I was due to be married in Australia on May 9. But, even six weeks away, it is not to be. I understand this consideration is small compared to the looming economic collapse, joblessness and the weight of a global pandemic.  But it is a case study for all of us tethered to, and at the complete mercy, of governments — something that, at least in the West, we’ve worked so hard to avoid. Currently based in New Zealand, we woke to the Australian government travel advice mid-last week to get home “as soon as possible”.  Hopping on flights within […]

This week I was fortunate to be the guest speaker at Otago Polytechnic’s Bachelor for Leadership Change Programme. We talked about the importance of learning from mistakes, carving out a sphere of influence (controlling what you can), seeing setbacks as growth and a range of other topics at the intersection between leadership and public policy. A great discussion that brought together two keen interests of mine – personal development and public policy.  

Heavyweight boxing is not typically associated with Queen Elizabeth II or even the British monarchy.  But Anthony Joshua’s recent Commonwealth Day speech is a refreshing example of these two unlikely – but actually quite similar – worlds coming together.  Joshua, the current unified heavyweight champion, is Watford-born but of Nigerian descent. “I come from the Yoruba people,” he said in front of the Queen, “who are the largest and some might say the loudest ethnic group in all of Africa. I am proudly Nigerian and I am proudly British.”  His unifying remarks are refreshing at a time of jarring identity […]