Lieutenant Commander Robert Cole Basford
MIEAust CPEng NER RAN (Retd)

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🔴2020-present
⭘2013-2020
⭘1997-2013
⭘1990-1997
⭘1978-1990




UNSW LEARN TO LEAD
2025

ALUMNI COURSE






Module 1: The Psychology of Strategy – Navigating Complexity and Bias in Decision-Making with Professor Brett Hayes
Strategy is about choices. These choices are not just shaped by our external environment but also by how we as individuals react to that information and use it to make decisions. This module introduces you to some of the cognitive processes that influence decision making and introduces strategies that can help you make better decisions. For example, knowing that we have a natural tendency to look for evidence that confirms what we already think is important in a world where change is more discontinuous and we need to make decisions more quickly and more often. The module also explores what you can do to prepare yourself to deal with information that is untrustworthy or deliberately false- something many of us are having to deal with more frequently.
  • Is human decision-making inherently biased?
  • What are effective strategies that leaders can use to improve decision-making?
  • How can we counter the effects of biased or misleading information when making decisions?
Module 2: Strategy for the Greater Good – Leading with Impact in a Globalised World with Professor Danielle Logue
The second module situates strategic thinking in a broader context. Individuals and organisations don’t operate in a bubble and strategic thinking increasingly needs to understand the impact of our actions on others and our world. This module introduces you to the concept of systems thinking and shows you how it can used to enhance strategic thinking, in general, and as a powerful tool for understanding the impact of your organisation, positive and negative, in particular. The second session focuses on the different ways of organising for positive social impact. Increasingly profit focussed organisations are seeking to incorporate assessments of their environmental, social and governance (ESG) impact on the strategies they adopt and the way that they operate. You will also be introduced to emerging business models and forms of investing that are seeking even greater alignment between financial and social outcomes. The final session focusses on the key skills that you need to effectively lead for impact.
  • How can systems thinking help leaders identify root causes and strategic leverage points to drive meaningful and lasting change?
  • What are some of the organisational models that enable businesses to align profit with purpose?
  • What personal leadership capabilities are needed to influence change across complex systems?
Module 3: AI Powered Strategy with Professor George Shinkle
We all know that technology is changing the world in which we are living. Failing to effectively respond to shifts in technology can render entire occupations, industries and sectors obsolete. At the same time effectively leveraging these technologies can create benefits for individuals, organisations and entire societies. No contemporary conversation about strategic thinking can ignore Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its potential impact on the strategic choices we are making. The final module provides a way into discussions about AI. The first section provides a perspective on how significant AI is and how quickly it is developing. It shows that there is a danger that we are underestimating its potential impact and that AI needs to play a much bigger role in our thinking about the future. The second section looks at how we can make more effective use of generative AI to support our strategic thinking. The final section focusses on what we as individuals and leaders should be doing to ensure that we are keeping pace with developments in AI in our professional lives.
  • What is the current trajectory of AI, and why does it reinforce the need for a clear AI strategy?
  • How is AI reshaping strategic thinking and planning, and how might we use it to strengthen techniques such as scenario analysis?
  • In what ways is AI transforming day-today work, and what practical steps can help us keep pace with this evolution and build genuine AI readiness?
Module 4: From Advocacy to Action: How Leaders Drive Societal Change with Dr Cassandra Goldie AO
Part I
In this powerful conversation, Professor Verity Firth AM sits down with Dr Cassandra Goldie AO, CEO of ACOSS and one of Australia's most respected public advocates, to explore how leadership can be a force for real-world change. With a career dedicated to championing the rights of disadvantaged communities, influencing national policy, and sparking critical conversations on poverty and inequality, Cassandra shares her leadership journey and the values that have guided her. This session will delve into what it takes to lead with purpose, create tangible outcomes and remain resilient while working toward systemic transformation.
Module 4: Ready to transform your leadership impact in 2025?
Part II
Join globally acclaimed leadership expert Dr. Kirstin Ferguson AM, ranked among the world's top 50 management thinkers, for this exclusive Learn to Lead special content. Drawing from her 30-year journey from Air Force officer to CEO to boardroom leader, she reveals the secrets of modern leadership that create real impact. Discover the key attributes of head and heart leadership and gain practical insights you can use immediately. Whether you're leading a team or looking to maximise your everyday influence, this is your roadmap to leading with genuine impact in our complex world.