"The journey to Chair of the biggest companies" - Michael Chaney AO, Chair of WES and NST Podcast

'Finding the Front' is presented to you by Euroz Hartleys, a long established, proudly Western Australian diversified financial services company that has a deep connection with the companies that call Perth their home. This is a podcast series where we take the time out to get to know the story behind the people who “front” some of WA's leading companies. 

We look back at some of the moments in their life and career that shape their journey to being the leader they are today and provide you with some real insights into the way they think and approach things, both in business and in life.

This episode we have a very special and privileged opportunity to chat with someone who is widely regarded as one of this countries most successful, admired and highly respected corporate and business leaders, Mr Michael Chaney AO.

Brought up in Perth, Michael Chaney’s career speaks for itself. Over 20 years at Wesfarmers (ASX: WES) where he was Managing Director for 13, a Director of BHP (ASX: BHP) for 10 years, Chair of the National Australia Bank Board of Directors for 10 years, Chair of the Woodside Petroleum (ASX: WDS) Board of Directors for some 11 years, Chancellor of the University of Western Australia, President of the Business Council of Australia, re-joining the Wesfarmers Board of Directors in 2015 as Chair, a position he still currently holds and Chair of leading WA gold miner Northern Star(ASX: NST), a position he still currently holds.

In this wide ranging conversation, Michael reflects on his upbringing, family, education, employment pathway, business decisions and his decorated corporate career providing some captivating insights into his life and what has shaped him. The chat provides some absorbing thoughts and observations, including the origins and building Wesfarmers and the Bunnings business, his time at NAB including the GFC and the challenges of the banking sector, the honour of being appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, Australia as a destination to do business, the cycle of rising interest rates and rising inflation, the current supply chain restrictions, the future of education, his views on the role of Boards, Management and maintaining culture, and the current global challenges facing the world.

An episode not to be missed, we hope you enjoy.

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