platinum pod - executive smarttalk

Phillipa Blakey has worked at the C-Level for over 12 years across NZ, Australia, and the UK in health, aged care and education. She is a member of the Randstad RiseSmart Executive Advisory Network.

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Patrick Kidd OBE is a highly experienced executive who has successfully transitioned from serving in the Armed Services to becoming an impressive CEO and now a Principal Consultant. He served in the British Army for 20 years and the Australian Defence Force for 10 years before transitioning into a principal consultant role at Deloitte Australia in 2015. He has been recognised for his leadership with a Queen’s Commendation in 2000 and an OBE in 2005. He led the Deloitte team responsible for the Invictus Games Sydney pro-bono effort, which resulted in being appointed as the CEO of the 2018 Invictus Games Sydney. By his own admission, he's not much of a drummer or guitar player - but enjoys having a go. During COVID he's been perfecting the art of breadmaking.

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Suzanne Storrie isan experienced senior executive with a reputation for leveraging technology to deliver customer-focused, strategic change and developing leaders. She has broad functional and operational experience spanning financial services, aviation, technology, not-for-profit and professional services. Although her roles have been based in Australia for IAG, the NRL, Leighton Holdings, Commonwealth Bank, Qantas and Unisys, her accountabilities have included New Zealand, Asia, Europe and the US.

She served as the Chair of IAG’s Diversity Network Advisory (IAG Group Diversity Committee), and is the Co- Implementation Lead for IAG's Male Champions of Change initiative across the insurance industry, executive sponsor of The Game Changers and a member of IAG’s Safer Communities Committee.

Suzanne is the Chair of Surf Sports Australia, and a Board member of Surf Life Saving Australia as well as a member of the Finance, Audit and Compliance Committee.

In 2019, she was awarded ISG’s ANZ Paragon Leadership Award and life membership of Surf Life Saving Australia. She is an alumni of the AFR/Qantas 100 Women of Influence (Boards and Management) and was the Australian Surf Life Saver of the Year in 1996.

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Dr Nick Wood is a member of the Randstad Risesmart Executive Advisory Network. He has worked for 18 years on the physical and economic impact of climate change. He is the Director of the consultancy Climate Policy Research, an Associate at Energetics and a member of the Stakeholder Advisory Group of the Earth Systems and Climate Change Hub - part of the Commonwealth National Environmental Science Program.

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This short compilation features excerpts from the full interviews of four members of the Randstad RiseSmart Executive Advisory Network - David Willis, Dr Deidre Anderson, Peter James and Warrick Cramer as interviewed by Nan Dow. Released on R U OK? Day (10 September), the compilation captures reflections on when you are not OK, and how to be OK. People at all stages, at all levels of an organisation need to be OK to ask and be asked 'RUOK'.

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Warrick Cramer is an innovator, entrepreneur, strategist and executive whose professional career has taken him through a wide variety of roles, from a start-up founder in his hometown Melbourne, right through to a large global corporate in Europe. He was formally the CEO of Tomorrow Street, Vodafone’s Global Innovation centre based in Europe. Warrick is passionate about helping start-ups.

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David Willis is a member of Randstad RiseSmart's Advisory Network for Platinum Executive participants. David is a company director, advisor and mentor with 35 years business experience in accountancy, mergers and acquisitions, banking and technology. This interview unearths some wisdom about board participation, starting a charity and what happens when you don't take something seriously enough. It's a great natter between two Kiwis. Enjoy!

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Dr Deidre Anderson has held senior roles within the private sector and Federal and Local government and has held Executive positions both at international and national level within elite sports and the University sector. She has been acknowledged worldwide for her contribution to elite athletes, and has a lifelong commitment to supporting the development of young people.

She is currently chair National Rugby league Players Ass (NRLPA), Ambassador for the Michael Hughes Foundation, Performance and Well-being Manager for World Champion Matt Hall air Racer and the Travel Lodge Aussie Spirit Softball Team.

She has been a recipient of a Paul Harris Fellow for her contribution to international relations, a recipient of the Princeton International Business Leaders award, recipient of the Eunice Gill Coach Education award, an honorary member of the Golden Keys International Honour Society and a Justice of the Peace. She is the co-author of a number of books and has published extensively in the areas of athlete transition.

Deidre holds a PhD, Masters, a number of Post Graduate Degrees and a Bachelor of Arts.

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In this episode, Nan interviews Peter James who has over 30 years’ experience in the Technology, Telecommunications and Media Industries, and has extensive experience as Chair, Non-Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer across a range of publicly listed and private companies. He is currently Chair of ASX-listed companies Macquarie Telecom and nearmap, on the board of directors for DroneShield and was a Non-Executive Director for ASX-listed iiNet before it was acquired by TPG Telecom for AUD $1.56b.

This episode was recorded just as news of Covid-19 was coming to light. We hope to follow up with Peter in the months to come.

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Dr Jayne Meyer Tucker is a futurist and a former Chief Executive Officer of Good Beginnings Australia, with over 10 years international experience in the provision of early intervention programs for children and families, specialising in creating productive partnerships between the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. She is an author and an activist. 

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