Interview with society committee member, Innes Kirkwood

Q: Can you give us some background as to where you are from in Scotland and your working career?

A: I am originally from Dunoon on the west coast of Scotland, but I also spent a few years living in Dumfries and a couple of years in Tarbert (Loch Fyne) – my parents were both Head Teachers, so we moved around a bit for their careers. They now live in Edinburgh, as does my sister – so for the last 18 years that’s what I refer to as “back home”. I studied Economics at Aberdeen University, which was an awesome city to be a student. I have worked in banking for the last 18 years, with stints at Bank of Ireland, Nab, Macquarie, and for the last 5 years, I have enjoyed being the CEO of Bendigo Bank Private Banking.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about what brought you to Melbourne from Scotland?

A: The age-old story … I met a girl. I spent a summer in Canada and was hanging out with a bunch of Australians in a backpacker hostel in Toronto. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I had an Australian girlfriend. When I finished Uni, we came to Melbourne on a working holiday visa. That’s when I got my first job in finance – working for a fund manager in Melbourne. Lots of fun, not a lot of money…but I learned a lot in that year. After that, I moved back to Scotland and commenced my career in corporate banking in Edinburgh. Then 2007 came along, and with it the GFC. Not a great time to be a banker in Europe or the US. We moved back to Australia in 2008, and I’ve been here ever since. I love Melbourne – I know the weather’s maybe not as reliable as other states, but being Scottish, I think we all have a bit of perspective on that, and I think Melburnians in business really value relationships, so it’s less transactional, which I think is important.

Q: How did you first become involved in the society, and what inspired you to take on the leadership role of Treasurer?

A: I feel like every committee member (bar one) will answer this question the same: Nick Broadley! Nick was working in an office with one of my former Macquarie colleagues, and he happened to mention he had a Scottish mate. Nick reached out and told me about his idea for the Society, and I thought it was a no-brainer. If I’m honest, I don’t really miss Scotland all that much, but I miss the people. It’s our unique Scottish banter – the patter that nobody else really gets. The ability to totally be yourself with fellow Scots and talk about things that only other Scots would care about – our tradition and culture, and of course the “fitbaw”.

I had attended other types of Scottish associations and networking events, but what made this stand out was the opportunity to build a business network which is truly unique – truly Scottish. I take my hat off to Nick for having the courage and conviction to make his idea a reality, and I am passionate about helping the Society grow and evolve into something really special. As for the Treasurer role (the job that nobody wants!) Being the banker on the committee, I suppose it was just natural selection – I don’t have many skills, so I’m just happy to contribute any way I can.

Q: What does being a part of the society mean to you?

A: For all the reasons I mentioned before, the Society is really important. At every event, I meet someone new, and almost instantly, we find something in common. There are some incredibly successful people with amazing stories, and I come away from each event in awe of the calibre of our cohort and what the Scots of Melbourne (and beyond) have achieved in Australia. It just feels different from any other networking event – it’s more like a clan gathering. I have also made new friends, who I probably wouldn’t have met otherwise. So yeah, it means a lot, and I look forward to every event with anticipation.

Q: What are some of the society’s key initiatives or values that you are particularly passionate about?

A: Other than bringing together Scottish business executives in Melbourne, which is our mission statement, I love that we are also aligning with local and Scottish charity partners. So far, through our events, we have raised funds for Housing All Australians a local charity providing and advocating for solutions for the housing crisis; and My Name’5 Doddie which is a Scottish based charity raising funds and awareness to research a cure for MND. I am passionate about this, and the Society wants to grow our contribution and continue to give back to our respective communities.

Q: Finally, can you share a bit about your personal interests?

A: I’ve got two sons aged 8 and 12 so my weekends tend to be the familiar juggle of kids’ sport and trying to keep them active and off their devices. When I don’t have my kids, I am a keen sailor, so you will find me down at Sandringham Yacht Club or out for a run trying to keep the weight off. I also enjoy rugby (watching more than playing these days) and the occasional hit of golf. And of course, I love to go out for lunch or dinner to catch up with friends.