Explore every episode of the podcast Director Download
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Why Boards Need To Rethink Energy | 11 Aug 2026 | 00:32:45 | |
Recent global energy shocks have exposed Australia's vulnerability to fuel supply disruptions and accelerated a trend that was already underway: energy is no longer just an operational issue. For many organisations, it has become a boardroom priority. As Australia navigates the energy transition, directors are increasingly being asked to think beyond electricity bills and procurement contracts. Energy now intersects with strategy, resilience, risk management, decarbonisation and long-term value creation. In this episode, Associate Professor Tim Nelson, Chair of the 2025 National Electricity Market Review, explains why boards need a deeper understanding of their organisation's energy profile. From electrification and distributed energy to AI-driven demand and the future of the electricity grid, Tim shares the questions directors should be asking and highlights the risks, opportunities and competitive advantages emerging from Australia's changing energy landscape. We cover:
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This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society. | |||
| The Economic Forces Every Board Should Be Watching | 04 Aug 2026 | 00:31:51 | |
Interest rates may grab the headlines, but they're far from the only economic challenge facing boards today. Geopolitical conflict, trade tensions, supply chain disruption, AI, the energy transition and slowing productivity are creating profound shifts in Australia's economy that will influence board decisions for years to come. In this episode, AICD Chief Economist Mark Thirlwell explores the major structural forces driving today's economic environment and what they mean for board decisions on risk, resilience and long-term growth. From the Reserve Bank's next interest rate decision to AI's economic impact and Australia's productivity challenge, Mark shares practical insights to help boards navigate an increasingly volatile world. We cover:
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This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society. | |||
| Governing AI Without Losing Human Judgement | 09 Jun 2026 | 00:23:54 | |
AI promises greater productivity and efficiency, but could it also be weakening critical thinking, memory and decision-making? In this episode, NeuroLeadership Institute co-founder and CEO Dr David Rock shares the neuroscience behind AI adoption and explains why boards need to look beyond the technology itself. Drawing on emerging research, David explores the cognitive risks of over-reliance on AI, the importance of AI fluency, and why many organisations are approaching implementation the wrong way. For directors navigating rapid technological change, this conversation offers practical insights into leadership, governance and human performance in the age of AI. We cover:
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This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society. | |||
| Inside the First Wave of Mandatory Climate Reporting | 02 Jun 2026 | 00:25:03 | |
Australia's mandatory climate reporting regime has now completed its first cycle, marking one of the most significant changes to corporate reporting in a generation. For boards, the first wave of reports has provided valuable insights into the practical realities of implementation. Although still in its early stages, the regime is designed to improve the consistency and comparability of climate-related disclosures for investors and other stakeholders. Many entities have encountered challenges around data, governance, capability and cost, highlighting the scale of effort involved in meeting the new requirements. Joining us to discuss the lessons emerging from year one are Tim Bednall, Partner and Head of the Governance practice at Mallesons, and Dr Eileen Doyle, a non-executive director with several organisations, including Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure, one of the entities captured in the first group of reporters. This conversation explores what boards can learn from the first group of reporters, where many underestimated the scale and complexity of the task, and what those experiences reveal for the organisations that will come within the regime in the years ahead. We cover:
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Join us at the Climate Governance Forum 2026 to explore sustainability reporting and other emerging climate governance issues in greater depth. Connect:
This episode Director Download was produced on Gadigal land. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society. | |||
| Preparing for the New Era of Cyber Risk | 26 May 2026 | 00:29:15 | |
AI is reshaping the cyber threat landscape, enabling cyber attacks to be launched at unprecedented speed and scale. Regulators are issuing urgent warnings, and boards are being told to strengthen resilience before vulnerabilities are exploited. Yet many organisations still don't fully understand their cyber risk exposure, or whether their systems, suppliers and governance processes are prepared for a major incident. Joining us to discuss the current cyber threat landscape is Rachael Falk. Rachael is one of Australia's leading experts on cybersecurity and regulation. She's a Partner in the Risk Advisory practice at Ashurst and former CEO of the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre. Rachael is also the co-author of the AICD's Cybersecurity Governance Principles. This conversation explores what boards should be doing right now to strengthen resilience, and why vigilance, preparedness and effective governance matter more than ever. We cover:
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This episode Director Download was produced on Gadigal land. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society. | |||
| What Boards Need to Get Right in Uncertain Times | 19 May 2026 | 00:24:45 | |
Most boards think they're prepared for the next crisis; however many are still operating with playbooks built for a fundamentally different time. Roger Dennis, founder of Dennis & Partners, has spent decades helping boards and leaders navigate volatility and mitigate risk. He believes we've entered a fundamentally different operating environment. From geopolitical shocks to cascading "polycrisis" events, this conversation explores how to separate signal from noise, and what boards need to do differently to stay ahead and uncover opportunity in an unstable world. We cover:
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This episode of Director Download was produced on Gadigal land. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society. | |||
| Coming Soon: Director Download | 11 May 2026 | 00:00:45 | |
Stay governance ready with Director Download, the latest podcast from the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). This weekly podcast on modern governance brings you what matters now and what's coming next, in conversation with AICD policy experts and Australia's leading governance specialists. From the rise of AI to director liability and geopolitical risk, each episode turns complex challenges and opportunities into clear, actionable guidance for the board room. The first episode is coming on Wednesday the 20th of May. Be listening to stay ahead, relevant and ready to lead in a fast-moving governance landscape. Director Download is produced on Gadigal land. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society. | |||
| Dr Philip Lowe: Why the ASX Governance Principles Need a Reset | 28 Jul 2026 | 00:38:20 | |
The ASX Corporate Governance Principles are undergoing a significant review, with proposed changes aimed at simplifying requirements, strengthening trust and ensuring the framework remains fit for today's governance environment. In this episode, Chair of the ASX Corporate Governance Advisory Group and former Reserve Bank Governor, Dr Philip Lowe, explains the thinking behind the proposed fifth edition of the ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations. Philip discusses why the review aims to reduce unnecessary regulatory duplication while reinforcing the governance practices that matter most. He outlines the case for simpler, more principles-based governance, and explores key topics including board culture, diversity, skills, transparency and Australia's reputation as a trusted destination for investment. He also shares his views on Australia's broader economic challenges, from productivity and investment to AI and living standards, and explains why strong governance remains essential to building trust, attracting capital and supporting long-term prosperity. We cover:
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This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal people. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society. | |||
| Why Director Wellbeing Is a Governance Issue | 21 Jul 2026 | 00:26:57 | |
Directors are expected to make sound judgements on complex issues, often under significant pressure. But how often do boards consider whether directors themselves are in the best position to make those decisions? In this episode, workplace wellbeing expert Dr Rebecca Chabot explains why director wellbeing is far more than a personal health issue, it's a governance issue. Drawing on neuroscience, Rebecca explores how chronic stress can impair judgement, decision-making and emotional regulation. She shares practical strategies to help directors think more clearly, recover effectively and perform at their best in the boardroom. We cover:
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This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society. | |||
| How High-Performing Boards Govern Culture | 14 Jul 2026 | 00:28:37 | |
Organisational culture can be a powerful driver of performance, conduct and risk, yet it remains one of the most challenging governance responsibilities facing directors. In this episode, we're joined by Dr Juliet Bourke, Adjunct Professor at UNSW and Chair of Ovarian Cancer Australia, and Sally Linwood, Corporate Governance Lead at the AICD and lead author of an important new guide, Governing Culture in a Complex World. Drawing on the guide's five principles for governing culture, they explore what effective oversight looks like in practice. Together, they discuss why culture is a boardroom priority, how directors can develop a deeper understanding of what's happening across their organisation, the indicators boards should be paying attention to, and why human capital expertise deserves a stronger voice in today's boardrooms. We cover:
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This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society. | |||
| How Boards Can Drive Meaningful Reconciliation in 2026 | 07 Jul 2026 | 00:26:26 | |
This year marks 20 years since the introduction of Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs), alongside the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC Week. Around 3,500 organisations now have RAPs, but meaningful reconciliation is about more than commitments on paper. It calls for leadership, accountability and sustained oversight from the board. In this episode, Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine explores the board's role in turning commitment into impact. She discusses what distinguishes effective RAPs from box-ticking exercises, how directors can oversee progress and accountability, and why reconciliation remains a strategic governance issue. Karen also shares lessons from two decades of RAPs and outlines the leadership needed to drive meaningful change. We cover:
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This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society. | |||
| The Three Questions Directors Need to Ask About AI Adoption | 30 Jun 2026 | 00:29:48 | |
Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving from experimentation to organisation-wide adoption, creating both significant opportunities and new governance challenges. As AI becomes embedded across business operations, boards are playing an increasingly important role in overseeing major technology investments, managing emerging risks, and supporting responsible and effective AI use. In this episode, Professor Nicholas Davis, Co-Director of the UTS Human Technology Institute, shares what effective AI governance looks like in practice. The conversation explores how boards can align AI initiatives with strategy, assess return on investment, and address the risks of "shadow AI" use by staff. It also examines the rise of agentic systems, the implications for oversight, and the level of AI literacy directors will need to govern with confidence. We cover:
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This episode of Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal people. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society. | |||
| Introducing: Boards with Purpose | 28 Jun 2026 | 00:00:51 | |
We'd like to introduce you to another podcast offering from the AICD - Boards with Purpose. Every episode features CEOs, founders, executives and non-executive directors in conversation with Phil Butler, the AICD's NFP Sector Lead. They share their purpose-driven governance insights and experiences to guide, inspire, and inform those working within or alongside the NFP sector. Tune in every month to be inspired, strengthen your governance impact, and stay connected to the leaders shaping Australia's not-for-profit community. You can listen by searching 'Boards with Purpose' in your podcast player or by clicking the below link: https://www.aicd.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/boards-with-purpose.html
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| Boardroom Dynamics Under Pressure: Why Culture and Candour Matter | 23 Jun 2026 | 00:21:52 | |
Effective governance relies on more than just technical expertise. The culture within the boardroom itself shapes how directors challenge assumptions, navigate conflict, and make decisions under pressure. In this episode, global board adviser and author Joy Harcup explores the dynamics that shape board effectiveness. Drawing on her work with chairs, CEOs and directors, she explains how pressure influences behaviour in the boardroom, why constructive conflict is essential for good governance, and what separates high-performing boards from those that avoid having honest conversations. You'll gain practical insights on how to strengthen board relationships and address unproductive dynamics or tendencies towards excessive harmony around the board table. We cover:
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This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal people. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society. | |||
| What Every Director Should Know Before a Crisis Hits | 16 Jun 2026 | 00:21:00 | |
Most organisations will face a crisis at some point. The question isn't whether it will happen, but whether you're prepared when it does. In this episode, crisis management expert and SKMG co-founder Neil Shoebridge shares lessons from decades advising organisations through cyber-attacks, operational failures, reputational challenges and workforce restructures. Neil explains what separates organisations that emerge stronger from those that struggle to recover. He highlights the importance of building reputational capital before a crisis occurs, responding quickly when issues arise, and communicating effectively under pressure. For directors, the conversation offers practical guidance on the board's role before, during and after a crisis, from testing organisational preparedness and overseeing response plans to supporting management and protecting stakeholder trust when it matters most. We cover:
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This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society. | |||