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From Emma’s desk Sydney Office Postal Address GPO Box 3270 Sydney NSW 2001 Ph. 02 9254 5000 Melbourne Office Postal Address PO Box 5005 South Melbourne VIC 3205 Ph. 03 9682 0500 Brisbane Office Postal Address PO Box 3599 South Brisbane QLD 4101 Ph. 07 3255 1002 www.icmsaust.com.au 21 April 2020 Knowledge is Power They say that Knowledge is Power. Knowledge is the accumulaon of facts, informaon and skills through experience or educaon; the theorecal or praccal understanding of a subject. Power can be defined as the capacity or ability to influence the behaviour of others or the course of events. During this pandemic I’ve discovered that a wide breadth of knowledge has been a very useful tool in making beer decisions and vital in guiding others, i.e. influencing. In current circumstances this knowledge includes status updates on COVID-19 but also risk management planning, virtual meeng knowledge, budget modelling, government legislaon, internaonal travel restricons, global news and the list goes on. From the outset, I’ve been consistent with the ICMSA team that we have an obligaon to be reading, listening and learning informaon that is from credible sources. Let’s face it, somemes doom and gloom sells but at what point do we as the news public need to accept responsibility for informed choices on what and where we learn from? We must be vigilant in consuming “news” versus “views”. So where do we find the best sources of informaon? Well, here’s a p, probably not social media or extremist news outlets! I’ve always been a fan of the ABC, BBC, PBS News Hour. SBS News shows some fabulous global coverage that’s not always Australian, Brish or American-focused. In print, my daily roune is to read The Sydney Morning Herald, the Financial Review, the Australian and The Daily Telegraph. The Guardian is my “go to” on-line. Yes, my day starts early, but these are unique mes and if I’m in a Client Meeng, or being asked for my opinion on scenario modelling it’s imperave I take a considered view of the informaon available. Of course, I have my own polical beliefs which guide my opinions, but I genuinely subscribe to the view that even a stopped clock is right twice a day! So, no maer how controversial or concerning something may appear to me, I’m able to digest it and rank it to a priority level. All of this is helping me make decisions. Knowledge informs my communicaons, helps me educate the team and keeps me feeling in control. Taking a wider view based on global news has also provided me with context to our Australian story. By all objecve measures we are doing an extremely good job of suppressing COVID-19. We should feel assured that our government is heeding the advice of medical experts, using informaon and modelling to implement policy. Without access to sciensts and their knowledge, they would not be able to do so. Keeping a finger on the pulse of current affairs, Australian Government statements and credible sources of informaon has provided me with a stronger sense of surety. I recommend a daily news roune, gathering news from the best sources and sharing informaon you’re learning to assist others increase their knowledge-base too. Erasmus, the Dutch philosopher who is widely considered to have been one of the world’s greatest thinkers famously wrote the proverb In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. I oſten cite this quote because it demonstrates the ability to use a skill, no maer how limited it may be, that can set you above others. The value of the ability you have depends on how available that ability is. Adding knowledge to your skillset is therefore invaluable in current mes and should be an investment you undertake. It will set you above others. Yours sincerely, Emma Bowyer Managing Director | [email protected]
