This Month
Iran’s rate threat, AI job tsunami, and the $200m radio split
James and Anthony discuss the Kyle and Jackie O divorce, the marriage of Barrenjoey and Magellan, and the uncertainty of war on markets.
December 2025
OpenAI arrives, Business People of the Year and is Australia a Ponzi?
James and Anthony discuss the changing data centre boom, the AFR’s Business People of the Year awards and whether house prices are sustainable.
Australia’s business leaders share the secrets to their 2025 success
The leaders, builders, pioneers and stirrers shaping Australia’s business landscape reveal what went right in 2025 and what they want to see in 2026.
Tall poppies and complacency curtailing our entrepreneurial spirit
There is a national tendency to cut down tall poppies, which has sometimes prevented the country from embracing a vigorous, creative entrepreneurial culture.
Resilience, sense of adventure unite Business People of the Year
Mike Dorrell, Jo Horgan, Dennis Bastas, Meg O’Neill, David Harrison and Leah Weckert all had a stellar 2025. Defining traits are at the heart of their success.
Leah Weckert puts Coles ahead of Woolies for first time in decades
The retailer’s first female boss, a former McKinsey strategist and loyalty executive, has cracked the grocery code, outpacing Woolworths’ sales two years running.
‘Jump earlier than you should’: Mike Dorrell on leaving Macquarie
The son of a teacher and social worker made a $14 billion fortune after leaving Macquarie in his early 30s. He has tips for other adventurous young Australians.
‘No secret’: How David Harrison grew Charter Hall from $500m to $90b
After two decades at helm, Charter Hall’s CEO says there’s no secret sauce. Basically, only invest in the sectors you’re an expert in.
‘Mecca magic’: Jo Horgan defies sale rumours as $1.4b bet pays off
The founder crushed sale talk. Her massive Bourke Street store attracts 70,000 people weekly, demonstrating her experiential retail model is a billion-dollar success.
Dennis Bastas’ rise from aspiring car designer to $5b pharma king
The son of Greek immigrants signed a mega-deal this year for his pharmaceutical and beauty empire that propelled him to the upper echelons of the Rich List.
Bold O’Neill propels Woodside from Perth to global gas force
Five years into her tenure at the helm, it is clear that the Colorado-raised chief executive is prepared to act on her convictions.
December 2024
Meet our Business People of the Year | GDP grumpiness | CBA’s rare slip
This week on the Chanticleer podcast, James and AFR Editor-in-Chief James Chessell take you inside the AFR’s Business Person of the Year awards, examine business’ angst over the economy and look at an uncharacteristic political blunder by the Commonwealth Bank.
What Cleary and Payne can teach us about winning (and Armstrong can’t)
Penrith Panthers head coach Ivan Cleary, Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne and mindset coach Ben Crowe share their secrets to success.
The one key lesson for family firms from Chemist Warehouse founders
After building a $30 billion pharmacy giant, brothers Jack and Sam Gance say the secret to a thriving business comes down to decision-making.
Khuda’s plan to turn AirTrunk into a $100b-plus company
Robin Khuda believes injecting billions into Asian economies will open more doors to exponential growth for the data centre behemoth.
He’s inked a $24b deal but AirTrunk’s Robin Khuda is only getting started
The AirTrunk founder, who shares the Business Person of the Year title, came from nowhere to inking the global deal of the year in nine years. But he’s not done.
Weckert stamps her mark on Coles amid tumultuous year for supermarkets
Leah Weckert, one of the Business People of the Year for 2024, has fared well amid a barrage of criticism from politicians over grocery prices.
Ryan Stokes out-works, out-earns rivals to take SGH to new highs
The SGH chief, one of The Australian Financial Review Business People of the Year for 2024, is renowned as one of the hardest-working CEOs in Australian big business.
Matt Comyn finds his voice – and delivers for shareholders
The CEO has driven the Commonwealth Bank from strength to strength, propelling him on to the 2024 The Australian Financial Review Business People of the Year list.
Greg Goodman turns his company into a data centre powerhouse
The billionaire’s push to meet the booming demand for data storage lands him a place on the 2024 The Australian Financial Review Business People of the Year list.
