David Gallop AM — former CEO of the NRL and Football Australia —share lessons on leadership, crisis, and culture from a career spent in the spotlight.

In this conversation, David reflects on two decades at the helm of high-profile sports, the experiences he's carried into the boardroom, and what makes an effective chair in today's governance landscape.

Now chair of Venues NSW and Step One Clothing, and a director at Tabcorp and Cricket NSW, David gives insights on handling crises, the balance between board and management, and the art of succession planning.

Key themes:

• Staying calm and focused under scrutiny • Building trust and boundaries between board and management • The chair–CEO relationship and what makes it work • Diversity, gender balance and leadership pipelines • Culture, communication and respect in times of change