Director Download

Artificial intelligence is creating a new cyber security reality. As AI tools become more powerful, they are helping cyber criminals identify vulnerabilities, launch more sophisticated attacks and exploit weaknesses faster than ever before. The rapid development of frontier AI systems has also highlighted how unexpected behaviours and risks can emerge as these technologies become more capable and widely deployed.

In this episode, Stephanie Crowe, Head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre, explains what frontier AI means for cyber risk and why directors need to be alert, not alarmed – yet.

She shares practical guidance on the questions boards should ask about cyber resilience, patching protocols, supplier risk, AI adoption and the governance guardrails needed to support responsible use. Stephanie also discusses the risks hidden in legacy systems, the importance of scrutinising third-party providers, and how smaller organisations can strengthen their cyber defences with limited resources.

We cover:

• 01:30 - What frontier AI is and why it increases cyber risk
• 17:00 - The questions boards should be asking their IT teams to help mitigate AI risks
• 21:00 - The technology risks boards need to be reassessing with a sense of urgency
• 22:00 - The governance questions boards should be asking their external suppliers
• 24:00 - Stephanie's advice for smaller organisations with fewer resources to manage cyber risk

Learn more:

• ASD AICD Board Guidance - https://www.aicd.com.au/news-media/research-and-reports/asd-board-guidance-frontier-ai-cyber-threats.html
• AICD Cyber Security Security Principles V2: Cyber Security Governance Principles | Version 2 | AICD

Connect:

• Australian Signals Directorate on Linkedin - https://au.linkedin.com/company/australian-signals-directorate
• AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/
• Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/
• Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/

This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.

Australia's economy has become less dynamic. Fewer workers are switching jobs, fewer businesses are entering and exiting markets, and investment in research and development has weakened. A new report commissioned by the AICD and prepared by Mandala Partners suggests reversing some of these trends could add at least $20 billion a year to Australia's GDP over the next decade.

In this episode, Adam Triggs, Partner at Mandala, explores why Australia's productivity growth has slowed, what's driving the decline in dynamism, and how regulation may be contributing to the problem. He explains what Australian governments can learn from international approaches to reform and where the biggest opportunities for economic growth could be found.

Adam also discusses the practical questions boards should be asking about compliance, risk appetite and growth, and the role boards can play in helping restore a more productive and dynamic economy.

We cover:

• (01:00) - What Australia's declining economic dynamism means for businesses and living standards
• (06:30) - How much of Australia's productivity challenge can be attributed to regulation?
• (20:00) - The questions boards should be asking management about compliance costs and complexity.
• (22:00) - What needs to change to unlock Australia's $20 billion productivity opportunity?
• (27:30) - Lessons from international approaches to regulatory reform.
• (28:30) - How AI could improve Australia's economic dynamism and productivity.
• (31:00) - Practical steps boards can take now to support economic growth.

Learn more:

• AICD's free webinar unpacking the research on 12 Nov, 12PM AEDT. Register here: https://www.aicd.com.au/courses-and-programs/all-webinars/WEB0002-H261112-01/the-stagnant-nation-reviving-australias-economic-dynamism.html
• AICD & Mandala Partners research - https://www.aicd.com.au/news-media/research-and-reports/lifting-australias-dynamism.html

Connect:

• Adam Triggs on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/adam-triggs-74385430
• AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/
• Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/
• Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/

This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Gunaikurnai peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.

Australia's economic outlook remains uncertain. A range of domestic and global pressures are shaping the conditions in which organisations operate, and for boards, understanding which economic signals matter most is critical to making informed decisions.

AICD Chief Economist Mark Thirlwell joins us to examine the outlook for interest rates, inflation and economic growth, the indicators directors should be watching, and whether traditional economic levers are still enough to address Australia's economic challenges.

Mark also discusses the latest Intergenerational Report and Australia's long-term growth prospects, the potential for AI to lift productivity. We look at what's driving the global bond market sell-off, and whether many of the economic and political narratives that have dominated recent years are becoming less convincing to voters, consumers and markets.

We cover:

• (01:00) - Why Australian consumer confidence has fallen
• (04:00) - Whether interest rates alone can bring inflation under control.
• (06:00) - The key economic indicators boards should be watching, and what could signal a shift in the outlook.
• (08:30) - The role of government spending in Australia's inflation challenge.
• (18:30) - What the Intergenerational Report reveals about Australia's economic growth over the next 40 years.
• (21:00) - Whether expectations of an AI-driven productivity boom are overly optimistic.
• (22:30) - What's behind the global bond market sell-off and why it matters.

Learn more:

• Mark's weekly newsletter - https://www.aicd.com.au/news-media/economic-weekly.html

Connect:

• Mark Thirlwell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-thirlwell?originalSubdomain=au
• AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/
• Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/
• Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/

This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.

AGMs are one of the clearest tests of shareholder sentiment. As investors are becoming increasingly willing to vote against boards when expectations are not met, Philip Foo of proxy adviser CGI Glass Lewis says directors should expect closer scrutiny in several key areas during the 2026 AGM season.

In this episode, Philip shares the issues likely to attract investor attention at upcoming AGMs, including auditor relationships and independence, executive remuneration, board composition, culture and AI governance. He explains how shareholder voting behaviour is changing, what effective engagement with investors looks like, and why succession planning conversations should start well before they become urgent.

Philip also explains the questions investors are increasingly asking and what distinguishes a well-prepared organisation from those facing unexpected opposition.

We cover:

• (03:00) - The issues Philip expects to attract attention during the 2026 AGM season.
• (09:00) - What he suggests effective engagement looks like, including why discussions about succession and contentious remuneration decisions should begin well before the AGM.
• (13:30) - How shareholder voting behaviour has changed, with investors becoming increasingly willing to vote against remuneration reports.
• (18:00) - What investors are looking for in board composition as organisations contend with changing technology, the energy transition and other emerging risks.
• (19:30) - How investor expectations around climate, ESG and board diversity are evolving, including differences between international markets.
• (25:00) - What distinguishes firms that navigate AGM season smoothly from those caught off guard.

Learn more:

• AICD guide on governing with stakeholder insight - https://www.aicd.com.au/news-media/research-and-reports/stakeholder-governance-guide.html

Connect:

• Philip Foo on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/philip-foo-cfa-ca-8097a231
• AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/
• Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/
• Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/

This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.

As cyber threats become faster and more sophisticated, boards are being urged to shift their focus from preventing every attack to building organisations that can withstand, respond to and recover from incidents.

So how can directors tell whether their organisation is genuinely prepared? National Cyber Security Coordinator Michelle McGuinness explains why cyber security is a board responsibility, the questions directors should be asking and why boards should seek evidence rather than assurance when assessing cyber risk.

The conversation also explores what happens when an incident actually occurs, including the role of directors during the first critical hours, communicating with stakeholders, and supporting teams operating under intense pressure. Michelle also shares practical advice on ransomware, extortion and follow-on scams.

We cover:

• (04:40) - What cyber resilience means and why organisations need to prepare now.
• (05:30) - How boards can assess their organisation's cyber resilience.
• (07:00) - What is at stake when organisations get cyber security wrong.
• (11:00) - How directors can determine whether the information they receive from management provides a genuine picture of cyber resilience.
• (16:00) - What should happen in the first hours of a serious cyber incident, the support available to organisations and where the board's role differs from managements.
• (25:00) - Why Michelle argues organisations should avoid paying cyber ransoms, and why payment does not remove an organisation's broader risks or obligations.

Learn more:

• Ransomware Playbook - https://www.cyber.gov.au/ransomware-playbook
• AICD resource on governing through a cyber crisis - https://www.aicd.com.au/risk-management/framework/cyber-security/governing-through-a-cyber-crisis-cyber-incident-response-and-recovery-for-australian-directors.html

Connect:

• Michelle McGuiness on Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/company/aucyberseccoord/?originalSubdomain=au
• AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/
• Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/
• Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/

This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.

As trust in institutions declines and economic pressures remain high, understanding community sentiment has become a critical capability for boards.

In this episode of Director Download, Sue Vercoe, Managing Partner at SEC Newgate and Managing Director of its research practice, explains what her firm's "Mood of the Nation" research reveals about the issues shaping public attitudes in Australia.

Sue discusses why shifts in community sentiment can act as a "canary in the coal mine", highlighting emerging concerns before they translate into policy change, regulatory scrutiny or reputational risk.

She also shares practical advice on bringing external perspectives into the boardroom, understanding stakeholder expectations, building trust, and distinguishing long-term trends from short-term noise.

We cover:

• (02:00) - The current mood of Australians and how financial pressures are changing the issues people care about.
• (05:30) - Why it's critical for boards to pay attention to community sentiment
• (08:00) - How organisations can communicate their actions in a way that builds trust and cuts through.
• (13:30) - How boards can develop a more accurate understanding of what different stakeholder groups actually want.
• (16:30) - How directors can bridge the distance between the boardroom and the community and challenge their own assumptions.

Learn more:

• AICD's latest stakeholder guide - https://www.aicd.com.au/news-media/research-and-reports/stakeholder-governance-guide.html
• SEC Newgate - https://www.secnewgate.com.au/

Connect:

• Sue Vercoe on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/suevercoe
• AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/
• Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/
• Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/

This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal people. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.

As the global economy shifts, some of the biggest opportunities for Australian organisations are emerging much closer to home. Across Asia and ASEAN countries, rapid economic and digital transformation is creating new markets, new competitors and new possibilities for growth.

In this episode, David Olsson, International Director at law firm Mallesons, explores what Asia's next chapter means for Australian boards and their organisations. He examines the geopolitical and economic forces reshaping the region, the opportunities emerging in ASEAN and China, and why long-standing calls to build Asia capability have become more relevant than ever.

David challenges some of the assumptions that continue to influence boardroom thinking, including the idea that Asia is a single market and that market access alone is enough to succeed. He shares practical insights on how boards can build resilience, develop capability, understand regional dynamics and position their organisations for long-term success in the region.

We cover:

• (04:00) Why awareness of geopolitical risk is no longer enough, and the importance of board oversight, scenario planning and mapping offshore dependencies.
• (07:00) Why Australia's relationship with Asia matters more than ever, and the economic transformation underway across the region.
• (10:00) Common misconceptions about doing business in Asia, including treating Asia as a single market and confusing market access with capability.
• (18:00) How Australian boards can think about the country's economic relationship with China alongside its strategic relationship with the United States.
• (20:30) China's economic trajectory and why David believes Australian directors should see the pace of change firsthand.
• (23:00) How Australia is viewed across the region and the opportunity to build on existing goodwill and relationships.

Connect:

• David Olsson on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/david-olsson-am-98457923
• AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/
• Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/
• Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/

This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.

Australia's positive duty marked a significant shift in how organisations address workplace sexual harassment and sex discrimination, moving the focus from response to prevention.

For boards, this means overseeing how prevention is embedded across workplace culture, leadership, and risk management.

In this episode, Australia's Sex Discrimination Commissioner Dr Anna Cody explains what effective board oversight of the positive duty looks like in practice. She shares the questions directors should be asking management, the workforce data and cultural indicators that may signal emerging risk, and the steps boards can take to help create safer, more respectful workplaces.

Dr Cody also discusses progress towards gender equality in senior leadership and how boards can use WGEA data and reporting to better understand workforce trends and drive accountability.

We cover:

• (04:00) What the positive duty changed for organisations and boards
• (05:00) What workplace sexual harassment can look like in practice, and why misunderstanding the behaviour itself remains a risk.
• (11:30) The cultural indicators boards should be paying attention to
• (07:00) What directors can do when they suspect their board reporting isn't giving them the full picture.
• (26:00) The actions Dr Cody wants boards to take now

Learn more:

• Human Rights Commission positive duty guidance materials, including the Seven Standards - https://humanrights.gov.au/resource-hub/resources-for-organisations-businesses/guidance-materials
• AICD, ACSI and Human Rights Commission research into board preparedness for positive duty – https://www.aicd.com.au/organisational-culture/business-ethics/change/positive-duty-preventing-and-responding-to-workplace-sexual-harassment-insights-from-australian-directors.html
• AICD guide to positive duty - https://www.aicd.com.au/organisational-culture/business-ethics/change/a-directors-guide-to-the-positive-duty-to-prevent-workplace-sexual-harassment.html

Connect:

• Dr Anna Cody on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/anna-cody-06095156
• AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/
• Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/
• Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/

This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.

Net Promoter Score (NPS) is one of the world's most widely used customer metrics. It regularly appears on board dashboards, CEO scorecards and executive incentive schemes. But what does it actually measure, and what doesn't it?

In this episode of Director Download, Lyndall Spooner, founder of strategic research consultancy 5D, explores why boards should be cautious about treating NPS as a proxy for customer value, growth or business performance. She unpacks the strengths and limitations of the metric, how reputation and external factors can influence results, and the questions directors should ask to better understand what customer data is really telling them.

Lyndall also discusses the broader range of customer measures available to boards, and why relying on a single headline score can obscure important insights about customers and long-term value creation.

We cover:

• (01:30) Why NPS became one of the world's dominant customer experience metrics
• (07:00) How reputation and negative headlines can influence NPS without necessarily affecting commercial performance
• (12:00) Why no single customer metric can provide a complete picture
• (19:30) The questions directors should ask about the source, quality and representativeness of customer data
• (26:00) What a more useful customer dashboard could look like, from market position and customer acquisition through to loyalty

Learn more:

• 5D - https://www.5d.consulting/

Connect:

• Lyndall Spooner on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndall-spooner-51a69b20/
• AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/
• Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/
• Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/

This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.

The capabilities boards need are changing quickly. As organisations navigate new technologies, shifting stakeholder expectations and an increasingly complex operating environment, finding the right directors has become more strategic than ever.

In this episode of Director Download, René Johnson, Managing Director of Pacific Search Partners, shares insights from the front line of board recruitment. He explains why boards are looking beyond traditional networks and how a broader search process can help uncover the skills and perspectives needed for the future.

René explains why succession planning should be shaped by future strategy not just immediate vacancies, and why culture, judgement and curiosity matter as much as technical expertise. He also shares the capabilities boards are increasingly seeking, from technology and cybersecurity to AI.

We cover:

• (01:40) Why succession planning needs to shift from filling vacancies to preparing the board for future strategy.
• (03:40) How board recruitment has evolved beyond traditional networks and the value of testing candidates against the broader market.
• (05:30) Why culture, boardroom dynamics and a director's ability to challenge constructively matter when assessing candidates.
• (08:30) Building diversity into succession planning and why a broader candidate pool can bring different thinking to the boardroom.
• (12:00) The capabilities boards are increasingly looking for, including technology, cybersecurity and AI expertise.
• (15:30) Building diversity into succession planning and why a broader candidate pool can bring different thinking to the boardroom.
• (24:00) Where skills matrices fit in identifying the skills and experience a board needs.

Learn more:

• You can find more from Rene in the August issue of Company Director Magazine - www.aicd.com.au

Connect:

• Rene Johnson on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/ren%C3%A9-johnson-6bab663
• AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/
• Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/
• Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/

This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.