- Posted on 1 Oct 2025
What Does It Take To Be A Business Leader?
In August, the UTS Business School welcomed Ian Morrison, Chief Financial Officer of GrainCorp Limited, to campus as part of the Leadership Insights interview series which gives students the opportunity to gain practical insights into business from established industry leaders.
GrainCorp CFO Ian Morrison being interviewed by UTS Business School student Hayden Liptak
Career Beginnings As An Auditor
Ian’s career has taken him across the globe from Glasgow, Scotland to Sydney, rising from auditor at KPMG to CFO at GrainCorp, an ASX-listed leader in agribusiness specialising in grain and oilseed, employing over 2,000 people worldwide.
While being interviewed by second year UTS Business School student and GrainCorp intern Hayden Liptak, he spoke about how during his career his focus has shifted from mastering technical skills to motivating and leading others.
An eagerness to learn has been a constant theme throughout Ian’s career, from understanding his clients’ businesses while working as an auditor at KPMG, to studying to become a Chartered Accountant.
Moving to Australia, Joining GrainCorp And Becoming CFO
Ian's move to Sydney was driven by a desire to see the world (and enjoy better weather). After 7 years in auditing, he decided to make the leap client-side to GrainCorp, as he was looking to have more influence within an organisation.
During his time at GrainCorp, he had an opportunity to learn about rural Australia and the complexities of farming, particularly the challenges that floods and droughts pose in our unique climate.
In addition, Ian noted that the shifting business landscape whether it be AI, sustainability requirements or tariffs meant there is always a need to be agile and continue developing yourself.
“Throughout my career, what’s worked for me is staying curious, learning from others, and building strong relationships,” Ian said.
Ian Morrison with Business School staff and students
Ian's Advice For Building A Successful Career
When speaking with the students, Ian emphasised the following tips:
- Be yourself. Use your strengths to be the best version of you.
- Be curious. Always keep learning! Learn from others and learn why businesses are successful (or not).
- Have a strong work ethic and a passion to make a difference. You can start on this by building a foundation of technical skills.
- Develop soft skills. These are necessary in the workplace, especially if you want to climb the ladder. Developing strong stakeholder management skills, learning how to connect and collaborate with others is crucial.
- Step out of your comfort zone. Once you do it, you may realise it’s not as scary as you imagine and you’ll grow.
“My advice to students would be to stay open to learning from every opportunity and find what you are passionate about,” he added.
Hayden said, “Through interviewing Ian, I learned the importance of being a leader both within the workplace and beyond. Engaging in extracurricular and community activities helps you become a more well-rounded individual.”
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