Opinion

Ears are for more than keeping your hat on – good CEOs use them to listen.

Recent events in the business and political sphere highlight again the importance of having a good succession plan, a process that many leaders do not embrace or understand.

Dean Nalder’s elevation to state cabinet may have surprised some, but Mike Nahan has the runs on the board to perform as treasurer.

High debt levels and rising interest rates are an unpleasant combination, but everyone with an interest in the retail, property and share markets would be wise to see that one factor has arrived and the other one is on its way, potentially producing a pincer-squeeze on spending and growth.

The federal upper house needs more Senators prepared to act in the interests of the federation.

Australians need to have a positive discussion on how we are going to meet our future healthcare needs.

The Australian dollar appreciated by about 50 per cent in trade-weighted terms during the past decade. The appreciation was an important means by which the economy was able to adjust to the historic increase in commodity prices and the unprecedented investment boom in the resources sector.

Attracting new leads requires the use of every form of social media and electronic outreach to find prospective clients.

Whether it’s a blip on the radar or a turning of the commodities price cycle, things are looking better for nickel.

Rather than a disaster, Troy Buswell’s political exit ought to be an opportunity.

There is a fascinating divergence between the mining industry and government in how they view investment in the Pilbara.

Troy Buswell has left the political stage to face his personal issues, but he’s left the government with a few problems of its own.

Never has the KISS management principle (keep it simple, stupid) been better demonstrated than in the dreadful condition of Western Australia’s mineral processing sector, where crisis is piling on crisis.

Russia’s actions in Ukraine are part of a broader strategy by the Kremlin to assert greater influence in the region.

Despite faltering near the end of 2013, global growth is likely to continue its upward momentum.

Whether you get a good or bad RAP from your customers is entirely within your control.

A whole-of-government approach to investing in WA’s ‘creative wealth’ should be part of the plan to diversify the state’s economy.

Azure Capital’s return to management consulting is an exercise in post-boom diversification.

The production phase of the resources boom is likely to put upward pressure on the dollar and therefore the manufacturing sector.

WA has become a more attractive jurisdiction for the resources sector, but more can be done.

The public has a poor opinion of politicians but seems loath to pay more if it meant attracting better candidates.

The government’s inaction on securing Australia’s long-term fuel supplies is baffling … and negligent.

Warren Buffett has a rule of thumb comparing total equity values to GDP – and says the US market is becoming overheated.

Wars produce winners as well as losers, and while Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is not classified as a hot war, yet, there are signs emerging that one of the winners will be a long way from the action – Australia.

If your clients and prospective clients don’t ‘like’ you, they’re never going to buy from you.

There are dozens of ways to slice the latest AFL player salary statistics, but whichever way you look at them they have outpaced the common man’s equivalent.

The state’s rising demand for fuels and lubricants has prompted a deal between Shell and Dutch-owned but Swiss-based Vitol.

Qantas is the latest in a growing number of business icons to be confronted by rapidly changing market conditions.

There’s plenty on the line for all contenders at the upcoming half-Senate election in WA, following the loss of 1,370 ballot papers at last year’s poll.

There's no point in an Australian government trying to save a business regarded as a national icon if Australians have stopped buying the services of that business.

The US is getting its economic house in order, again, surprising many with its resilience and initiative.