I had the very great privilege to be head-hunted to give a presentation to the Sydney University Medical Leadership seminar. I did my damnest to pass it to someone else, but they were insistent that wanted me, and me only, to present on "Rwanda: A Case Study in Ethical and Leadership Dilemmas " . I always find this presentation difficult because I have to revisit a number of events I consciously choose to park in the deepest darkest depths of my memory. Anyway I thought I would share with you some of my answers on questions they posed to me before the presentation. I'd be interested in your thoughts.

Question 1. Who are the three greatest leaders of our time and why?

Answers.

• In the military domain Colin Powell. He put together an amazingly diverse multi-cultural coalition and held it together.
• Bill Gates because he transformed society with the personal computer, when everyone said it wasn't possible. His donations to charity are without equal.
• In my lifetime Sir Winston Churchill: a leader through adversity. Tenacity and bloody-mindedness were his middle names!

Question 2. Name three key attributes you consider as a leader and why?

Answers.

• Integrity, which includes moral courage; without this no-one will trust you.
• A capacity to anticipate and see the bigger picture; anticipation allows for a structured response. Without the bigger picture you may be doing things right, but not doing the right thing!
• The ability to communicate at all levels. A leader who cannot communicate at all levels is reducing their impact. Shared understanding and common meaning are essential for any leadership situation.

Question 3. What are the three leadership issues facing the nation (Australia)?

Answers.

• A near-term focus, with no true strategic nation building vision.
• A lack of integrity in public office at all levels.
• Too many professional politicians playing the political game instead of doing what's best for the nation.

Question 4. Who are your mentors and how have they helped you?

Answers.

• Professor Wayne Ramsey. He taught me the art of bypassing opposition and coalition building.
• Major General Paul Alexander. He delegated authority and held me accountable. He was forgiving of mistakes, and always gave credit.
• Mr Tony Eccleston. He is a gentleman in every sense of the words. He has two questions that are always worth considering. "Why do you want to do that?" and "What are the likely unintended consequences?"

Question 5. What advice would you give a potential leader to take them to the next level?

Answers.

• Identify and concentrate on the positives in any situation.
• Always seize the initiative, so you can structure and shape the agenda.
• Form relationships that count and always seek to build coalitions. Be the central connector.

Question 6. What are the barriers for emerging leaders in Australia?

Answer. There are none!

Question 7. Nature or nurture: are leaders born or bred?

Answer. Both. Some latent talent is useful, but experience counts to develop potential.

Question 8. What insights have you gained personally on your leadership journey?

Answer. I like Colin Powell's comment that "leadership is the art of accomplishing more than the science of management says is possible!" In my view it all comes down to effective communication and relationships.

Regards Graham