2fold: Investing for impact

Take Stock - John Coombe

We are excited to launch our new Future Generation podcast series, Take Stock. In this series, we get a backstage pass into the minds of our leading pro bono fund managers and Future Generation supporters. In the first episode, Caroline Gurney, CEO of Future Generation, speaks to John Coombe, Executive Director of Jana Investment Advisers, and Investment Committee member for both Future Generation Companies. John advises some of Australia’s biggest superannuation funds, and discusses the performance of small-cap companies domestically and globally, the performance of the largest global companies – which have coined the name the ‘magnificent seven’ – as well as both Future Generation Companies.

Don Spencer on the Power of Music

You might recognise Don Spencer from his three decades on Play School. That’s how most Australians know him. But there’s so much more to Don than bears and chairs. He is, as we discovered, one of those people with “stories to tell”. He’s toured with the Rolling Stones, flirted with Marianne Faithfull, played hockey with the national Kenyan team, learnt guitar from Roger Whittaker, and had Russell Crowe as a son-in-law. But it’s Don’s work behind the scenes that will ultimately ensure his legacy. For more than 20 years, Don’s been providing free music lessons to Australia’s most disadvantaged kids - through the Australian Children’s Music Foundation, which he founded – and Future Generation Australia supports. So far, the organisation has delivered almost 270,000 free music lessons.

Chaney raises his Voice

Michael Chaney is one of the country’s most successful business leaders and an advocate for the Voice to Parliament. For the past 3 decades, Michael has dominated corporate Australia. As CEO of Wesfarmers, he grew the company’s value from $1 billion to $10 billion and he’s also chaired some of Australia’s top tier companies – such as National Australia Bank, Woodside Petroleum and, of course, Wesfarmers. More recently, however, Michael has turned his sights to other projects. In this episode, he shares his thoughts on The Voice, the state of politics in Australia, mining, feminism and the environment.

Breaking the ice with Wim Hof

This special episode features Wim Hof, a Dutch adventurer, extreme athlete and motivational speaker. Wim is known as the Iceman for his ability to withstand freezing temperatures and holds more than 20 Guinness World Records. He has climbed Kilimanjaro wearing only a pair of shorts. He has run a half marathon above the Arctic Circle barefooted and is affectionately called the Godfather of Cold. He is famous for his Wim Hof Method, a combination of frequent cold exposure, breathing techniques, and meditation. According to Wim this method can help people achieve remarkable feats and it can improve your overall wellbeing, both physical and mental.  

Wendy McCarthy on Why Politeness Doesn’t Pay

Wendy McCarthy is one of Australia’s most influential women.  For more than 50 years Wendy’s been at the forefront of feminism, corporate and public life in Australia.  Her trailblazing advocacy has truly shaped this country. For example, if your dad was at your birth, you can thank Wendy because back in the 1960’s she fought for the rights of fathers to be at their child’s birth. She’s also fought for equal pay for women, affordable childcare, and access to contraception and abortion law reform.  In fact, in 1972 she famously risked prosecution by taking out a full page ad announcing she’d had an illegal abortion. But Wendy is not just an incredible change maker. She’s an educator, author, mother, business owner, board member, university chancellor, the Deputy Chair of the ABC and a wonderful mentor to countless other women.

Blazing a Traill: the convergence of profit and purpose

Michael Traill is an absolute legend in Australia’s not-for-profit circles, but that is not how he started out. Like many other Harvard grads, Michael went into investment banking. He spent 14 years at Macquarie Bank, where he successfully co-founded the bank’s private equity division. But, a career that provides profit above all else didn’t sit comfortably with him. In 2002 at the peak of his career, Michael jumped ship to the not-for-profit sector. His idea was to bring corporate rigour to the charitable world. He was founding CEO of Social Ventures Australia, and he took a revolutionary approach with bridging the gap between privilege and property. These days, Michael Chair’s the Paul Ramsay Foundation and the Federal Government social impact investing taskforce among his many other roles. In 2010, he was made a member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his service to the not-for-profit sector.

Tim Minchin on the Art of Giving

Tim Minchin AO, multi-award-winning musician, actor, writer and comedian speaks to Future Generation CEO, Caroline Gurney about the growing mental health crisis, woke culture, the importance of modelling behaviours for your children, and how and why giving needs to be built into capitalism. 

Taming the Black Dog

Prof. Samuel Harvey is a leading academic psychiatrist with international standing in clinical and population mental health research. Sam initially trained and worked as a GP, before pursuing his passion for mental health and training as a psychiatrist at the internationally renowned Maudsley Hospital and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience in London. He completed his PhD at the University of London in 2011. He is currently the Executive Director and Chief Scientist at Black Dog Institute. 

Still keeping them honest

Natasha Stott Despoja AO is the youngest woman to ever enter Parliament, a former member of the Australian Democrats and currently sits on the United Nations Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). She has also founded not-for-profit organisation Our Watch, written a book and served on a number of charity Boards. Natasha has also been named as one of the top global influencers on gender policy.

S2 E2 John Coates AC: Conversations with Future Generation

John Coates AC is President of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and Vice-President of the International Olympic Committee. John is a leading sports administrator who played a key role in bringing the 2000 Olympic to Sydney and in the establishment of the Australian Olympic Foundation. In 2006 he was appointed as a Companion of the Order of Australia for his service to the development of sport nationally and internationally.

Louise and John discussed the numerous Olympic bids he has worked on, the influential figures such as Nelson Mandela and Xi Jinping he has met throughout his career in the AOC, the lessons and success that the Australian Olympic Foundation has seen since its establishment and more.