Speeches
Wednesday, 09 October 2024
Reception for Solstice Media 40 Under 40 finalists
I warmly welcome you to Government House to celebrate the finalists of the 2024 Solstice Media 40 Under 40 initiative.
Congratulations to you all on being selected as part of this high profile and influential group.
It was my pleasure to attend the Gala dinner in June at Adelaide Oval and to present the First Amongst Equals Award to Barossa veterinarian, Catherine Harper, who is with us this evening.
I also congratulate the other award winners who were announced at the dinner.
As Governor I am privileged to meet a large number of young and emerging leaders in our community, including yourselves.
As patron of the Governor’s Leadership Foundation, through visits to Lot 14 and the Tonsley Innovation District, engagements with the academic and not-for-profit sectors, presentation of awards such as the Rhodes and Sir John Monash scholarships – and more - I have the opportunity to witness the vast wealth of emerging talent, expertise and ambition in our state.
These engagements give me great pride in young South Australian leaders and confidence that the future of our State is in strong hands.
Part of what gives me this confidence is the resilience I see demonstrated by leaders.
You will likely recall that at the Gala Dinner, guest speaker and former Crows player Brad Moran spoke candidly about his experience as a start-up founder.
He recounted how tough leadership can be, how he almost quit more than once, and how his health suffered.
His comments led me to reflect on the early stages of my own journey, when I first took on leadership roles within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in my late thirties.
The pressures and the risks could be intense, and in my diplomatic career I came home a number of times, after very trying days, questioning if the path I was on was what I truly wanted.
While I would never endorse working in a way that damages your health - and neither did Brad - I would encourage you all to take heart in those difficult moments, because we all have them.
I recently hosted a public conversation on ‘Environmental Leadership’ here at Government House with current Australian of the Year for South Australia, Tim Jarvis.
Tim has a long history as an explorer, including recreating the great southern expeditions of Sir Douglas Mawson and Sir Ernest Shackleton, travelling as they did 100 years ago – using the same navigation technologies, clothing and even food rations.
When asked why he chose to take on such challenges, he spoke about the desire to push his boundaries and find what lay within himself.
He also spoke of the personal responsibility he felt to our broader society – that if we can see a problem we can solve, or an opportunity to do something for the greater good, we should take it.
I trust many of you share these motivations, and that they will stand you in good stead.
Leadership can of course be richly rewarding, and I wish many of those experiences for you too.
Friends,
Thank you to Solstice Media for running the 40 Under 40 awards, now in their seventh year, and to the program’s judges, generous supporters and sponsors.
Our finalists are now part of an alumni network of hundreds of high achieving South Australians.
I trust you will make the most of these connections and any opportunities for friendship, support or professional collaboration that may arise.
Thank you all for working to build strong careers for yourselves, flourishing businesses to employ South Australians and a strong reputation for our state as a home of entrepreneurialism, innovation and technological advancement.
I wish you all the very best for the future.