Amcham's 'how Business Really Works' Podcast

In This episode we discuss the business of your health.  Duff Watkins has a discussion with our guest Radek Sali who is the CEO of the Swisse Wellness Company Radek Sali has been an integral part of the Swisse story since he joined the company in 2005 and having assumed the role of CEO seven years ago, Radek has ensured Swisse is now one of Australia’s most recognisable and fastest growing companies, with an impressive story of success in tackling the huge U.S. market. Swisse's market-leading position and success was recognised in 2012 when Radek led Swisse to be named the ‘Most Successful Business of the Year’ in the prestigious 2012 BRW Private Business Awards. Radek was also recognised as the GQ Businessman of the Year and the CEO Magazine’s Pharmaceutical Executive of the Year in 2012, these accolades were in addition to a number of health industry awards presented to Swisse in the same year. In addition to his role as Swisse CEO, Radek is Chairman of Noisy Beast, a full-service advertising agency

Our guest is Virgin Australia CEO, John Borghetti. Join John and Duff  while they discuss the changes in the airline industry that are coming your way. Launching the new brand Virgin Australia in May 2011, and the Game Change program announced by CEO John Borghetti, was a key part of Virgin's repositioning in the market to be Australia’s airline of choice. "The transpacific route has always been one of the most competitive routes internationally out of Australia. It is littered with airlines that have tried and pulled out but equally it is a very important route because it is by far, no matter which measurement you use, one of the most critical routes in any international network out of Australia simply because the business links between Australia and America." John joined Qantas in 1973 and his distinguished career with the airline saw him rise to Executive General Manager in 2003, responsible for Qantas Domestic, International and QantasLink. Commencing as Virgin Australia CEO and Managing Director

  “The Death of Trends” is what Host Duff Watkins and Australia’s Leading Social Analyst David Chalke will be discussing. David is one of Australia’s leading Social Analysts.  A science graduate; his early career was in Europe with trans-national organisations such as Nestle, Cadbury Schweppes & Wilkinson Sword.  On coming to Australia David held the positions of Director of Strategy Planning with McCann-Erickson and Y&R Mattingly, until founding the independent consultancy, The Strategy Planning Group, in 1990.    Today, David focuses on measuring the effects of cultural change on Australians’ attitudes and behaviours, and advising on the impact of these on the formulation of effective business strategy and public policy. We value your opinion and feedback.  Tell us your views here in the comments section or email us podcast@amcham.com.au    

Duff discusses the airline industry with our guest Alison Espley, Managing Director, Japan and Asia Pacific Sales for United Airlines. Alison shares the latest innovations and changes that United flyers will have to enjoy as well as some insights into the Airline industry itself. Alison first joined the company in 1987 as an automation specialist for the Apollo Reservation System after graduating from Warwick University. She worked as the GSA administrator for offline countries in the Middle East and Africa in the company’s London office and was promoted to duty manager a few years later.   She continued moving up the ranks to become leisure sales manager and eventually general manager of sales for the U.K. before moving to the Sydney office in 2007 to take on her previous post.

Duff’s guest is John Mattick is the director of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. The Garvan Institute is one of Australia's largest medical research institutions with approximately 650 scientists, students and support staff.  Garvan's research is focused on the major diseases that affect today's society. Professor Mattick’s   research led to the discovery of the function of Non-coding DNA, for which he earned a top award for genetics.  Over the past 20 years he has pioneered a new view of the genetic programming of humans and other complex organisms, by showing that the majority of the genome, previously considered ‘junk’, actually specifies a dynamic network of regulatory RNAs that guide differentiation and development. He has published over 250 research articles and his work has received coverage in Nature, Science, Scientific American, New Scientist and the New York Times, among others.

In this episode Duff’s guest is the Chief Executive Officer of Macquarie Telecom David Tudehope. The discussion is about customer care, or more accurately, Innovation in customer care.  David Tudehope founded Macquarie Telecom in 1992 as a provider of voice services, guiding the company’s development to become a fully integrated carrier; supplying voice, mobile, data networks & managed hosting solutions to business & government users in Australia & Asia. Over the last two decades, he has championed telecommunications regulatory issues & strived for more competitive outcomes to benefit Australian customers. David has also held the positions of Director of the Service Providers’ Industry Association (SPAN) from 1996-1999 and was a member of the IT & the Arts Information Economy Advisory Council under the Minister for Communication. He is currently a Governor of the American Chamber of Commerce & a graduate of the University of NSW - currently on the UNSW Business Advisory Counc

In this episode Duff Watkins speaks with Rod Gonzales, CEO of NANA Australia (part of NANA Development Corporation, that $2b international corporation you might not have heard of) on the Topic of Supplier Diversity:  What’s It Mean, What’s It Matter?    NANA is 100% owned by the Inupiat Eskimos, based in Northwest Alaska. They have developed one of the largest zinc mine sites in the world and are engaged in the supply chain of some of the major oil companies (Conoco Phillips, BP) developing sustainable businesses.   They joint venture with companies like Sodexo and Marriott to truly participate in the Alaskan business community.  NANA is currently a $2 billion global corporation with over $1 billion in services being delivered to the U.S. Government, including in high intelligence areas of the Pentagon, and servicing and fuelling Air Force One and Air Force Two.

Today Duff discusses Financial Rewards Friend or Foe? That is to say, is showing me the money always a good idea? Our guest this episode is Jairus Ashworth who is a partner for the reward division of Aon. Jairus has spent his working life helping working with clients and businesses to harness the power of rewards and link them to the business outcomes.   Consider money or financial rewards as one tile in the mosaic of motivation in business.  It’s demonstrably wrong to say that it’s a poor motivator or has no impact.  It’s also not fair to say that money is the prime motivator for everybody.  The truth lies in the middle.   

Duff Watkins discusses Doing Business Around the World with Andrew Pointer Director of Global Business Development at the TMF group In this episode we discuss, where in the world can you do business today? It’s a global economy but every country is different. So the question is in which countries is it easiest and most difficult to do business?   Andrew Pointer is the Director of Global Business Development at the TMF group. TMF is a leading global provider of high value business services: business, critical issues, the things that international companies need to get right in order to do business around the world. He can be contacted on Andrew.Pointer@TMF-Group.com

In this episode Duff Watkins discusses Cloud Computing with Jason Ryning  Legal Director for Australia and New Zealand at Microsoft Pty Limited Duff & Jason discuss the pros and cons of Cloud Computing, from inception to WikiLeaks, the benefits and the issues. Jason serves as Microsoft’s Legal Director for Australia and New Zealand and is based in Sydney.  He provides regulatory counsel to business groups on public policy issues such as intellectual property rights, privacy, internet security and safety, competition, and international trade.  Jason joined Microsoft in 2006 and was based in Redmond, Washington where he supported the company’s online business.  He has been an active contributor to industry associations and public/private sector groups focused on advancing the discussion of leading policy issues including by serving as board chair for the Interactive Advertising Bureau and the Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies. Prior to joining Microsoft, Jason was with the Stokes Lawrence law firm

The CEO of the United States Studies Centre Dr Bates Gill speaks with Duff Watkins about the strategic reasons behind Free Trade Agreements (FTA). This is very topical with the imminent completion of the one of the largest FTA’s the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). Dr Bates Gill commenced as CEO of the US Studies Centre in October 2012 after a five year appointment as the Director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. He previously led major research program at public policy think tanks in Washington, DC (Brookings Institution and Center for Strategic and International Studies) and in Monterey, California (Monterey Institute of International Studies). Among his professional affiliations, Dr Gill serves on the boards of the Rajaratnam School of International Studies (Singapore) and the China-Merck AIDS Partnership, and is a member of the Asia Society Policy Advisory Board (New York) and the Board of Advisors for the Shanghai Institute of International Studies. He is also a member of the

In this podcast Dr Duff Watkins once again speaks with US Consul General Hugo Llorens this time about the progress of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).  The TPP is due to be finalised very soon. Some analysts are even predicting a conclusion as early as May 2015. The United States Consul General shares some insights about the negotiations and other benefits about free trade agreements. Hugo Llorens arrived in Sydney October 3, 2013 to become Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate General with responsibility for the region encompassing New South Wales, Queensland and Norfolk Island.   Previously, he served as the Assistant Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan from May 2012 to June 2013. In that position, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of the largest Embassy in the world with a combined staff of 3,000 U.S. local and Third Country employees representing 19 U.S. government agencies.    

Alan Haselden was a former Managing Director Asia/Pacific of Garlock Sealing Technologies (part of US multinational public company EnPro Industries), and has an unparalleled understanding of manufacturing. In a conversation with Duff Watkins, Alan shares his observations about the future of manufacturing in Australia. 

Our Host Dr Duff Watkins speaks candidly to Andrew Wiltshire Senior Director of Corporate Affairs Medtronic Australasia about the role that innovation plays in our health system. “Hospitals do a brilliant job of saving people’s lives, but things happen in hospitals as well; infections happen, it’s that kind of environment. So anything we can do to prevent people from getting to hospitals, if they need some kind of treatment and provide that treatment outside hospital settings, and they get out of hospitals try to prevent them going back into hospitals…those are  where the real advances in health are going to be”   Andrew is the Senior Director of Corporate Affairs Medtronic Australasia, a member of the Medtronic Australia/New Zealand Executive Leadership Team and company director Medtronic Australasia Pty Ltd, and Medtronic New Zealand Ltd, with experience over 20 years in all aspects of the Medical Technology and Pharmaceutical Industries. Andrew is also a member of the Medical Technology Association o

Eddie Grobler Divisional President of MasterCard Australasia and AmCham Governor, joins Host Duff Watkins to explore what the 'Future of Money' will be in our society.  " I think we are heading to a cashless society – obviously I think that is going to be a twenty or thirty year journey and where I think we are heading in the short term – five to ten years – is possibly a less cash society. " Mr Grobler explains to Duff in this edition of the AmCham Podcast.  Join us to learn what insights this leader in the industry has to share. Eddie Grobler is division president, Australasia for MasterCard. Based in Sydney, Australia, he is responsible for the development of the MasterCard value proposition in the Australasia markets. He was appointed to his current position in September 2008.

Don Peppers is recognised as one of the world's leading authorities on customer-focused business strategies. During a recent presentation to AmCham in Sydney, Duff Watkins had the opportunity to catch up with Don and discuss how Management use scientific methods to make better decision. Don Peppers is an acclaimed author and a founding partner of Peppers & Rogers Group, the world's premier customer-centric management consulting firm. The Times of London has listed Don among their "Top 50 Business Brains," Accenture has included him in its global list of the "Top 100 Business Intellectuals," and the U.K.'s Chartered Institute for Marketing put him on its list of the "50 most influential thinkers in marketing and business today." In 2013, Don Peppers and Martha Rogers were inducted into the Direct Marketing Association Hall of Fame.  Peppers continues to support many of the worlds’ leading global brands, working with executives to develop a customer-centric strategy and culture within their organisation

Duff Watkins interviews the enigmatic Rodney Marks about the use of Comedy  at work. Does comedy increase productivity and help clarify an organisation's position or are we just goofing around? Rodney is a corporate entertainer specializing in business events, conferences and meetings. He has performed throughout Australia, and has had over 30 international tours, to England, Mauritius, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Fiji, Vanuatu and the United States. Rodney has been a comic hoaxer, comedy MC, and a stand-up comedian for a generation. In 2012 Rodney performed in the Solomon Islands for the Australian Army, the Australian Federal Police and personnel from the defence services of New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and the Solomon Islands. He has been visiting professor-at-large at UNSW (2007), and artist-in-residence at the Macquarie Dictionary (2002-03), UNE (2001-02), the AGSM (2000-01), Harvard (1995) and Shalom College (1980). He has degrees from UNE, UNSW and Harvard  Rodney has been president

Kevin Bates joins host Duff Watkins in discussing Risk in today's business environment and if if it is possible to protect your organisation against it. Kevin joined Lend Lease in 2004 and was appointed to his current role of Group Head of Risk and Insurance in March 2014. Prior to his current appointment, Kevin was the Head of Risk and Compliance for the Retail and Communities Business with Lend Lease in Australia, followed by the Head of Risk and Compliance for the Asia Region of Lend Lease – a role which Kevin held from 2010 to 2014. Kevin joined Lend Lease after 6+ years practising as a Corporate Finance Lawyer with a top tier international law firm in London acting on a variety of high profile international market leading transactions. Kevin holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours), a Diploma of Legal Practise and a Master in Law and Arbitration, and retains a licence to practise in three jurisdictions

In this latest podcast Dr Duff Watkins has a conversation with Mike Schoettler, Managing Director of Sales Sense and Fellow Governor of the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia about changing face of sales. Mike commenced his career with a MBA in International Management but he says he never learned faster than when his sales manager put him on straight commission. This taught him the power of focus and the importance of mastering the basic skills of sales and negotiation – what he now calls Sales Sense!   Mike has demonstrated his “Sales Sense” approach to producing results working in major corporations in both the USA and Australia. After five years as National Sales Manager for Hunter Douglas, he started speaking professionally in 1991. In the years since, Mike has worked with Associations, Corporations, and Franchise Organizations of all sizes around the world.

AmCham CEO Niels Marquardt speak to host Duff Watkins about the role of AmCham in today's business environment and its benefit to the Australian and US business community. Niels Marquardt started as CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia (AmCham) on October 15, 2013. He is a former American diplomat with decades of experience promoting international trade and investment.    His final diplomatic assignment was as U.S. Consul General in Sydney, 2010-2013. During a 34-year State Department career, Niels also served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Madagascar and the Union of the Comoros (2007 - 2010), to the Republic of Cameroon (2004 – 2007), and to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea (2004 – 2006). In three of those countries, Niels helped found and launch new AmCham chapters.