati

Spoiler Alert 😊 : Leaders in the new environment need to be brave, engaged, flexible and connect. And they need to reinvent themselves and their teams. Listen in, to find out why.

Kerryn is an engaging and informed guest: To find out more, and/or to contact, head over to her two businesses: https://change2020.com/ and AdaptiQ Minds - Psychometric Tests to Determine Tolerance of Ambiguity.

Or find her on Linked In: https://au.linkedin.com/in/kerryn-fewster-90940b5

In this episode- that last of 2023, the three amigos review the big issues of the last month, the upcoming events of note in the transition, and they review the year that was.

Lots of things are discussed, including the upcoming Global Climate Change meeting in Dubai, the possibility of a Carbon Border Adjustment Tax for Australia and other countries, and much more.

Another fascinating conversation, well worth a listen.

Supply Chain Infrastructure in Australia is a big issue for ‘Supply Circles’ listeners so its good to speak with the renowned Michael Kilgariff on what is happening, and why.

Michael is a senior executive in this sector with over two decades of high level experience. He’s been the National Director Energy Infrastructure Policy & Government Affairs for Energy Networks Association, he was the Managing Director of the Australian Logistics Councils for 9 years and he recently finished a successful 5 year stint as the CEO of Roads Australia. So he’s the perfect person to ask about Australian supply chain infrastructure.

Host James Scotland and Michael are old friends and both are very experienced. In this episode they have a relaxed yet insightful and entertaining chat about the current state of, and the future of: Australian port operations, airports, highways and roads. The broader picture of supply chain infrastructure.

They discuss the implications of the recent High Court decision to strike down the planned state tax for Electric Vehicles, and what this is and other issues mean for challenge of funding urgently needed transport infrastructure. And they discuss a lot more

With his vast experience in the sector, Michael provides insightful observations into the challenges, the opportunities and the future of Australia’s supply chain infrastructure. This is a fascinating episode, full of crunchy insights and learnings.

To contact Michael or find out more, head over to https://www.kilgariffadvisory.com/

In this episode host James Scotland dives headfirst into the story of what Electric Vehicles will mean for your business. It’s a story of the sustainable supply chains of the future. A story of change, of current confusion, of coming regulations for business. It’s a story of digitalisation, of disruption, and of course, the decarbonisation of your business.

Most of all, it’s a way of seeing new ‘smart’ vehicles in a new light.

To help me unpack the supply chain story of Electric Vehicles and your business, James is joined by Ross De Rango, the head of energy and infrastructure at the Electric Vehicles council of Australia. Together they unpack the issue from many sides including…

• Why Electric Vehicles (EVS)? Are they really better than Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs)?

• How do EVs compare to ICEs in terms of overall costs, running and operating costs, value for money, impact on th e environment?

• While EVs take the fun out of driving?

• What about range anxiety of EVs? It is a real thing’

• Will business and shopping centre and other buildings need to add car chargers to their business? How many?

• Will the manufacturing of EVs happen in Australia

• How smart are smart cars?

• And much more

Ross’s tip for understanding the advantages of EVs? Hire one and take it for a drive.

Another busy month in the transition, and there’s a lot to discuss.

This month the three amigos consider:

- Will the transition deadline result in inflation in decarbonise resources?

- The structure of future electricity grids and the role of microgrids in providing electricity.

- The High Court’s decision to reject Victoria’s EV tax and what it means for all cars not just EVs.

- The new $2billion Hydrogen Headstart program

- And so much more….

Another informative and insightful discussion from the team- well worth a listen.