The Australian residential housing market is unaffordable for many. It is being impacted by a perfect storm of a supply demand imbalance, rising construction costs, a fuel crisis, and a planning system which many argue needs wholesale reform.

To hear more, I sit down with Angus Raine, Executive Chairman of Raine & Horne — one of Australia’s oldest and most enduring family businesses to get his perspective on Australia's housing crisis and what it takes to build a sustainable, intergenerational family business.

Founded in 1883 and now in its fourth generation of family ownership, Raine & Horne has navigated more than a century of market cycles — from booms and busts to wars and recessions — and today operates at scale across Australia and international markets.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore both the evolution of a multi-generational family enterprise and the realities of Australia’s housing market.

We cover:

• The 140-year journey of Raine & Horne and how succession has been successfully managed across generations.
• How to avoid ego, groupthink and capability gaps in family businesses.
• The current state of Australia’s residential property market.
• The housing affordability crisis — and the key drivers behind it, from supply constraints to migration, tax settings and construction costs.
• Major planning reforms, including recent high-density development changes in Victoria.
• The rise of institutional capital and the build-to-rent sector.
• How technology, data and AI are reshaping the real estate agency model.
• The concept of regional "rentvesting" and how that may make property ownership accessible to a generation of Australians.

This episode is proudly brought to you by the Family Business Association in Australia and New Zealand. Whether you’re an investor, business leader, or part of a family enterprise, this is a practical and insightful discussion on markets, leadership and long-term thinking.

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal or professional advice. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. You should seek appropriate professional advice before making any financial or investment decisions.

Connect with me:

Website: https://jameshstewart.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-h-stewart-gaicd-83b46a9

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Geopolitics now sits at the centre of business decision-making.

My guest is Dr Merriden Varrall, one of Australia’s leading geopolitical analysts and China specialists, and the founder and CEO of Vantage Geopol.

Merriden brings a rare combination of academic depth, policy experience, and commercial advisory insight. She has spent nearly a decade living and working in China, held senior roles with the United Nations Development Programme in Beijing, led the East Asia Program at the Lowy Institute, and now advises boards and executives on how global political shifts impact strategy, risk, and long-term investment decisions.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How China actually sees the world — and why Western analysis often gets it wrong
• The evolution of geopolitics from a fringe issue to a top-three boardroom risk
• The impact of leadership and political disruption on global stability
• The fragmentation of the global economic order and the growing importance of energy, climate policy, and critical minerals
• Practical advice for business leaders navigating geopolitical uncertainty

This is a deep and timely discussion on one of the most important forces shaping the global economy — and what it means for decision-makers today.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-h-stewart-gaicd-83b46a9

Website: https://jameshstewart.com

The information, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guest and are provided for general informational purposes only. They do not constitute financial, legal, investment, or other professional advice. This podcast is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, decision-making in relation to any investment, business, or strategic matter. Listeners should seek appropriate professional advice tailored to their individual circumstances. While reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, no representation or warranty is made as to its completeness or reliability, and no liability is accepted for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this content.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when one of the UK’s largest companies collapses—and takes trust in the entire UK audit profession with it?

In this episode, I sit down with Mark Raddan, CEO of Interpath Advisory and former KPMG UK Senior Partner and Board member, to unpack the fallout from the Carillion collapse and how it fundamentally reshaped the UK turnaround and restructuring profession.

Carillion employed more than 40,000 people and delivered critical public infrastructure across the UK. But in 2018, it collapsed under the weight of debt, aggressive accounting, and failing contracts—triggering parliamentary inquiries, regulatory backlash, and record fines for KPMG.

What followed wasn’t just the failure of a company—it was a structural reset of the entire profession in the UK. Regulators moved to address conflicts of interest within the Big Four, ultimately forcing KPMG to sell its restructuring business.

That carve-out became Interpath Advisory—a new, independent firm backed by private equity and now operating as one of the large independent global turnaround and restructuring firms.

Mark was at the centre of that transition.

In this conversation, we cover:

• The Carillion collapse and the consequences that followed.
• The impact on KPMG UK and the wider profession
• Why the Big Four were forced to rethink their business models
• The creation and rapid growth of Interpath Advisory
• How private equity is reshaping the professional services model
• The future of restructuring, advisory, and the impact of AI

This is a rare, insider perspective on how crisis, regulation and capital combined to create an entirely new competitive landscape in global advisory.

This podcast is for information and general discussion purposes only.

The views expressed by guests are their own and do not constitute financial, legal, investment or professional advice. Nothing in this episode should be relied upon as a recommendation or advice to make any business, financial or investment decision. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the content is based on publicly available information and personal perspectives, which may be incomplete or subject to change. Listeners should seek their own independent professional advice before acting on any matters discussed.

Follow the podcast for more conversations on business, leadership, crisis and recovery.

Connect with me on LinkedIn:

👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-h-stewart-gaicd-83b46a9

or at my website:

👉 https://jameshstewart.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.