New Business Council president has a ‘secret sauce’

At Sydney Airport, Mr Culbert navigated the pandemic, managed the reopening of international travel and led the company through the $23.6 billion takeover from a consortium led by the US Global Infrastructure Partners and industry superannuation-backed IFM Investors, which led to its delisting from the ASX in March 2022.

David Gonski, who worked closely with Mr Culbert on the board of Sydney Airport for five years, said he had deep experience and interest in international business and public policy.

“He’s very clever and inquisitive about how the world is operating,” Mr Gonski said on Sunday. “He’s extremely experienced in looking after stakeholders, at both Sydney Airport and General Electric.

“He speaks extremely well, which is important as chairman of the BCA.”

Mr Culbert had already announced he would step down as Sydney Airport chief executive in December after six years in the job.

Sydney Airport borders the electorate of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has championed a second airport in Sydney for decades, amid complaints that the monopoly airport creates noise for his local community.

Former Sydney Airport director Ann Sherry said airports were highly regulated and Mr Culbert had demonstrated deftness in dealing with federal, state and local authorities on wide-ranging issues such as competition, infrastructure, noise and the environment.

“His secret sauce is that he goes into complex environments, is calm and sees a pathway through and gets everyone on board,” Ms Sherry said. “And because he came from GE, he understands the energy transition and that companies need to invest and make a return to make it happen.”

Industrial relations tension

A lawyer turned business executive, Mr Culbert will join new BCA chief executive Bran Black, who started in his new full-time job in September.

The new leadership team marks a changing of the guard at the CEO lobby group, following the departure of former chief executive Jennifer Westacott after 12 years.

Former BCA president Tony Shepherd said Mr Culbert and Mr Black were taking over at a challenging time due to a slowing economy, persistent inflation, interest rate rises and the energy transition to renewables not going as planned.

“Geoff brings deep financial and operating experience, dealing with thousands of employees and customers,” Mr Shepherd said.

“It’s important because when the government wants to change the industrial relations system you’ve got to understand the impact.”

The BCA was outmanoeuvred by trade unions at the government’s Jobs and Skills Summit last year, which laid the ground for the expansion of the multi-employer bargaining law that passed parliament.

Labor now has legislation before parliament that seeks to expand rights for regular casuals to convert to permanent roles, ensure labour-hire workers are paid the same as direct employees, strengthen rights for unions to enter workplaces, and put in place minimum conditions for gig economy workers.

In a statement, Mr Culbert said he looked forward to working with government at all levels – local, state and federal – and advocating policies that advance the nation’s economic prosperity for all Australians.

“The business community carries a big responsibility,” he said.

“The challenges that lie ahead, like climate change, the energy transition, cost of living and our competitiveness in a complex global environment are not the government’s responsibility to solve on its own.”

Mr Culbert hails from more of a big business background than Mr Reed, who was more of an entrepreneur.

The president, who chairs the board, usually rotates every two to three years.

Mr Reed said Mr Culbert was a passionate advocate for the positive role that business played in the community.

“Geoff brings a wealth of knowledge to this role and he will champion the interests of Australian businesses and the millions of Australians they employ.

“It has been an honour to serve as the president of the BCA over the past four years and, in that time, I have witnessed the remarkable resilience and strength of Australian business.”

Commonwealth Bank of Australia chief executive and BCA board member Matt Comyn said: “Geoff has a proven track record of delivery and is well placed to actively collaborate with other community and business groups, as well as political leaders at all levels of government, to advocate for the right policy settings that are in the national interest.”