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Jenn Morris with former Fortescue deputy chair
Sharon Warburton
On the front foot

s the country enters a second month much unchartered territory
Aof social distancing restrictions, many because we don’t know how
Australian businesses are making the ad- long this is going to last for.”
justment to new ways of operating. Morris, who is also cur-
Some may revel in the change and, un- rently a non-executive
derstandably, it may take time for others to director of Fortescue Met-
adapt to reality. als Group Ltd and Sport
“Whilst we are in a crisis, we actually want Australia, said the safety
our workforces to do well, not just delivering and wellbeing of staff was
good work, but ensuring that the blurriness paramount in such times
of lines of work and home, which is here for and workforces needed to
the foreseeable future, so how do we make keep nurturing camarade-
that work for us,” Cannings Purple national rie to help each other cope
director strategy Jenn Morris told Paydirt. with the reality of isolation in
“We keep saying it is not business as usual, stressful times.
but we need to establish that this is business “Internally at Cannings,
as usual and the smart businesses will never we have this incredible
waste a crisis. They will be setting up new workforce and their ability
ways to go forward, so when COVID-19 pass- to engage in anything from
es a lot of opportunities will come from that.” working on WhatsApp and
Morris, a dual Olympic gold medallist setting up virtual drinks on
with the Hockeyroos, has form preparing for a Friday afternoon to using
pressure situations and while no-one could Microsoft Teams to connect
truly be ready for the chaos COVID-19 is all helps,” she said.
causing, she believes the systems at Can- “The level of info that is
nings Purple have made the crash landing coming through and being
a little gentler. supportive of each other in our home offices
“Cannings Purple’s workforce has been through sharing of pictures of kids doing their Useful numbers during
servicing clients and getting work completed schoolwork or colouring in next to mum and a time of crisis
in a virtual way for years now. We are fortu- dad is what it is now about. We’ve been em-
nate we have been set up with the right tools powered and empowered our staff to be on Lifeline Australia
and access to systems, so that is ok,” Morris our Facebook and share and engage with 13 11 14
said. what each other does. Beyond Blue
“Where it gets difficult for companies is “There has been a bit of a blend between 1300 22 4636
where you just have to operate a business. work and life and that is just how it goes at the Kids Helpline
For instance, mining companies can’t work moment. I have a strategic planning work- 1800 55 1800
from home and while a certain amount of shop with a client coming up and we have a
staff work in remote operations centres, virtual whiteboard set up on our screens and Mensline Australia
many don’t and you have to work out a way as much as anything this is a mindset thing. 1300 78 99 78
to keep the lights on and that makes it dif- There is an openness in this new world and Relationships Australia
ficult. Then you have to try and think about the client I am working with [tomorrow] is 1300 364 277
planning ahead; this [coronavirus situation] seeing it as a great opportunity.” Emergency
is not a week or two-week or month-long 000
thing, this is going beyond that. It is very – Mark Andrews

Power for the people public-to-private networks to unlock resources, break bottlenecks
and fix problems so Australian families, businesses and communities
Former Fortescue Metals Group Ltd chief executive Nev Power will are supported through the challenging months ahead.”
chair the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission (NCCC) The NCCC executive board of commissioners – Greg Combet
announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on March 25. AM, Jane Halton AO, Paul Little AO, Catherine Tanna and David
The NCCC will coordinate advice to the Australian Government on Thodey AO (deputy chair) – will be joined by the secretaries of the
actions to anticipate and mitigate the economic and social effects of Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Philip Gaetjens and
the global coronavirus pandemic. Home Affairs, Mike Pezzullo.
Power was chosen as chairman for his high-level business expertise The executive board of commissioners will advise the Prime Minister
and strong commitment to social issues. on all non-health aspects of the pandemic response and will work in
“The commission will ensure the Government receives the most tandem with chief medical officer Dr Brendan Murphy, who continues
comprehensive advice to meet the challenges ahead to cushion to lead the Commonwealth’s health response.
the economic impact of the coronavirus and help build a bridge to The NCCC is about mobilising a whole-of-society and whole-
recovery,” as stated in a media release. of-economy to help Australia come through the unprecedented
“This is about working cooperatively across private-to-private and coronavirus health crisis.

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