No Limitations

In Episode 118 of the No Limitations podcast Hardest Opportunity on Offer, Blenheim Partners’ Gregory Robinson speaks with Kate Munnings, Group Chief Executive Officer of Virtus Health Pty Ltd, a global leader in assisted reproductive services.

In a moving conversation, Kate reveals the eye-opening statistic that, in today’s society, one in six couples experience fertility issues. She reflects on her early days as a nurse during the HIV and AIDS epidemic, and how this experience played a pivotal role in shaping her professional path, ultimately leading her to transition into an established law career, followed by senior operations and executive roles at Transfield Services (now Ventia).

In this capacity, Kate provides a fascinating insider’s perspective into the world of detention centres and the plight of refugees. She also discusses her experiences at Ramsay Health Care Australia, shedding light on the challenges associated with introducing changes in the healthcare system.

Moreover, she reflects on assuming her inaugural Chief Executive Officer position, amidst the unprecedented times of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout her career, Kate learned that a title nor a position are necessary to be a leader, and that the essence of great leadership comprises camaraderie, courage and compassion.

Kate was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Virtus Health Pty Ltd in 2020. Prior to this, she was Chief Operating Officer of Ramsay Health Care Australia and earlier was Chief Risk and Legal Officer followed by Chief Executive – Operations at Transfield Services.

Kate started her career as a HIV/AIDS nurse at St Vincent’s Hospital before becoming a construction lawyer and Partner at law firms Corrs Chambers Westgarth and Baker McKenzie. Alongside Virtus, Kate is currently Chair of Digital Health Cooperative Research Centres. Kate has also served as a Board Member of South East Sydney Local Health District.

Please note: this episode was recorded on 16 May 2023.

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In Episode 117 of the No Limitations podcast Knowing Your Own Mind, Blenheim Partners’ Gregory Robinson speaks to the 28th Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon Tony Abbott AC. He was the Member for Warringah in the Australian Parliament from 1994 to 2019.

In an open conversation, we unpack Tony’s thoughts on the current state of Australia, its leadership and standing on the world stage. Considering where he sees society heading from the debate in Australia leading up to the referendum and the cost-of-living crisis to the ongoing conflicts overseas and shifts in the power balance, we discuss his concerns for the country and the world at large. Finally, we uncover his thoughts on leadership and how it starts with one’s self.

Tony served as Prime Minister for two years following the 2013 Australian federal election. He was the Leader of the Opposition from 2009 to 2013 and also served as a Cabinet Minister during the Howard Government. Currently, Tony is a Director of the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation, serves on the council of the Australian War Memorial, and is an adviser to the UK Board of Trade. He is a patron to several charities, including Soldier On, the International Sports Promotion Society, and the Worldwide Support for Development. In 2020, he was appointed as a Companion of the Order of Australia and in 2022, he was conveyed with the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun.

Please note: this episode was recorded on 15 May 2023.

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In Episode 116 of the No Limitations podcast Leadership Is a Gift, Blenheim Partners’ Gregory Robinson speaks with Alan Beacham, Managing Director of Toll Group, one the largest logistics, transportation and warehousing businesses worldwide. Toll Group was established in Newcastle, Australia in 1888, now has headquarters in Singapore and is expanding throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

In an insightful discussion, Alan presents his views on the current geopolitical landscape, especially between China and the United States, and how Toll can best position itself to succeed for another 134 years. He also shares his perspective on cutting-edge innovation in his industry, such as hydrogen trucks, drones in logistics, artificial intelligence and supply chain developments. Finally, Alan reflects on the nature of leadership and cites the importance of inclusion, kindness and responsibility.

Alan was appointed Managing Director of Toll Group last year, having previously overseen Global Forwarding, Global Express and Express Parcels respectively. Earlier,

Alan had an extended tenure at transportation manufacturing firm UGL in Executive General Manager roles. He started his career as an engineer at Rolls-Royce before moving to Mercedes-Ilmor where they developed engines for the West McLaren Mercedes Formula One team. Alan now sits on the Board of charity Healthy Heads in Trucks and Sheds, which represents the wellbeing of those in his industry. Alan has also served on the Boards of Metro Trains Melbourne, UGL Unipart, and Naval Ship Management Pty Ltd.

Please note: this episode was recorded on 20 April 2023.

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In Episode 115 of the No Limitations podcast The Spy Who Didn’t Come Home, Blenheim Partners’ Gregory Robinson speaks with Jack Barksy, a former agent of the KGB, the foreign intelligence and domestic security agency of the Soviet Union.

In a fascinating and revealing discussion, Jack shows us both sides of the Iron Curtain as we delve into the world of espionage. We uncover his story from his beginnings as a high-achieving student recruited by the KGB through the East German Stasi, trained in Moscow and eventually inserted into the United States. We hear of his missions, the near misses that risked blowing his cover and the lead up to his fateful encounter with the FBI.

Originally from East Germany, Jack was recruited by the KGB as a university student and later infiltrated the United States where he spent ten years spying for the Soviet Union. He severed his relationship with the KGB in 1988 and pursued a corporate career in information technology. He was eventually discovered by the FBI. Today, Jack is an American citizen who is taking advantage of one last chance to live a normal life.

In 2017, Jack released a book about his experiences Deep Undercover: My Secret Life and Tangled Allegiances as a KGB Spy in America. He is also the subject of a 12-part podcast series The Agent which was released in 2021.

Please note: this episode was recorded on 14 April 2023.

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In Episode 114 of the No Limitations podcast The Divine Discontent, Blenheim Partners’ Gregory Robinson speaks with David Kirk MBE, Co-Founder and Chairman of Bailador Technology Investments and a former Captain of the New Zealand All Blacks. David led the All Blacks to victory in the first Rugby World Cup in 1987.

Having gone through a unique journey that has seen him study medicine, lead his country to a world championship, abruptly retire and take up a Rhodes Scholarship, David talks to us about leadership in its varied manifestations as well as the zeal in seeking perfection. Drawing on a wealth of knowledge and experience across sport, politics and business in a multitude of industries, David examines the state of affairs and offers valuable insight into the pertinent matters facing society today.

David represented New Zealand in rugby union, having played 17 Tests and served as the side’s Captain on 11 occasions. He is also currently Chairman of Forsyth Barr and KMD Brands as well as not-for-profits KiwiHarvest, the New Zealand Food Network and the Sydney Festival. He is also President of the New Zealand Rugby Players Association. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Fairfax Media and PMP Ltd as well as Chief Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Please note: this episode was recorded on 15 March 2023.

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In the latest episode of the No Limitations podcast For the Butcher, the Baker, the Candlestick Maker, Blenheim Partners’ Gregory Robinson speaks to Joseph Healy, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Judo Bank, Australia’s only challenger bank purpose-built for small and medium businesses.

Driven by an unwavering resolve to challenge long-established norms, Joseph takes us across Judo Bank’s fascinating journey, from the 87 meetings around the world four times over to an eleventh-hour surprise that threatened to get the bank up and running. He shares with us Judo Bank’s unique approach to banking for small and medium-sized enterprises, the backbone of the Australian economy, and the importance of culture in building and scaling a challenger bank.

Joseph is a career international banker, having held executive positions at NAB, ANZ, CIBC World Markets, Citibank and Lloyds Bank prior to co-founding Judo Bank in 2016. He was previously Group Executive, Business Banking at NAB and before that was Managing Director, Global Client Relationships at ANZ. Joseph is a Director of the Australian Finance Industry Association and previously served on the Board of Football Federation Australia. He has authored four books, including a recent publication ‘Black Belt – A masterclass for start-ups and entrepreneurs.’

Please note: this episode was recorded on 27 March 2023.

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In Episode 112 of the No Limitations podcast Innovation: A Necessity, Not an Option, Blenheim Partners’ Gregory Robinson speaks to Ian Bailey, Managing Director of Kmart Group.

Kmart Group is comprised of Kmart and Target, with over 450 stores across Australia and New Zealand, employing nearly 50,000 team members with annual revenues of close to 10 billion dollars.

Leading one of the most well-known and trusted brands in Australia and New Zealand, Ian takes us through the evolution of Kmart from a traditional discount store to embracing an innovative, modern, hybrid retail model.

He shares with us the care and attention it takes to put the customer at the forefront of their mission to accelerate growth and remove all unnecessary costs. Finally, Ian touches on the next retail revolution in today’s digital world as well as potential growth possibilities in international markets.

Prior to his appointment in 2018, Ian held various roles at Kmart Australia including Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

Please note: this episode was recorded on 3 March 2023.

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In Episode 111 of the No Limitations Podcast Rolling the Dice, Blenheim Partners’ Gregory Robinson speaks to Matt Allen, Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Tractor Ventures, a non-bank lender focused on technology startups.

In a lively discussion, Matt shares with us the unique proposition of Tractor Ventures. Unfazed by the appeal of launching rockets, Matt and the team at Tractor Ventures focus on consistency, reliability and giving founders the optionality to scale. He touches on the excitement that comes with the unknown when it comes to investing in game-changing technologies as well as the evolving role of founders in the startup ecosystem. Finally, Matt and Greg discuss the challenges and opportunities for startups in the current environment and what can be done to help build Australia's standing in the global technology landscape.

Prior to founding Tractor Ventures in 2020, Matt was part of the venture capital and startup team at Amazon Web Services and previously held Chief Technology Officer roles. He is also Chairman of AI-driven experience platform Qsic, Co-Founder of Side Stage Ventures and a member of the investment committee of the Alice Anderson Fund, co-investment fund developed by the Victorian government to invest into women-lead startups.

Please note: this episode was recorded on 14 February 2023.

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In Episode 110 of the No Limitations Podcast Ants and Elephants, Blenheim Partners’ Gregory Robinson speaks to Cameron McIntyre, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of carsales.com Ltd. carsales is an ASX 100 business and global leader in digital marketplaces across Australia, Asia and The Americas, with over 1,700 team members.

With a vision to create #1 digital marketplaces for vehicles around the world, Cameron shares how carsales are taking the lead to remain at the forefront of the industry, going from a founder-led startup to a global business, while continuing to evolve with the digital economy to make buying and selling a great experience for their customers. He touches on how carsales is utilising new technologies to further enhance the customer experience, the new markets for electric vehicles and connected cars, and how they’re helping develop an ecosystem for a future-facing workforce.

Prior to his appointment in 2017, Cameron held various positions at carsales, including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary. He was also previously Finance Director of directories and classified advertising business Sensis. Cameron serves as a Non-Executive Director of Inclusive Australia.

Please note: this episode was recorded on 19 January 2023.

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In Episode 109 of the No Limitations podcast The Fear of Going Into the Unknown, Blenheim Partners’ Gregory Robinson speaks to Deanne Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of Aware Super, one of Australia’s leading superannuation funds with over 1.2 million members and $155bn in funds under management.

Driven by the aim to help their members achieve the retirement they want and deserve while supporting the communities in which they live, work and retire, Deanne shares with us what’s on the mind of an industry fund leader in 2023. Greg and Deanne discuss the challenges and opportunities in Australia’s unique system, adapting to the ever-changing social landscape and some of the most exciting technological changes Australia’s superannuation industry is about to witness.

Deanne also serves as a Director of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia, the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors and non-profit organisation Redkite. She was previously Chief Executive Officer of MetLife Australia and before that held senior roles within BT Financial Group and Merrill Lynch Investment Management in New York.

Please note: this episode was recorded on 7 February 2023.

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