What and when did you study at INSEAD?
I graduated from the Executive Master in Change (EMC) program at INSEAD in November 2023. This 18-month executive program, based in Singapore, was a profoundly transformative experience for me. The EMC uniquely addresses the complexities of organisational change by combining psychological insights with a deep understanding of both organisational and interpersonal dynamics. It complements traditional business education by offering a human-centric perspective, equipping participants with insights into the underlying forces that drive success and satisfaction within organisations.
Tell us about your career journey to date.
Looking back, I wasn’t a fan of school. Academics weren’t my strong suit, and by 17 or 18, I found myself far more interested in working with my hands—taking things apart and putting them back together. So, at a young age, I completed a fitting and machining course at TAFE and began an apprenticeship as a fitter and machinist at Shell’s oil refinery in Sydney. I spent eight years there in a highly unionized and risk-averse environment, where the work was stable, and the pay was good. It was a comfortable life, but after those eight years, I began to feel the need for something more diverse, something that would challenge me in new ways.
That’s when I made the shift into commercial property and facilities management. I was able to apply my experience in the oil industry, especially around risk management and mitigation, to facilities management and property. I worked with clients like ExxonMobil and Caltex, spending a total of about 10 or 12 years in the field. Then, seeking yet another change and a bit of diversity, I decided to work in Asia. This is where I transitioned my facilities management experience to financial services clients.
Over the next decade, I expanded my focus with JLL in Asia, managing contracts for financial services giants like Barclays, HSBC, and UBS across 14–16 countries.
Today, I can say my career path has been anything but conventional, and that’s been part of the excitement. I’ve always leaned on my transferable skills to navigate change. In my younger years, I wasn’t focused on formal education—but as I’ve grown and gained experience, I’ve come to appreciate the power of learning by doing. It’s been a journey of growth and change, and now, as I look ahead, I find myself asking, “What’s next?”
What are you passionate about?
I’m passionate about holistic organizational performance and human efficiency—particularly helping organizations navigate change in a way that builds satisfaction for a wider range of stakeholders In today’s fast-evolving landscape, adaptability is key, and I believe organizations must better understand the drivers of human behaviour to create real value.
There’s a global issue with employee disengagement—77% of the workforce is disengaged, and 16% are actively disengaged which means they are actively working against the organization. When you consider the magnitude of those numbers and the costs to organisations, shareholders and individuals you start to think that there has to be a better way. As companies face external economic, environmental, technological and social pressures that require increased management of costs, and restructuring, disengagement only worsens.
I believe that truly enhancing organizational performance requires a more scientific, human-centered approach to change management, one that supports employees through transitions and fosters greater engagement. Which is why I have started a new consulting practice – www.futurefocusconsulting.org, focusing on helping organisations deliver change programs with humans and human behaviour at the core.
How did INSEAD transform your life?
I initially joined the Executive Master in Change program during a major turning point in my life, as I was going through the end of a significant relationship. I wanted to better understand human behaviour—why we make the choices we make and how we respond to change. INSEAD gave me a profound understanding of both me and others, helping me make sense of these questions.
Professionally, it was also a pivotal experience. I recently left my corporate career to launch my own consulting firm, Future Focus Consulting, where I now help organizations navigate change with a deeper appreciation for the human side of business. I’m currently building my client base, including some pro bono work for a nonprofit supporting underprivileged youth. INSEAD has shaped my mission to bring a more empathetic, human-centered approach to organizational transformation.
How do you contribute to and engage with the INSEAD community?
I firmly believe the adage that at INSEAD ‘the course is free, what you pay for is the membership to the alumni’. I was lucky enough to be in India earlier in the year and attended the NAA annual conference in Delhi. A sensory overload that included meeting a diverse range of people across programs, decades and cultures. I am trying to convince myself to head to Europe early next year and make the NAA conference in Amsterdam a stop on the journey.
I have met some wonderful people through the NAA both in Australia and the rest of the world. I am a semi-regular at INSEAD Day each year would like to attend more of the Sydney social events in the coming year including Thirsty Thursdays and some of the random dinners.