Chris Lucas stands as one of Australia’s most daring and influential hospitality entrepreneurs — a creator of culture as much as a creator of restaurants. Over the past two decades, he has built a portfolio of iconic venues that consistently reset the benchmark for what dining in Australia can feel like: energetic, design-led, culturally fluent and unapologetically ambitious.

As the founder and driving force behind the Lucas Restaurants group, Lucas transformed venues like Chin Chin, Kisumé, Yakimono and Grill Americano into institutions that shape the way people eat, socialise and experience their city. His signature is unmistakable: theatrical concepts, world-class interiors, deep respect for global cuisines, and a relentless focus on service and atmosphere.

Lucas is widely regarded as a master of brand-building — each restaurant crafted not just as a place to dine, but as a sensory, high-voltage experience that blends food, music, art, design and cultural storytelling. His influence extends beyond hospitality; he has helped define Melbourne’s identity as one of the world’s great dining capitals while continually pushing the industry forward with scale, innovation and vision.

Bold, instinctive and fiercely committed to excellence, Chris Lucas has become a symbol of what modern entrepreneurial hospitality looks like: ambitious, experiential, culturally connected and impossible to ignore.

In this exclusive feature profile by Rob Langton & Ready Media Group, Chris takes us on journey inside his World, from what drives his success to how he thinks about his legacy & everything in between.

The Interview - Australia's most watched business program, featuring exclusive profiles of the Nation's most successful individuals.

Founder & Host - Rob Langton

Proudly produced, licensed & distributed by Ready Media Group.

Further Information:

https://readymedia.com.au/

https://lucascollective.com/

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Peter Freedman AM is the self-made billionaire maverick behind one of Australia’s greatest manufacturing success stories.

As the Founder and Chairman of RØDE Microphones, he turned a near-bankrupt family electronics business in 1987 into a global powerhouse—now exporting to over 120 countries, manufacturing everything in Sydney, and used by the world’s leading content creators, filmmakers, musicians, and broadcasters.

Bold, driven, and obsessively hands-on, Peter is more than a tech entrepreneur—he’s a fierce advocate for Australian manufacturing, design excellence, and innovation on home soil.

He famously reverse-engineered his first microphone in 1990, and never looked back—building vertically integrated factories filled with robots, launching revolutionary products like the VideoMic and RØDECaster, and acquiring global brands like Mackie, Lectrosonics, Aphex and SoundField under the Freedman Group.

Awarded Member of the Order of Australia in 2016, and named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014, Peter is as well known for his philanthropy as he is for his products—donating millions to arts, mental health, and design, including a record-breaking purchase of Kurt Cobain’s MTV Unplugged guitar, which he turned into cultural capital for Australia.

Blunt, brilliant, and deeply committed to legacy, he’s said:

“I’m not a capitalist. I just love winning.”

This is a story of grit, reinvention, and building global greatness—out of a suburban factory in Sydney.

Founder & Host | Rob Langton

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In this exclusive feature profile, we sit down with one of Australia’s most enduring and visionary entrepreneurs — Malcolm Steinberg.

Born and raised in Perth in the 1940s, Malcolm’s entrepreneurial journey began at just 18 years old, when he acquired 21 pinball machines from a relative and began placing them in corner stores, milk bars, and pubs across the city.

That humble venture marked the beginning of what would become a pioneering career in the world of interactive entertainment.

In 1978, Malcolm launched the first Timezone in downtown Perth — a bold move that would ultimately redefine family entertainment across the Asia-Pacific.

Over the decades, Timezone grew from a single arcade into a global entertainment powerhouse, with venues in Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

Along the way, Malcolm also founded LAI Games, a Perth-based arcade game manufacturer that has produced some of the world’s most iconic and innovative machines — exporting to over 50 countries worldwide.

But his legacy doesn’t stop at business.

In honour of his grandmother, a Russian immigrant and early inspiration, Malcolm established the Malka Foundation — a philanthropic venture focused on empowering young people and supporting social enterprise across Australia.

In this conversation, we explore the full arc of Malcolm’s journey: from his early days in suburban Perth, to building Timezone into a generational brand, to giving back through the Malka Foundation.

Along the way, he shares lessons on reinvention, risk, and building businesses that endure.

The Interview | Australia's most watched business program.

Founder & Host | Rob Langton

Produced & distributed exclusively | Ready Media Group.

Further Information:

https://readymedia.com.au/

https://www.lai.com.au/

#ausbiz #businessnews #richlist #malcolmsteinberg #theinterviewaustralia

In this exclusive profile, Michael Dempsey, Founder of Ezidebit shares his remarkable journey in building & scaling his global payments business prior to selling for $305m in 2014.

Michael Dempsey is a prominent Australian entrepreneur and investor, best known for founding Ezidebit, a leading payments processing company that revolutionized the way Australian businesses manage electronic transactions.

Starting in 1998, Michael leveraged his engineering background to create a scalable platform that rapidly gained traction in the market.

Ezidebit grew to become one of the most trusted names in payment solutions, processing billions of dollars annually.

In 2014, the company was acquired by Global Payments, marking a significant milestone in Michael’s career.

After his success with Ezidebit, Michael shifted his focus to investment through Pipeline Capital, his family office established to target high-growth industries, particularly fintech.

With his entrepreneurial expertise and a deep understanding of both technology and business operations, Michael now invests in innovative companies, helping them scale and thrive in competitive markets.

Throughout his career, Michael has shown a keen ability to identify market gaps, develop technology-driven solutions, and lead companies to success.

His journey from a tech startup founder to a respected investor demonstrates his vision, leadership, and commitment to fostering innovation in the Australian business landscape.

Founder & Host - Rob Langton

Produced exclusively by Ready Media Group.

https://readymedia.com.au/

https://pipecapital.com/

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Today, we are privileged to sit down with Karl Morris, the CEO and Managing Director of

Ord Minnett, one of Australia’s leading wealth management and financial services firms.

With over 30 years of experience in the financial industry, Karl’s leadership has been pivotal

in steering Ord Minnett through significant growth and adaptation in an ever-changing

market.

A proud Brisbane native, Karl’s career path began with a foundation in business and

commerce, earning his degree at Griffith University, before joining Ord Minnett in 1990.

Over the years, he has held various leadership roles, including State Manager, Branch

Manager, and Executive Chairman, before becoming CEO in 2004.

Under Karl’s stewardship, Ord Minnett has maintained its reputation for excellence in client

service and strategic growth, all while navigating the evolving landscape of financial

technology, market trends, and regulatory changes.

In this exclusive feature profile, we’ll explore his journey, the evolution of Ord Minnett, and

his insights on the future of financial services.

Joining our program on this episode is self-made billionaire Grant Petty - the founder and CEO of Blackmagic Design, the company behind some of the most game-changing technology in the film, television, and live production industries.

From cinema cameras to colour grading software to live switchers, Blackmagic has redefined what’s possible—and who gets access to it.

What started in Grant’s garage in Melbourne is now powering everything from Hollywood blockbusters to independent YouTube channels.

But more than a tech founder, Grant is a filmmaker at heart—driven by a belief that creativity shouldn’t be held back by cost or complexity.

In this conversation, we dive into the early days of Blackmagic, how Grant’s rural upbringing influenced his approach to innovation, and why he’s so obsessed with democratising creativity.

Founder & Host - Rob Langton

Our guest on today’s episode is investment legend, Morry Waked - the low profile but high-achieving Founding Principal & Managing Director of Vinva Investment Management.

Vinva Investment Management is an independent, global investment firm that specialises in managing active equity strategies across Australian & global equity markets, with a remarkable $25bn of funds under management - in 2024, Magellan acquired a minority equity stake in Vinva for a reported $138.5m.

Prior to founding Vinva in 2010, Morry’s career encapsulated a diverse range of positions including Global Head & Chief Investment Officer of Barclays Global Investors – BGI for short - (Global Active Equities), Chief Executive Officer of Barclays Global Investors (Australia & New Zealand), Head of Australian Equities at BGI and Head of Quantitative Research at Rothschild Asset Management.

In 2023, Morry was inducted into the Australian Fund Manager Hall of Fame as one of only twenty-two fund managers since its inception.

He is a Graduate of Macquarie University, having completed both a Masters degree and a Bachelors degree in Economics, majoring in actuarial science and statistics.

In this exclusive feature-length profile, Morry shares his journey, from the son of a taxi driver to the pinnacle of financial markets, along the way charting the challenges he encountered, the opportunities he pursued and the lessons he’s learnt from a lifetime in one of the most competitive industries in the World.

Founder & Host - Rob Langton

https://readymedia.com.au/

https://vinva.com/

In this exclusive feature profile, Perth businessman, investor & rich-lister Ross Norgard shares his business career - from working as a chartered accountant in the halcyon days that was Western Australia in the 1980's, to the high-achieving deal-maker famed for rescuing and listing hundreds of businesses on the ASX over a four plus decade journey.

More recently, Ross was the Founding Chairman of NearMap - a business that was acquired by US private equity in a $1.1bn deal and currently invests privately in a number of mining, property & technology ventures.

Founder & Host - Rob Langton

https://readymedia.com.au/

An exclusive profile of self-made multi-millionaire & entrepreneur, Rory Vassallo - sharing his extraordinary self-made journey in building one of Australia’s most successful childcare businesses, ultimately culminating in a circa $65m deal to sell 22 centres to G8 Education in 2014 before embarking on a number of private ventures including more recently, taking back management control of fourteen centres.

In this fascinating discussion, Rory reflects for the very first time on his background, early endeavours, business career and the fundamentals required for overcoming challenges & chasing long-term success.

Founder & Host - Rob Langton

Produced by Ready Media Group.

We’re fortunate to have the opportunity to be joined on today’s episode with Nick Wakim - the self-made Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Lithium, a pure-play developer embarking on a globally significant journey to

become one of the World’s largest producers of lithium.

Born in Melbourne to parents of Lebanese heritage, Nick’s upbringing saw him move multiple times across the World from an early age, transitioning variously across Papua New Guinea, Lebanon, England & Chicago.

Emulating the entrepreneurial pursuits of his father, Nick’s business career has taken him across the World, from securing landmark deals across the Middle East to acting as a corporate advisor, personal investor & macro strategist to individuals, companies & Governments across a range of industries.

Prior to launching Phoenix Lithium in 2009, Nick was involved in the establishment of a number of businesses including Vision Financial Group, a business that provided corporate finance & advisory services, Intercorp Group, an organisation that led joint venture & technology transfers and Phoenix Group, a business through which he advised senior ministers of Australia and Saudi Arabia on trade negotiations.

Under Nick’s leadership, Phoenix Lithium is today best known for their remarkable pursuit to create North America’s largest lithium project, with their East Brawley project combining an enormous 23,000 acres of surface & mineral rights through which the company projects to be able extract enough lithium to produce in excess of a million electric vehicles per annum.

Alongside his professional commitments, Nick established the Wakim Family Office (WFO), a private investment vehicle through which he deploys capital across residential & commercial real estate, technology ventures & horse-

breeding.

Owing to personal tragedy, Nick also founded the Farid Wakim Foundation in 2023 through which the family channel their philanthropic endeavours.

In this rare & exclusive profile, Nick shares his extraordinary journey in both life & business, filmed on-location at his private residence in Melbourne, Australia.

Founder & Host | Rob Langton

Proudly produced & distributed exclusively via Ready Media Group.

Further Information:

https://www.phoenixlithium.com/

https://readymedia.com.au/

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