'It felt like defending the indefensible'
!["We had to be open and honest and we needed to co-operate with the royal commission," Francis Sullivan says.](http://web.archive.org./web/20180805065557/https://www.afr.com/content/dam/images/h/1/2/h/e/q/image.related.afrIndexLead.320x210.h121iu.png/1533260065418.jpg)
Francis Sullivan fought opponents within the Catholic Church as he led its response to the royal commission into child sexual abuse, but he did not waver in his determination to be open and honest.
Francis Sullivan fought opponents within the Catholic Church as he led its response to the royal commission into child sexual abuse, but he did not waver in his determination to be open and honest.
Jan Owen continues to have a profound impact on young Australians, from nurturing their ideas to giving them a chance to shape their future world.
Even in the modern "short hop" age, travel can allow us to tap into our best selves in ways that can be transformative.
PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel made his fortune while sowing chaos in American society and pursuing his dream of overthrowing the established order.
Green Building Council chief executive Romilly Madew has seen a change in business attitudes to environmental sustainability – now for political leaders to follow suit.
Sean Gordon brings together governments, employers, industries and Indigenous leaders to end the "soft bigotry of low expectation".
New analysis shows that Australia’s biggest companies have some way to go in offering women senior leadership roles.
Rags to riches stories are common but it is Sir Frank Lowy's continuing contribution to Australia that marks him as a True Leader.
Clinical geneticist Kathryn North has helped Australia become a significant player on the global genomics stage.
Successful founders dedicate their career, or at least a significant part of it, to the pursuit of a single ambitious vision.
Radiation oncologist Bronwyn King has made it her mission to convince banks, insurers and financial services companies to cease all dealings with cigarette makers.
A radiation oncologist and founder of Tobacco Free Portfolios convinced most of Australia's biggest retirement schemes to rid their portfolios of tobacco stocks.
Leaders should embrace the adage 'out with the old and in with the new' and learn the importance of unlearning.
Being late can break your reputation in business. So why has disrespect for punctuality become so common?
When dealing with Chinese clients, there is little to lose from being direct.
John Mullen and Kevin Sumption share a love of illuminating Australian history through the nation's maritime archaeology.
His father's stories of life under the Nazis were the spark that ignited led to Ken Roth's 25 years on the front line of human rights advocacy.
In a rare interview, the head of Macquarie Asset Management talks about her love of numbers and why she never got round to buying a house.
For those hoping to measure the progress of women in Australia's executive ranks, the 2018 Rich Bosses list makes for depressing reading.
The 2018 list of Australia's richest bosses is dominated by founder chief executives with wealth tied to their companies.
NAB chief Andrew Thorburn is feeling the heat on numerous fronts but seems energised by the number of fires he has to put out.
What's the most important question NAB chief Andrew Thorburn asks when hiring?
Assuming the role of chief executive for a day was like racing a couple of triathlons for this Aurecon manager.
This young architect wants to promote greater engagement between architecture and other disciplines.
The young Westpac executive knows the value of building a trusted team with diverse skills.
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