Change Happens

How Do You Plan for an Uncertain Future? with Joanna Lepore

For many leaders today, the future feels louder, faster and less predictable than ever. In this episode, global foresight strategist Joanna Lepore unpacks what strategic foresight actually is and why it matters now. Jo works with organisations around the world to build adaptability into strategy, helping leaders expand their time horizons, challenge assumptions and prepare for multiple possible futures. This is not about prediction. It is about preparation. Together, we explore how leaders can move from reactive firefighting to anticipatory leadership and why waiting to “see how it plays out” may be Australia’s biggest risk. In this episode, Jo shares: * Simple rituals to make signal scanning intentional and time-bound * Where long-term thinking delivers measurable ROI * The questions leaders should ask to uncover blind spots * Practical ways individuals can embed long-term thinking into their everyday work Host: Jenelle McMaster, EY Deputy CEO and People & Culture Leader, Oceania  Guest: Joanna Lepore, Global Foresight Strategist

Leading Through Uncertainty with Dom Price

Today, we’re unpacking why leadership feels so much harder right now, and what it takes to navigate a world defined by constant change. Futurist Dominic Price explores the pressures facing modern leaders, the shift from efficiency to effectiveness, and why upgrading our human operating systems matters more than adopting the latest tools. Dom breaks down the rising disconnect between leaders and teams, how AI is increasing both productivity and stress, and the practical mindset shifts leaders need to thrive. In this episode, Dom shares: * Why “best practice” no longer exists, and leaders must create their own. * How to find anchor points when “normal” has disappeared. * Why organisations need to evolve their ways of working, not just add new tech. * How imagination, experimentation and the “plus one” mindset unlock progress. Host: Jenelle McMaster, EY Regional Deputy CEO and People and Culture Leader, Oceania Guest: Dominic Price, Work Futurist, Technologist, Founder

Gen Z and the new rules of work with Adam Jacobs

Today, we’re diving into what the next generation of talent actually wants from work - and what employers can do about it. Adam Jacobs, Co-founder and CEO of Hatch, returns to Change Happens to unpack fresh insights from Hatch’s latest Hotlist research: why ’security‘ is the headline for 2025, how Gen Z views AI as an accelerant (not a threat), and the practical shifts organisations can make to attract, grow and keep early-career talent. In this episode, Adam shares: * Why saying “here’s our take on AI today” beats dodging the question, especially for junior roles. * Side hustles - and why employers should embrace them. * The big mismatches to fix: vague growth paths, hidden pay, fear-driven AI talk. * How to put people back in hiring by using AI to reach the human conversation faster and reduce ghosting. Hatch Hotlist Survey Link [https://hatch.team/hotlist]: where Gen Z most want to work Hotlist insights report 2025 Link [https://hatch.team/hotlist-2025/community-insights-report?_gl=1*mig3mr*_gcl_au*MTk5NTkwODg1Ni4xNzU1ODMwMDkz*_ga*MTIxMTQyOTcxOC4xNzU1ODMwMDkz*_ga_QHE6N55LKH*czE3NTczODAwNDIkbzMkZzEkdDE3NTczODAyNjAkajIxJGwwJGgw]:  Host: Jenelle McMaster, EY Regional Deputy CEO and People & Culture Leader, Oceania Guest: Adam Jacobs, Co-founder & CEO, Hatch

Unlocking the future of AI with Microsoft’s Tim Allen and Sarah Carney

Generative AI has sparked excitement, fear, and a whole lot of uncertainty.  Are we on the cusp of a new industrial revolution - or stuck in a national holding pattern? In this episode of Change Happens, Jenelle sits down with two of Microsoft Australia’s top AI leaders: Sarah Carney, National Chief Technology Officer, and Tim Allen, National Skills Director. Together, they explore the reality behind the AI hype and offer a clear-eyed view on how Australia can move from hesitation to transformation. In this conversation, Tim and Sarah share: * Why we’re in a ‘collective limbo’ when it comes to AI adoption * What Australia risks by holding back - and what we gain by leaning in * Why we need to build AI literacy across industries, from nurses to sales teams * Why leaders must make space to “play” with AI, and how that can lead to scale * The growing importance of coaching, clarity, and communication as core leadership skills * How AI can enhance, not replace, our humanity at work and home Host: Jenelle McMaster, Deputy CEO and People & Culture Leader at EY Guests: Tim Allen and Sarah Carney, Microsoft Australia

Confronting Bias in AI with Tracey Spicer

Today, we’re stepping into one of the most urgent conversations in tech right now: bias in artificial intelligence. Tracey Spicer AM is a Walkley Award-winning journalist, author, and longtime activist for gender equity. In this episode, she unpacks the unseen biases coded into the technologies we use every day—and what happens when we leave them unchecked. Drawing on years of research for her latest book Man-Made, Tracey explores the ethical challenges and opportunities in AI development, and why we all have a role to play in shaping more equitable outcomes. In this episode, Tracey shares: * How gender, race, age, and ability bias are embedded into AI systems * The real-world impacts of biased tech—from hiring software to image generators * Why ‘human in the loop’ systems are critical for ethical AI * How organisations can audit their data, clean up algorithms, and lead responsibly Host: Jenelle McMaster [https://www.ey.com/en_au/people/jenelle-mcmaster], Deputy CEO and People & Culture Leader at EY Guest: Tracey Spicer AM [https://www.linkedin.com/in/traceyspicer/], journalist, author, and AI ethics advocate