PODCASTS

Professor Kate Manne is a moral philosopher, regarded as one of the world’s top thinkers in the field of feminist philosophy. A prominent writer and commentator, Prof Manne’s first book Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny was published at the height of the #MeToo movement, exploring the nature, function and persistence of misogyny. The award-winning book offered a bridge between academic analysis and the broader public discourse on vexed issues of misogyny and sexism, providing a means to inform and elevate conversations around the world on these critical topics.

Her second book, Entitled: How Male Privilege Hurts Women, delved deeper into the social ills of toxic masculinity, further analysed a term she had coined in 2016, ‘himpathy’ (whereby disproportionate or inappropriate sympathy is extended to a male perpetrator over his similarly, or less privileged, female targets in cases of sexual assault, harassment, and other misogynistic behaviour) and illustrated the damaging impact of male privilege and entitlement on the lives of women and girls. Regarded as a ‘once-in-a-generation’ mind, Prof Manne’s work challenges social norms and stimulates discussion both within academic circles and broader society.

In this interview, get an insight into how Prof Manne’s social and political commentary is challenging today’s social norms and what shapes the way we think. Prof Manne shares how her interest developed in this area from when she was a child and what being a moral philosopher looks like day to day.

Dr Lee Rong is a global pioneer of information and communication technologies shaping the future of Industry 4.0. With over 20 years international experience in ICT and Operational Technology, Dr Rong is one of the world’s leading technical and commercial experts on 5G, cloud computing and Industry 4.0. Having studied and worked in the field in Australia, France, Japan, and China, Dr Rong has had a quintessentially global career, which has taken him from academic researcher, to industry expert, and most recently, tech entrepreneur. Always working at the cutting edge of mobile technology development and commercialisation, he has held research, strategy, partnerships and sales roles with some of the world’s leading ICT companies.

In this interview, hear Dr Rong’s perspective on the international collaboration that has gone into researching and developing 5G technologies and the role it may play in solving major global challenges. As a technological pioneer, Dr Rong shares his incredible career journey and delves into how his work is helping to shape the digitisation of the manufacturing industry.

Rachel G Barnard is a social practice artist who has used art to divert young people out of the criminal justice system. In 2011, Ms Barnard founded Young New Yorkers (YNY), an arts diversion program for teens being prosecuted as adults in criminal courts. From 2012-2022, over 1500 young people have been sentenced to make art with YNY instead of jail or other adult sanctions, and most participants have their adult criminal cases dismissed and sealed.

In this interview, you will get to hear the scope of Ms Barnard’s immense social impact over the decade in her role as Founder and Director of YNY, the challenges involved in running a non-profit organisation, and what motivates her each day. Ms Barnard also tells us about her new role becoming the Founder and CEO of a sustainable cardboard toy company, BigBrainBox.org, with the goal of “Toys for now [not forever]”.

Dr Seiji Armstrong is a quantum physicist and machine learning specialist on a mission to make the internet safer. As Head of Machine Learning in the Trust and Safety division at Google headquarters in California, Dr Armstrong leads a dedicated team focused on protecting child safety, countering violent extremism and, most recently, eradicating Covid-19-related racial vilification online. Operating in what is a new frontier for global safety and security, he has developed a series of machine-learning algorithms able to rapidly identify online abuse and policy breaches, with the goal of creating a safer place for all digital users online.

In this interview, Dr Armstrong shares his insights on effective communication and team building. His work at Google in this critical area benefits us all and offers a glimpse into the threats to online safety. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Dr Armstrog also brings a personal perspective to working in this field as a father to two young daughters. He is dedicated to empowering the next generation and inspiring them to make a difference in the world.

Professor Kate Crawford is a leading scholar of the social and political implications of artificial intelligence (AI). As an award-winning author and academic who has dedicated more than 20 years to researching the impacts of technology on the modern world, Prof Crawford plays a critical role in shaping the global understanding of how machine learning, data and AI have been shaped by political and historical contexts, and are now influencing the foundations of human existence. She is a sought-after expert in the growing field of Ethical AI, advising global policy makers from the United Nations to the White House, as well as the Australia Human Rights Commission, on how to create an ethical framework for the development and use of this far-reaching technology.

In this interview, Prof Crawford shares great insight into how design and creativity can illuminate technology and its role in our life. As a groundbreaking interdisciplinary scholar, Prof Crawford discusses her critical role in shaping new fields, in particular AI studies and the sociotechnical foundations of machine learning.

Craig Leeson is an award-winning filmmaker, journalist, presenter and entrepreneur, on a mission to end single-use plastic within a generation. He is the executive producer, director, writer and narrator of landmark global documentary A Plastic Ocean (2016), which documents the devastating global impact of plastic pollution on people and the planet. This year, he released his much anticipated follow-on film, The Last Glaciers; the most comprehensive film ever produced about the relationship between climate change, mountain environments and glaciers. His films are powerful vehicles for opening the eyes of audiences around the world to the impacts of human behaviour on the planet, and the urgent need for global climate action.

Mr Leeson generously shares stories about his extraordinary work in helping to drive more sustainable practices across the globe. Arguably the best moment in this interview is when Mr Leeson shares a unique and funny interaction he had with a baby blue whale, the outcome of which has provided groundbreaking insights into the species and their role in the oceans.

Khunapong Khunaraksa is an energetic advocate for sustainability and social impact in Asia, and has dedicated his career to solving the region’s toughest sustainability issues in water sanitation and plastic pollution. He has pioneered sustainable market-based models to address the intersection of environmental, social, and financial barriers to build inclusive and circular economies. Programs that he built and contributed to have now improved the lives of millions in Asia, delivering critical access to clean water and sanitation and empowering citizens to lift themselves out of poverty and turning it into opportunity.

Be inspired by Mr Khunaraksa as he shares his lifelong dedication to addressing some of the world’s biggest sustainability concerns. He discusses how sustainability cannot be separated from social impact and economic outcomes, inviting us to see impact investing as a real and achievable goal.

Caroline Malcolm is one of the world’s most influential voices on blockchain and digital assets, and their impact on international public policy. As a senior leader working at the intersection of technology and financial systems, Ms Malcolm has spent the past decade at the forefront of global policy-making on tech, finance and tax issues. She was the founding Head of the OECD’s Global Blockchain Policy Centre, which became the hub for the OECD’s work relating to distributed ledger technologies and a trusted reference point for policymakers across the globe working to understand this new frontier. In her new role at Head of International Public Policy and Research at blockchain data platform Chainalysis, Ms Malcolm continues to shape the way governments and industry engage with this emerging technology, leveraging data analytics to educate regulators on the future of the sector.

In this interview, Ms Malcolm gives us insight into her work in the blockchain and digital assets space. She shares with us how important the work is around global policy making to ensure the safety of this digital sector. Ms Malcolm also gives excellent advice for those interested in working in this area.

Cameron McLean is a global leader in the rapidly growing fintech industry. Since starting out at Westpac in Sydney more than 25 years ago, he has built a global career as a senior executive working at the intersection of technology and financial services. Today, he is Senior Vice President for Europe and Australia Enterprise at PayPal, where he’s responsible for the commercial growth of PayPal’s global digital payments platform in some of the world’s largest and most dynamic economies.

Hear Mr McLean talk about his numerous roles spanning his impressive career. As a leader in the fintech industry, his philosophy of driving team collaboration and reverse mentoring work are inspiring.

Tanya de Hoog is a world-leading structural engineer placing impact at the centre of structural engineering. As a Principal at structural engineering and design firm Thornton Tomasetti, Ms De Hoog has built a global platform for driving social and environmental innovation across the industry. After almost fifteen years establishing, growing and leading the firm’s London, Farrington office, in 2019 she moved to New York to launch the firm’s pioneering social impact initiative, Doing Good Business. The initiative leverages the company’s expertise and innovative approaches to deliver positive change to communities across the globe. Through this role, Ms De Hoog has developed and implemented strategies that use design to elevate communities in areas such as housing, education, healthcare, arts, and culture.

In this interview, hear Ms De Hoog’s passion for putting people and the planet at the centre of built environment and engineering projects. Ms De Hoog shares her determination to leave a legacy in the industry, putting the focus beyond the safety and beauty of the building and towards the impact on the people who live in and around it.

Frances Voon is a global human rights leader who has dedicated her life to advancing the rights of refugees. As Executive Manager of UNSW’s Andrew and Renata Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, Ms Voon provides strategic leadership at the world’s first centre for international refugee law, with the aim of placing evidence and principle at the centre of what remains a divisive topic of public and policy debate.

In this interview, Ms Voon touches on the challenges she, as well as many others, have faced in ensuring rights for refugees. Ms Voon shares a powerful call-to-action, opening our minds to a positive alternative narrative about how we can respond to refugees.

Professor Phiala Shanahan is a world-leading theoretical physicist and an inspiration to aspiring young scientists all over the world. At just 31 years of age, Prof Shanahan was just 27 years old when she became the youngest Professor of Physics at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where her research in theoretical nuclear and particle physics has shed new light on the structure and interactions of the most fundamental building blocks of our universe. Her innovative use of machine learning techniques in lattice quantum field theory calculations has led to a new generation of algorithms exploiting artificial intelligence to enable studies that were previously thought to be computationally intractable.

In this interview, hear about Prof Shanahan’s groundbreaking work in the field of theoretical physics. She concisely explains some of her current complex research and shares different developments within her field. She inspires young women to pursue careers in STEM, and emphasises how vital creativity is this work.

Dr Siobhan Martin is a global champion of diversity and inclusion, whose leadership is transforming the experiences of workers and communities around the globe. Named one of the world’s most influential HR Practitioners and top 10 global LGBT executives, Dr Martin has combined a PhD in Forensic Psychology from Monash University, with decades of global experience in human resource management, to establish best practice in People and Culture leadership that creates safe and inclusive workplaces and communities. Dr Martin sets an inspiring example of authentic leadership, through the sharing of her own story. Raised in poverty in rural Australia by her immigrant mother, a lone parent of 4, Dr Martin has overcome significant obstacles to succeed in a global career. A queer single mother herself, she is a survivor of domestic violence, and has turned her lived experience into the inspiration for her life’s work; determined to create companies and communities where others who have faced marginalisation, discrimination or hardship can have a voice at the leadership table, can feel supported and encouraged to thrive.

In this interview, Dr Martin shares more about her personal story and journey that has helped guide her to where she is today. She talks about her diverse roles across a range of different organisations, and the inspiring work she does day-to-day to make companies more inclusive.

Dr Hum Gurung is a relentless conservationist dedicated to ensuring communities are placed at the centre of environmental sustainability. He has dedicated his professional life to promoting environmental conservation and has become a respected ambassador for conservation between Nepal and Australia. In this capacity, he has provided and continues to seek opportunities to strengthen professional and volunteer engagement between the two countries. His environmental philosophy and world-leading research, along with his work as an influential administrator and global spokesman, have driven ongoing positive outcomes in the name of sustainability.

In this episode, Dr Gurung touches on the need to see ourselves as global citizens, and the importance of listening and learning from indigenous cultures across the world. He also delves into the climate crisis, sharing how the environment has no boundaries, with its demise or wellbeing being dependent on our actions.

Noni Purnomo is one of South-East Asia’s most influential business leaders and is a champion of education for all, with a strong focus on supporting female entrepreneurship. Ms Purnomo is the President Director of Bluebird Group Holding as well as the founder of Bluebird Peduli, a philanthropy division of Blue Bird Group. She is also a founding member of Angel Investment group, ANGIN, which empowers women entrepreneurs through investment, mentoring, and networking opportunities. 

In this episode, hear how Ms Purnomo has helped to develop the Bluebird Group, growing and expanding its mission to support employees in meaningful ways. Noni’s success provides a roadmap for other companies to think creatively about employee engagement and sustainability. Her work also helps to support the community through education and skill development.

Nicole Rycroft has been transforming unsustainable supply chains to save the world’s forests for over two decades. As founder and Executive Director of award winning environmental not-for-profit, Canopy, Ms Rycroft works with some of the world’s biggest publishing, print and fashion companies to introduce sustainable solutions for the manufacture and distribution of everyday products. A passionate environmental activist, she had stood on blockade frontlines to prevent bulldozers and chainsaws from tearing down endangered forests for the purpose of producing every-day items like books, packaging and t-shirts. But she knew lasting change would require more than picket lines. In order to change corporate behaviour, she needed to change corporate consumer behaviours, which to date had accepted the destruction of ancient forests in exchange for cheap, convenient goods.

In this episode, get a behind the scenes perspective of Nicole’s trailblazing journey, as she shares how much these supply chains impact either the prosperity or destruction of our environment.  Nicole’s experience in developing her not-for-profit from the ground up is an inspiration to all as she leads us on the path to climate stability.

Wiradjuri author, Tara June Winch, is one of the greats of contemporary Australian literature. Through her writing, she tells the stories of characters forced to live at the margins, compelling readers to understand the complexity of life for those who society has rejected, ignored and abused. Through Ms Winch’s cast of critically-acclaimed novels and short stories, she has brought to light the lived experiences of Indigenous Australians of multiple generations, and at the same time, created a vehicle for the savouring and sharing of Aboriginal culture and language on a global stage.

During this episode, Ms Winch shares her personal journey to becoming a published novelist at a young age, and what the art and business of writing looks like day to day for her.  She also speaks about bringing to light the lived experiences of Indigenous Australians to her readers, looking to move them to respond beyond the page.  This interview is powerful, informative and inspiring.

Dr Barry Kirby AO is a carpenter-turned-doctor whose radical career change is now saving the lives of new mothers and babies in remote communities across Papua New Guinea. The founder of not-for-profit organisation, The Hands of Rescue, Dr Kirby has dedicated the second half of his life to reducing maternal mortality across PNG, providing remote maternal health checks, training midwives and delivering ‘baby bundles’ to incentivise expectant mothers to attend health clinics for the safe delivery of their babies.

Hear Dr Kirby share the story of his inspiring work alongside his wife at The Hands of Rescue. Taking us behind the scenes, Dr Kirby discusses what his research revealed and what the practicalities are in helping mothers and babies across remote PNG.  He also shares his own personal story - from a non-academic student and carpenter by trade to studying medicine in his 40’s.  Dr Kirby’s is a must-listen inspirational story.

Dr Antoni Tsaputra is a champion of inclusion and accessibility for people living with a disability. Following extensive studies in Australia, Dr Tsaputra has combined his positions as a government official, academic researcher and disability activist to drive systemic change in the way government policy is developed to include and benefit those living with a disability. Having been a wheel-chair user his whole life and dependent on the assistance of a full-time carer, Dr Tsaputra has powerful insight into the implications of public policy decisions on accessibility of government services, spaces and places. This insight, combined with his academic knowledge developed during his PhD in Disability Inclusive Budgeting at UNSW, has made Dr Tsaputra a powerful agent of change in his home country of Indonesia, and a recognised leader in his field around the world.

Dr Tsaputra shares with us how his time studying in Australia completely changed the way he thought about disability. After seeing and experiencing advanced infrastructure and assistive technology in Australia, Dr Tsaputra’s work focused on breaking down barriers to real accessibility.  Hear more about Dr Tsaputra’s inspiring advocacy work in this episode.

Dr Martin Seneviratne is a doctor-turned-data scientist, bridging the divide between technology and healthcare. As a Senior Clinical Scientist with Google Health in London, Dr Seneviratne is an emerging leader in the nascent field of digital health, working on mobile tools and machine learning to improve the quality and accessibility of care.

Hear Dr Seneviratne share more about his day to day, and how he is finding ways to merge Artificial Intelligence (AI) with healthcare. Dr Seneviratne delves into his work on the development of systems that try and make it easy for clinicians to access and visualise health data, whilst also making it easier for patients to be able to keep a record of their health data. 

It is inspiring to hear how Dr Seneviratne’s career pivot has led to this vital work, with one aim at its core - a better health outcome for patients. 

Madhavi Shankar is a tech entrepreneur breaking through barriers for women in STEM across India and beyond. As co-founder and CEO of one of India’s fast growing tech startups, SpaceBasic, Ms Shankar inspires women and girls across her country, eager to overcome gender and cultural stereotypes, to become leaders in business and entrepreneurship.  She represents a new generation of leaders, determined not to replicate business as usual and passionate about the impact their work has on the world.

Hear Ms Shankar share more about her tech startup and how her passion was born from her time as an international student studying in Australia. She shares how working for a startup in Sydney, and all that it entailed, inspired her own entrepreneurial journey and success.

Rachel Davis is a passionate advocate for human rights who has played a critical role in shaping the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The Guiding Principles have set the benchmark for how business must operate in a human rights context around the world. Today, as co-founder of New York based non-profit Shift, Ms Davis continues to influence the way those principles are implemented across industries, communities and geographies.

Hear Ms Davis share what her day to day looks like as the co-founder of Shift, as she discusses her most recent work with FIFA, particularly the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.  Ms Davis also shares some of the highlights and challenges of this incredibly important work, as she and the Shift team seek to identify potential human rights risks and recommend actions to mitigate and address issues. 

Dr Shafali Gupta is a molecular biologist on a mission to eradicate plastic pollution. As Co-founder and Co-CEO of sustainable packaging startup Uuvipak, Dr Gupta is chasing the ambitious goal of replacing 1 billion plastic products with their biodegradable, vegan, edible eco-packaging by the end of 2025. Dr Gupta leapt into the world of entrepreneurship in 2021, after spending the previous seven years as a Doctoral and Post-Doctoral research fellow working in the field of molecular biosciences at the University of Queensland. She came to Australia on an international PhD scholarship and is now using her skills and talent as a scientist to build a company solving one of the greatest global challenges of our time.

Hear Dr Gupta share how her innovation was born out of a desire to make a real global impact  for humans and the planet.  Dr Gupta describes how she learnt to run a startup on the fly and how she feels strongly about the importance of community in learning and growth.  And her advice for staying motivated is as useful for those working in established roles as it is for young entrepreneurs!

Dr Rosemary Morrow is a global expert on one of the most critical metrics of climate change: sea level. As a leading oceanographer, based at the Laboratory of Space Geophysical and Oceanographic Studies (LEGOS) in France, Dr Morrow’s research over the past three decades has played a central role in scientific understanding of sea level variations, and the connection to global warming. Dr Morrow’s expertise lies in the use of satellite and in-situ observations to monitor and measure ocean dynamics, with the goal of better understanding the role of what is known as mesoscale ocean processes: the weather systems of the ocean circulation. These systems move heat & nutrients through the oceans with major impacts on regional & global climate.

Learn a thing or two as Dr Morrow shares insight into her key area of work: ocean eddies, and how this relatively new discovery impacts many different environmental factors. Dr Morrow also delves into her project, 15 years in the making, where they will be launching a satellite to monitor and better understand how the movement and temperature of the ocean impacts the environment.

Dr Stephen Hicks is a scientist-turned-tech entrepreneur whose pioneering work is changing the lives of people living with visual impairment. An award-winning Oxford neuroscientist, Dr Hicks has spent the past decade researching and inventing at the cutting edge of medical innovation, combining neuroscience, computer vision, augmented reality and wearable technologies to launch two tech startups in this complex and critical field. As co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of OXSIGHT Ltd, he has been the technical genius behind the development of the world’s most affordable, usable and wearable smart glasses, helping improve the sight, quality of life and independence of people suffering from partial blindness. 

Hear Dr Hicks share his fascinating journey and deep satisfaction at the real impact of his latest innovation that is helping individuals with age-related macular degeneration to be able to enjoy the world around them. From being able to see their grandchildren properly for the first time, to flowers in their garden or their partner’s face after so long with vision impairment, Dr Hick’s work is revolutionising the world of non-invasive medical innovations for many types of vision impairment.

Dr Aida Brankovic is an engineer and scientist working at the cutting edge of biomedical innovation. In her role as a Research Scientist with the Australian e-health Research Centre at CSIRO, and Adjunct Fellow at the University of Queensland (UQ), Dr Brankovic is applying her expertise in complex algorithms and machine learning to the development of new medical devices and decision support tools, improving the provision of healthcare and changing the lives of patients.

Hear Dr Brankovic talk about her work on a novel microwave-based portable head scanner for stroke detection and classification. This revolutionary technology will help to make stroke detection easier, more affordable and accessible in a broader range of healthcare settings and has the potential to save the lives of thousands of patients.  

Dr Bankovic also shares her story of being a Bosnian refugee growing up in Croatia, and how her challenges have contributed to her ongoing focus on service to others. 

Dr Elizabeth Jens is one of the world’s leading rocket scientists, working on the front line of the international space industry. As a Propulsion and Systems Engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, Dr Jens helps lead the team working on the design of a new propulsion system to safely land the largest spacecraft ever attempted on Mars. Prior to this, she divided her time between working on a subsystem for the next Mars rover and developing a small propulsion system to enable stand-alone interplanetary SmallSat missions, designing rockets and testing their performance for various potential missions. 

Hear Dr Jens share her work and journey from being a young girl who loved looking up at the stars in the Australian night sky, to an incredible leader who is helping to enhance our understanding of the world beyond Earth. Dr Jens career didn’t come without its challenges, especially as a foreign national trying to work in the field of rockets in the US.  Based on this experience, she shares excellent advice in this podcast for anyone interested in the space industry, and advice relevant to any sector!

In this episode, you will meet Aisha Jalil, Alumni Awardee in the Global Australian Awards 2022. 

Aisha Jalil is a trailblazer in international cricket, driving women’s participation from the pitch to the boardroom. As Manager of Game Development at the Pakistan Cricket Board and Manager of the national women’s team, Ms Jalil is the architect behind a new approach to engaging women and girls in cricket from junior sport through to elite international representation. 

Hear Aisha share her passion and her journey, from a young girl who loved playing cricket with her brothers to forging a career path in women's cricket.  Aisha's story is so inspiring - listen at the end when she speaks about her mother's amazing support for this important work.

In this episode, you will meet Dr Sonu Bhaskar, Australian Global Talent Awardee in the Global Australian Awards 2022. 

Dr Sonu Bhaskar is a medical entrepreneur and global health leader responsible for establishing the world’s first Blood Clot Biobank in Sydney. Founding Director and Chief Investigator at the NSW Brain Clot Bank, Dr Bhaskar is among world’s top specialists in the fields of stroke and cerebrovascular disorders, and is leading the effort to discover the unknown causes behind the disease that is now Australia’s third leading cause of death.

Hear Dr Bhaskar talk about his personal journey from humble beginnings to the incredible work he is focusing on now.  Dr Bhaskar discusses the people who have inspired him and how an attitude of service is central to his work. 

In this episode, you will meet Anuradha Gupta, Asia Impact Awardee in the Global Australian Awards 2022. 

Anuradha Gupta is a global health leader whose work has saved the lives of millions of children in communities around the world. As Deputy CEO of Gavi, the global vaccine alliance, she led the push to identify ‘zero-dose’ children, aiming to ensure all children have access to critical immunisation and no one is left behind. Her leadership has resulted in 81% of children now having access to immunisation in Gavi-supported countries.

Hear how Ms Gupta’s work is her passion, making service to others the foundation of her work.  Ms Gupta encourages others to believe in themselves and their ability to make this world a better place for all.

In this episode, you will meet Professor Gaye Sculthorpe, Global Impact Awardee in the Global Australian Awards 2022.

Professor Gaye Sculthorpe is a Palawa woman from Tasmania who has become an international steward of Australia’s Indigenous cultural heritage. As curator and Head of Oceania at The British Museum in London for the nine years prior to 2022, Professor Sculthorpe has collaborated internationally on a series of key research projects tracking down Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural materials held in British, Irish and French museums. 

Hear how Prof Sculthorpe’s moment of holding an artefact made by one of her ancestors made a profound impact on her and how that continues to inspire her to provide that connection for others.  Prof Sculthorpe also shares what’s next in her work and provides sound advice to those considering a similar career.

In this first episode of Season 2, you will meet Professor Terence Tao, Education & Research Awardee and Global Australian of the Year in the Global Australian Awards 2022.

Prof Tao is a humble achiever who happens to be one of the greatest mathematicians in the world. A child prodigy who grew up in the hills of Adelaide, Prof Tao is regarded as the Mozart of Maths, recognised globally for his natural ability to solve enormously complicated problems across a broad range of mathematical fields. 

In this interview, Prof Tao talks about his work, the challenges and highlights, and his interest in making it accessible to everyday people. He also has sound advice for those interested in working in this area.