Tackling inclusion dilemmas: Former AFL boss’s game plan for divided workplaces

Former CEO of an AFL side turned ethical leadership expert Matt Finnis unpacks the habits of inclusive workplaces, strategies for navigating polarising debates, and why transparency is non-negotiable in 2025.

Formerly CEO of St Kilda Football Club and corporate lawyer and now CEO at Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership, Matt Finnis spoke to HR Leader journalist Kace O’Neill to discuss key themes around ethical leadership, transparency, and disagreement. Finnis argues that modern inclusion isn’t about erasing discomfort but embracing pluralism. As workplaces become “melting pots of humanity”, leaders must move beyond correcting historical wrongs to actively welcoming conflicting values – transforming tension into growth.

From the Israel Folau controversy to modern-day conflict debates, Finnis reveals how organisations can rehearse for inclusion crises. His antidote? Proactive scenario training, purpose-driven dialogue, and empowering employees to shape culture – before headlines force reactive decisions.

With whistleblowing fears lingering, Finnis stresses that ethical followership hinges on leaders modelling vulnerability. He shares hard-won lessons from the AFL trenches: closing feedback loops, rewarding uncomfortable truths, and why owning mistakes builds more trust than flawless execution ever could.