Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz reflects on a career shaped by unexpected turns, major leadership challenges and a decade transforming Mirvac as CEO - and how those experiences now inform her work in the boardroom.

In this conversation, Susan discusses the mindset shift from executive to non-executive roles, the discipline of governing without managing, and what effective boards get right in uncertain times. She explores the balance between being supportive and challenging, the central role of the chair, and why CEO succession is the most important decision a board makes.

Susan also shares insights from her work on housing affordability, the realities of leading through complex, politically charged issues, and how boards should think about ESG, diversity and AI in a rapidly shifting global environment.

Key Takeaways:

· Board effectiveness — creating the right balance between being supportive and constructively challenging management.

· Time and focus in the boardroom — avoiding over-indexing on compliance at the expense of strategy, culture and long-term value.

· CEO succession — why pipeline development, transparency and early planning matter more than last-minute decisions.

· Navigating ESG and geopolitics — boards operating amid shifting expectations on climate, diversity and shareholder primacy.

· AI as a governance tool — using AI to sharpen questions and insight, without outsourcing judgement.

· Housing affordability — supply-side reform, productivity, planning and the long game required for meaningful change.

· Gender diversity and talent pipelines — where progress has been made, where blockages persist, and the board's role in calling out bias.

S3E9 – Former Mirvac CEO Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz on Australia's housing challengers, gender diversity and transitioning to the boardroom

Boardroom Confidential