Ai Group Podcasts

Host James Scotland ask John Grimes for the keys to creating sustainable businesses in todays economy. John mounts a strong argument for moving your business to electric power via solar and batteries. He explains the numbers and the opportunities for business owners – this is an episode full of exciting insights and business ‘nuggets’ James and John discuss electrification of business, of vehicles and of society, and they have a look at business opportunities in the infrastructure build of the transition. John also explains his view of the new economics of renewables, of power storage and of government support: It adds up to a great opportunity for business improvement. Other issues discussed in this wide ranging discussion include • The electrification of China • Opportunities from the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act • What is Smart Energy • Is nuclear an option? • Australia’s unique role and opportunity in renewable energy systems • And much more. Find out more about John and the Smart Energy Council

In this month’s ‘What on Earth...’ James, Tennant and Paul again examine the ‘issues of the day for the last month’ as we in Australia and globally transition to the post-carbon emissions business environment. The podcast asks ‘What on Earth’…. is going at a policy, economy, global and at the enterprise level as we race to Net Zero carbon requirements for our businesses and for the economy. Topics covered this month include: • China’s apparent new and emerging economic growth strategy, and what it might mean for Australia and for the transition, • The need to diversify our economy, especially as we and the world transition away from carbon-based fuel and export products, • Why business is pushing back in the U.K. and elsewhere as politicians get skittish about carbon targets and/or are faced with changes brought about by political concerns and geo-politics (delaying just add cost and politician pain down the line) • What’s happening with Australian energy, petrol and electricity prices and possible cost

In this episode we address the important emerging supply chain and business sustainability issue: The management concept of Product Stewardship….. The centrepiece of all supply chains is a good product but what actually is a ‘good’ product in the modern world. It’s a complex question with many of aspects to it, including ESG requirements, maximum value, minimal waste, through life support and end-of -life waste management In this episode James speak with John Gertsakis of the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence to learn about Product Stewardship and how it helps businesses to build sustainable and resilient supply chains. Many issues are covered including: • The role of research in product design, • System wide thinking in product management, • The potency of good product and system design, • What good looks like, • The Waste Hierarchy and why its important, • The role of the balance sheet in whole of life design, • The keys to preventative solutions, • The bottom life improvements in good produc

I Chose to look the other way - by Don Merrell by Ai Group

This is the story of the mouse that roared. Of the small manufacturing business in a suburb in Adelaide that went from one product, one major customer to a well-respected, innovative, complex supply chain with a global brand in just 25 years. Still headquartered at the same location in South Australian the business now has operations, sales people and distribution channels throughout the world. Anthony Kittel has been at the helm for the whole time, and in this podcast he shares his story and REDARC’s amazing journey, its commitment to research and operational excellence, and his plans for the future. In a wide-ranging and insightful interview, James and Anthony discuss, among many other things • the role of R&D in rapid growth • the structure of effective strategic plans • the connection between new product development and existing manufacturing capacity • innovative approaches to selecting the ‘riht’ staff • insights into being a successful supplier as well as being a successful buyer, and • Anthony in

With Tennant in China for High Level Dialogue meetings, Paul and James address a range of current issues. As James says; “it’s the podcast that discusses the transitioning economy issues of the day, each month. “ This episodes contains interesting and insightful analysis and comment on a number of issues including: • The challenges and opportunities of the Pilbara region of Western Australia, an area often called ‘ The global mining industry’s version of Silicon Valley’ • Why the Pilbara can be the global model for decarbonisation • Why clusters are a useful structure for the transition, and how it works. • The opportunities for manufacturing in the sustainment of the Hydrogen Industry in the decades ahead. • The cost of the transition and the role of global government subsidy and funding support in presenting challenges • The release of Australia’s first national Electric Vehicle strategy and what it means for business. A jam packed episode of insights and opinions. Worth a listen.

Innes Willox On ABC NewsRadio 733am 4.9.23 by Ai Group

Louise McGrath has been working in international trade for decades and now represents Ai Group and Australian industry at global industry meetings around the world. In this engaging conversation James and Louise share humorous stories and insights into the keys to effective cross-cultural communication in business, supply chains and international meetings. Louise also share her thoughts on the current state of international trade and what it means for Australian business. Industry topics discussed include: • The current effectiveness of Free Trade Agreement’s • The implications for Australian business with the USA Inflation Reduction Act • Insights into international trade meetings • The future of digital trade documents. The two have a lively discussion on international communication including • The impact of the power differential • The importance of words vs intent in communications • An understanding of socials norms and being positive • And much more. James and Louise are clearly good at commun

In this 2nd episode focusing on the SME section of supply chains, James chats with Mal Hiley, the Managing Director of Baker & Provan, a successful Western Sydney engineering and services company with an international supply line. Baker & Provan, a family owned business have specialised in the manufacture and supply of quality engineering products for over 75 years. It is now a significant and long-term supplier to the Defence Industry. Still based in St Marys in a 6,500sq metre workshop and employing over 80 fulltime staff, the company is a well-respected, successful modern engineering company suppling large buyers across the nation. James and Mal discuss the challenges of managing SMEs and the keys to managing demanding buyers, and in sustaining international suppliers. Mal opens up on the difficulties and the processes needed to sustain success in demanding industries, including: • The structure and history of the business. • The challenges of sovereign capability and the role Bake &

This month, James, Tennant and Paul have another wide-ranging conversation full of fascinating insights and observations. The podcast’s goal of unpacking this current major issues and the progress of the transitioning economy was certainly achieved this month… Issues covered are many including: • The emergence of clearer thinking in the green hydrogen industry • Opportunities and challenges for Australian businesses with the U.S. multi-billion dollar Inflation Reduction Act • Why is China emerging as a key Electric Vehicle markets around the world. • The emerging thinking of supply chain management in critical minerals and energy systems- multiple options for creating new supply chains and new economics: Close to energy source or close to end market? • What is meant by ‘scaling’ green hydrogen’: Paul explains. • The ‘Connecting Green Hydrogen’ conference and hat Paul learnt by attending. • The ‘Developing North Australia’ conference and what Tennant learnt by attending • And much more. Another fascinatin

Our guest is Lucy Finlay. James and Lucy have a wonderful chat about the tension and healthy conflict of ….innovative new products hitting the market quickly and…. the need to ensure standards are in place for these new products. Lucy is the Standards and Regulations Manager for Schneider Electric and the perfect person to ask. Think of this: We buy exciting new products almost every day: smart phones, smart TVs, new vehicles, air fryers, complicated and next gen hair dryers and toasters and water bottles, even ‘smart’ blenders: many of these products did not exist a few years ago. Certainly the ‘smart’ part didn’t… … Yet we expect all of these products to perform as promised at purchase…. To meet this expectation, specific manufacturing standards and quality standards must be developed, agreed and implemented. Quickly, efficiently, and accurately. It’s a fascinating supply chain challenge of our time. Lucy explains the difficulties, the challenges and the competing issues of managing fast innovation

Host James Scotland chats with the Chief Executive of Australian Industry Group, Innes Willox and learns of the organisation’s 150 years of continuous operation as the peak industry organisation supporting Australian business and industry. The conversation covers the history, the role and the importance of industry organisations,and considers the enormous changes to business and the Australian community in the last 150 years. Innes explains his role as CEO, and the changes that have happened in the 11 years of his tenure. The conversation turns to the present and to the future. Innes shares his thoughts and insights into many of the current issues facing Australian business including: • The current skills shortages and the jobs of the future. • The role of education in the future of business. • Digitalisation, the interaction of humans and machines, and cyber security. • The importance of increased productivity in the economy and in business. • The challenge of improving ports, current infrastructure an

With Paul on holidays in Scotland, James and Tennant discuss the multiple emerging opportunities in the infrastructure build of the transition, both nationally and internationally. Tennant starts by laying out the challenge of establishing goals and targets for the new economy before moving on to the opportunities from the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, the critical mineral industry and the ‘growth and opportunities’ section of the new ‘National Net Zero Authority’ in Australia. Tennant then explains the new policy discussion on the economic issues of ‘carbon leakage’ across nations and industry.

In this episode, host James Scotland ask Adam Blake: ‘How do we, in Australia, build resilient and sustainable supply chains in and from Australia’. Blundstone is a 150-year, family-owned, Hobart-based, globally-successful boot and apparel manufacturer. The company sells over 3 million pairs of boots annually to multiple markets in over 70 countries. It has a well-structured brand story and complex supply chain across the world. James and Adam address many meaty topics in this wide-ranging and insightful conversations including: - Achieving successful rapid international growth using innovative business design and organisational structures. - Breaking all the rules to achieve stunning global reach and success from a traditional Tasmanian manufacturing business. - Redesigning the business to become truly consumer-centric. - Managing seasonal global demand, highly-variable supply requirements and ‘lumpy’ cash flow challenges. - The excitement of ever-increasing Black Friday 4-day online sales, and why not t

James chats with two leading Australian supply chain academics and explores climate change, value chains, value-creation risk assessments, resilient business models and several other current and emerging issues. Lots of good discussion points including recognising investment as the answer to value risk, the urgency of recognising and identifying multiple energy sources in your business, and the rapid change happening in the market place as consumers start demanding climate/ post carbon activities. Melissa and Renu also describe university life today and the attitude and the focus of the next generation leaders of supply chain. It’s a good chat, please enjoy!

With our podcast host James Scotland on holidays overseas our podcast today is the re-release of the audition podcast James recorded with a former Ai Group employee. Whilst there are technical difficulties, its an engaging interview. Here’s the synopsis: What exactly is the circular economy, and where is it at in Australia today? Is circular economy the answer to our current supply chain issues in Australia? And what’s the future of circular economy as we transition to a Net Zero carbon emissions future? James and Rachael take a deep dive into these and other questions and come up with surprising and refreshing insights. Rachael challenges some of the current business thinking on circular economy, contends there is an urgency for action, and challenges James to join the journey, not just comment from the sidelines. It’s a lively and interesting conversation.

In this episode, the three amigos address the question: What on Earth do businesses in Australia need to understand about the transition to the post carbon economy? After some detailed assessments of the current structures, three conclusions are reached: 1. Energy and carbon are deeply entrenched in our day-to-day lives and in our businesses, there is a large transition underway 2. The transition is happening at the enterprise level, state level, national level and international level. If businesses want to keep trading, they will need to start transitioning: the economy is not going to wait for you. 3. Governments across the country are establishing the architecture and the business enabling programs to assist owners and managers to start the transition. This is an episode full of usable and timely information for business and enterprise leaders everywhere. It’s worth a listen. For details of the websites mentioned in the episode, please contact james.scotland@aigroup.com.au

According to global research over 53 per cent of managers were left ‘burnt out’ in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many leaders and managers have realised it’s important to take occasional extended career breaks: to refresh, re-centre, renew. In this episode, podcast host James Scotland delves into the concept of a mid-career sabbatical. He chats with senior executive Melissa Anderson who is at the end of her ‘year away’ from the grind of daily work life and an extended fast-paced career. He asks her how she came to the decision to take a break, why she needed to do it, what happened and what she learnt. It an entertaining and engaging conversation, addressing one of the most important issue of leadership and management today. The episode is fun, insightful and thought-provoking. Well worth a listen.

Welcome to a very special episode. Our guest is Ann Ackerson, the global head of procurement for BAE Systems. For those who don’t know, BAE Systems is a high-tech global defence Prime Contractor. It provides some of the world’s most advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions. With a workforce of over 93,000 people in 40 countries the company develops, manufactures, and support products and systems that deliver high-end military capability and increased national security. So to have the Head of Procurement on the show is a big deal, and makes for a very special episode. And the conversation between host James Scotland and Ann lives up to expectations. James and Ann discuss: • How does one become the global Head of Procurement for a large organisation, and what’s it like? • The latest world views on multiple key procurement issues • The lessons from Covid and other disruptions • The world of Defence Industry and innovation • ESG and the impact on business • What does a ‘great’ sup

In this episode, the three amigos catch up on the events of the past months and the emerging issues in the transitioning economy. In a typically wide ranging conversation, several issues are addressed including: • Recent federal government policies and announcements and what it means for business. • Some thoughts on nuclear energy in Australia. ( it’s complex) • The pathway to Net Zero and what it means. • Is Gas the transitioning energy source? • What’s happening with EVs and Fuel Efficiency Standards? • Will El Nino impact our businesses (again)? Listen in as the three amigos share fascinating thoughts and insights, and seek to provide clarity to the constant announcements.