We asked a cross-section of business executives to answer our monthly Power Question and received some interesting replies. Here are the responses to the question:

What is your top objective for 2020?

Andrew Richards, CEO, Energy Users Association of Australia:

“Just being relentless at putting the customer at the centre of the transition of our energy markets. Because it is such a period of great change with so many vested interests that both win and lose out of that great change that it would be very easy for the customer to slip out of the centre of thinking. And we need to make sure that everything starts and finishes in the best interests of the customer. If we can continue to be relentless around customer focus, then a lot of the other outcomes start to fall in line.” www.euaa.com.au

Mike Chilton, President, NZ Home Heating Association:

“To continue to gain trust with the public and make them aware that the solid fuel home heating industry really cares about safety, and the products they receive are of a very high quality – which is good for the manufacturers, the retailers, the installers and also the public at large because they are benefiting from a great heating product.” www.nzhha.co.nz

Robyn Kross, CEO of Cooinda Aged Care Centre, Queensland:

“To actually be able to sit back and relax because the last five years have just been non-stop growth and building. We’ve brought three buildings on line in that five-year period so it will be nice not to even have to think about construction, or interiors or fit-outs… just be able to sit back and enjoy it.” www.cooinda.org

Erik Steube, General Manager, InterContinentental Melbourne The Rialto:

“If you’d asked me that before the 21^st of January, I would have had a very commercial answer. Now I think the objective is to be agile and flexible in the environment that we’re in. So that everybody gets through what we’re going through now in the best possible shape.” https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/us/en/melbourne/melha/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=GoogleMaps-_-IC-_-AU-_-MELHA

Andrew Wade, Managing Director, CHILL:

“At times I’m prepared to be the last man standing. Through tumultuous unpredictable situations I have to be versatile, committed to the core, transparent and resilient. In 2019 I faced my most difficult business predicament in 20 yrs. I had 4 out a 5 person team leave within three weeks due to a divisional leader failing his team. They lost faith, gave up and all walked out on him.  I took immediate steps to leave my family temporarily and take up posting in the troubled State to fix the problem. I had to move the divisional manager aside and take over the Operations managers role. It took me 12 months to get the office and team back to physical and mental health and employ a new leader and we’re set for big things in 2020.” www.chill.com.au

Lyall Smith, Director & Co-Founder, Central Heating New Zealand:

“The people who work here really put their all into what they do and I think it makes a huge difference in our company. That concept of stewardship where everyone is serving for a greater cause. I like to encourage that in every area we do, whether it’s dealing with internal staff between each other, serving our customers, and also our suppliers and the intermediaries we work with. So, the major business objective is to encourage a greater sense of stewardship in our industry.” www.centralheating.co.nz

Phil O’Reilly, General Manager, Barrett Homes:

“To consistently deliver to our plan with an ongoing commitment to build individual/team capabilities. We are striving to problem solve strategies, systemic, situational opportunities and find a way to be efficient and nimble. Our people know we are loving but we are hard on the process and top down deployment is always well considered and thought out, and change management with good communication is what we stand by.”  www.barretthomes.co.nz