Paul Howes: Politics, Beaconsfield, Career Pivots & Tenet Advisory
In this episode of What I Learned in Business (That Didn’t Kill Me!), host James H Stewart sits down with Paul Howes — one of Australia’s most recognisable public figures and a leader whose career has spanned the union movement, politics, and corporate life.
Raised by a single mother in Sydney’s Blue Mountains, Paul became the youngest ever National Secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union, rising to national prominence during the Beaconsfield mine disaster. He later became a key player in Labor’s 2010 leadership drama which led to Julia Gillard becoming Australia's first female prime minister— an experience he chronicled in his book Confessions of a Faceless Man.
Today, Paul reflects on the lessons learned from crisis leadership, public scrutiny, and career transformation — from the factory floor to the boardroom. He also discusses his work with Beyond Blue, and his next chapter as CEO of Tenet Advisory & Investments, founded by Luke Sayers.
This is a candid, insightful, and at times surprising conversation about resilience, reinvention, and what leadership looks like under the spotlight.
Key Takeaways:
How to lead during crises
Why empathy matters
The value of reinvention
“Leadership isn’t about power — it’s about accountability when it matters most.” — Paul Howes
About Paul Howes:
Paul Howes is the incoming CEO of Tenet Advisory and Investments (from January 2026), former National Secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union, National Managing Partner of KPMG's Enterprise and Consulting divisions and a respected voice on business transformation and social reform. He served on the National COVID-19 Advisory Board and the Beyond Blue Board, bringing together business and community leadership.
Connect with Paul:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pahowes/
https://tenetadvisory.com.au/
