Finding the Front

John Hughes, Founder of John Hughes Group

A Legend Behind the Wheel of Business.

Few names carry weight in the WA Automotive sector like John Hughes. Starting his own business in his early 30s in 1969 and for over 50 years, navigating business cycles, accumulating a stable of new car brands and a huge pre-owned vehicle operation to now having car yards across Perth. John has led from the front the whole way doing what he loves.

This is a timeless episode for all generations and walks of life. From his background and upbringing, to becoming a household name in Perth and beyond, this story is packed with deep insight, energy, and inspiration. The takeaways and life lessons just keep on coming:

• Getting a start in the Car industry
• Meeting his beautiful wife Margarita
• Borrowing the lot to get his first site
• The power of loving what you do  
• What it takes to build and maintain a trusted brand
• What it takes to be a best seller - sales and marketing truths from a master
• The mindset behind being extraordinary — every single day
• Family

This conversation is a rare window into the mind of one of Australia’s most enduring entrepreneurs. 

To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or if you have some feedback on the podcast please click here  

Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn

To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here

Dino Otranto, Chief Executive Officer of Fortescue Metals

New Episode: Finding the Front with Dino Otranto, CEO of Fortescue Metals (FMG.ASX)

In this rare and candid episode, Dino reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped his career—from his early upbringing to leading operations in Mozambique and navigating major challenges in Canada, including a 77-day employee strike and the devastating Brumadinho tailings dam disaster.

Dino opens up about his journey to FMG, his transition into the CEO role, and the values he brings to leadership: transparency, authenticity, and deep respect for the company's legacy. He also acknowledges the powerful influence of Dr Andrew Forrest and the contribution and culture of FMG’s 20,000+ strong team.

This episode goes beyond mining. It explores innovation at the intersection of technology and sustainability, and Fortescue’s vision of producing Green Iron—a bold roadmap that’s redefining the future of iron ore.

A hugely insightful listen with a proud WA leader who is helping lead a global shift.

To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or if you have some feedback on the podcast please click here  

Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn

To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here

Loui Kannikoski, Founder, Managing Director & CEO of Bhagwan Marine

Our special guest for this episode is Loui Kannikoski, the Founder, Managing Director & CEO of leading marine solutions provider Bhagwan Marine. After leaving school at age 14, Loui began his career working in the family crayfishing business in Geraldton, taking over the business in the mid-1980s. In the late 90s, Loui and his family decided to change tack and shift out of crayfishing and enter the oil and gas industry as a service provider. Well the rest as they say is history. In 2000, Bhagwan Marine was formed and some 24 years later the company listed on the ASX now operating across the oil & gas, resources, civil construction, logistics and defence industries. There are not too many journeys around like this one.

To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or if you have some feedback on the podcast please click here  

Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn

To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here

Robert Millner AO, Chairman of Soul Patts

In this Ep of Finding the Front it was a privilege to host Robert Millner AO, widely regarded as one of Australia’s most experienced and respected investors and Chair of iconic company, the 120+ year old Soul Patts (Washington H. Soul Pattinson). Rob is the 4th generation of his family to lead the business and the simple but important takeaways from this conversation are compelling for all investors.

Rob has been Chair of Soul Patts over the past quarter of a century overseeing significant growth in shareholder value and increasing the dividends paid every year over the last 25 years.

This podcast covers comparison to Berkshire Hathaway, his family upbringing, first job in the markets, the Soul Patts journey and focusing on good people and cash generation, New Hope Coal, Brickworks, TPG, buying businesses and what is key, his view on the cost of doing business, the current market conditions and the US and much more.

To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or if you have some feedback on the podcast please click here  

Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn

To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here

Matt Callahan, Founder & Executive Director of Botanix Pharmaceuticals

For this brand new episode of Finding the Front we are so fortunate to have biotech and life sciences veteran Matt Callahan on the show. Matt is a Philadelphia based, Australian born life sciences entrepreneur, with a track record of building and exiting numerous life sciences companies in pain, oncology, dermatology, cell therapies, animal health and regenerative medicine.

He starts the show off on the front foot answering the question of Donald Trumps impact going forward on the US Biotech and Life Science sector showcasing his thoughts for aspiring investors.

Matt has accumulated 25 years legal, life sciences, IP and investment management experience and is founder and executive director of ASX listed Botanix Pharmaceuticals, co-founder and director of Respirion Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd and was also a co-founder of life science companies Dimerix Bioscience Ltd, Mirata Pharmaceuticals LLC and Orthocell Ltd, as well as the Bill Gates backed climate tech company, Rumin8 Pty Ltd.

Matt is such a great communicator and provides some deep insights into being an entrepreneur, the world of life sciences, FDA approval, the phases of a company and distribution. This really is a captivating chat.

To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or if you have some feedback on the podcast please click here  

Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn

To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here

Paul Blackburne, Managing Director of Blackburne

Welcome to our latest Ep of Finding the Front. We are very fortunate to have leading, award winning, Western Australian property developer Paul Blackburne as our special guest. Paul’s 20+ year old business Blackburne has developed and settled some $1 billion of property in the last two years alone with a strong future pipeline of high end apartments in hand.

In this wide ranging podcast, Paul provides a unique insight into his background, travel, building his business and property development including risk, using your own equity, buyer types, assessing a potential development, cost of building and lots more. For those who love their property, there is plenty to take away from this conversation given Paul’s vast experience and understanding of the industry.

To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or if you have some feedback on the podcast please click here  

Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn

To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here

Dale Henderson, Managing Director & CEO of Pilbara Minerals

Our very special guest is Pilbara Minerals MD & CEO Dale Henderson and there is no stone left unturned in this conversation around PLS, the lithium story and both the challenges but also the opportunity set in a world of growing EV and battery storage adoption. Dale grew up in NZ, excelled at University, thrives on a challenge and kept on building his skill set to be the leader he is today. If you want an understanding of Dale’s global views on the current Lithium market and where it is positioned, this is compulsory listening.

• 0.00: Growing up in NZ and getting an education
• 9.25:  “building stuff and scale”, career kicks off
• 13.04: Move to Australia, Newman Hope Downs 1, Middle East Oil & Gas, Back to Australia, Worley Parsons, Fortescue Metals Group
• 25.50: Joining Pilbara Minerals, intro to Lithium, Great Team,
• 28.42: Deep Dive; including Origins, EV Sales, Supply, Demand, Pricing, Battery Manufacturing and the long game, Partnering, Downstream, Car Companies, Global markets and the role of China, being CEO and Strategy, New Transport Tech, Capital Allocation, Opportunity
• 1.08.28: Family and work/life balance? Ultra Marathons & Mountaineering

To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or if you have some feedback on the podcast please click here  

Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn

To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here

David Paradice, Founder of Paradice Investment Management

Our special guest is one of Australia’s legendary stock pickers, Mr David Paradice AO, the founder of Paradice Investment Management.

 

The Paradice Investment Management team manage a phenomenal amount of money - around $17 billion in assets under management. Its namesake founder, David Paradice AO, is so passionate about his craft.

In this deep dive, David shares his experiences on just about everything from growing up in Scone in the Hunter region, boarding school, trying to find a job, how he made his way into the public markets, building a funds management business, his team, his love of picking stocks and the small cap sector, meeting with management, doing the work and how there is no “short cut” and his current views on the markets.

He also shares his thoughts on why he learns from Warren Buffett but doesn't follow him - they have their own way of doing things including going out and picking the stocks, doing the numbers, working out if something is cheap or expensive and then having a real crack at it!

Plus we hear first-hand about his love of giving back, the game of Polo, including meeting the Queen and of course, family. 

Timestamps

• 0:00 - Intro
• 4:03 - Tales from growing up on a 150 acre farm just outside of Scone, NSW
• 10:37 - Paradice's first role as a research analyst at a stock broker, investing through the 1987 crash
• 15:38 - The pressure of managing others people’s money
• 17:59 - Paradice's five-year stint managing small caps at Mercantile Mutual/ING Group + Why company visits are not a chore
• 19:34 - Why Paradice decided to go out on his own despite the knock backs
• 23:09 - The super funds that have supported Paradice IM + How the Paradice team's culture has evolved over time
• 27:17 - What company visits reveal to stock pickers and analysts + Why Paradice wants to take inspiration from Warren Buffett but not follow him
• 30:33 - Why Paradice respects businesses and funds who cap their returns + Is managing too much money a bad thing?
• 33:21 - Should portfolio managers be generalists or sector specialists?
• 36:12 - How Paradice and his team approached the 2008 GFC + how they make a decision on when and what to deploy cash into
• 42:39 - 'Part of the skill is sticking to the right stocks so that your performance doesn't get belted during the bad times'
• 44:40 - A good investment can be expensive - but if they grow at 30-40%, it's warranted
• 46:26 - Receiving the Order of Australia for philanthropic services
• 48:50 - How Paradice's selection of funds has grown over time + Why doing the work, even at the earliest hours, is what makes the difference 
• 51:28 - Current market views: Trump, Musk, China, growth, commodities, themes
• 57:32 - Commodities, threats with AI, gold, bitcoin, silver
• 1:01:53 - Working with Geoff Wilson's Future Generation, supporting the Taronga Zoo Foundation, and other charitable pursuits
• 1:06:01 - Health, work and life balance, trust, love of polo, teamwork, the Queen

To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or if you have some feedback on the podcast please click here  

Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn

To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here

 

Paradice Investment Management

This material represents only the views of David Paradice and is not intended, and may not, represent the views of Paradice Investment Management Pty Ltd (ABN 64 090 148 619, AFSL No. 224158)(Paradice) or any of its investment teams. The information is of a general nature only and was current only at the time of initial discussion.  This material (or contribution to it) is not intended to constitute advertising or advice (including legal, tax or investment advice or security recommendation) of any kind. Where this includes reference to securities, Paradice may have a relevant interest in securities mentioned therein.

Returns are not guaranteed by any person and reference to past performance is not an indicator of future performance.   You should consider your own needs and objectives and consult with a licensed financial adviser. 

The information and opinions contained herein are not necessarily all-inclusive and, as such, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy, completeness or reasonableness of any assumption contained herein and no responsibility arising for errors and omissions (including responsibility to any person by reason of negligence) is accepted by Paradice, its officers, employees or agents. 

Jennifer Westacott AO, Former Chief Exec. of the Business Council of Australia, Non-Exec. Director of Wesfarmers, Chair of Future Generation Global & Non Exec. Director of ATCO Australia

Our special guest for this Ep is Jennifer Westacott AO and what a conversation it is – an inspiring story of one of Australia’s leading women. After growing up in public housing in a troubled family environment, Jennifer became (amongst lots more) Chief Executive of the Business Council of Australia for some 12 years, Non-Exec Director of Wesfarmers, Chair of Future Generation Global, the first female Chancellor of Western Sydney University, Board Member of energy company ATCO Australia and Co-Patron of Pride in Diversity. Over her journey Jennifer provides her first hand insights into the housing shortage in Australia, her views on Corporate Australia, meeting Donald Trump and when he was President and other international leaders, the role of the Private Sector and her views on WA as an economic power house of Australia including her take on policies making mining difficult. She discusses energy supply and her role with ATCO. She also provides her highly qualified perspective on Tertiary education and where it goes next, and the building of the new airport and city in Western Sydney (which she Chairs) which is a game changer for Australia. Jennifer was awarded a Centenary Medal and an Order of Australia. This really is an inspiring story with a national perspective.

To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or if you have some feedback on the podcast please click here  

Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn

To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here

Nathan Blackburne, Managing Director of Cedar Woods Properties

For all those who love property and seek some insight into the property development sector and current property market - look no further. Our special guest for this brand new episode is Nathan Blackburne, the Managing Director of one of Australia’s leading property developers Cedar Woods Properties that was established way back in 1987. Nathan is a leader in his field. He comes from a family upbringing steeped in property history and his national journey to his current role, including 17 years in Melbourne and some 23 years with Cedar Woods provides some very valuable insights. Nathan shares his perspective on the opportunities but also the challenges of Australia’s property market. There are some such excellent takeaways. 

To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or if you have some feedback on the podcast please click here  

Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn

To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here