A quarter of the way into this century, it’s the perfect time to step back, reflect, and consider what has changed—and what’s about to—across workplaces, industries, and our lives.
This season, Jenelle McMaster—Deputy CEO and People & Culture Leader at EY—explores the forces shaping the future of work.
From emerging trends to technological advancements, we’ll uncover what’s changing, how we’re adapting, and the real-world impact of these shifts—plus what they mean for the leaders of today and tomorrow.
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For many leaders today, the future feels louder, faster and less predictable than ever. In this episode, global foresight strategist Joanna Lepore unpacks what strategic foresight actually is and why it matters now. Jo works with organisations around the world to build adaptability into strategy, helping leaders expand their time horizons, challenge assumptions and prepare for multiple possible futures. This is not about prediction. It is about preparation. Together, we explore how leaders can m...
Today, we’re unpacking why leadership feels so much harder right now, and what it takes to navigate a world defined by constant change. Futurist Dominic Price explores the pressures facing modern leaders, the shift from efficiency to effectiveness, and why upgrading our human operating systems matters more than adopting the latest tools. Dom breaks down the rising disconnect between leaders and teams, how AI is increasing both productivity and stress, and the practical mindset shifts leaders nee...
Today, we’re diving into what the next generation of talent actually wants from work - and what employers can do about it. Adam Jacobs, Co-founder and CEO of Hatch, returns to Change Happens to unpack fresh insights from Hatch’s latest Hotlist research: why ’security‘ is the headline for 2025, how Gen Z views AI as an accelerant (not a threat), and the practical shifts organisations can make to attract, grow and keep early-career talent. In this episode, Adam shares: Why saying “here’s our take ...
Generative AI has sparked excitement, fear, and a whole lot of uncertainty. Are we on the cusp of a new industrial revolution - or stuck in a national holding pattern? In this episode of Change Happens , Jenelle sits down with two of Microsoft Australia’s top AI leaders: Sarah Carney, National Chief Technology Officer, and Tim Allen, National Skills Director. Together, they explore the reality behind the AI hype and offer a clear-eyed view on how Australia can move from hesitation to transformat...
Journalist and author Tracey Spicer explores the critical issue of bias in artificial intelligence, revealing how gender, race, age, and ability biases are coded into everyday technologies. She highlights the significant real-world impacts, from hiring software to image generators, and offers actionable strategies for auditing data, cleaning algorithms, and fostering "human in the loop" systems. Spicer advocates for collective responsibility in shaping a "Protopia," where technology serves to make incremental, positive changes toward a fairer society.
If you haven't already, be sure to go back and listen to Part 1 of this episode with renowned social demographer Bernard Salt, where he lays the groundwork for understanding the dynamics at play in our society. From the housing market to the care economy and labour force participation, Bernard explores the challenges and opportunities ahead, advocating for the smart integration of technology and the critical role of social skills in navigating change. In this bonus deep dive, we’ll further explo...
Welcome to Season Six of Change Happens. This season, we're going to explore the forces shaping the future of work. From emerging trends to technological developments, we'll uncover what's changing and how we're adapting. Bernard Salt AM is a leading demographer and futurist who has spent decades analysing the forces shaping society. In this episode, he unpacks the profound demographic and societal shifts post-COVID, introducing the concept of 'peak humanity' and what it means for Australia's fu...
A quarter of the way into this century, it’s the perfect time to step back, reflect, and consider what has changed—and what’s about to—across workplaces, industries, and our lives. This season, Jenelle McMaster—Deputy CEO and People & Culture Leader at EY—explores the forces shaping the future of work. From emerging trends to technological advancements, we’ll uncover what’s changing, how we’re adapting, and the real-world impact of these shifts—plus what they mean for the leaders of today an...
"The moment of discovery, that sense of awe and wonderment, is something I wish every scientist could experience." In this captivating episode, Professor Andrew Wilks takes us on a journey from the council estates of Liverpool to the forefront of molecular cancer biology. A scientist-turned-entrepreneur, Andrew’s career spans the discovery of JAK proteins, founding 12 biotech companies, and achieving the rare trifecta: discovering a protein, developing a therapeutic molecule, and creating a medi...
"Light gives safety, light gives hope, and I can see why children see the magic in it." Alice Min Soo Chun is a humanitarian entrepreneur whose journey began with a simple yet profound idea: light can change lives. From creating origami-inspired solar lights to distributing them in disaster-stricken areas and war zones, Alice’s work has impacted vulnerable communities worldwide. Her innovations were featured on Netflix's Gutsy by Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, showcasing her relentless drive to ma...
"The music industry was the canary in the coal mine for digital disruption. What happened to us is now happening to every other industry." Dan Rosen’s career has been a balancing act between law, music, and leadership. He started out living a "double life" as a lawyer by day and a musician by night. This unique combination of skills eventually led him to the top of the music industry, first as CEO of ARIA and now as President of Warner Music Australasia. Dan shares insights from his journey of l...
“We’ve all got a role to play, it's incrementally happening every single day, it’s being normalised. We have to draw the line and say, enough.” Sometimes, professional experience in one field leads to using those skills to make a difference. This has been the case for Robert Pradolin, who has taken his more than 40 years of experience in the property industry and is using it to galvanise corporate Australia to get involved in solving the growing homelessness crisis. Robert shares his advice for ...
“You think ‘Oh, I worked so hard for something I thought was going to change everything and it didn’t” Even Olympic gold loses its shine. What happens when everything you set out to achieve ends up feeling like a fleeting moment? Leisel Jones is an Australian icon and regarded as one of the world's greatest ever female swimmers. Now a published author, media personality, and celebrated radio host, Leisel talks about her journey as a young girl in the public eye >winning gold but losing her sp...
On today’s episode we explore what happens when change doesn’t happen. Professor Dr Megan Davis is a professor of constitutional law known for her work in creating the Uluru Statement from the Heart and advocating for the 2023 Voice referendum. As an international human rights lawyer, Scientia Professor, and academic, Megan discusses the lessons she learned about engaging with the heart, and not just the head. · How she finds the motivation to keep going after such a huge set-back · The complexi...
“It was the most horrendous thing that's ever happened, it was really challenging, and unfortunately made me distrustful of people, which is just not my normal stance” Not many people can say they have built something out of nothing and have stayed true to their vision and purpose. Simon Crowe, the Founder and Managing Director of Grill’d, is on a mission to liberate burgers from badness and pioneer sustainable food practices. For someone so accomplished, Simon emanates a rare vulnerability. He ...
"What's the legacy we want to leave our kids? I don't want my kids to grow up in a world where women are abused and racism is just part of the DNA, absolutely not required, shouldn't be here, so how do we change it?" When it comes to the achievement of gender equality and the fight for human rights, the path to success requires big changes to happen. With International Women’s Day this month, CEO of UN Women Australia, Simone Clarke, shares the lessons she’s learned on becoming comfortable with ...
“I have no idea why I was the person that chose to fix the problem of surplus food. But I was. And that is the blessing that I have received, and the gift that I have received.” Ronni Kahn AO, is a vibrant force of energy, exuding a warm honesty accompanied by her infectious and unavoidable smile. In this episode, Ronni shares with Jenelle McMaster her unique and captivating story about making change happen, on the season finale of the #ChangeHappens Podcast. Host: Jenelle McMaster Deputy CEO Oc...
"24 hours of madness ensued, and at the end of that I found myself standing in the premier’s office and saying “my goodness, how did this happen” Mike Baird AO, former Premier of NSW and now CEO of HammondCare and Chair of Cricket Australia, shares insights into his personal journey and key moments of change with host Jenelle McMaster. This is an open, honest account of life as the Premier of NSW and dealing with an unimaginable moment - the Lindt Cafe siege in Sydney.. Host: Jenelle McMaster De...
Despite many obstacles in his path, Craig Tiley , CEO of Tennis Australia, successfully lead his team to run two Australian Opens during the pandemic. In this episode of Change Happens with host Jenelle McMaster, Craig explains how it was an “opportunity to show people what is possible". Host: Jenelle McMaster Deputy CEO Oceania and Markets Leader at EY. Guest: Craig Tiley , CEO of Tennis Australia Listen now: Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts....
Dr Jemma Green has helped create one of the biggest innovation transformations to the energy market in years... “And lots of people would say, well, you can't do the Uberfication of electricity because it's different. And for me, it was like, well, it's not like you can't, but it takes something more. And maybe we're really naive in anticipating actually what it would take, but it actually can happen.” Dr Jemma Green, Co-Founder and Chairman of Powerledger, joins our Change Happens podcast host ...
“I think I, as a leader, learned a lot about diversity and inclusion. And it's not enough as leaders to just say, I want diversity and hope it's going to follow unwittingly. And I think it's just, again, because of who I am, it was incredibly inclusive, so I had no barriers to entry. I celebrated every single woman equally. And as a result, that visible difference meant that more and more women saw themselves in people they wouldn't have normally seen being celebrated…….” Dr Kirstin Ferguson who...
“Can I do it? There was a massive amount of self-doubt when I took the job about a month later. The coach, Rafa Benitez, left … and took 18 staff with him. The whole department was gutted. There was me and an assistant coach to take the superstars through a training session … I was pitch side for Australia versus Serbia on Wednesday, arrived on Friday and started interviewing people on Saturday and Sunday to start on Monday. It was an incredible whirlwind.” Darren Burgess, Adelaide Football Club...
POWERFUL LESSONS IN CHANGE – BITE-SIZED. "...maybe more than a thousand of my patients had either died or suffered absolutely terribly as a result of tobacco, and then there I am finding out that my own money invests in the companies that make the products that are killing them." In this Power Bite edition of the Change Happens podcast, Founder and CEO at Tobacco Free Portfolios , Dr Bronwyn King AO , shares with host Jenelle McMaster the light bulb moment that changed her life forever, forging ...
POWERFUL LESSONS IN CHANGE – BITE-SIZED. "I’m feeling pressure that I have to be okay ’cause I’m the “resilience guy” so if I’m not okay does that mean, you know, that I’m just a fraud?" In this Power Bite mini episode of the Change Happens podcast, host Jenelle McMaster is joined by Founding Director and Facilitator of the Resilience Project, Hugh van Cuylenburg , who shares his insights on being honest and vulnerable can make you a better leader. Host: Jenelle McMaster - Deputy CEO and Markets...
POWERFUL LESSONS IN CHANGE – BITE-SIZED. “The woman making that statement had lost two kids at the fires, and I figured to myself she's lost her kids. You know she's lost other family and friends and what I've lost is a reputation, so I need to get over it. And I need to be able to be here supporting those people in the recovery of their communities.” In this Power Bite Edition of the Change Happens podcast, host @ Jenelle McMaste r talks with former Victorian Police Commissioner, Crisis Managem...
POWERFUL LESSONS IN CHANGE – BITE-SIZED. “…somewhere along the way people said don't take your real self to work..... The future for leadership is actually being way more authentic and bringing your real self to work.” In this Power Bite mini-episode of the Change Happens Podcast, host Jenelle McMaster and JK delve into a combined conversation that will have you hooked at the first question as they discuss “Open Minded to Change” and we discover what led JK from being a former All Black and 1987...
POWERFUL LESSONS IN CHANGE – BITE-SIZED. “My 5ft tall grandmother Dorothy had inserted herself between Goliath and this poor girl on the checkout and said how dare you talk to that young woman like that, you apologise....... I said grandma that was so brave, and she said honey if you walk past it you tell the world it's OK." Holly Ransom is a globally renowned content curator, powerful speaker and thought leader, who delivered a Peace Charter to the Dalai Lama, she was Sir Richard Branson’s nomi...
“We had a different view of what the world should look like, and no one was building it….. we had this deep fire in our belly, this stubbornness to will that world into existence…. that has showed that there’s a different way to do capitalism." Simon Griffiths is the Co-Founder & CEO at Who Gives A Crap. If that’s not enough to get you interested in listening, his incredible story will. In 2012 a crazy idea popped into his head, to start a toilet paper company with a difference - giving 50% ...
“Whenever I speak to refugees the three things that they would say are priorities are.… Number one security, once you’ve achieved that, it’s education…the stepping stone and something you can not take away, you can lose everything else but you can hold on to your education, and the third thing, is to have proper livelihoods and income so you can support your family and that’s where the private sector has a broader role.” Naomi Steer is the founding National Director of Australia for UNHCR establ...
“…somewhere along the way people said don't take your real self to work.... I don't think that's the future for leadership. The future for leadership is actually being way more authentic.” Sir John Kirwan, better known as JK, is a former All Black and 1987 Rugby World Cup winner. He became a “Sir” in 2012, recognised not only for his international rugby career but more so for his contribution and commitment to building public awareness around mental health and suicide. His willingness to share h...
