Cunning vs Smart - Leadership in Work, Health & Safety

Cunning vs Smart - Leadership in Work, Health & Safety

Author: Richard Robinson & Gaye Francis April 26, 2026 Duration: 13:55
Drop us a note In this episode of Risk!Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis explore organisational Cunning versus Smart and why it matters deeply for health, safety, and governance. Richard draws on decades of observing large organisations and argues that the people who rise to the top aren't always the most competent, they're often the most cunning. But cunning alone isn't enough. The real sweet spot, what Richard calls wisdom, is the rare comb...

Ever found yourself wondering why safety and risk management in engineering feels so tangled, expensive, and disconnected from actual results? That’s the exact territory explored in Risk! Engineers Talk Governance. Hosted by Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis, both seasoned due diligence and risk engineers who co-direct the consultancy R2A, this podcast cuts through the complexity that’s grown around the industry. They’ve watched, with a practical engineer’s eye, as fields like OHS and WHS have ballooned into a costly business in themselves, often leaving organisations out of pocket without seeing meaningful improvements. What sets their conversations apart is a foundation in real engineering practice-they come from the tools-and-dirt side of things, not just a policy manual. Each episode digs into governance frameworks, decision-making, and compliance, but always through the lens of applied engineering logic and on-the-ground experience. It’s for professionals in technology, business, and management who are tired of checkbox exercises and want to hear frank discussions about making risk management sensible, effective, and value-adding again. You’ll get their direct, no-nonsense perspectives on bridging the gap between boardroom obligations and operational reality, making this podcast a unique resource for anyone tasked with building safer, more resilient organisations without the pointless overhead.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 50

Risk! Engineers Talk Governance
Podcast Episodes
Why Standards are not the Solution [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:14
Drop us a note In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineering experts Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss why Standards are not the solution. They explore why following Standards can…
How to Prevent Catastrophic Project Blowouts - Project Due Diligence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:03
Drop us a note In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss: How to prevent catastrophic project blowouts and the project governance framework they…
Difficult Conversations Engineers need to have about Risk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:27
Drop us a note In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis this season’s theme of "Difficult Conversations Engineers Need to Have About Risk". Key discuss…
Risk Management & Negligence - Due Diligence Essentials for Engineers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:26
Drop us a note In this first episode of Season 5 of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis provide an overview of their new booklet "Risk Management and Negligence - Du…
Bush Fire Risk, Due Diligence & Mitigation Controls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:39
Drop us a note In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss due diligence for bushfires. Richard has been involved in advising on bushfire risk and…
Due Diligence in the Electrical & Power Industry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:15
Drop us a note In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss due diligence in the electrical and power industry. They discuss due diligence and risk…
Obligations for Engineers under WHS/OHS legislation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:14
Drop us a note In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the obligations for engineers under the WHS legislation (OHS Act in Victoria) and under…
Due Diligence in Marine Pilotage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:01
Drop us a note In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the application of due diligence in the Marine Pilotage industry. They discuss various…