Ross Fardon writes essays like none you have read: The life convictions of a practitioner who has considered the world’s great scholars. What works, what is true, what lasts? He published nothing till his 70’s, as too young to know things.

He draws on a long life of work, from 8 to 78, in fourteen countries, from labourer to CEO, Director-General and chairman. He worked in farms, shops, as a minister of religion, in mining, oil, newtech, climate and soil formation, environment and Aboriginal affairs, big and little companies and the public service. He has consulted throughout Australia and in Fiji, Mexico and USA. He has developed legislation in mining, energy, environment and Aboriginal Native Title, and advised on legislation in six countries. For 40 years he was an executive, innovator and reformer. He has studied with a passion, management, sciences, history, ethics, philosophy, environment, art, religions, climate, indigenous affairs and bushfires. He comes from a beautiful remote farm and remains a country boy. He also has a doctorate from Harvard in geology and geochemistry of land, sea and air. He loves this Earth and studies the planets. He is an atheist who loves and supports wonderful Christians, and lives to affirm (not too successfully) all that is good, after doing necessary weeding in the hard world of human folly. As a scientist, everything he writes is also a question, to see if you have more truth and usefulness with your beliefs. He takes ideas, management and civilisation seriously, but himself somewhat less so. Sigh. His epitaph will be “He tried. He died. “

In a blessed life, he learnt as much from indigenous people in many lands as from great universities. Granddaughters help his life to remain a delight at 82. Now he is a carer.

For his management career, see ESSENTIAL Leadership and Management.