Amcham's 'how Business Really Works' Podcast

Duff's guest today is fellow AmCham Governor Nick Abrahams, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright. Nick is a corporate and commercial lawyer based in Sydney. He is deeply involved in the Australian technology sector as a lawyer, adviser, non-executive director, former Dotcom entrepreneur and investor. He has worked on over $3 Billion of TMT-related transactions since 2012.  As many of you know; we live in disruptive times. On this episode you will learn how the leading companies deal with disruption and how the large companies are working with the smaller companies as well as startups to deal with disruption. Thank you for your continued support of this podcast series. Please continue to let us know how we can improve this service for you by sending an email to podcast@amcham.com.au  

Today our podcast will take us deep into "The Murky World of Immigration" with our host Duff Watkins and his guest Nikki Dryden of Fragomen Worldwide. Fragomen is the world's leading global immigration services provider advising on all aspects of immigration law and global mobility. The firm represents a wide range of companies and emerging businesses, including a significant number of clients listed on the ASX. Fragomen operates across Australia with offices in Brisbane, Melbourne, North Ryde, Perth and Sydney. Nikki provides advice and guidance on all aspects of consular processing in Sydney and across Asia Pacific, including complex issues such as waivers of inadmissibility (based on unlawful presence, misrepresentations, crimes involving moral turpitude), immediate relative filings, surrender of Lawful Permanent Residence, and renouncement of US Citizenship. Thank you for your continued support of this podcast series. Please continue to let us know how we can improve this service for you by sending an em

Are you tech savvy? Do you really have what it takes to succeed in this digital age, or do you just think you do? Today our host Duff Watkins discusses all this and more with Moe Ali, Group Vice President for Gartner Australia and New Zealand. Gartner is the world's leading information technology research and advisory company. They deliver the technology-related insight necessary for their clients to make the right decisions, every day. Moe is responsible for leading the company in the Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) region, and is accountable for executing their global corporate strategy in ANZ. Mr. Ali brings over 20 years of leadership experience to Gartner, his expertise is in growing and scaling IT Services companies both in Australia and internationally. Thank you for your continued support of this podcast series. Please continue to let us know how we can improve this service for you by sending an email to podcast@amcham.com.au  

Today our host Duff Watkins has two guests; Patrick Fazzone and Geoff Short as they discuss the facts and fictions about the TPP. Patrick Fazzone is the Managing Partner of Washington D.C. based law firm, Montgomery Fazzone LLC, involved in commercial transaction and international trade law. They are specially in the Asia-Pacific region. Patrick is the Chairman for the American Chamber of Commerce's Trade and Government Committee and is also involved with the Trade Advisory Board and the Health Committee. Also with us today is Geoff Short, Managing Director of TANDA International where he works as an International Trade Lawyer. His company is involved in trade advocacy, consultancy, and Geoff is involved with both the Trade and Government Committee and the Trade Advisory Board at the American Chamber of Commerce. Thank you for your continued support of this podcast series. Please continue to let us know how we can improve this service for you by sending an email to podcast@amcham.com.au

Duff's guest today is Former U.S. Ambassador to Australia, Jeffrey Bleich, Jeff  is now a partner in the Public Policy and Regulations practice at Dentons one of the worlds largest law firms. Jeff served four years as U.S. Ambassador to Australia and also as special counsel to President Obama in the White House. His law practice is focused on international and domestic litigation and counseling, with special emphasis on privacy and data security, internal investigations, trade and cross-border disputes and the Asia-Pacific region. Today Jeff will share with you what is really happening in Silicon Valley while also helping you gain some insights in the upcoming 2016 election. Thank you for your continued support of this podcast series. Please continue to let us know how we can improve this service by sending an email to podcast@amcham.com.au

Are you involved in international trade? Does your company trade internationally? Well then this podcast is for you! Today's podcast is about Geopolitical Risk and Duff's guest today is David Wildman, prior Managing Director at Forensic and Litigation Consulting. The Forensic and Litigation Consulting practice at FTI Consulting provides multidisciplinary, independent dispute advisory, investigative, data acquisition/analysis and forensic accounting services to the global business and legal community. Their team supports clients facing high stakes litigation, arbitration and compliance investigations, and regulatory scrutiny. Multinational corporations typically have processes and systems in place to evaluate and deal with risks around the globe. Companies dedicate significant resources to protecting their people and assets and often are effective at mitigating risks and responding to emergencies in any given country or market. But there are more complicated situations that organizations frequently are not pre

Today Duff's guest is Alan Claire, Director at Cox Purtell. They will discuss the war for talent, or 'recruitment in the digital age' ... Recruiters, we don't need no stinking recruiters. You'll hear how the digital age hasn't killed recruitment and why it won't. Alan’s external focus at Cox Purtell is on high level client engagement, major account management and executive search & selection. He thrives on challenging recruitment processes and in work environments where he utilises his skills and experience by creating brand awareness, employee engagement, employee orientation, training, mentoring, performance management, recruitment and selection. Alan has extensive experience in the Sydney recruitment market and his focus is divided between working in the business and working for the business. Within the business Alan focuses on building a sustainable exciting recruitment brand through a combination of strategy, governance, training, development, coaching and performance management. This creates the pla

Duff’s guest today is Robert Ishak, Co Founder, Chairman and Principal at William Roberts Lawyers.  William Roberts is a dynamic and innovative law firm with a focus on dispute resolution, litigation and personal, commercial and property transactions. The firm commenced in 2005 and now has offices across Australia and in Singapore. Robert’s management responsibilities include corporate governance and guiding the firm’s business strategies together with developing and driving the firm’s marketing. His expertise is in corporate and commercial law advice and litigation. He regularly acts for and advises major corporate institutions. Robert adds a different perspective to most lawyers given that he is a litigator which enables him to identify potential issues and ensure that clients avoid legal pitfalls. Hear Duff and Robert discuss litigation in the modern business world and the changing nature of it, especially around the cost. Thank you for your continued support of this podcast series. Please continue to

Today, join our host Duff Watkins to hear insights on innovation from Brad Furber as they discuss when the best time to plant an Oak Tree is. Brad Furber was hired in late 2014 to design, launch and operate the Michael Crouch Innovation Centre at UNSW Australia where he is now the COO. The Michael Crouch Innovation Centre is a hub for Innovators. Students, Alumni and Staff from all UNSW Faculties, Schools or Divisions as well as industry partners utilise the centre’s facilities as a place to nurture student and academic innovation. The MCIC sparks a problem-solving mentality that can influence and contribute to the emerging ideas economy here in Australia and beyond. Thank you for your continued support of this podcast series. Please continue to let us know how we can improve this service for you by sending an email to podcast@amcham.com.au  

Today our host Duff Watkins has two guests; Geoff Short and Patrick Fazzone as they discuss costs and barriers of International Trade. Geoff is the Managing Director of TANDA International where he works as an International Trade Lawyer. His company is involved in trade advocacy, consultancy, and Geoff is involved with both the Trade and Government Committee and the Trade Advisory Board at the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham). Also with us today is Patrick Fazzone, Managing Partner of Washington D.C. based law firm, Montgomery Fazzone LLC, involved in commercial transaction and international trade law. They are specially in the Asia-Pacific region. Patrick is the Chairman for AmCham's Trade and Government Committee and is also involved with the Trade Advisory Board and the Health Committee. Thank you for your continued support of this podcast series. Please continue to let us know how we can improve this service for you by sending an email to podcast@amcham.com.au

While our regular host Duff Watkins is on sabbatical, hear Robert Hossary, AmCham's NSW/ACT General Manager speak with Thomas Carden, International Tax Director for US Global Tax on the facts behind FATCA. While working in both the Tax and Financial Services for 19 years Thomas has built up an extensive knowledge of the tax issues that U.S citizens living overseas face. He is enrolled to practice before the Internal Revenue Service. He started in 1995 in a small CPA firm and progressed to being the international expatriate tax specialists for a surviving remnant of Arthur Anderson. He has a Bachelors in Global Business Management from the University of Phoenix and a Juris Science Masters in International Tax and Financial Service Law, and he is currently working on a Doctoral Degree in International Tax and Financial Services Law at Thomas Jefferson School of Law. We value your opinion and feedback.  Tell us your views here in the comments section or email us podcast@amcham.com.au

While our regular host Duff Watkins is on sabbatical, hear Robert Hossary, AmCham's NSW/ACT General Manager speak with Denni Francisco, CEO of The Energy Project in Australia and New Zealand. Robert and Denni discuss transforming the way you work. How it's not just the hours you invest that determines the value you create; it's also the energy you bring to whatever hours you work. Through her role as CEO of three SME businesses, as a facilitator, mentor, coach and speaker Denni has explored a different way of being for executives who wish to ‘show up,’ be present in every aspect of their life, find meaning, and identify their legacy. Having worked with hundreds of executives across national and multinational organisations and government sectors in Australia, Asia and the Middle East, she understands the complexities of balancing key business performance outcomes with the real need to build and nurture human communities. For this purpose she is committed helping companies fuel sustainable high performan

In this series Duff Watkins has a discussion with Steve Schmidt on the US Political Scene. As vice-chairman of Public Affairs at Edelman, Stephen Schmidt is a strategic counselor to chief executive officers and senior decision makers at global corporations, professional sports franchises, non-profit organizations and academic institutions. Recognized as one of the top public affairs and political strategists in the country, he has provided counsel on a wide range of issues, including telecommunications, technology, financial services, energy, health care, entertainment and gaming. He has been described by national media as a “damage control master.” We value your opinion and feedback.  Tell us your views here in the comments section or email us podcast@amcham.com.au

In this episode, hear Duff Watkins and Andy Vesey discuss 'How Energy is Changing.' Andy has over 30 years’ experience in the energy industry including strategic and commercial leadership of large energy organisations, and working in complex regulatory and political environments. His experience extends across the energy supply chain, including power development, generation, distribution and retail businesses. Andy commenced with AGL in January 2015, officially taking over as MD and CEO on 12 February 2015. To survive and thrive in changing and increasingly competitive environments, companies need to build agile business processes and systems able to anticipate, adapt and position themselves to take advantage of opportunities as they emerge. This is the journey that AGL has embarked upon to ensure that we grow and continue to serve our customers.  Acting entrepreneurially, having lean processes, ensuring that investments are evaluated rigorously and quickly, ensuring that scenario planning is employed, a

It has been a year since we launched our AmCham Business Podcasts and in our last addition we revisited some of the highlights of the 2015 series, today we are following on and have part 2 of the highlights. In this podcast we hear from Dr. Duff Watkins, David Chalke, John Borghetti, Geoff Culbert and Angust Stewart & Glen Gooding. You may also notice that we have changed our naming convention with this podcast.  The new convention starts with the podcast episode number, year then name of the episode. Thank you for your continued support of this podcast . Please continue to let us know how we can improve this service for you by sending an email to podcast@amcham.com.au.

It has been a year since we launched our AmCham Business Podcasts and we thought that we would revisit some of the highlights of the 2015 series. In this podcast we hear from Dr. Duff Watkins, Consul General for the United States Hugo Llorens, Customer Care Guru Don Peppers, Australasian Divisional President of MasterCard Australasia and AmCham Governor, Eddie Grobler, and Chief Executive Officer of Macquarie Telecom David Tudehope. You may also notice that we have changed our naming convention with this podcast.  The new convention starts with the podcast episode number, year then name of the episode. Thank you for your continued support of this podcast . Please continue to let us know how we can improve this service for you by sending an email to podcast@amcham.com.au.  

  Today Duff Watkins discusses doing business in the US with Ian Smith, Founder and Managing Director of the United States Connect Pty Ltd. Ian has extensive experience in the international trade in both private and public sectors across a broad range of industries and multiple disciplines. Ian is a former Australia Trade Commissioner for the Midwest region of the United States and former Chairman of the Chicago International Trade Commissioners' Association. More recently, he founded Access USA (2011) which provided exporters with practical information and advice on key aspects of doing business in the United States. Access USA then morphed into the company that is today, United States Connect. It's a website; it's a one-stop shop for Australian and New Zealand companies looking at going to the US for business.

Our guest today is DHL Senior Vice President for Oceania, Gary Edstein. Join Gary and Duff as they discuss how Logistics "makes trade happen".  Logistics is a critical part of any business' supply chain. It covers warehousing, fulfilment, air-freight, ocean freight and it’s a very critical component of the cost of sales. Sometimes it can be up to 30% of the cost of sales - even higher. So it’s critical to get it right and to get that whole supply chain streamlined too obviously, reduced your costs in that component. Gary is responsible for DHL Express operations in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Pacific Islands. Gary has worked in the transport industry for 29 years, initially for 11 years with Trans Australia Airlines (now the domestic arm of Qantas), where he was National Accounts Manager. He joined DHL in 1986 as Sales Manager, Victoria.  Gary was appointed General Manager, Australia for DHL International and appointed Regional Director for DHL Express Oceania in June 2003

In today's episode, our message is simple; disrupt or be disrupted. Duff Watkins speaks with our guest Geoff Culbert, President and CEO of GE Australia and New Zealand. Geoff is President & CEO, GE Australia & New Zealand where he is responsible for GE’s suite of businesses in the region including Oil & Gas, Power & Water, Aviation, Healthcare, Transportation, Appliances and Lighting. Geoff joined the company in 2002 and has held senior positions in Australia and Asia. Prior to his current role, Geoff was General Counsel for GE’s Global Growth Organisation, where he led a team of over 150 legal and compliance professionals across Asia, Africa, Eastern and Western Europe, Middle East, Latin America, Canada and Russia/CIS. Before joining GE he worked in private practice for 10 years in Australia, Europe and Asia, specialising in international banking and finance.

In this episode we discuss cyber criminals. Duff Watkins has a discussion with our guests Angus Stewart, IBM's specilist in cybercrime and Glen Gooding, chief of the IBM Security Centre.  Cybercriminals continuously target financial institutions, enterprises, e-commerce operations and other organizations to steal financial and business information. Legacy solutions are hard pressed to prevent these attacks, as they lack threat intelligence and near real-time visibility into the full attack lifecycle. IBM has pioneered a holistic, integrated cyber-crime prevention architecture that has been successfully deployed in hundreds of organizations globally. We value your opinion and feedback.  Tell us your views here in the comments section or email us podcast@amcham.com.au