Change Happens

After six seasons and almost 70 conversations with leaders, changemakers, athletes, advocates, scientists and CEOs, Change Happens comes to a close.

In this final episode, Jenelle revisits some of the moments and lessons that stayed with her most across the series, featuring reflections and insights from guests including Dr Bronwyn King, Dylan Alcott, Hugh van Cuylenburg, Mike Baird and Dom Price.

Together, their stories reveal a consistent truth: change doesn’t really start with a plan. It starts with people.

In this episode, Jenelle explores:

·         Why some of the most impactful leaders reject the idea of “impossible”

·         How making space for opposing perspectives can create deeper trust and lasting change

·         What separates transactional leadership from the kinds of human connections people genuinely remember

·         Why empathy, judgement and human connection may become the most valuable leadership skills in an AI-driven world

·         The biggest lessons six seasons of Change Happens revealed about resilience, leadership and the people behind meaningful change

Host: Jenelle McMaster, EY Regional Deputy CEO and People & Culture Leader, Oceania

For many leaders today, the future feels louder, faster and less predictable than ever. In this episode, global foresight strategist Joanna Lepore unpacks what strategic foresight actually is and why it matters now.

Jo works with organisations around the world to build adaptability into strategy, helping leaders expand their time horizons, challenge assumptions and prepare for multiple possible futures. This is not about prediction. It is about preparation.

Together, we explore how leaders can move from reactive firefighting to anticipatory leadership and why waiting to “see how it plays out” may be Australia’s biggest risk.

In this episode, Jo shares:

Host: Jenelle McMaster, EY Deputy CEO and People & Culture Leader, Oceania 

Guest: Joanna Lepore, Global Foresight Strategist

Today, we’re unpacking why leadership feels so much harder right now, and what it takes to navigate a world defined by constant change.

Futurist Dominic Price explores the pressures facing modern leaders, the shift from efficiency to effectiveness, and why upgrading our human operating systems matters more than adopting the latest tools.

Dom breaks down the rising disconnect between leaders and teams, how AI is increasing both productivity and stress, and the practical mindset shifts leaders need to thrive.

In this episode, Dom shares:

• Why “best practice” no longer exists, and leaders must create their own.
• How to find anchor points when “normal” has disappeared.
• Why organisations need to evolve their ways of working, not just add new tech.
• How imagination, experimentation and the “plus one” mindset unlock progress.

Host: Jenelle McMaster, EY Regional Deputy CEO and People and Culture Leader, Oceania

Guest: Dominic Price, Work Futurist, Technologist, Founder

Today, we’re diving into what the next generation of talent actually wants from work - and what employers can do about it. Adam Jacobs, Co-founder and CEO of Hatch, returns to Change Happens to unpack fresh insights from Hatch’s latest Hotlist research: why ’security‘ is the headline for 2025, how Gen Z views AI as an accelerant (not a threat), and the practical shifts organisations can make to attract, grow and keep early-career talent.

In this episode, Adam shares:

• Why saying “here’s our take on AI today” beats dodging the question, especially for junior roles.
• Side hustles - and why employers should embrace them.
• The big mismatches to fix: vague growth paths, hidden pay, fear-driven AI talk.
• How to put people back in hiring by using AI to reach the human conversation faster and reduce ghosting.

Hatch Hotlist Survey Link: where Gen Z most want to work
Hotlist insights report 2025 Link: 

Host: Jenelle McMaster, EY Regional Deputy CEO and People & Culture Leader, Oceania
Guest: Adam Jacobs, Co-founder & CEO, Hatch

Generative AI has sparked excitement, fear, and a whole lot of uncertainty. 

Are we on the cusp of a new industrial revolution - or stuck in a national holding pattern?

In this episode of Change Happens, Jenelle sits down with two of Microsoft Australia’s top AI leaders: Sarah Carney, National Chief Technology Officer, and Tim Allen, National Skills Director. Together, they explore the reality behind the AI hype and offer a clear-eyed view on how Australia can move from hesitation to transformation.

In this conversation, Tim and Sarah share:

• Why we’re in a ‘collective limbo’ when it comes to AI adoption
• What Australia risks by holding back - and what we gain by leaning in
• Why we need to build AI literacy across industries, from nurses to sales teams
• Why leaders must make space to “play” with AI, and how that can lead to scale
• The growing importance of coaching, clarity, and communication as core leadership skills
• How AI can enhance, not replace, our humanity at work and home

Host: Jenelle McMaster, Deputy CEO and People & Culture Leader at EY
Guests: Tim Allen and Sarah Carney, Microsoft Australia

Today, we’re stepping into one of the most urgent conversations in tech right now: bias in artificial intelligence.

Tracey Spicer AM is a Walkley Award-winning journalist, author, and longtime activist for gender equity. In this episode, she unpacks the unseen biases coded into the technologies we use every day—and what happens when we leave them unchecked. Drawing on years of research for her latest book Man-Made, Tracey explores the ethical challenges and opportunities in AI development, and why we all have a role to play in shaping more equitable outcomes.

In this episode, Tracey shares:

• How gender, race, age, and ability bias are embedded into AI systems
• The real-world impacts of biased tech—from hiring software to image generators
• Why ‘human in the loop’ systems are critical for ethical AI
• How organisations can audit their data, clean up algorithms, and lead responsibly

Host: Jenelle McMaster, Deputy CEO and People & Culture Leader at EY
Guest: Tracey Spicer AM, journalist, author, and AI ethics advocate

If you haven't already, be sure to go back and listen to Part 1 of this episode with renowned social demographer Bernard Salt, where he lays the groundwork for understanding the dynamics at play in our society.  From the housing market to the care economy and labour force participation, Bernard explores the challenges and opportunities ahead, advocating for the smart integration of technology and the critical role of social skills in navigating change.

In this bonus deep dive, we’ll further explore the Aged Care sector with Tim Hicks, Executive General Manager of Policy and Advocacy at aged care provider, Bolton Clarke. 

Host: Jenelle McMaster, Deputy CEO and People & Culture Leader at EY

Guests: Tim Hicks, EGM of Policy and Advocacy at Bolton Clarke.

Listen now: Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Welcome to Season Six of Change Happens. This season, we're going to explore the forces shaping the future of work. From emerging trends to technological developments, we'll uncover what's changing and how we're adapting. 

Bernard Salt AM is a leading demographer and futurist who has spent decades analysing the forces shaping society. In this episode, he unpacks the profound demographic and societal shifts post-COVID, introducing the concept of 'peak humanity' and what it means for Australia's future. From the housing market to the care economy and labour force participation, Bernard explores the challenges and opportunities ahead, advocating for the smart integration of technology and the critical role of social skills in navigating change.

In this episode, Bernard shares:

• Why Australia is uniquely positioned to thrive in the era of 'peak humanity'
• The evolving needs of millennials and baby boomers in the housing market
• The role of technology and automation in solving labour shortages
• The impact of an aging population on healthcare and social services
• Why he remains optimistic about Australia's resilience and adaptability

Host: Jenelle McMaster, Deputy CEO and People & Culture Leader at EY

Guests: Bernard Salt AM, author, demographer, futurist

and Tim Hicks, EGM of Policy and Advocacy at Bolton Clarke.

Listen now: Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

A quarter of the way into this century, it’s the perfect time to step back, reflect, and consider what has changed—and what’s about to—across workplaces, industries, and our lives.  

This season, Jenelle McMaster—Deputy CEO and People & Culture Leader at EY—explores the forces shaping the future of work.

From emerging trends to technological advancements, we’ll uncover what’s changing, how we’re adapting, and the real-world impact of these shifts—plus what they mean for the leaders of today and tomorrow.

Season 6 of Change Happens returns on February 27.

"The moment of discovery, that sense of awe and wonderment, is something I wish every scientist could experience."

In this captivating episode, Professor Andrew Wilks takes us on a journey from the council estates of Liverpool to the forefront of molecular cancer biology. A scientist-turned-entrepreneur, Andrew’s career spans the discovery of JAK proteins, founding 12 biotech companies, and achieving the rare trifecta: discovering a protein, developing a therapeutic molecule, and creating a medicine that changes lives.

Andrew’s story is one of curiosity, resilience, and unwavering determination to make a difference in cancer research and beyond.

In this episode, Andrew shares:

• The exhilaration of finding something no one else ever has.
• Managing the emotional highs and lows of scientific breakthroughs.
• Transitioning from academia to entrepreneurship and the lessons learned along the way.
• Nurturing young scientists to experience their own "numinous" moments.

Host: Jenelle McMaster Deputy CEO Oceania and Markets Leader at EY.

Guest: Prof Andrew Wilks Molecular biologist and cancer cell biologist

Listen now: Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.