In the Northern Territory our lives and work are shaped by our epic landscapes, wild weather and brutal isolation.

We embrace innovation because the Territory both inspires us and forces us to; it is both muse and master.

We embrace innovation because our ordinary day-to-day lives, are in fact…extraordinary.

Representation matters

Back in the 1990’s airbags were introduced to lower car accident fatalities and injuries. But after their introduction, women and children were dying in low-impact car collisions that shouldn’t have been fatal.

It was the new technology – the airbags - that were killing them. The airbags had been designed for a male body.

When we are leading change we can be paralysed by our fear of the unknown; get derailed by dissent; or fail to implement the change.

“When you’re in a position to have gotten so much, the gift at this point is giving back”.

This year I’m thrilled to have been selected as a Judge for the Telstra Best of Business Awards.

I had the privilege of speaking to the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders at The Big Day In, Darwin about the “Business of Innovation”.

Here’s my top 5 pieces of advice.

I recently gave a talk at The Big Day In, Darwin and in the Q&A session I was asked “Are you successful?”

This was my answer.

Douglas Coupland’s “Girlfriend in a Coma” is a book that fundamentally shaped my world view. l read it back in 1998 and its core message "to question everything” was so powerful it still drives me to this day to challenge the status quo and ask how we can do better.

Almost 30 years later I believe this extract is more relevant than ever.

Travel and sport have been the greatest teachers in my life. They are the ultimate leveller, the place where I can't escape myself and where I get to define my own success. So after 3 weeks chaperoning a team of junior Australian and Canadian cyclists across Europe what did I learn?

Purpose-led businesses create the change they seek in the world and measure their success through their impact on their people and our planet, as well as their profit. How you can harness the power of purpose?