224 Ewan McDonald - CEO & Founding Director - Spectra

226 Richard Palmer - Building Businesses That Are Actually Worth Something

In this episode of the Arete Podcast, Richard Triggs sits down with Richard Palmer, Co-Founder and Partner at Qurate Advisory, to explore what it really takes to build a business that has lasting value. Richard has spent more than 25 years across corporate advisory, investment, governance, technology, M&A and executive leadership. His career has taken him from New Zealand to the UK and Australia, through high-growth technology, venture capital, funds management, CEO roles, board advisory and now Qurate Advisory, where he helps Australian business owners prepare for growth, succession, acquisition and sale. This conversation is a practical and honest look at the reality of business ownership. Richard and Richard discuss why so many owners start with the dream of building an asset, but end up creating a job for themselves instead. They explore why most businesses never sell, what makes a business genuinely valuable, and why value is ultimately about cash flow, risk and transferability. They also unpack the human side of business transition. Richard explains why many deals fail not because the business lacks value, but because owners, families or shareholders are not aligned on what they actually want. The conversation covers succession, trust, resilience, leadership, business owner pressure, Vistage, AI, tax, capital readiness and the importance of preparing for exit long before you want to exit. At its heart, this episode is about building with intention. It is a reminder that business owners can create income, impact and a valuable capital asset, but only if they start thinking about value early and treat readiness as a discipline, not a last-minute event. Key Timestamps 2:37 - Why Qurate Advisory exists and the problem it solves for business owners 5:49 - Lessons from the high-growth technology world at Orange 9:39 - Why running a business is very different from investing in one 18:10 - How Qurate Advisory began and why business transition starts with people 21:42 - The simple equation behind business value: cash flow and risk 27:00 - Why misalignment between owners, families and shareholders kills value 35:40 - How AI is changing risk, valuation and exit planning 47:02 - Why business owners should be capital ready every day, not just at sale USEFUL LINKS: Richard Palmer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardmpalmer1/ Qurate Advisory: https://qurate.com.au/ Richard Triggs on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs/ Arete Executive Website: https://www.areteexecutive.com.au

225 Teva Smith - Creativity, Personal Brand and the Courage to Be Seen

In this episode of the Arete Executive Podcast, Richard Triggs sits down with Teva Smith, communications strategist, content creator and fractional communications consultant, to explore the power of creativity, personal brand and human connection in a world overloaded with digital noise. Teva’s career has moved across countries, industries and creative disciplines. From growing up in South Africa and spending almost a decade in the UK, to building a strong professional background in pharmaceutical PR, marketing and independent education, her path has been anything but linear. Today, she brings together more than 20 years of communications experience with a bold, funny and highly human online presence that has opened new professional doors. Richard and Teva discuss the rise of fractional work, why more businesses are looking for senior expertise without the risk or cost of a full-time hire, and how experienced professionals can bring value quickly across different organisations, projects and industries. They also explore the growing need for executives and business leaders to develop a more compelling online presence, not just as a polished career summary, but as a genuine expression of who they are. The conversation then moves into Teva’s own creative journey. She shares how making videos started as a personal outlet, why humour and vulnerability have helped her content resonate, and how authenticity, when handled with integrity, can become a serious professional advantage. This is a conversation about more than social media. It is about courage, creativity, reputation, reinvention and the importance of staying human in business. For leaders, executives and aspiring C-suite professionals, Teva offers a clear reminder: people do not just connect with credentials. They connect with personality, story and trust. Key Timestamps 1:46 - Teva’s work across fractional communications, content creation and creative projects 2:16 - The rise of fractional work and why businesses are using senior expertise differently 6:07 - Teva’s journey from South Africa to Australia, the UK and back to Brisbane 8:00 - Creativity, storytelling and human connection as the thread through Teva’s career 10:09 - How Teva started creating online videos and developed her distinctive voice 13:04 - Balancing professional reputation with personal expression online 20:24 - How leaders and business owners can start building a stronger personal brand 34:58 - Teva’s final message on bravery, creativity and having more fun in business USEFUL LINKS: Teva Smith on LinkedIn Teva Smith's Website Richard Triggs on LinkedIn SUBSCRIBE HERE: Apple Podcast | Stitcher | Subscribe on Android | Player.fm | RSS | Spotify

224 Ewan McDonald - CEO & Founding Director - Spectra

In this episode of the Arete Executive Podcast, Richard Triggs sits down with Ewan McDonald, Founder and CEO of Spectra, to discuss the realities of building and sustaining a business through some of the most volatile conditions in the oil and gas sector. Ewan shares the story behind founding the business in 2009 during the coal seam gas exploration boom, and the evolution from its original beginnings as Protest Well Services into the technology-driven engineered services company Spectra is today. Drawing on more than three decades of experience in the energy sector, Ewan reflects on the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, including surviving multiple industry downturns, navigating the devastating impact of the 2011 Queensland floods, and adapting through periods of declining revenue and uncertainty. The conversation explores how adversity often forces innovation. Ewan explains how bringing engineering capability in-house during COVID became a major turning point for the business, enabling Spectra to develop proprietary technologies that are now delivering major operational efficiencies and emissions reductions for customers in the gas sector. He also shares the journey from early-stage ideas to securing commercial contracts with global energy companies including Shell. Richard and Ewan discuss leadership lessons learned over 17 years in business, including the importance of building strong leadership teams, creating alignment around a shared vision, and ensuring the right people are in the right seats. Ewan speaks candidly about managing cultural misalignment, building accountability, and fostering a safety-first environment in a high-risk industry where operational discipline and integrity are critical. The discussion also touches on the future of oil and gas, Australia’s energy security challenges, the ongoing role of LNG, and why the transition to alternative energy sources must remain grounded in practical realities. This episode is packed with insights for founders, CEOs, and leadership teams navigating uncertainty, scaling technical businesses, and building resilient organisations capable of adapting through changing market conditions. Key Timestamps 1:00 – Ewan’s role as Founder and CEO of Spectra 2:00 – Starting a business during the coal seam gas exploration boom 3:00 – Surviving industry downturns and the realities of entrepreneurship 6:00 – Understanding drill stem testing (DST) and coal seam gas exploration 10:00 – Scaling rapidly and the impact of the 2011 Queensland floods 11:30 – Evolving the business beyond DST services 14:00 – COVID disruption and the turning point of bringing engineering capability in-house 16:00 – Developing industry-changing technology and securing contracts with Shell 18:00 – Growth plans, acquisitions, and the future direction of Spectra 19:00 – Oil, gas, LNG, and Australia’s energy security outlook 21:30 – Leadership lessons from 17 years in business 24:00 – Getting the right people on the bus and managing cultural misalignment 26:00 – Safety, accountability, and operational integrity in high-risk industries 27:30 – Building a positive culture and aligning teams around a shared vision 29:00 – Balancing fly-in fly-out leadership, family life, and business growth

223 Birgit Schnelle – Certified EOS Implementer – Entrepreneurial Coach – EOS Worldwide

223 Birgit Schnelle – Certified EOS Implementer – Entrepreneurial Coach – EOS Worldwide by Richard Triggs

222 Andrew Rodgers – CEO of CST Hire and Non-Executive Director

In this episode of the Arete Executive Podcast, I sit down with Andrew Rodgers, Chief Executive Officer of CST Hire, Chair and Non-Executive Director. With more than two decades of leadership experience across resources, manufacturing, infrastructure, and professional services, Andrew shares the lessons from a career defined by reinvention, curiosity, and cultural leadership. Andrew discusses his journey from aspiring engineer to CFO and then CEO, spanning industries from energy and mining to law and logistics. He reflects on the mindset shift required to transition from technical leadership into people-centred leadership, and why emotional intelligence and culture are now central to how he builds teams. We explore the reality of balancing executive and board responsibilities, the discipline it takes to maintain governance boundaries, and how sitting on boards in different industries has sharpened his business acumen as a CEO. Andrew also talks about his current work at CST Hire — Australia’s leading truck and specialist vehicle rental business — where he’s driving diversification into renewables, rail, and infrastructure, while embedding innovation such as AI-powered fleet management and customer service automation. The conversation is rich with practical insights for leaders about staying curious, walking the floor, and creating cultures of accountability and engagement. Andrew’s reflections on learning, adaptability, and longevity offer valuable guidance for any executive considering their own evolution from C-suite to boardroom. Key Timestamps 2:00 – Overview of CST Hire and its national operations 5:00 – Balancing CEO and board roles effectively 8:00 – From engineer to CFO to CEO: lessons in reinvention 12:15 – Developing soft skills and emotional intelligence in leadership 17:00 – Building board experience and applying cross-industry learning 19:00 – Listed vs private company dynamics and leadership differences 22:30 – Culture, visibility, and leading from the floor 24:00 – Behaviour, accountability, and building team engagement 28:00 – CST’s diversification strategy and use of AI technology 34:00 – The appeal and reality of portfolio careers 36:00 – Life outside work: family, surf, and being a proud grandfather