In this episode of The Downer Difference, we sit down with Michael Franks, Defence Sector Leader and recipient of the Downer Culture Champion Award. A proud Air Force veteran and golf enthusiast, Michael brings a unique perspective shaped by his military engineering background and his current role on the Downer Defence team, contributing to major projects like the Woomera redevelopment, Riverina, and Williamstown.
Michael shares powerful insights into what it takes to lead high-performing teams in complex, high-stakes environments. From making the tough calls to putting safety and accountability at the centre of everything we do, to building trust across business units - this episode is packed with lessons for leaders working in defence, infrastructure, and beyond.
🎙️ In this episode, we explore:
✔️ The role of culture in delivering complex, multi-stakeholder projects
✔️ Translating customer needs into actionable delivery strategies
✔️ The value of cross-business collaboration and communication
✔️ Making courageous decisions to uphold safety and excellence
✔️ Why accountability and trust are essential for high performance
✔️ Lessons from military leadership applied in a corporate setting
This is a must-listen for project leaders, defence professionals, and anyone interested in driving a high-performance culture through clarity, courage, and collaboration.
Recommended book: The Happiest Refugee by Anh Do
Recommended song: Triple G
📺 Watch on YouTube
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