You’ve spent much of your career working on global issues, and now you have returned to Australia. What made this the right timing for you?
- You’ve spent much of your career working on global issues, and now you have returned to Australia. What made this the right timing for you?
I spent nearly 10 years in the UK – initially on a posting with the Australian Government and more recently with Flint. Part of the attraction of setting up Flint’s Australian office was, of course, the natural pull to return home.
But I had also reached a point where I realised how much I missed Australian politics. That really crystallised during the Australian election last year, when I found myself explaining the intricacies of Australia’s electoral system — compulsory, proportional, and preferential voting! – to anyone in the Flint office who would listen…! So, I’m really looking forward to feeling less like I’m observing from a distance, and more like I’m back in the middle of it.
I’m also interested in bringing an external lens back home. Many of the policy questions Australia is grappling with aren’t uniquely Australian — they’re part of broader global conversations. Having seen these issues play out in other markets, I’m keen to see when Australia will follow the global direction of travel, and when it will do its own thing.
- What are the biggest differences you expect to encounter as you shape Flint’s offer in Australia?
This is something I’ve spent a lot of time mulling in recent months. While there will be some differences — not least the added complexity of a federal system — I suspect I’ll be just as struck by the continuity.
One of the things that stood out to me in London is how closely Australian politics, policy and regulation are connected to other markets.
In some areas, Australia is out in front. Online safety — particularly the under-16s social media ban — is a recent example that policymakers around the world are watching closely. Economic security policy is another, with a number of governments drawing on Australia’s long-standing FIRB regime for their much newer foreign investment screening frameworks.
At the same time, there are areas where Australia tends to look to its partners for ideas. Two relatively recent examples: the UK’s Contracts for Difference model for low-carbon electricity generation and the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism – both of which are influencing Australia’s own policy settings.
So, while the politics and institutions in Australia are clearly unique, many of the underlying debates are shared. The challenge and opportunity is understanding what translates well, and what doesn’t.
- What feels most uncertain or unpredictable for Australian businesses right now?
If you asked Flint’s clients in other markets this question, most would probably say geopolitics — and Australia is no exception. We are in a period of structural change, with increasing fragmentation across the global system.
I know “geopolitics” can sound a bit woolly, but these shifts have very concrete implications for business. Supply chains, foreign investment approvals, export controls, cross-border data transfers, IP and licensing… you get the picture!
My sense so far is that Australian businesses are adjusting in much the same way as their peers elsewhere. Many are adapting well, but the challenge is often moving from awareness to action — and doing so in a way that holds together across different markets.
Alongside international fragmentation, there is also evidence of more domestic political fragmentation. The 2022 election produced the largest crossbench in modern Australian politics. The Coalition has unravelled twice in the past year, and One Nation has just won its first lower-house seat outside Queensland in the South Australian state election. I’m not saying it’s the end of the two-party system – but a pattern of change is starting to emerge here, too.
But Australia’s political system is pretty robust and has historically adapted to change comparatively well. I don’t think uncertainty necessarily means instability. But there is clearly a set of issues here that businesses must grapple with.
- What excites you most about building Flint’s presence in Australia?
Above all, the opportunity to build a great team.
Australia has a deep pool of talented people with experience in and around government. Many are curious about the private sector — particularly those who have worked on policy or regulation with direct impact on business — but aren’t always sure how to put their skills to best use. That was certainly my experience, and ultimately what led me to Flint.
So, I feel optimistic that we’ll be able to attract impressive people with the right mix of expertise in government policy and processes, alongside the energy and entrepreneurial spirit you need to bring to consulting. Of course, if you are reading this and it sounds like you, please do get in touch!
