Business Breakfast with Major General Mick Ryan AM (Retd)
Overview
Join Brisbane’s business community at The Brisbane Club for breakfast and a discussion with Major General Mick Ryan AM (Retd).
In an era defined by rapid change, uncertainty, and increasing complexity, effective leadership has never been more important. Drawing on decades of military command and leadership experience, Major General Ryan will share practical lessons that leaders can apply to their organisations, teams, and decision-making.
He will explore the five interlocking principles that underpin effective leadership; how good leaders embrace failure as a source of learning rather than something to hide; master unglamorous basics such as punctuality, honesty, and attention to detail, recognising that small lapses can compound into catastrophic ones; and viewing uncertainty and surprise not as obstacles, but as opportunities to learn, adapt, and make better decisions through curiosity, networking, and active listening. He will also examine how leaders actively nurture adaptation and a healthy "competition of ideas" over false consensus and, above all, provide purpose.
Throughout the presentation, Major General Ryan will draw on examples from his distinguished military career and the modern global security environment, offering timely insights for business leaders navigating an increasingly unpredictable world.
Alongside the presentation, guests will enjoy a hot plated breakfast, shared fruit platter, Danish pastries, and tea, coffee and juice throughout the morning.
Seats are limited. Bookings close at 6:30am on Friday 25 September 2026.
Timing: Registration opens at 6:30am, and we request that all guests are seated by 7:00am sharp for the commencement of the event.
Dress Code: The Brisbane Club requires Modern Business Attire. Please refer to The Brisbane Club Dress Code for detailed guidance and examples of acceptable attire.
Guest Speaker
Major General Mick Ryan AM (Retd)
Major General Mick Ryan AM (Retd) spent over 35 years in the Australian Army and had the honour of commanding soldiers at troop, squadron, regiment, task force and brigade levels. He served in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as on the U.S. joint staff in Washington DC. Major General Ryan is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College (2002), the U.S. Marine Corps School of Advanced Warfighting (2003), and a distinguished graduate from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington DC (2012). In May 2026, he completed his PhD at the University of Queensland. He is a keen author on the interface of strategy, innovation, advanced technologies, and people. In February 2022, his book War Transformed was published by USNI Books. His next book, White Sun War: The Campaign for Taiwan, was published in May 2023 by Casemate Books. His latest book, The War for Ukraine: Strategy and Adaptation Under Fire, was published in August 2024. His next book is due to be published in early 2027. Because of his writing about the war in Ukraine, and ongoing support for the Ukrainian efforts to defend itself, Major General Ryan was sanctioned by the Russian government in 2022. Major General Ryan runs his own strategic advisory company and is a strategic advisor to several Australian, U.K. and U.S. companies including U.S. drone company Skydio, the Washington DC-based companies Special Competitive Studies Project and Useful Fiction, Australia’s Beaten Zone ventures, and the UK-based Janes. Major General Ryan is the inaugural Senior Fellow for Military Studies at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, and an adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC.
About The Brisbane Club
The Brisbane Club is one of Brisbane’s oldest and most prestigious private member clubs, founded in 1903 in the heart of the city. Known for its rich heritage, elegant dining and business facilities, the Club has long served as a gathering place for leaders in business, government and the community. Today, it blends traditional club culture with contemporary networking, events and hospitality experiences in a refined setting.
Our Sponsors
Thank you to our valued sponsors for your generous support in making this event possible.
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