On Wednesday 25 June, Derwent was delighted to host a breakfast event in Perth to discuss "Building Resilience for Organisational Excellence”. 

The event bought together over 50 senior HR leaders, offering a unique opportunity for professional development and networking.

The session explored the question: How do we help leaders and organisations build resilience to deliver sustainable success?

Today's business environments are more complex, and conventional notions of leadership are no longer fit for purpose. The challenges for leaders in 2025 are not just about making the right moves, but the ability to make them under extreme uncertainty – political and international tensions, market volatility, the ongoing evolution of AI, technological advancements, and shifting customer expectations.

Layered into this are greater expectations and focus on regulatory changes, sustainability, transition to net zero and psychosocial safety – all while remaining focused on strategy, budgets and creating long-term value for shareholders, customers, teams and other stakeholders. 

We were joined by Ben Pronk, co-author of The Resilience Shield and a specialist in Risk, Resilience and Leadership in high pressure situations, and Megan McCracken, experienced Executive, Board Member and Leadership Coach. Ben and Megan shared their perspectives on:

• What makes a resilient leader?
• What are the signs of organisational resilience – green flags, red flags?
• How can we improve resilience in organisations to achieve better outcomes?
• What are the key considerations for talent – current and future?

Some key themes and takeaways included:

• High functioning organisations are characterised by “agreeable disagreement”, where healthy conflict is fostered and a culture of “ritual dissent” is the norm. 
• The relationships between Chair, Board and CEO play an important role in cultivating a resilient culture. They “set the tone to do the things they are here to do”. Decisions should have a strong link to the purpose and vision of the organisation. 
• The adoption of personal mindfulness practices offers a huge opportunity to enhance performance through some relatively simple changes in approach. This is supported by scientific data and an important practice to share with leaders.
• Psychosocial safety has a significant impact on organisational resilience. Organisations that prioritise psychosocial safety are better equipped to navigate challenges, adapt to change and maintain high performance levels.
• Personal traits for resilience include internal calm, curiosity, self-efficacy, and courage to respectfully challenge – importantly, these traits can be cultivated and taught.
• Businesses that continue to invest in personal and organisational resilience and leadership through the cycles are the most likely to have sustainable success.

We extend our thanks to Eliza Alford, Principal HR & Legal, and Mike O’Sullivan, Managing Partner, for hosting the event. A special thank you to our guest speakers, Ben and Megan, and to all attendees for contributing to such a valuable and engaging discussion.

If you’re interested in learning more or attending a future event, get in touch with us at events@derwentsearch.com.au