Edge with Dr. Stephen Brown

Hailing from Rockhampton in Central Qld, Rod ‘Rocket’ Reddy is one of the legends of Australian and International rugby league. ‘Rocket’ at age 18 left his hometown to join the famous, St George rugby league team in Sydney. Reddy is a member of the club’s team of the century, a premiership winning player, and a representative of Queensland’s first State of Origin team. He played 17 times for Australia. In this episode, ‘Rocket’ discusses his formative years, career highlights, and his perspective on leadership.

A wisdom woman - a person of deep faith, commitment, compassion and care, Philomena (‘Phil’) Billington is one of this country’s finest leaders in education. Phil provides perceptive insights and authentic reflections on leadership, legacy, and her lived experience as a Catholic and a female within the Church.  She beautifully articulates her formative experiences that have shaped her as a person and a leader.  Phil’s life has found her at the edge-providing voice for others, taking on the uncomfortable issues and leading initiatives that create sustainable change.

A champion person who continues to produce champions. Leading Australian horse trainer, Tony McEvoy shares his rich life story from his early days in South Australia growing up on a farm. He left home as an eleven-year-old to work in a racing stable before becoming a jockey and then champion trainer of some of the super stars of the Australian turf. McEvoy is a genuine, warm, and authentic person who shares candidly his thoughts on leadership, the importance of family and life in general.

Kieran McCarthy is a Brisbane lawyer who has been recognised by Doyle’s Guide as a leading practitioner both in Queensland and nationally. Kieran’s abiding out-of-hours interest is military history, and since 2009 he has led seven pilgrimages, with his wife, former journalist and PR Executive Kristin Devitt, to the Australian battlefields of the First World War in France and Belgium, and other tours to the Second World War sites at Dunkirk, Monte Cassino, Anzio, Normandy and Arnhem. He has been a regular speaker on the after-dinner circuit for some years, and co-authored a publication commissioned by the Supreme Court of Queensland Library to mark the centenary of the First World War, “In Freedom’s Cause”. Kieran’s current project is researching for publication the lives of the men of Brisbane’s inner-west, commemorated on the Ithaca War Memorial in Paddington.

Rick retired as Chief of the Australian Army in 2022, capping a distinguished military career in diverse leadership appointments. 

He is an authentic and visionary leader with unique experience and insight from leading complex organisations through transformational change, and from building partnerships and strengthening relationships throughout Australia and the Indo-Pacific.

He is passionate about investing in people, leadership, and organisational culture. He remains committed to advancing Australia’s national interest and competitive edge through The Burr Initiative.

This episode of Edge features the multi-talented Paul Mecurio, AM, best known for his starring role in the iconic Australian movie, Strictly Ballroom and as a judge on the celebrated Australian television program, Dancing with the Stars. In 2022, Paul was elected to the Victorian State Parliament as the member for Hastings. Mercurio is the son of legendary Australian Gus Mercurio, and provides an authentic, insightful, candid and reflective commentary on his life and the much-celebrated achievements in his diverse career.

Country Victorian born and bred,  Michael Winkler's novel Grimmish was shortlisted for the 2022 Miles Franklin Literary Award, the first and only time that a self-published novel has achieved this honour. Grimmish was subsequently published by Puncher & Wattmann in Australia, Peninsula Press in the United Kingdom and Coach House Books in North America. Winkler won the Calibre Essay Prize in 2016. He has self-published three books and released others through commercial publishers. His non-fiction books have been on topics as disparate as sport, outback history and film. He regularly reviews books and judges writing awards. Website: michaelwinkler.com.au

Former Sergeant, Paul Cale has been described as one of Australia’s toughest soldiers. His Special Forces Commando regiment saw more violence and casualties than any other Australian military outfit, with Paul now developing combat strategies for special forces units around the world. Sergeant Cale made headlines in 2013 when it was revealed he had stormed an enemy compound and strangled a Taliban leader during a combat tour of Afghanistan in 2007.

In this episode Paul discusses his time in the Australian army and his work around the world in leadership, combat training and self-defence.

Mention the wine Prosecco and typically, it will relate to the family name of Dal Zotto. Otto Dal Zotto is the king of Prosecco in Australia, and along with his wife and sons has pioneered and powered the brand from the family vineyard in the King Valley, Northeast Victoria. In this episode of EDGE, Otto provides fascinating insights into his formative years, the events that shaped his decision to become a wine maker, perspectives on leadership and his involvement in political advocacy around the restricted use of the Prosecco name.

While simultaneously pursuing a career in education as a school leader, Kirby also had a long and distinguished career spanning 16 years as an elite athlete with the Queensland Fire and Brisbane Heat cricket teams. As a school leader, Kirby has led in large and complex secondary school environments. Her educational leadership has been recognised internationally with the design and development of a unique framework for learning, enabled by her expertise in understanding people and culture through the promotion of agency. Through her engagement with corporate organisations, elite sporting teams and individuals, Kirby also delivers masterclasses in high performance culture, personal and team leadership. Recently, she has made the transition to broadcasting with ABC Radio, Channel 7 and Fox Cricket. Her unique and diverse experiences as an elite athlete, board member, sports commentator and two-time WBBL Premiership Captain of the Brisbane Heat, is evident in her success in leading individuals and teams, within and beyond education, to enact strategies that are focussed on identity, values and progress.