The Interview
SCAN OR CLICK TO WATCH THE VIDEO INTERVIEW IN FULL
57 MINUTES
DAVID GONSKI AC
With Rob Langton
NON EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN - BARRENJOEY
One of Australia’s greatest business figures.
Managing Director of Ready Media Group, Rob Langton, recently sat down with one of Australia’s greatest business figures, David Gonski. Mr. Gonski’s long career has spanned a range of vocations and specialities, including law, corporate advisory, investment banking, finance, and philanthropy, and as such, he had a great deal to divulge in the nearly 56-minute interview. Here are some of the highlights from Gonski’s discussion with Mr. Langton. HIS EARLY INTEREST IN PUBLIC SPEAKING LED TO HIM DEVELOPING A RELATIONSHIP WITH FUTURE PM, MALCOLM TURNBULL. “I began very early in my school life enjoying speaking... I became a debater, and it became one of my biggest interests.” From the year below, another young man with an interest in public speaking took up debating and joined the team. That individual? Future Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull. “I met Malcolm when I was in what is now called Year 8; he was in Year 7. He came into our team. He was an extraordinary debater.” Those familiar with the conventions of a formal debate might find themselves wondering; what position in the debate did Turnbull take? “He was our third speaker, and we often won the debate because of our third speaker. He was full
of ideas, and I enjoyed talking to him.” It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that a man who went on to become one of Australia’s preeminent public speakers could win a debate, but it helps that the idea is given credence by David. HE BECAME THE YOUNGEST PARTNER AT FREEHILL HOLLINGDALE & PAGE AT AGE 25. Towards the end of his time at university, Gonski was given the opportunity to work at one of the country’s most well-renown law firms; Freehill Hollingdale & Page. In his initial stint with the business, he was made a summer clerk. “If you’re a clerk, you do lots of thinking and lots of writing, but they don’t usually let you interact with clients.” Gonski found that his experience differed from his contemporaries.
David Gonski AC delivering a speech
8 –Summer 2022/2023
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