S6 Ep 6: Udo Doring

Udo Doring’s ‘normal’ adult life is not ‘normal’ for most Australians, but  ‘normal’ for a person who grew up as a third culture kid with parents raising children in Indonesia, Vietnam, Hong Kong and mainland China.

Which makes him a perfectly “normal” pick for CEO of the Advisory Board Centre, an organisation born in Brisbane but with a presence across the globe.

In this episode we cover Udo’s life as an expat-repat “lifer” and the growth of Advisory Boards and opportunities for globally experienced Aussies.

Advisory boards have doubled globally in the last two years which means opportunities are booming. Unlike corporate boards which are responsible for governance and decision making, advisory boards are used for “problem solving” and it's not just corporates using them.  Today government departments and universities are increasingly employing advisory boards.  International and deep sector experience is often sought, and no longer are advisory boards just the domain of people in their 50s and 60s. Digital marketing, cyber security and AI are just some of the areas advisory boards are now leaning in to, providing new opportunities for younger professionals.

In this podcast, Udo and I talk about these opportunities, current sector trends and how interested expat-repats should approach getting involved. The decision by the Australian government to mandate that aged care operators have an advisory board is leading many to believe more industries will follow, creating many more opportunities for returning expats to leverage their expertise and keep their international experience alive.