In Episode 005 of The Westside Stories Podcast: Beyond the CBD, Sean Johnston sits down with Helen Hamilton-James, Partner and Greater Western Sydney Market Lead at KPMG.

Helen shares her career journey from Scotland to London, Sydney and Papua New Guinea, and reflects on the opportunities, mentors and bold decisions that shaped her path.

The conversation explores the power of mentoring, the importance of backing women into leadership, and why leaders need to create space for people to grow, take risks and find their voice.

Sean and Helen also discuss the future of Western Sydney, from advanced manufacturing, defence, aerospace and health precincts through to the visitor economy, business growth and the need to create more local jobs across the region.

A grounded and inspiring conversation about career progression, leadership, opportunity and the future of Greater Western Sydney.

In Episode 004 of Westside Stories: Beyond the CBD, Sean Johnston sits down with Paul Plowman, Executive General Manager, Water & Environment Services at Sydney Water.

Paul shares his career journey from engineering graduate to executive leader, including the opportunities, risks and lessons that shaped his leadership approach.

The conversation also takes us behind the scenes at Sydney Water, exploring the essential infrastructure that supports Sydney’s growth, particularly across Western Sydney. From recycled water and stormwater harvesting to climate resilience, AI, automation and circular economy thinking, Paul gives a fascinating look at the systems most of us rely on every day, but rarely stop to think about.

This episode also explores leadership at scale, stakeholder relationships, the importance of listening, and why executive leadership is often less about being the expert in the room and more about drawing out the expertise of others.

A thoughtful and eye-opening conversation about growth, infrastructure, leadership and the people helping shape Sydney’s future.

In episode 003 of Westside Stories, Sean Johnston sits down with Martin O’Connell, Managing Director of ECORR, civil engineer, entrepreneur, and proud Western Sydney local.

Martin shares his journey from growing up in a working-class family in Western Sydney to building and scaling successful businesses across construction, sustainability, recycling, and property development.

The conversation explores the realities of business growth, leadership under pressure, lessons learned through adversity, and the future opportunities emerging across Western Sydney through infrastructure, transport, and the airport precinct.

Martin also opens up about the importance of mental health in the construction industry, resilience, family, and how his definition of success has evolved over time.

This episode covers:
• Entrepreneurship and scaling businesses
• Leadership and people management
• Sustainability and circular economy initiatives
• Western Sydney growth and infrastructure
• Construction industry challenges
• Mental health and resilience
• Legacy, family, and contribution

A practical, honest, and insightful conversation with one of the people helping shape the future of Western Sydney.

Episode 2 of The Westside Stories Podcast is live!

This week, Sean Johnston sat down with Tony Nash, Founder of Booktopia, one of Australia’s most recognised online retail success stories.

Tony shares a candid and grounded perspective on what it actually takes to build a business from scratch, the challenges that come with growth, and the resilience required to keep moving forward.

In this episode, we get into:
• Building a business from the ground up
• Navigating challenges, risk and uncertainty
• The mindset required to scale and sustain success
• Leadership, culture and staying true to your vision

If you’re building, leading, or thinking about taking the leap, this is well worth your time.

🎧 Episode 2 is now live.

We’re excited to launch the very first episode of The Westside Stories.

In Episode 1, Sean Johnston sits down with David Borger, Executive Director at Business Western Sydney, for a candid conversation on leadership, resilience, and the evolution of Western Sydney.

From growing up across multiple schools and learning to adapt early, through to becoming one of the most influential voices shaping the region, David shares the experiences that have defined his journey.

This episode covers:
• The realities of growing up and constantly starting over
• How resilience and adaptability shape leadership
• The transformation of Western Sydney and what’s ahead
• Why connection, community and opportunity matter more than ever
• Lessons from a career at the centre of business, government and growth

This is a raw, honest conversation about people, place and progress in Western Sydney.

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