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Nigel Lake, Executive Chair

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I believe there is almost always a better way to do things, and love how complexity allows the quick-witted to unlock opportunities that others don't see or are too cautious to grasp.   My book, The Long Term Starts Tomorrow, makes the case for long term perspective when dealing with a fast changing world.  

I've lived and worked in most of the top thirty economies, and advised hundreds of major companies and governments on major M&A transactions, strategic transformations, large infrastructure projects and the application of big data analytics to boardroom decisions.
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"When you build a fire, it isn't where you put the sticks that matters, it's where you put the holes."

Navigating change

My career has been built around the combination of systems thinking, conceptual frameworks, robust financial and statistical analysis, and clear strategic vision.  

My core strength is navigation.  I have an exceptional track record in reducing risks associated with transformational change, whether through organic repositioning, large scale M&A or major investments. 

Original thinking

Throughout my career, I have been involved in the development of innovative methods for assessing value and risk, with a strong focus on long term outcomes.

The conceptual background to this thinking is laid out in my book The Long Term Starts Tomorrow, which argues that long term thinking is the only reliable way to create value in a short term world.

Global experience

I was born in Colombia, grew up in the Middle East and the UK, and have lived in London, Tokyo, Sydney and New York.  

My experience covers all major industry sectors and encompasses hundreds of M&A transactions, infrastructure projects, strategy assignments and financings with a combined value of some $500 billion. The vast majority of these have created true value for my clients. 

Examples of my experience

Strategy

  • ACT (Education, USA)
  • Brookfield Multiplex
  • CH2 (Pharmaceuticals distribution)
  • Data science company
  • Enova Energy
  • Foxtel (Cable TV, Australia)
  • ​G8 Education
  • Large listed property company
  • Large services company (USA)
  • ​Mermaid Marine (logistics, SE Asia)
  • National Farmers Federation
  • OZ Minerals (minerals, Australia)
  • Pharmacy Guild of Australia
  • RACQ (Motor club)
  • ​Sunshine Sugar
  • Super Retail Group
  • Unilever

M&A and other transactions

  • Sale of Telstra-owned ecommerce business Neto to Maropost
  • Photon Energy on its divestment of several solar PV assets
  • Maximus Inc on its proposed acquisition of Konetk Limited
  • Asset sales by Hunter Water, one of Australia's largest water companies
  • Dimension Data's Oakton acquisition
  • $304m merger of The Rock Building Society with MyState
  • Diversa on its merger with OneVue
  • Sale of ING Investment Management Australia ($34bn FuM)
  • Maximus Inc's hostile bid for Konekt 
  • Pearson's acquisition of Borders A/NZ online book retailing businesses
  • NEC's $227m acquisition of CSG
  • Formation of water utility QUU via a $4.3bn five way merger
  • Suncorp's $7.9bn acquisition of Promina, and related transactions

Infrastructure

  • Triennial review of the $13bn Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation (Australia's national terrorism reinsurance pool)
  • Options for the delivery of Inland Rail, the proposed $10bn freight rail link between Brisbane and Melbourne
  • Review of funding, financing and delivery options for Melbourne Metro, Brisbane Cross River Rail and Legacy Way (collectively $25bn)
  • ​Organisational restructuring by TransACT (Telecoms, Australia)
  • ​Commercial perspective and funding models for Australia's $80bn+ High Speed Rail project​

Innovation and disruption

  • Advised companies such as Cochlear, Flight Centre Travel Group, Rheem and Rio Tinto on innovation and disruption
  • Advising primarily B2B tech start-ups on cross-border market entry and business growth
  • ​Co-founder of various start-ups, including Atomli, ESGX and Pottinger
  • Advisor to a variety of startups in the US, UK and Australia, including Change Foods, Cryptophoto, Hemple, Netpage, Tutorbee and Waysact 

Expert perspective

  • Advice to the ABA of the definition of 'small business' under the Banking Code of Conduct
  • Advice to Australia's Treasury on the request by national airline Qantas for financial support 
  • Expert witness for Australia's Competition Commission (ACCC) in relation to AGL's acquisition of Macquarie Generation
  • Speaker on a variety of topics, including ESG and sustainability,  innovation, infrastructure and the importance of long-term thinking

Public policy

  • Advice to the Australian Government on highly sensitive foreign investment matters
  • Advice to the National Farmers' Federation on increasing the resilience of Australia's agricultural sector
  • Landcom on an independent review of its business model and strategy
  • Member of the B20's Infrastructure Financing Taskforce
  • Keynote presenter at major conferences and business events

Nigel's perspective

The Future of Society
with Prof Jorgen Randers

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My Robot: AI, Ethics & the Unthinkable

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Ending Accidental Time Bias
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For further examples, please visit our "perspectives" page
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I co-founded ESGX in early 2020 as a global community to share information and education that inspires collaboration and action to help build a better, more resilient and more inclusive society.  Via live online events that are interactive and open to all, we connect experts, activists and entrepreneurs with our global network of influential leaders and decision-makers in business, finance, academia, government and philanthropy. 
Survival Instinct with Dame Jane Goodall
Resilient Cities: Sea-level rise adaptation
Ballot Box: Election 2020 Preview
Equal Forever After: LGBTIQ rights
Green Jobs Report with Sara Nelson
Grow The Pie with Prof Alex Edmuns
Intelligent Oceans
​Deep Dive
Sustainable Food Systems
Solutions For Equality and Racial Justice
Roads To Refuge: The Refugee Crisis

In the media

Small Data, Big Decisions...

AUSFIC
​Keynote presentation

On Australia as a finance hub...

Live interview with
ABC Television's The Business

On funding infrastructure...

Interview by FINSIA

Live from TechDay NYC...

NASDAQ TV
New York

The Entrepreneur's Way

Live interview (audio)
From New York

Small data, big decisions...

Parliament House
Australia

The Long Term Starts Tomorrow

"A must for any manager, leader or Minister - compelling reading."
​The Hon Mike Baird MP, Premier of NSW

"Tell Nigel I loved his book."  Global head of M&A, Leading Technology Company, Japan

​"...a great combination of insightful analysis and call to action with "airport novel" readability making it hard to put down."  Senior executive, Global professional services company

"I have been quite overwhelmed by your book.  I found it quite remarkable... None of this is covered at all in what you learn in business school." 
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"... well written ...worthwhile messages ...useful historical perspectives ...entertaining anecdotes!"  

Jorgen Randers, Professor, BI Norwegian Business School

Flashpoint

Very few businesses can rely on incremental growth to ensure long-term success. The safety of the status quo has been consigned to history by technological innovation and the accelerating pace of change. In Flashpoint, my monthly column in CEO Magazine, I explore potential disruptions and inflexion points in major industries, and provide tools to help leaders guide and support their teams through this environment.

These articles were first published in CEO Magazine. 
© COPYRIGHT 2016 to 2022.
​ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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​​We pay respect to Traditional Custodians and First Nations peoples everywhere, including the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation and the Lenape
  • Why Pottinger?
    • Careers >
      • Graduates and Interns
    • Contact Pottinger
    • 简体中文
    • Legal notices
  • Senior team
    • Cassandra Kelly
    • Nigel Lake
    • John Sheehy
    • Andrew Paddon
    • Eleonor Dressler
    • Rodrigo Arias
    • Andrew Agnew
    • Maria Atkinson AM
    • Nicholas Gold
    • Gerry Grove-White
    • Maureen Papas
    • Michael Sullivan
  • Perspectives
    • Agriculture
    • Future of Society
    • Manifesto
    • Previews
    • SBR
  • Action
  • Australia
  • ESGX