In episode 2 of KWM’s Responsible Business Podcast NEXT, hosts Clem Johnson and Dan Creasey explore the critical issue of the digital divide and its impact on education and social equity now and in the future. They are joined by Doug Taylor, CEO of The Smith Family, and Silvia Griselda, Research Manager at E61 Institute, to discuss the barriers to digital inclusion, the role of technology in education, and the broader economic implications of digital exclusion.

Key Topics:

• The significance of the digital divide in education and its impact on disadvantaged students.
• The role of access, affordability, and digital skills in bridging the digital divide.
• The importance of digital literacy and the challenges faced by educators and parents.
• Successful strategies and interventions to improve digital inclusion.
• The potential of AI and technology in enhancing educational outcomes and workforce readiness.

In the first episode of KWM’s Responsible Business Podcast NEXT,  hosts Dan Creasey and Clem Johnson explore the intersection of business and nature with Rachel Lowry, CEO of Bush Heritage Australia. 

They discuss the importance of integrating nature into business strategies, the challenges and opportunities of conservation, and the role of partnerships in achieving a nature-positive future. Rachel shares insights from her career in wildlife conservation and highlights the significance of protecting habitats and biodiversity. 

Key Topics: 

• Business and nature
• Habitat loss and conservation
• Partnerships and biodiversity
• Climate change and natural capital
• AI technology in landscape management
• Shared values and business strategy
• Community resilience

Welcome to the NEXT podcast series - where we sit down with bold thinkers, innovators, and changemakers to explore what’s just around the corner and how business and community groups can prepare for it, together. 

In this first season Clem Johnson, KWM's Head of Social Impact and Shared Value and Dan Creasey, Director of Responsible Business at KWM go deep with thought leaders and changemakers on issues such as the importance of trust-based relationships with communities and future talent, loneliness, social isolation, and mental health in the workplace, and how these forces are shaping our lives and communities. How inequality is growing in Australia, with more people living below the poverty line, struggling with insecure work, rising costs, and limited access to essentials like education and healthcare, among many others. 

This podcast series will sit alongside our regular, twice annual publication on what’s coming NEXT for society, the environment, businesses and the communities in which they operate.

If you are passionate about understanding the forces shaping our world and exploring how we can collectively build a better future, listen to Episode 1 on Bush Heritage and subscribe to KWM podcasts where new episodes will drop fortnightly.

Hosts: Rod Smythe, Josh Thorneycroft, Jonathan Grant

Duration: 25:32

Summary:
In the first episode of KWM’s Power Perspectives podcast, KWM Energy Partners Rod Smythe and Josh Thorneycroft, and with M&A Partner Jonathan Grant dissect the state of Australian energy market in 2025. 

They explore the significant shift from traditional thermal generation to renewable energy sources and the investment opportunities that arise from this transition.

Key Topics Discussed:

·      Current trends in the Australian energy market

·      The impact of increasing electricity demand driven by digitisation and AI

·      Investment opportunities in renewables, battery storage, and gas

·      The role for institutional and private investors

·      Challenges posed by regulatory changes and economic factors

·      The rise of smaller batteries and their implications for energy storage

·      Predictions for the next phase of the energy transition in Australia

Tune in to learn how Australia is navigating its energy transition and what it means for markets and investors.

In this second episode of KWM’s FS Reg Room Podcast, host Nathan Hodge is joined by KWM Technology law Partners Cheng Lim and Bryony Evans to explore the dynamic world of generative AI and its potential to revolutionise the financial services industry. 

The discussion covers use cases, adoption trends, and the potential long-term effects of AI technology, including soon-to-be-released research from Sapere and KWM for AFIA on the economic and associated benefits of Gen AI implementation in the finance industry. 

The experts explore the misconceptions surrounding AI, the barriers to its implementation, the regulatory landscape that governs its use and important considerations for any reform. 

Tune in to discover how generative AI is reshaping the industry and the steps organisations can take to harness its potential while managing associated risks. 

What now and what next for employers navigating the rapidly and radically altered Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion landscape?

KWM Employment Relations and Safety Partner Annamarie Rooding and Senior Associate Erin Richardson, together with special guest David Glasgow explore the rapidly and radically altered Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) landscape in 2025. 

David Glasgow, Executive Director of New York University Law school’s Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, provides a comprehensive overview of the historical context and current challenges facing DEI in the US, including the backlash against DEI programs and the legal battles surrounding recent executive orders. The conversation offers a detailed comparison of the American and Australian laws on the subject, highlighting key differences and the implications for Australian businesses also grappling with increased domestic regulator focus on discrimination, equity and equality activities in their organisations.  with US ties.

Together, Annamarie, David & Erin talk through strategies for navigating resistance and backlash, the importance of psychological safety, and the role of allyship in fostering inclusive workplaces. The discussion also provides listeners practical steps organisations can take to ensure compliance with Australian regulations, and to create more inclusive better and more productive workplaces.

Links: Death of DEI Part one | Part two

In the first edition of KWM’s new "It's Public" podcast, M&A partners Will Heath, Antonella Pacitti, Heath Lewis, and Paul Schroder discuss why 2025 is shaping up as a promising year for resources M&A. Their discussion covers the energy transition and uncertainty themes driving consolidation, the regulatory and dealmaking environment, geopolitical and trade uncertainty, and the financing and investment trends all fuelling resources dealmaking.

Key Topics Covered:

• Energy Transition and Uncertainty: The long-term energy transition and shorter-term uncertainty are driving consolidation in the resources sector, particularly in markets like Australia with abundant transition resources.
• Current Landscape and Consolidation Trends: Discussion on mega deals, opportunism sparked by distressed assets, and the regulatory and dealmaking environment.
• Gold and Lithium: Insights into the consolidation theme in gold and lithium M&A, including the all-scrip takeover of Latin resources by Pilbara minerals.
• Coal and Other Deals: The demand for coal, private capital filling funding gaps, and the competitive Anglo coal sale process.
• Geopolitical and Trade Uncertainty: The impact of geopolitical uncertainty on resources deals and the importance of critical mineral supply.
• Regulatory Environment: The need for efficient and fair processes around foreign investment, anti-trust, and other regulatory approvals.
• Cross-Border Deals and Capital: The role of private equity, sovereign wealth funds, and the influx of Canadian companies raising capital on the ASX.

Transcript Excerpt:

• Will Heath: "We believe it's going to be a big year for resources M&A, with a couple of big themes dominating the mining M&A landscape. The first and long arc is the energy transition, and the second and shorter arc is uncertainty. Both drivers favour markets like Australia, with abundant transition resources like copper and other crucial critical minerals, as well as in the uncertainty scope hedge commodities like gold."

Hosts and Guests:

• Will Heath: M&A Partner
• Antonella Pacitti: M&A Partner
• Heath Lewis: M&A Partner
• Paul Schroder: M&A Partner

In this inaugural episode of KWM’s FS Reg Room Podcast, host Nathan Hodge is joined by Partner Tim Bednall and Special Counsel Emma Newnham to explore the implications of Australia’s new mandatory climate reporting regime. The discussion highlights the extensive coverage of the regime, which may affect most entities operating in the financial services sector, and the critical responsibilities placed on directors regarding compliance and sustainability disclosures. Key concerns include the challenges of transitioning to mandatory reporting, the potential for increased regulatory scrutiny, and the importance of balancing ambition with transparency to avoid greenwashing. 

Listen in to understand how these developments align with broader business priorities and what they mean for the financial services sector.

For more on the AGM trends discussed in this episode, you can find our report here: Deep dive into ASX200 AGMs in 2024 - KWM

KWM competition law partners Caroline Coops and Simon Cooke join M&A partner and co-author of KWM's Directions report Rhys Casey, to discuss the consequences of the sweeping overhaul to Australia's merger clearance regime.
The team talk through the changes legislated as parliament wrapped for 2024, including mandatory notification for deals exceeding $200 million in combined Australian turnover or $250 million in global value.

Caroline, Simon and Rhys unpack the implications for dealmakers navigating the new regime and transitional phase - talking tactics and timing considerations for overcoming the uncertainty ahead.

Concerns include the increased ACCC workload, the need for timely waivers and the potential for additional red tape making it harder for businesses to do deals aimed at improving their competitiveness and productivity - all key business priorities identified in the Directions report.

Bonus: Listen to the end for a fascinating prediction on what deeper deal data insights may mean for future policy-making!

For more on the merger clearance reforms, check out KWM's analysis here and see everything you need to know about the new regime here.

2024 has been a big year in Employment law. High profile investigations, the right to disconnect, big cases on same job same pay laws, multi-enterprise bargaining, labour hire, psychosocial risk, peeling back the onion on implications of Respect @ Work, and of course AI’s impact on employment law.

This podcast is a recording of a live conversation between KWM ERS partners Cilla Robinson, Sarah Clarke, Angela Weber and Andrew Gray from KWM's recent end-of-year event. In it, the group discusses how the big issues – and cases – have played out in 2024. And what about 2025? As a federal election looms, the partners share some predictions on lies ahead for businesses and workers.