As we reach the final stages of 2022 the team at Nexus APAC want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season.
We look forward to seeing you again in 2023 and bringing you more fascinating and insightful content.
Over the Christmas break, our team will be reading/listening to our top summer picks and visiting some Australian restaurants and holiday destinations (while trying to avoid getting some pesky Christmas carols stuck in our heads!).
What podcast/book have you been waiting for the break to listen to or read?
I am looking forward to reading the following over the holiday break:
Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take by Paul Polman and Andrew Winston about how companies need to step up to do more and help governments and civil society on big issues.
Also, after the significant election outcome in May 2022 – The Teal Revolution: Inside the Movement Changing Australian Politics by Margot Saville and the Independents’ Day: The inside story of the community independents and volunteers who changed Australian politics forever by Brook Turner
What Australian holiday destination are you planning to (or want to) visit?
I always enjoy the wonderful Hawks Nest on the NSW North Coast. Small and quiet, with great beaches, walks, friendly locals, solid mobile reception, the odd dolphin and the occasional whale. Perfect!
What restaurant is at the top of your list to visit in Summer 2023?
Botswana Butchery – a new fresh addition to Sydney’s steak scene. A new restaurant at Martin Place with rooftop space too. Impressive range of Australian steak and lamb cuts from a Black Opal Wagyu sirloin to Rangers Valley Tomahawk MB3, and wine list of over 1,000 wines. What more do you need?
What Christmas carol/song gets stuck in your head every year?
The one that has remained stuck is Do They Know It’s Christmas? By Band Aid. First pick is the 1985 version – great to listen to and also watch live with performances including Geldof, Sting, Bono, Elton, Mercury and Bowie all on stage together. Also, the 1989 version with Kylie, Jason, Culture Club and Bananarama is worth an honourable mention as runner up!
What podcast/book have you been waiting for the break to listen to or read?
On Meagan’s recommendation, I am waiting to read All That’s Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien. It’s set in Cabramatta in the ’90s, which is where and when I started my career. I’ve just received it as a Secret Santa gift and can’t wait to read it.
What Australian holiday destination are you planning to (or want to) visit?
I’m heading to Thredbo this Summer. Haven’t been there before in Summer, so really looking forward to some quiet time in that beautiful mountain air.
What restaurant is at the top of your list to visit in Summer 2023?
Opening in February 2023, I am keen to visit St Siandra, a Med-Inspired Restaurant at the Spit in Mosman. This spiel from Broadsheet makes it sound like a must try in Summer.
What Christmas carol/song gets stuck in your head every year?
Pentatonix’s Mary Did You Know? is on CONSTANT rotation in my house and hence, is permanently stuck in my head. A clear winner for me this year!
What podcast/book have you been waiting for the break to listen to or read?
The Sporty One – Melanie C’s biography as Sporty Spice.
What Australian holiday destination are you planning to (or want to) visit?
The Barossa Valley (by camper van) – South Australia’s award-winning wine region.
What restaurant is at the top of your list to visit in Summer 2023?
Coolamon Cheese Factory (with a glass of wine from my Barossa Valley trip)
What Christmas carol/song gets stuck in your head every year?
Aussie Jingle Bells – Colin Buchanan version (thanks to my beautiful 3-year-old niece)
What podcast/book have you been waiting for the break to listen to or read?
I have a stack of political books to read over the break – Bulldozed by Niki Savva, Victory by Peter van Onselen, Independents Day by Brook Turner and Finding the Heart of the Nation by Thomas Mayor. I also have a long list of fiction on the Kindle, which will keep me busy!
What Australian holiday destination are you planning to (or want to) visit?
I’m not going far – I’m heading to see family in Sydney and friends in Orange and the Blue Mountains. I love a good road trip – and I have my new car and a bunch of playlists on my phone, so I’m good to go!
What restaurant is at the top of your list to visit in Summer 2023?
I’ve been rediscovering Canberra since my move back mid-year – there are so many restaurants and bars to try! I haven’t made it to Raku yet, so that’s pretty high on my list. Although I recently purchased my first weber – I’m working on becoming the BBQ Queen!
What Christmas carol/song gets stuck in your head every year?
I’m not too fond of Christmas carols – too many bad versions in too many shopping centres.
But I love White Wine in the Sun by Tim Minchin. Quintessential Australian Christmas.
What podcast/book have you been waiting for the break to listen to or read?
Niki Savva’s Bulldozed.
What Australian holiday destination are you planning to (or want to) visit?
Hitting the walking trails in the Blue Mountains.
What restaurant is at the top of your list to visit in Summer 2023?
I love Pizza, followed by Chargrill Charlies.
What Christmas carol/song gets stuck in your head every year?
I do my best to avoid them, but an exception is Wham’s Last Christmas.
What podcast/book have you been waiting for the break to listen to or read?
Taking a break from the rapid pace of the political bubble and reading Rodger Hungerford’s Anglers’ Omnibus (eighth edition)
What Australian holiday destination are you planning to (or want to) visit?
As you’re reading this, I will be satisfying my love for international travel from a palm tree-lined, white sand beach in the South Pacific. Throughout the remainder of the year, I’ll be hoping to escape to the Kangaroo Valley, Jervis Bay, and my family farm in rural NSW.
What restaurant is at the top of your list to visit in Summer 2023?
I’m looking forward to Brasserie 1930 opening in the new year. It is slated to be in the old Department of Education building on Bridge Street and hails from the same people behind Bentley, Monopole, Cirrus, and Yellow.
What Christmas carol/song gets stuck in your head every year?
I’m a sucker for classic Christmas Carols, think O Come All Ye Faithful, O Come O Come Emmanuel, or Once in Royal David’s City.
What podcast/book have you been waiting for the break to listen to or read?
One of my favourite podcasts is the Final Word Cricket Podcast with Adam Collins and Geoff Lemon. Two incredible cricket tragics with a great background. Adam, a former Advisor in the Rudd Government and Geoff, a long-time contributor to the Roar and now the Guardian. Both also can be heard commentating on the summer of Cricket on SEN and ABC Grandstand.
What Australian holiday destination are you planning to (or want to) visit?
I am under a sworn oath not to say exactly where; however, I will be escaping the city to a quiet spot on the south coast of NSW for a swim, a quiet drink and an adventure. (I wish I could tell you where)
What restaurant is at the top of your list to visit in Summer 2023?
Honestly, give me a beach kiosk or a traditional burger shop near the water. Restaurants are great, but nothing beats a lunch in the sun from the local.
What Christmas carol/song gets stuck in your head every year?
Two Chrissy songs always get stuck in my head around this time of year. A classic from Darlene Love, Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), and a theme from my family’s favourite Christmas movie National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. Totally self-inflicted Christmas song-induced ad nauseam.
Arielle Irving – Analyst
What podcast/book have you been waiting for the break to listen to or read?
There are many different novels on my summer reading list!! However, I am also looking forward to reading Michelle Obama’s new book, The Light We Carry – Overcoming in Uncertain Times.
What Australian holiday destination are you planning to (or want to) visit?
I’m really looking forward to spending time at home in the Central West of NSW, anticipating quite a few afternoons water-skiing on the Bogan River and time out on the farm! (As well as the NSW South Coast for a beach-fix).
What restaurant is at the top of your list to visit in Summer 2023?
A restaurant I am keen to get to in summer is Sean’s Panorama in Bondi! However, I am also very excited to finally check out The Rural Trader in Nevertire NSW, a beautiful new café and store local to me where I am sure I will enjoy many flat whites.
What Christmas carol/song gets stuck in your head every year?
Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You, of course.
Grace Campbell – Researcher
What podcast/book have you been waiting for the break to listen to or read?
I have been waiting to read Exiles by Jane Harper because I knew I would end up needing to read it from start to finish in one sitting. Written by popular Australian crime author, Exiles centres around the mystery of two unsolved crimes in a small town in South Australia.
What Australian holiday destination are you planning to (or want to) visit?
It has always been a dream of mine (and will stay a dream for the time being) to travel along ‘The Indian Pacific’, which is a four-day train ride across Australia from Sydney to Perth. It’s Australia’s very own Orient Express.
What restaurant is at the top of your list to visit in Summer 2023?
Not sure it counts as a restaurant, but C9 Chocolate and Gelato will be a staple visit over the summer.
What Christmas carol/song gets stuck in your head every year?
Carol of the Bells by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych is my favourite Christmas carol.
Lucy Jamieson Beath – Researcher
What podcast/book have you been waiting for the break to listen to or read?
I’m excited to finally begin reading Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
What Australian holiday destination are you planning to (or want to) visit?
I would love to visit Coffin Bay in South Australia this summer and camp in one of the beautiful national parks along the water.
What restaurant is at the top of your list to visit in Summer 2023?
This summer, my number one restaurant to visit is Daana in Canberra. It has been labelled the best Indian cuisine in the Territory.
What Christmas carol/song gets stuck in your head every year?
Without fail, every year Mariah’s All I Want for Christmas remains stuck in my head until the end of January.
Marcus Lee – Researcher
What podcast/book have you been waiting for the break to listen to or read?
Babel by RF Kuang, which is set in 1830s England and explores translation as an imperial tool for the Colonial Project’s expansion.
What Australian holiday destination are you planning to (or want to) visit?
Tasmania – to escape the heat, and for the seafood!
What restaurant is at the top of your list to visit in Summer 2023?
Pho An in Bankstown – to see whether it lives up to its reputation as having the best pho in Sydney.
What Christmas carol/song gets stuck in your head every year?
A three-way tie between O Holy Night, Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You, and Jingle Bell Rock (Mean Girls version).
Milli McDonald– Researcher
What podcast/book have you been waiting for the break to listen to or read?
I think for this summer, I will be reading Nikki Savva’s Bulldozed. A great way to reflect on the events of this year!
What Australian holiday destination are you planning to (or want to) visit?
I’ll be visiting the surf coast town of Apollo Bay, on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. I am very excited for the first summer out of COVID.
What restaurant is at the top of your list to visit in Summer 2023?
Once I get back to Canberra, I hope to visit Braddon’s Lazy Su, a restaurant I can’t believe I haven’t gotten to yet!
What Christmas carol/song gets stuck in your head every year?
I can’t get Jingle Bell Rock out of my head.
The Nexus team will be out of the office and will return on 9 January 2023. If you need to contact Nexus before then, please contact Cathy Duncan at the office on (02) 6169 3966 or via email at cathy@nexusapac.com.au. For urgent matters, please contact Nick Campbell on 0438 324 006 or via email at nick@nexusapac.com.au. The team at Nexus wish you a happy festive season and all the best for the new year
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