Insights

Quinn Allan's network of Melbourne-based Senior Finance Leaders recently came together over breakfast for an insightful session with leadership and human performance expert Karen Gately of Corporate Dojo. The focus of the session was psychological safety and its growing importance in today’s workplace from both a wellbeing and legal perspective. With organisations facing increasing expectations around employee wellbeing, the discussion highlighted why creating safe, supportive environments is no longer optional, but essential. With her energetic and engaging style, Karen shared a range of practical examples of psychosocial risks that can impact both individuals and organisations. She explored common workplace challenges such as high workloads, unclear expectations, poor communication, and ineffective leadership behaviours, all of which can contribute to stress, disengagement, and reduced performance if left unaddressed. A key theme throughout the session was the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership. Karen emphasised the role of self-awareness, empathy, and communication in building trust and fostering high-performing teams. In particular, she highlighted the need for leaders to strike the right balance between accountability and empathy, setting clear expectations while also supporting their people to succeed. The session also reinforced the critical role of communication, particularly during times of change or uncertainty. Transparent, honest conversations were identified as a key driver of trust, engagement, and resilience within teams. It was a fantastic and thought-provoking session, giving attendees practical insights into how they can make meaningful, positive change within their own organisations to better support their teams and drive performance. 

Quinn Allan's Brisbane team were delighted to host a fantastic turnout of senior finance leaders for our latest breakfast event. We were fortunate to welcome Jack Hutchinson from Hutchinson Builders (“Hutchies”), who shared the story behind the company’s growth as a proud multi-generational business. His presentation centred on the theme of building through cycles, offering valuable insights into how Hutchies has successfully navigated periods of economic volatility over many years. Drawing on both organisational and personal experience, Jack provided a unique perspective on leadership within a long-standing family business. He spoke candidly about his own journey as a Director, and how he has continued to evolve into a steward of the business, maintaining a close connection to market conditions while helping guide the organisation forward through changing environments. A key part of the discussion focused on the future outlook for Queensland, particularly in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. Jack shared his views on the opportunities and challenges this presents,

Quinn Allan recently partnered with the National Institute of Integrative Medicine (NIIM) in Hawthorn to host a breakfast event for HR professionals and senior leaders from across our network. The session was led by Integrative Psychologist Peter Webb, who presented NIIM’s Executive Health Check , a comprehensive and proactive health assessment tailored specifically for executives. The discussion highlighted that stress is a significant and often underestimated challenge for executives, with the potential to impact performance and manifest in both mental and physical health issues. Attendees also explored how these challenges can go undetected, particularly where routine screenings may not capture underlying factors.

Quinn Allan’s Brisbane team recently hosted the latest CFO Thought Leaders breakfast, bringing together senior finance leaders for a timely and insightful discussion on global geopolitics and economic risk. For this event we were pleased to welcome back Dr Matthew Peter, Chief Economist at QIC, one year on from his previous session. Matthew led a thought-provoking conversation focused on the Iran conflict and its potential implications for the Australian economy. Setting the scene, Matthew began by outlining the broader global context, with particular attention on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical trade corridor through which a significant proportion of global oil and LNG supply passes. He explained how disruption to this route represents a major energy supply shock, with the potential to drive volatility across oil, gas, and wider commodity markets. The discussion then turned to Australia’s unique position. While higher global energy prices can provide a boost to export revenues, particularly through LNG contracts, the Australian economy remains highly reliant on oil imports and holds relatively low fuel reserves. This creates