Defending against the threat of drones–Droneshield
We're in Sydney with Oleg Vornik, CEO of DroneShield, makers of radio-frequency technology to detect and take down small, hostile drones across 50 countries. While defence demand is rising, airports, data centers, and infrastructure facilities are also looking for protection against small drones used for surveillance, cyber threats, and sabotage. Learn how DroneShield built the world's largest drone signal library, why simply shooting down drones isn’t viable, and why they’re moving to "micro AI" on tiny, self-learning devices. Hear about the “cat and mouse game” between counter-drone developers and drone manufacturers, constantly innovating to avoid detection. Plus, find out why Oleg believes counter-drone activity in public spaces like airports, stadiums, and prisons will grow as drones become a fact of life.This episode was recorded on 15 October 2025. All commentary reflects the timing of the original conversation. For more or to watch on YouTube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch Shared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website. Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
--------
30:36
--------
30:36
Will open banking kickstart financial disruption?
Could open banking finally create real competition for money services—beyond the banks? We’re talking to Ben Lynch, who left Xero to found Akahu, the open finance intermediary pushing to change the balance of power between banks, their customers, and their competitors. This episode explores how open banking aims to democratize your financial data, letting fintech businesses innovate and become a “bank without being a bank”. Hear about Ben’s battle to bring the new Consumer Data Right into law, giving individuals more meaningful ownership of their personal information—the foundation of open banking. We discuss how this legislation forces banks to use APIs (application programming interfaces) to share data, and creates more space for disruptors like Sharesies to offer consumers choice. Plus, hear the story of how Ben used a tweet to get his foot in the door at Xero. For more or to watch on YouTube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunchShared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website. Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
--------
25:36
--------
25:36
Crossroads for Mānuka honey company Comvita
We sit down with Comvita Chair Bridget Coates to talk about the critical vote shareholders are facing on a 80-cent-per-share takeover offer. With a 75% majority vote required and two major shareholders already backing the deal, this is a pivotal moment for Comvita and its investors. The iconic mānuka honey company and global market leader has faced significant financial pressure in recent years due to industry oversupply, price and demand volatility, and balance sheet challenges. Despite restructuring efforts, the Board of Comvita is now recommending shareholders accept the offer from private health and wellness bidder Florenz. We cover the Mānuka honey industry's struggles, what’s at stake for shareholders and what the future might hold for this nearly 50-year-old Kiwi brand under private ownership. For more or to watch on YouTube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch Shared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Limited. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions can be found on our NZ website. Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
--------
14:31
--------
14:31
Small caps, big potential?
We welcome back Michelle Lopez, Head of Australasian Equities and Portfolio Manager at Pie Funds—our go-to expert on small caps and big potential. Michelle shares how she sees caution among her peers despite market highs, and why she sees this market rally as “narrow”. Michelle covers the state of travel, retail, property, and the rise of DIY—and the sectors set to benefit as we move deeper into a national rate cutting cycle. How are Michelle’s team watching for clues to indicate that the data center boom is slowing? Hear about the three big factors propelling performance for Australian small caps, a massive year for gold, and possible risks in rare earths. Plus, getting indirect exposure to AI through Aussie infrastructure and software companies. For more or to watch on YouTube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch Shared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website. Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own. PIE Funds Management Limited is the manager and issuer of the funds in the PIE Funds Management Scheme (the Schemes). The product disclosure statements for the Schemes are available at: www.piefunds.co.nz/investor-documents.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
--------
24:20
--------
24:20
Bite: Fonterra is out of your fridge and betting on B2B
Fonterra CFO Andrew Murray breaks down the co-op’s new focus on ingredients and food service—and why divesting consumer brands less about retreating, and more about doubling down on value for farmers. How is dairy’s protein power is driving global demand? What's driving the growth of “natural nutrition” and how will Fonterra milk that opportunity? For more or to watch on YouTube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunchShared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website. Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A conversation with experts, CEOs, and you. We talk to company leaders and industry experts every week. Listen or watch over lunch or whenever for what’s happening in the economy, the markets, and the companies you invest in.
Investing involves risk. This channel is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. Information provided is general advice only and current at the time and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the product disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents, including a Target Market Determination for Sharesies, can be found on our website at https://sharesies.com.au/disclosures. If you require financial advice, you should seek advice from a qualified financial advisor. The views expressed by individuals are their own and Sharesies does not endorse any of the guests or the views they hold.
New Zealand