Arts
In this episode, ‘The Go gene’, Blenheim Partners‘ Gregory Robinson is delighted to speak to Lindsay Partridge AM, Managing Director of Brickworks Ltd. A rare case in any part of the world, Lindsay Partridge has been at the helm of Brickworks for 20 years. Inheriting “five factories in two states”, Brickworks under Lindsay’s tenure has grown significantly in terms of size and profitability as its operations have become Australia-wide, with its product range extending beyond bricks to tiles, pavers and masonry and activities expanding into property development. Lindsay and Greg discuss the current climate of business conditions within Australia, which Lindsay claims as “toxic” and that the path we are continuing down will lead to businesses taking manufacturing elsewhere due to an ever increasing costs of production. He explains that, “if we built a plant equal to our best plant in Australia in the United States and ship it over through the panama canal, across the pacific, to Australia at less of a cost if it were to be built in Australia". He also shares his attempts to build political engagement for the industry and the country highlighting the current landscapes over fractured environment. Lastly, Greg and Lindsay discuss Lindsay’s need to find long term individuals to suit the Brickworks business model. He states he needs people who are ready to commit to the long term, “They have to be here 20, 25 years, they're not going to learn how to build the factories or understand the process in a matter of weeks, it takes years”.