Speeches
Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Reception for Solstice Media 40 under 40 Award Winners
Rod and I are delighted to welcome you to Government House to celebrate the finalists of the 2026 Solstice Media 40 under 40 initiative.
What an amazing breadth of talent is here tonight.
You work across many different sectors of our economy and community, pursing different paths, but you all share something important: authenticity, resilience, character, and a keen sense of purpose.
Those qualities matter.
South Australia, like every community, is navigating change at almost every level, at a pace that feels unprecedented.
Change in the international environment. Change in the political and social landscape. Change in the nature of employment. Change in the way our towns and cities function because of new modes of working, shopping and spending our leisure time.
We are thinking about how to create communities where opportunity flourishes or how we can better build meaningful reconciliation with First Nations people or how we can nurture and protect the environment.
At this moment, we are certainly thinking about how we can harness the potential of AI while avoiding its dangers.
Meeting these challenges will require creative thinking, imagination, and innovation.
It will need leaders who think outside the square, test new ideas, learn from setbacks, and bring people along with them.
Your presence here shows you not only have these skills but that you also have a strong sense of purpose and social impact.
All these qualities will be important as you help shape the future of our State.
I encourage you to make the most of the 40 Under 40 network, which has grown since the inaugural awards in 2018.
There are now 360 alumni in the network. That provides the basis of a remarkable community and takes the value of this program well beyond the award itself.
It provides connections, professional development, and an opportunity for a generation of entrepreneurs to support and learn from one another.
As former diplomats, Rod and I well know the value of connections and collaboration.
Shared experiences, different perspectives, and genuine relationships can add strength to each other’s aspirations and achievements.
I congratulate the architects of the award for placing such an emphasis on the person behind the achievements.
Thank you to Solstice Media, and all the sponsors and supporters for investing in emerging South Australian leaders.
These awards create a platform that not only recognises achievement but connects people who will shape our State’s future.
And while 40 is the milestone that gives these awards their name, I encourage you to look beyond that number.
As you chart your careers, think deeply about life after 40.
Trust me there is one!
I hope your aspirations have been supercharged by these awards; I hope you will build on what you have gained from them to build your influence in the business world even more.
And then, when the time comes, that you will encourage those who will follow you.
That is how leadership grows.
As Rod and I travelled throughout the State during my term as Governor – which finishes next week - we have been continually impressed by the depth of talent that we find.
You are examples of that talent. And there is more to be nutured.
We have confidence that our State is in strong hands.
Rod and I congratulate you and wish you well for the next stage of your careers.