For over thirty years, my professional life was immersed in the language of Big Fixes—the title of my 2020 book, and shorthand for the complex overhauls needed to repair failing infrastructure, reboot economic policy, and restore integrity to public institutions.

A few years ago, I stepped back from the front lines of executive life to find a different rhythm on my Barrington Coast farm (mid-north coast of New South Wales). This move was about being more connected to the land, and a place for me to branch out into new experiences and learning in retirement.

Forged in the System

My career evolved around acting as a mentor and provocateur to both government and industry—especially where the two meet to deliver major public infrastructure. I had the privilege of working alongside exceptional people who were far too often hampered by bad systems, short-term incentive structures and rigid contracts.

My perspective on stewardship was shaped across several decades: working as a Federal Treasury official focused on Australia’s economic foundations; leading at Tenix Solutions during the early formative years of Public-Private Partnerships; serving as Founding Executive Director of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia; and later directing The John Grill Centre at the University of Sydney to help project leaders excel in delivering multi-billion dollar investments.

I’ve seen how the sausage gets made. I know how institutions stifle independent thinking, and I know how exhausting it is to champion a long-term idea in a short-term setting. We have all experienced the contradiction – ‘we support innovation but that idea has never been tried before‘.

The Farm Lens: Vineyards & Rainforests

Now I divide my time between Mosman and the farm, applying those exact same principles of stewardship to the land. Right now, my days involve rescuing a weed infested sub-tropical rainforest and tending a young vineyard and volunteering as a NSW Justice of the Peace for my local Council.

Planting wine grapes in your sixties is an act of faith and long-termism; you are focussed on a harvest that is years away. But whether you are cultivating a patch of rainforest, a vineyard, or leading teams in complex environments the core principles never change – integrity, patience, and inspiring excellence while weeding out those “quick fixes” that compromise the future.

My LinkedIn profile can be found via the link https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrybowditch/