THE Royal Commissions into banking, aged care and disability; the celebrity chef wages scandal; and this month’s liquidation of domestic violence charity White Ribbon Australia are just some of the cases that highlight a flaw that is now common and widespread in business – a lack of governance leadership. 

Managing director of Global Governance Initiative, Brad Sherringham, claims a governance knowledge gap at the top of many organisations has flow-on impacts for entire businesses and the communities they serve.

“We’ve seen so many examples in recent years of governance failures – from ethical and systemic problems in big banks to structural problems in small-medium family companies,” he said. “Currently, more than 90 percent of directors and executives have had no governance training, with many citing time and cost as barriers. It’s vital that they are supported to get the skills and confidence they need to govern well if they are going to lead their organisations successfully into the future.”

To address this skills gap, Global Governance Initiative is now providing participants in its online governance training program the opportunity to earn credentials in Driving strategic results, Financial acumen and Professional ethics as part of a Governance Practice credential suite. 

Mr Sherringham claims that practical, outcome-focused training is vital in the current environment where many business owners and leaders are feeling uncertain of their obligations and how to navigate forward.

“While most business owners, directors and executives don’t necessarily have time or the need for a full degree or MBA, many want the knowledge and confidence that a professionally recognised credential brings,” he said. "It's all about ensuring business leaders are supported with the tools they need to act with integrity and knowledge for the greater good."

www.ggi.community

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INTERNATIONALLY respected expert in intelligent asset management, Genéne Kleppe, has today launched a new venture set to disrupt how governments and corporations understand, manage and optimise their assets.

Unveiled at the Future Infrastructure Summit in Melbourne, Digital Twinning Australia uses innovative ‘digital twinning’ technology to create interactive 3D digital models of assets such as buildings, mines and civil infrastructure – either new or upgraded – and then provides intelligent asset management through remote monitoring and response.

Increasingly used overseas, digital twinning is beginning to capture the interest of Australian CEOs, COOs and boards for its risk management and cost-saving potential – particularly within the mining, industrials, oil, gas infrastructure and construction industries.

“I’m delighted to bring digital twinning, the world’s most advanced planning and modelling tool, to organisations across Australia,” Ms Kleppe said.

“Digital twinning is a breakthrough technology that has the potential to deliver outstanding returns on investment, including lower maintenance costs, reduced shut down times, requires fewer resources and faster trouble-shooting of critical system incidents.

“Digital twins are dynamic and capable of remote operation, and they enable collaborative decision making, with the ability to recalibrate," she said.

“It’s clear digital twinning is the future for strategic asset management, and first movers – particularly within the mining, industrials, oil, gas infrastructure and construction industries – are already recognising the benefits.”

Together with lead consultant Genéne Kleppe, Digital Twinning Australia employs a team of asset and project managers, supervisors, modellers, engineers, cost analysts and customer journey mappers, as well as a broad professional network of engineers and project managers that can be assembled to take on large corporate briefs.

Ms Kleppe will be delivering a series of presentations on digital twinning at the Future Infrastructure Summit in Melbourne on Wednesday October 23 and in Brisbane on Monday October 28.  She will then join the inaugural Digital Twinning Symposium in Sydney on November 1.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Cities has commenced a new inquiry into options for financing faster rail.

Committee chair, John Alexander OAM MP, said, "With the recent establishment of the National Faster Rail Agency (NFRA), it is the essential time for the committee to examine financing options to deliver fast rail connections between major capital cities and their regional centres.

The NFRA will work with state and territory governments on opportunities to develop better rail infrastructure, including on the Geelong to Melbourne fast rail. It will also examine five faster rail business cases funded in the 2019-20 Budget for: Sydney to Wollongong, Sydney to Parkes, Melbourne to Albury-Wodonga, Melbourne to Traralgon, and Brisbane to the Gold Coast.

Delivering a viable option for people to live in regional cities and still have ready access to big cities will have positive social, economic and population outcomes, but it will be hard to progress without a sustainable financing mechanism. The committee will play its part by examining how to finance these much needed faster rail connections," Mr Alexander said.

The inquiry’s terms of reference are: Options for financing faster rail.

Submissions are being sought by Friday, December 6, 2019. Submissions can be made online or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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AS PART of a Federal Parliament inquiry into economic engagement with Traditional Owners, Members of Parliament are travelling north to hear new ideas.

The Northern Australia Committee is holding public hearings in Far North Queensland next week, and will hear evidence from Land Councils, Native Title holders, local councils and other stakeholders.

Committee Chair Warren Entsch said that with 78 percent of land in Northern Australia claimed or recognised under statutory land rights or native title, it makes sense for the Committee to speak to the people most connected to those lands.

The Committee will hold public hearings in Cairns, in Hope Vale and on Thursday Island. Programs are available on the Committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Tuesday, 29 October 2019
Time: 9am to 5pm
Location: Council Chambers, 119-145 Spence St, Cairns

Date: Wednesday, 30 October 2019
Time: 10am to 12:30pm
Location: Council Meeting Rooms, Hope Vale

Date: Thursday, 31 October 2019
Time: 9:30am to 12:30pm
Location: Function Room, Grand Hotel, Victoria Parade, Thursday Island

The hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

The inquiry commenced in the last Parliament, and was suspended during the election period. To date, the Committee has received 26 submissions and held one public hearing. Further details of the inquiry, including expanded terms of reference, can be found on the Committee’s website.

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