Atlassian boss Mike Cannon-Brookes, Qantas head Alan Joyce and retiring BHP CEO Andrew Mackenzie, our whistleblowers, and Melanie Perkins.The activist bosses“When politicians talk about how they wish business would speak up less on social issues and more on tax cuts, there are three guys in Australia who’d be thinking, ‘They mean me’.” That trio, according tobusiness editor John McDuling, are Atlassian boss Mike Cannon-Brookes, Qantas head Alan Joyce and retiring BHP CEO Andrew Mackenzie.
Joyce, too, has made noise on progressive issues, announcing a 2050 net zero emissions goal for Qantas and – as the airline is a sponsor of Rugby Australia – weighing in on the Israel Folau controversy after the star player declared homosexuals would go to hell. Joyce was vocal in the 2017 same-sex marriage debate, donating $1 million to the Yes cause, and walked the talk this year when he married long-term partner Shane Lloyd, providing a valuable spot of role modelling in the process.
What’s fascinating to McDuling is that these corporate heavyweights are no longer moving in lockstep with conservative politicians. Rather, they’re taking cues from their customers and shareholders – albeit not all of them, and with perhaps an eye on posterity.
Boyle’s 2018 disclosures led to multiple inquiries, including a bipartisan federal parliamentary committee that issued a scathing report with 37 recommendations for tax office reform, as well as the ATO changing some of its processes. “When people come forward, that’s when change happens,” says Ferguson. “You cannot underestimate their influence and impact.
mcannonbrookes Insider, outsider ,reminds me a bit like David Walsh at MONA . Cannon-Brooks could make Australia the world leader in Renewable energy supply ..like David Walsh gave Tasmania MONA a world leading gallery ....it’s all very encouraging . Outsiders
mcannonbrookes It’s fantastic someone not owned by a party or corporation can wield such influence..we need more outsiders .
Asher_Wolf mcannonbrookes Don't worry, the Atlassian dude is on the list
mcannonbrookes He's thoughtful, gives a damn, and has the means and the platform to do something with that. I look forward to seeing what that will mean to the community now and into the future.