While it has been a few months since my last blog, it has not been an uneventful period. Being Chairman has been quite consuming, with lots of lessons learnt along the way. Watch out for future blogs
on robust conversations, the board’s role in changing culture and the challenge of leading. It has also been an interesting time as I have come to terms with a new challenge (because life as a woman and mother aspiring to be a non-executive director isn’t challenging enough)!

With the Asian Century well underway, opportunities beckon for all. My incredibly supportive and encouraging husband has taken on a wonderful pan-Asian role, based in Singapore and at the end of 2015, I will relocate to Singapore to join him. Having just marked the week of mourning of the late Lee Kwan Yew, many will be well aware of Singapore’s great success of the last 50 years and the place it has earned itself as one of the wealthiest states in the world. It is a city that pulses with activity and has a key role as a trading and financial hub within Asia.

So while it has been a challenge to develop a portfolio of non-executive directorships in Australia, I have just made that challenge all the more interesting. I will have to develop new networks and I suspect that will involve many more cups of coffee …… or green tea. Recognising the need to be more savvy about the economics, politics, history and culture of the many countries across Asia, I have embarked on the Asialink Future Leaders Program. To date, it has been a fascinating experience, with focuses on China, India and Japan as well as extensive discussion of cultural intelligence and exposure to Asian culture through art.

Armed with at least an initial understanding of Asia, my aim will be to bring my governance experience and revenue focus to the attention of Asian companies seeking to deal with Australia or Australian companies seeking to engage with Asia. Either way, it should be a great learning experience.  Watch this space as I try to share the knowledge.

Coffee count: 330