Panel - The Next Generation

Chair: Matt Shananan, Director, Fifty One North

Overview: The “Next Generation” panel consists of three very diverse, successful young Australians. Akram Azimi came to Australia as an Afghan refugee, and in 2013 was awarded the celebrated Young Australian of the Year award. He has a social justice background and works closely with indigenous youth in Western Australia and has been a mentor for Special Olympics competitors. Nick Palousis is a young entrepreneur who runs his own business giving advice to large corporations on reducing their carbon footprint and having a strategy for the environmental effects of their business operation. Finally, Claire Johnson is a young Academic who gained her PhD in working with Emergency Services in ‘worst case scenario’ planning. Claire has turned academic theory into practical outcomes for the emergency services sector and ultimately to the benefit of the community.

In all their diverse backgrounds they have been required to challenge the status quo and influence people of all ages of the benefits of their points of view. They will highlight in the panel discussion their techniques in rattling the cage and the skills they possess to gain support for change in a relatively conservative field. For all those who want to influence change but don’t know how to progress, this will be a must see panel discussion.

Speaker 1 - Dr Claire Johnson, Operational Doctrine Adviser, CFA

“Plan for the Worst, Hope for the Best”

The emergency management sector in Victoria needs to consider the impact of worst case scenarios (WCSs) to ensure it is prepared for the future.  While they are a low-probability, the consequences of WCSs are so significant that they can have extensive impacts on the community, business and government.  Such events are also likely to become more frequent and destructive because of climate and demographic changes in Victoria. 

The ability to imagine WCSs is critical for preparing for the future but can be a difficult process to execute.  While experience is a valuable guide in routine situations, WCSs are challenging for decision makers to imagine because they are unlikely to have experienced such a situation before.  Decision makers also tend to underestimate WCSs because the influence of cognitive biases (e.g. optimism bias). 

Imagination exercises can assist to develop the skills required to imagine and prepare for WCSs.  In his book “The Power of Intuition” (2003), Gary Klein describes a premortem exercise that requires participants to imagine a catastrophic outcome (i.e. WCSs) and identify the critical factors that led to that hypothetical outcome.  This allows decision makers to strengthen plans to manage these potential WCS situations. 

Only by imagining the worst will the emergency management sector be able to prepare for, and adapt to, the frequency and scale of emergencies in Victoria’s future.  

Speaker 2 - Nick Palousis, CEO, 2XE

‘Change and Adapt: Maintaining a Status Quo No Longer an Option’

At no other point in recent history have we experienced such an onslaught of competing environmental, social and economic pressures on our business and government landscape. This ‘perfect storm’ of pressures is presenting an ultimatum to both public and private organisations in Australia: either change and adapt what you do and how you do it, or exit the market. Maintaining the status quo is no longer enough to stay relevant and stay in business.

Shifting the status quo and evolving the business model of an organisation is never an easy process, but there are strategies an organisation can employ to make the process easier.

The key to this approach is to:

1.       Adopt a functional view of the way the organisation currently works,

2.       Forecast the way it could work in the future given relevant environmental, social and economic trends,

3.       Define the ‘business case for change’ to ensure the strategic and financial reasoning is sound, and

4.       Implement a staged-approach to shifting the business model, in a way that harnesses the existing capabilities of staff.

The result of this approach is that an organisation that is more productive in its purpose, is resilient to unwelcome surprises and the welcoming of the challenges that the future holds.

Speaker 3 - Akram Azimi, Young Australian of the Year 2013

Akram will highlight what the future looks like from a social justice view point, especially his work with Aboriginal communities and the mentoring of disabled athletes in his home state of Western Australia. Akram has a different perspective on the world through his experience as an Afghan refugee and his adaptation to Australian life. He is not afraid to challenge the status quo and will highlight how he has gone about making a difference and what his hopes are for the future.

Join him as he takes you on a journey that gives hope of a brighter future for all Australians, no matter what their background, and learn the value of the stepping stones that we can utilise to get to our desired future for the communities that we serve.

Summary from Chair

Q&A Session