Highlights from Directorship:12 - Darwin

Around 400 delegates enjoyed 3 days in Darwin soaking up the sun, listening and engaging with first class speakers and building strong networks. Once again our session, Tales from the Corporate Battlefield rated the most high along side the always captivating Professor Niall Ferguson.

Please view our daily conference wrap up videos

Ali Moore our conference MC wraps up the conference in this beautifully written poem:

When registration opens .. there’s just one place to be
For company directors ..it’s this conference by the sea
From cities far and wide we come to talk …and learn new things
And for three days in Darwin town… we wait till “Colvin” sings..

Kishore Mahbubani got us going
With his warning: adapt …or no more growing
And there’s a deadline, he implied
Ten years to change.. or we’ll slide.

Then we talked directors and the changes to their lot
And how some in recent times have clearly lost the plot
But despite the hurdles, most are very good
And follow complex rules, exactly as they should

Real life war … we talked of next
Our boys and the enemy ..and what’s “not” in the texts
A slice of history of which we don’t often hear
But the “price” of which was extraordinarily dear

After lunch it was iron ore and gas.. the mining boom
That dominated debate around the room
Lots to do and big plans made
But beware.. the high cost paid

Giving back was a feel good theme
Helping others when times are lean
The work being done with corporate cash
..and directors time.. can make a splash

Our final talk from Oxford came
Sort of.. the picture was rather lame
But Niall was on the money with his views
His predictions “will” be news

And then it was off for drinks and crocs
No dangerous moments ..no nasty shocks
Tho Paul was brave in the cage of death
And lived to take another breath

After a night of rest.. the focus turned to what “stops” you sleep
Performance, profits.. and good staff to keep
The job of director is mighty indeed
But use commonsense.. and you’ll succeed

Australia’s future was our next food for thought
And the debate was enough to make you distraught
We lack pollies with vision, and roads to travel
If we’re not careful …the country will unravel

But be confident and upbeat is the catchcry in the end
Because we are Australia, adversity our friend
And we are the lucky ones.. a surplus, no debt
If we take the right steps, our future is set

Last night it was pirates at sunset and ice cold beer
Not too much focus on work I fear
Directors played hard and let down their hair
And woke up this morning feeling just fair..

We’ve had forums on Asia and forums on tech
We’ve learned how in crises, its all hands on deck
Debate has been vigorous..  hours talking shop
But that’s how it is, at this “view from the top”

We’re in for fast change all the way down the line
“Hyper-connectivity” is a hard word to rhyme
It’s time and place we must focus on, talent and trust
To survive we must innovate, it’s simply a must

Finally today it’s been “tales from the board”
Decisions and friendship, and sometimes discord
And the way of the future.. new ventures dared
Whatever they are  .. we’re now ..well prepared.