In the words of the world’s most successful investor Warren Buffet, there are only two rules to playing the stock market. “Rule number one: Don’t lose money. Rule number two: Don’t forget rule number one.” It’s a dangerous hunting ground for the average punter, but, that hasn’t deterred many from trying to make a quick buck between the breakneck speed of peaks and troughs in the COVID economy. Associate Professor Gerhard Van de Venter, from the University of Technology Sydney’s Business School, ...
Aug 18, 2020•27 min•Season 2Ep. 24
In late March, the Victorian government put private security firms in charge of hotel quarantine in Melbourne. Since then, a long list of breaches of quarantine conditions by private security personnel, including sleeping with guests, allowing fresh-air breaks or bursting into rooms frantically searching for the TV remote have become public knowledge. But is the industry at large to blame? Or have a few bad apples ruined the whole bunch? Joining Max Tillman today for our weekly round is Bryan De...
Aug 11, 2020•29 min•Season 2Ep. 23
It seems that it often takes a national crisis for cracks in a system to become visible. And under the harsh light of COVID19, the aged care sector has revealed systemic issues in it’s ability to provide adequate care, workers and now, protection against an invisible enemy. Joining host Max Tillman is Professor Michael Woods, Professor of Health Economics at the Center for Health Economics Research and Evaluation (CHERE) at the University of Technology Sydney. He is on the Board of the Australia...
Aug 04, 2020•29 min•Season 2Ep. 22
We all know big life events like marriage, parenthood, job loss and the death of a loved one can affect our well-being; but by how much and for how long? In today's episode, we talk about happiness in the language of numbers, and talk to one particular researcher who has put a value on the effects of love, grief and everything in between.
Jul 22, 2020•28 min•Season 2Ep. 21
In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing whether women’s sport should do more to welcome the rivers of gold from sports betting. Dr. Adam Cohen is a Lecturer in Sport Management at The University of Technology Sydney, who’s piece for The Conversation in March, entitled ‘Can gambling juice fandom for Women’s Sports?’ makes the case that when a fan places a bet, it motivates them to watch a sport and root for a team they might otherwise have little interest in. For women’s sport, with the 2023 FIFA...
Jul 14, 2020•29 min•Season 2Ep. 20
This week, we take a closer look at the role of Artificial Intelligence in marketing. We already accept the fact that Amazon, eBay and Spotify can predict what we want to buy, or how we’re feeling. But are there greater ethical questions hidden within those ones and zeros? Joining us today is Dr. Tae Woo Kim, lecturer in the marketing discipline group from the University of Technology Sydney’s business school, who has recently released a research paper on Artificial Intelligence and Persuasion i...
Jul 07, 2020•29 min•Season 2Ep. 19
In the last few weeks, a conga-line of some of the world’s largest companies have announced pay cuts for their CEO’s and boards of directors. In Australia alone, $25 million dollars in base pay for company directors and CEO’s has been waved in what appears to either be a sign of solidarity, or a sign that ‘recovery’ is a long way-off. But, with feathers being ruffled on the top-floor; and COVID’s role as the ultimate corporate disrupter, does waving the CEO’s salary give any hope to the rest of ...
Jun 30, 2020•29 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Last week, Federal Education Minister The Hon. Dan Tehan announced a raft of changes to the higher learning sector. Degrees deemed 'job-focused' will see a decrease in costs for students, while those determined not to be are going to be a lot more expensive for the average undergraduate. In today's episode, we discuss what this means for the future of learning, and the role of the university in this brave new world with Professor Michelle Baddeley , behavioral economist and Associate Dean (Resea...
Jun 23, 2020•29 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Last Sunday, The Federal Government unveiled their Return to Sport Toolkit, a road map for the glorious return of community and professional sport. But, it is not without its catches. Gone are handshakes, high fives, oranges at halftime and the familiar chanting wall of parents that populate the member’s end of every suburban park. Clubs at all levels will not require a COVID19 safety coordinator, which seems like a much harder task than running the barbecue or being a touch judge. And in the pr...
Jun 16, 2020•29 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Well, first we had Jobseeker, JobKeeper, and now in the naming tradition of COVID stimulus packages, we now have HomeBuilder. And while the Government’s plans to break the champagne over the bow were slightly interrupted by a need to ‘get off the grass’, the latest economic injection has raised voices on both sides of the political divide. Joining the panel today is Federal Shadow Housing Minister, The Hon. Jason Clare and Master Builders Association of NSW Executive Director Brian Seidler.
Jun 09, 2020•29 min•Season 2Ep. 15
This week, we ask; what impact have barley tariffs had on grain growers in Australia? What fears do the agricultural sector harbor for the future? And for the scores of Australian businesses that operate in other industries in China, including the countries booming e-commerce trade, how important is knowing the right people on the mainland, and what effect will the US China trade deal have? Joining the discussion today is Professor Kathy Walsh, Professor of the Finance Discipline Group at the Un...
Jun 02, 2020•28 min•Season 2Ep. 14
In this week's edition of Think: Business Futures, our gaze turns to the often tumultuous relationship between Australia, and our largest trading partner, The People's Republic of China. Is brash ‘megaphone diplomacy’ the right move? Are there alternatives to Chinese markets elsewhere in the world? And, most importantly, how does Australia traverse the next few months as a middle power wedged between the twin axes of the US and China? Joining the program is former Foreign Minister, N.S.W Premier...
May 26, 2020•34 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Well, how much would you fork out for a stake in an airline? On this week's episode, we take a closer look at the Queensland Government's potential stake in Virgin Australia, why inter-state tourism is the best next step and what the future of travel could look like. Joining the program today is Mr Timothy Mander, Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Treasurer for the State of Queensland, Doctor David Beirman , senior lecturer in the Management Discipline Group specialising in tourism at t...
May 19, 2020•29 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Well, should Australians get a fair go and a first go at jobs in the post-covid economy? Labor Home Affairs Spokesperson Kristina Kennelly certainly thinks so, and the senator is not alone. Immigration reform will be one of the key talking points as Australia scales down its global isolation and begins the economic and social re-building effort, but is immigration, and immigrants, a fair scapegoat? Joining the program this week is Mohammad Al-Khafaji, Chief Executive Officer of Federation of Eth...
May 12, 2020•30 min•Season 2Ep. 11
On this week's addition of Think: Business Futures, we ask; what is the state of the NDIS during COVID19? The National Disability Insurance Scheme has a particularly interesting role to play in ensuring that some of Australia’s most vulnerable are shielded from the physical, and by extension, economic impacts pf COVID19. But how important a piece of national infrastructure is the NDIS at a time like this? This week's panel is Andrew Hyland, CEO of NDIS provider Lifestyle Solutions, Professor Sim...
May 05, 2020•29 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Could commodities be the light at the end of the COVID19 tunnel? Australia has the second-largest accessible reserves of iron ore in the world, the fifth-largest reserves of coal and significant gas resources, so it isn't hard to imagine how the answers to our economic questions could be lying beneath our feet the entire time. To help unpack what COVID19 has done to commodity markets is Dr Christina Nikitopolous, Senior Lecturer in the Finance Discipline Group at the University of Technology Syd...
Apr 28, 2020•31 min•Season 2Ep. 9
As businesses across the country close up shop, adapt to working remotely or simply cease to exist, the big questions are how things will look on the other side of COVID19. For indigenous-owned businesses, there is much to be asked, and answered, on the political, social and financial structures that will aid or abet businesses in returning to normal. Joining the panel this week is Robynne Quiggin, Associate Dean of Indigenous Leadership and Engagement at The University of Technology Sydney, Lau...
Apr 21, 2020•31 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Well, how safe is your super? And if you already know the answer, have you had thoughts about cashing out? One of the victims of the COVID19 economic crisis has been Australia’s retirement industry, with over $3 trillion dollars worth of assets currently swirling around superannuation funds across the country in a state of absolute panic. Joining the panel this week is Professor Ron Bird, Emeritus Professor from The Australian National University, Russell Mason, Head of Superannuation at Deloitt...
Apr 14, 2020•31 min•Season 2Ep. 7
As we settle down to life in the midst of COVID19, the numbers show that Australia property values continue to rise. With widespread concerns about job security and the rapid sell-off of the share market, it’s an interesting time to talk about real estate. Joining host Max Tillman are Professor Harald Scheule, Professor of Finance at the University of Technology Sydney, Professor Heather MacDonald, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Design, Architecture, and Building at the University of Technology S...
Apr 07, 2020•31 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Fire up the printer, dust-off a table and get ready for the future of employment. In this week's episode, we take a deeper look at the viability of working from home, and whether it's still possible to separate Church and State in the post-COVID19 business world. Host Max Tillman is joined by Dr. Robyn Johns, Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations at The University of Technology Sydney, Katherine O’Regan, Executive Director of the Sydney Business Chamber and Angela...
Mar 31, 2020•31 min•Season 2Ep. 5
How capable are Australia's hospitals and healthcare systems of handling COVID19? This week on the program, host Max Tillman is joined by Stephen Duckett, The Health Program Director at The Grattan Institute, Prabhu Sivabalan, Associate Dean of Engagement at the University of Technology Sydney, and Rosalie Viney, Director of the Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation at the University of Technology Sydney to talk about the risks our hospitals face when dealing with a pandemic.
Mar 24, 2020•31 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Last week, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced huge price cuts for Saudi crude oil and a planned increase in the country's daily production from 9 million barrels to 11 million barrels per day, with the extra production beginning next month. But what does this mean for petrol prices in Australia? Doctor Nicolas de Roos, an Associate Professor of Economics at The University of Sydney, Mark Mckenzie, CEO of the Australian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association and Michael Day...
Mar 17, 2020•35 min•Season 2Ep. 3
This Sunday marked the 43rd International Women’s day, and with it, a broader retrospective on gender equality in Australia. In this week's edition, we take a look a closer analysis shows that all-too-familiar barriers to entry such as lower numbers of females in management roles and sexual discrimination are still very much present in the Australia workforce. Dr. Alice Klettner and Professor Thomas Clarke from the UTS Business School, Katherine O'Regan, Executive Director at The Sydney Business...
Mar 10, 2020•31 min•Season 2Ep. 2
COVID19 has rapidly become one of the biggest health emergencies in recent history; but how has the virus effected our economy? Host Max Tillman is joined by behavioural economist Professor Michelle Baddeley, ABC Business Reporter Carrington Clarke and supply-chain expert and industry consultant Rob O'Byrne to make a prognosis.
Mar 03, 2020•36 min•Season 2Ep. 1
A behind the scenes look at the team's favourite stories, research and episodes. Music:
Dec 20, 2019•39 min•Season 1Ep. 48
The year is 2050, Australia has decarbonised its economy through an unprecedented collaboration between local communities, elected officials and the private sector. The debate about whether or not renewable energy is financially viable or logistically possible has long since passed. Homes are powered by a mixture of wind and solar. Land use practices have been adapted and now capture large amounts of carbon, we previously emitted into the atmosphere. How did this happen? How did we manage to tra...
Dec 17, 2019•32 min•Season 1Ep. 47
On this episode, we’re talking about savings, earnings and investing. In a nutshell, financial literacy. This is an episode for listeners who think to themselves, ‘I’ll think about my finances later!’ First, we calculate the retirement savings of a fictional 80’s soap opera character. Then, Jon Tyler from the UTS Business School joins us to explain why financial literacy is so important for everyone, not just ‘boring accountants.’ Further Reading: Not sure where to start budgeting and personal f...
Nov 27, 2019•28 min•Season 1Ep. 46
Marketing has faced an existential questions for years. Traditionally, marketing was relegated to the creative art of persuasion in what is now referred to as “The Mad Men Approach.” But overtime, companies started to loose confidence in their marketing teams’ ability to justify their expenses. With the rise and pervasiveness of digital technology, marketers began to justify their actions using digital metrics. In 2019, marketing managers find themselves drowning in a sea of metrics and the indu...
Nov 12, 2019•36 min•Season 1Ep. 45
Have you ever had a great idea for ways to improve your neighbourhood and community? What if you had the ability to design your own public park or playground? On this episode, we’re looking at a new form democratic decision making that combines elements of community consultation and crowdsourcing. David is joined by Dr Krithika Randhawa, Senior Lecturer at the UTS Business School, to talk about what she terms ‘citizen sourcing.’ Plus, we hear from the Christchurch City Council about how they eng...
Nov 06, 2019•37 min•Season 1Ep. 44
On this episode, we’re looking at the costs (hidden and otherwise) of cancer treatment in Australia. David is joined in the studio by Professor Kees Van Gool from the Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation (CHERE) and Philip Haywood. Further Reading: You can find more information on the Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation (CHERE) on their website. The Sydney Morning Herald explains where out-of-pocket costs for cancer treatment comes from in this article from April 2...
Oct 30, 2019•29 min•Season 1Ep. 43
