CEO Reflections

Leaving a job that I love – which is what I am doing – has made me think carefully on why I have loved working at BCG. I had been grappling with it in my mind without really having clarity. 

Until last Friday.   

Last week I had the opportunity to travel to Canberra with three BCG board members and staff member, Cameron Taylor. Hosted by Dr Webster, we had the opportunity to meet with Ministers McKenzie and Littleproud. As well as public servants from the Department of Environment and Energy, Department of Agriculture, the Clean Energy Regulator, National Farmers Federation, and Dr Steve Jefferies from GRDC.  The aim of the visit was to shape policy roll out – not about asking for resources.   

The board members, like all the BCG board members I have had the privilege to work with, demonstrated their leadership and the willingness to take positions on challenging topics around glyphosate, animal welfare and climate change. 

However, this was not what provided clarity around why BCG is such a great organisation. It was the final session. The board members presented to FarmLink a grower group based in NSW. BCG presented on our governance. Normally in this situation, someone from the team will present what makes BCG great, how we do it, where we do it and when we do it. It can feel a bit rah rah (cheerleading) at times but is very important to promote and highlight what BCG does and how well we do it.  

This time it was different. 

The presentation was all about the why. The stuff under the hood. Why does BCG have the governance structure it does, why do we have members, why do we have the amount of staff that we do, why do we have advisory groups and why do we have the mix of funders that we have. The willingness to dive into the why is what makes BCG great? The Board’s willingness to lead a discussion with others was clarifying for me.  

This same thinking around ‘the why’ is part of the staff culture as well. As CEO of BCG, I can say what makes BCG great is the willingness to ask.  

Being asked ‘why?’ it is not always easy to answer or a question you always appreciate but on reflection that makes me appreciate it more.  

Some quicks stats: 

• I worked at BCG for 65 months. 
• I travelled about 450 000 km by car. 
• I averaged around 60 days away a year. 
• I worked with 38 staff. 

I loved every minute. Even the minutes that weren’t enjoyable at the time. Each one was an opportunity!! 

Finally, a song 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ysFgElQtjI