Change Happens

After six seasons and almost 70 conversations with leaders, changemakers, athletes, advocates, scientists and CEOs, Change Happens comes to a close.

In this final episode, Jenelle revisits some of the moments and lessons that stayed with her most across the series, featuring reflections and insights from guests including Dr Bronwyn King, Dylan Alcott, Hugh van Cuylenburg, Mike Baird and Dom Price.

Together, their stories reveal a consistent truth: change doesn’t really start with a plan. It starts with people.

In this episode, Jenelle explores:

·         Why some of the most impactful leaders reject the idea of “impossible”

·         How making space for opposing perspectives can create deeper trust and lasting change

·         What separates transactional leadership from the kinds of human connections people genuinely remember

·         Why empathy, judgement and human connection may become the most valuable leadership skills in an AI-driven world

·         The biggest lessons six seasons of Change Happens revealed about resilience, leadership and the people behind meaningful change

Host: Jenelle McMaster, EY Regional Deputy CEO and People & Culture Leader, Oceania

For many leaders today, the future feels louder, faster and less predictable than ever. In this episode, global foresight strategist Joanna Lepore unpacks what strategic foresight actually is and why it matters now.

Jo works with organisations around the world to build adaptability into strategy, helping leaders expand their time horizons, challenge assumptions and prepare for multiple possible futures. This is not about prediction. It is about preparation.

Together, we explore how leaders can move from reactive firefighting to anticipatory leadership and why waiting to “see how it plays out” may be Australia’s biggest risk.

In this episode, Jo shares:

Simple rituals to make signal scanning intentional and time-bound

Where long-term thinking delivers measurable ROI

The questions leaders should ask to uncover blind spots

Practical ways individuals can embed long-term thinking into their everyday work

Host: Jenelle McMaster, EY Deputy CEO and People & Culture Leader, Oceania 

Guest: Joanna Lepore, Global Foresight Strategist

Today, we’re unpacking why leadership feels so much harder right now, and what it takes to navigate a world defined by constant change.
Futurist Dominic Price explores the pressures facing modern leaders, the shift from efficiency to effectiveness, and why upgrading our human operating systems matters more than adopting the latest tools.
Dom breaks down the rising disconnect between leaders and teams, how AI is increasing both productivity and stress, and the practical mindset shifts leaders need to thrive.
In this episode, Dom shares:
Why “best practice” no longer exists, and leaders must create their own.
How to find anchor points when “normal” has disappeared.
Why organisations need to evolve their ways of working, not just add new tech.
How imagination, experimentation and the “plus one” mindset unlock progress.
Host: Jenelle McMaster, EY Regional Deputy CEO and People and Culture Leader, Oceania
Guest: Dominic Price, Work Futurist, Technologist, Founder

Today, we’re diving into what the next generation of talent actually wants from work - and what employers can do about it. Adam Jacobs, Co-founder and CEO of Hatch, returns to Change Happens to unpack fresh insights from Hatch’s latest Hotlist research: why ’security‘ is the headline for 2025, how Gen Z views AI as an accelerant (not a threat), and the practical shifts organisations can make to attract, grow and keep early-career talent.
In this episode, Adam shares:
Why saying “here’s our take on AI today” beats dodging the question, especially for junior roles.
Side hustles - and why employers should embrace them.
The big mismatches to fix: vague growth paths, hidden pay, fear-driven AI talk.
How to put people back in hiring by using AI to reach the human conversation faster and reduce ghosting.
Hatch Hotlist Survey Link: where Gen Z most want to work
Hotlist insights report 2025 Link: 
Host: Jenelle McMaster, EY Regional Deputy CEO and People & Culture Leader, Oceania
Guest: Adam Jacobs, Co-founder & CEO, Hatch

Generative AI has sparked excitement, fear, and a whole lot of uncertainty. 
Are we on the cusp of a new industrial revolution - or stuck in a national holding pattern?
In this episode of Change Happens, Jenelle sits down with two of Microsoft Australia’s top AI leaders: Sarah Carney, National Chief Technology Officer, and Tim Allen, National Skills Director. Together, they explore the reality behind the AI hype and offer a clear-eyed view on how Australia can move from hesitation to transformation.
In this conversation, Tim and Sarah share:
Why we’re in a ‘collective limbo’ when it comes to AI adoption
What Australia risks by holding back - and what we gain by leaning in
Why we need to build AI literacy across industries, from nurses to sales teams
Why leaders must make space to “play” with AI, and how that can lead to scale
The growing importance of coaching, clarity, and communication as core leadership skills
How AI can enhance, not replace, our humanity at work and home
Host: Jenelle McMaster, Deputy CEO and People & Culture Leader at EY
Guests: Tim Allen and Sarah Carney, Microsoft Australia