ASX BRIEFS

Hosted by Andrew Musgrave

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Episodes

222

Latest episode

May 2026

Language

EN-AU

About the show

Welcome to 'ASX BRIEFS,' the definitive podcast for enthusiasts, investors, and professionals keen on staying ahead of the curve in the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). Hosted by Andrew Musgrave, 'ASX BRIEFS' delves deep into the heart of Australia's financial markets, bringing you insightful conversations with the minds shaping the future of investing down under. Each episode, join Andrew as he interviews a diverse lineup of fund managers, executives, and industry insiders, offering you a unique blend of expert analysis, strategic insights, and the latest trends affecting the ASX. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, 'ASX BRIEFS' is your go-to source for comprehensive updates and thought-provoking discussions designed to inform, inspire, and empower your investment journey. Tune in to 'ASX BRIEFS' and take the pulse of Australia's financial markets right at your fingertips.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 17, 202617 min

INTELLIGENT MONITORING GROUP LTD (IMB) - How IMG Is Building A One-Stop Security Partner Across Australia And New Zealand

Send us Fan MailA security monitoring business doesn’t grow a $63.2m secured installation pipeline by accident, so we sat down with Dennison Hambling, Managing Director of Intelligent Monitoring Group (IMG), to understand what’s really driving the momentum. We talk candidly about why large enterprises across Australia and New Zealand are increasingly choosing a single national provider for electronic security, fire protection, and monitoring, and how IMG is rebuilding that “one trusted partner” position as the industry stays highly fragmented.We dig into the numbers behind the story, including operating cash flow and what Dennison calls improving earnings quality, plus the seasonality that can make quarter-to-quarter comparisons tricky. Dennison also shares how the company’s balance sheet journey and legacy tax losses influence capital allocation, and why he wants dividends to be sustainable when they arrive, not just symbolic.A big segment focuses on the completed acquisition of Blue Sky Hold Co, including Wormald New Zealand (Tyco NZ) and Red Wolf Security. We unpack what these businesses do, how they strengthen IMG’s New Zealand footprint to more than 500 people across 12 locations, and why national coverage matters when serving government and large multi-site customers. We also explore why prior alignment within the Johnson Controls ecosystem can reduce integration risk and simplify the transition.Then we zoom out to the technology shift: Video Guard and AI-powered video monitoring. Dennison explains how “threat assessment” changes the old alarm response model, why New Zealand is earlier in adoption than Australia, and how monitored video can expand the addressable market by competing with guarding and patrols while making real security more affordable.If you care about security industry trends, ASX growth stories, or the practical realities of scaling a services business across Australasia, hit play now. Subscribe, share the episode with a mate, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

May 26, 202610 min

AIRTASKER LTD (ART) - Inside Airtasker’s Q3 Growth And The New Membership Play

Send us Fan MailA marketplace can tell you more about the economy than a headline number, especially when thousands of everyday jobs are priced in real time. We sit down with Tim Fung to break down Airtasker’s Q3 performance and what’s really driving momentum in Australia: rising job volumes, strong completion rates, and an uplift in average task prices that reflects both demand and the cost-of-living squeeze pushing more people to earn on-platform. We also talk candidly about what’s next as consumer sentiment darkens and interest rate settings start to bite.From there, we zoom out to the brand battle. Airtasker’s focus is simple: when a roof leaks, a tap drips, or IKEA furniture needs assembling, we want Airtasker to be the first name people think of. We unpack the strategic media partnership with Nine Entertainment and how it complements other channels to lift unprompted brand awareness, while also using the balance sheet in a disciplined way through delayed settlement structures.Internationally, the story splits in two. The UK approaches a scale point where the marketplace can become cash generative quickly with low fixed costs, while the US remains in build mode, investing to strengthen network effects. We also cover the newer membership product, designed to lift frequency and create sticky recurring revenue through an annual fee and added credits. If you care about the gig economy, marketplace growth, ASX tech, and how pricing power shows up in the real world, this one is packed with signal. Subscribe, share it with a mate, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

May 24, 202616 min

MYECO LTD (MCO) - GRS Certified Recycling Meets The Supermarket Shelf

Send us Fan Mail“Recycled” sounds simple until you ask one awkward question: what exactly was recycled to make this product? We’re joined by Marie De Perthuis, CEO of MyEco Group Limited, to talk about how sustainable packaging earns trust when greenwashing is everywhere and shoppers are time-poor at the shelf.We get a clear view of MyEco Group’s model: a Melbourne-based brand with manufacturing and R&D capability that supports traceability from resin to finished goods. Marie explains why third-party certification (including GRS for post-consumer recycled materials) is more than a logo. It’s how retailers and consumers separate credible recycled content from vague claims, and how a category lifts its standards without asking shoppers to do forensic research.We also dive into growth drivers across two big channels. On the retail side, the new GRS certified post-consumer recycled bin liner range launching at Woolworths marks a major step beyond compostables and into a much larger market that directly competes with virgin plastic. On the council side, we unpack FOGO rollouts, tender wins, and why organics diversion, contamination reduction and landfill pressure are pushing councils to act sooner rather than later.If you care about sustainable packaging in Australia, compostable caddy liners, soft plastic recycling, or what “real” recycled content looks like at scale, this conversation delivers practical detail and a straightforward checklist for cutting through the noise. Subscribe, share the episode with a mate, and leave a review, then tell us: what do you look for before you trust a sustainability claim?

May 22, 202614 min

SYNTARA LTD (SNT) - How Syntara Builds A Biotech Pipeline With Multiple Shots On Goal

Send us Fan MailA small ASX biotech can feel impossible to value until the data starts landing, and that’s exactly where Syntara is headed. We’re joined by CEO Gary Phillips to map out a tight run of clinical catalysts and the thinking behind a pipeline built around extracellular matrix dysfunction and amine oxidase chemistry, backed by specialist institutional investors and real in-house drug discovery.We dig into Amsulostat, the lead program in myelofibrosis, and what positive FDA feedback actually means in practice: a clearer regulatory development pathway, a Phase 2B add-on design against placebo alongside JAK inhibitor standard of care, and stronger footing for potential partnering conversations in hematology and oncology. Gary also explains why safety and symptom score improvements matter so much at this stage, especially in diseases where current options can be hard to tolerate.From there we switch gears into two more high-interest areas. In myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), we cover the unmet need, the significance of grant-backed trials in Germany and Australia, and why indication expansion can materially lift an asset’s commercial upside. We also explore SNT 4728 in isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (IRBD), a sleep condition that can precede Parkinson’s disease, and how a placebo-controlled study funded by Parkinson’s UK uses brain imaging to look for reduced inflammation. Finally, we talk skin scarring, including hypertrophic and keloid scars, why function and mental health outcomes matter, and what a once-daily topical approach could mean if results stack up.If you follow ASX biotech, clinical trials, FDA pathways, or early signals in Parkinson’s research, this chat is built for your watchlist. Subscribe, share the episode with a mate who tracks biotech's, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.

May 20, 202614 min

ORTHOCELL LTD (OCC) - How Remplir Makes Nerve Repair Simpler

Send us Fan MailA medical device can be brilliantly engineered and still fail for one simple reason: it never makes it from regulatory clearance to routine use in hospitals. We talk with Paul Anderson, CEO and Managing Director of Orthocell Limited, about how his team is trying to close that gap with a collagen-based regenerative medicine platform designed to support repair of bone, nerve and tendon injuries, and why their nerve product Remplir is now the commercial focus. We unpack the growth story behind recent revenue momentum, starting with a successful Australian launch where Remplir is widely used and reimbursed, then moving into the US where the opportunity is huge and the work is relentless. Paul explains the hybrid commercial model, how surgeon training really happens, and why adoption often comes in waves as clinicians build confidence case by case. We also get specific about the unglamorous but decisive step in US market access: Value Analysis Committee approvals, and how building a pipeline of VAC submissions can turn a hospital “yes” into real purchasing and repeat use. Clinical proof sits at the centre of everything. We discuss the importance of real-world evidence, what a strong post-market dataset signals to surgeons and payers, and how that evidence supports upcoming EU and UK regulatory submissions. The conversation also explores the defence channel, including approvals across US military medical centres and what real-world use in complex trauma settings can do for credibility. If you care about ASX healthcare growth, medical device commercialisation, nerve repair innovation, and the practical realities of scaling in the US, UK and Europe, this one is for you. Subscribe for more ASX Briefs conversations, share the episode with a mate, and leave a review with the one question you still have after listening.

May 19, 202622 min

SPACETALK LTD (SPA) - Can One Telco Customer Become A Whole Family?

Send us Fan MailA kids smartwatch can be a solid business. A family safety platform that telcos can deploy to millions of customers is a very different ambition, and that’s what we explore with Simon Crowther, CEO and Managing Director of Spacetalk Limited (ASX: SPA).We start with the core product that built the Spacetalk brand: a kids safety smartwatch that gives parents peace of mind through location features and a locked-down contact experience, without social media or a browser. Then we move into the real strategic shift, away from being device-led and towards being software-led and mobile-led, including a re-platforming to AWS designed to support scale in Australia and overseas.Simon is candid about the November app launch and the data migration issues that followed, why the team chose a deliberate operational reset, and what “back on track” looks like in practice: falling support tickets, ongoing app updates, and new premium features on the way. We also unpack the metrics investors care about, including subscriber growth, mobile ARR, and how family safety features like content filtering can lift retention and extend customer lifetime value beyond the watch years into the first phone years.From there, we dig into the commercial roadmap: cost savings, a push towards cash positive operations, and the opportunity in telco distribution. Simon explains the value proposition for partners like Vodafone and TPG, the idea of moving from a one-to-one telco customer relationship to a family dynamic, and why international interest is building across Europe and beyond alongside CY26 ARR guidance of $20m to $25m.Subscribe for more ASX company insights, share this episode with a mate who follows small caps, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. What part of Spacetalk’s pivot matters most to you: platform stability, family safety software, or telco scale?

May 14, 202618 min

FIREBIRD METALS LTD (FRB) - Australia Can Build A Non-China Battery Materials Alternative

Send us Fan MailThe EV battery revolution isn’t just about who sells the most cars, it’s about who controls the materials that make batteries cheaper, safer, and easier to source. I’m joined by Ron Mitchell, CEO of Firebird Metals, to talk about a different kind of advantage: taking manganese concentrate and turning it into high value battery materials in a single integrated processing circuit, rather than shipping intermediates across a fragmented, multi-country supply chain. If you care about Australian critical minerals, battery materials, and the future of energy storage, this conversation is packed with practical detail.We walk through Firebird’s “concentrate to cathode” approach, including high purity manganese sulphate production and why that product is such a strategic pinch point outside China. Ron explains why manganese is attracting serious attention as battery makers chase the holy grail of lower dollars per kilowatt hour, and how LMFP (lithium manganese iron phosphate) is emerging as a compelling evolution of LFP chemistry. We also dig into what “lithium manganese rich” (LMR) means, why it can reduce reliance on high nickel cathodes, and why Western OEMs are watching closely.From there, we get into the moat-building pieces: Firebird’s exclusive LMFP patent licence through to May 2045, the commercialisation pathway that leans capital-light through partnering and licensing, and the importance of proving the technology in a Western setting via a demonstration plant near the Perth CBD. Ron also shares what it means to secure an ARENA Battery Breakthrough Initiative grant, and what shareholders should watch for across 2026 as equipment lands, commissioning ramps up, and new IP is lodged.Subscribe for more conversations on ASX-listed innovators, share this with a mate who follows EVs and critical minerals, and leave a review to help others find the show. What do you think matters more right now: battery chemistry breakthroughs or supply chain sovereignty?

May 13, 202614 min

ROCKETDNA LTD (RKT) - Autonomous Drones In Mining

Send us Fan MailMine sites are drowning in tasks that are repetitive, risky, and time-heavy, yet the real value sits on the other side of the work: clean data that helps people make faster calls. We chat with Chris Clark, Managing Director and CEO of RocketDNA Limited, about how AI-driven autonomous drones are taking on aerial surveying, security and surveillance, and asset inspection for Tier 1 mining customers across Australia and Africa and what that means when the output is trusted enough to drive day-to-day decisions.We break down RocketDNA’s latest momentum, including revenue growth and the milestone of first positive operating cash flow, and why management keeps coming back to recurring revenue as the foundation for a scalable ASX microcap business. Chris explains how the xBot® solution brings together autonomous drone hardware, remote operations, and two key software layers: the SiteTube visualisation platform and Skylink®, RocketDNA’s proprietary operating system for managing autonomous drone fleets at enterprise level.Skylink® is where the conversation gets practical: access control, scheduling, demand planning, maintenance oversight, and the jump from running a handful of drones to operating fleets across multiple sites. We also dig into the leading indicators that show whether a platform is becoming “sticky” including flight mission growth and active software users and why land-and-expand economics can beat constant greenfield chasing when customers keep ordering more units to meet demand.If you care about autonomous drone technology, mining digitisation, and the shift from hardware projects to software-backed recurring revenue, this one is for you. Subscribe, share it with a mate in resources or tech, and leave us a review, then tell us: where do you think autonomous drones deliver the biggest productivity win first?

May 12, 202611 min

ONE CLICK GROUP LTD (1CG) - How One Click Group Builds A One Stop Financial Life Platform

Send us Fan MailA fintech business can grow fast, but growing efficiently is the real test. We sit down with Mark Waller, Managing Director of One Click Group Limited, for a clear update on how One Click Life is scaling as a financial life admin app for Australians. Mark walks us through the company’s FY2025 performance, including record revenue of $6.1 million and its first underlying EBITDA profit, and why that profitability milestone changes what’s possible when it comes to funding marketing and expanding the product suite.We also get practical about the operating model: how One Click keeps fixed operating costs largely steady while the user base climbs, and how a shift toward organic growth channels is lowering user acquisition costs. Mark explains what’s driving engagement outside the traditional tax season, and why adding more services creates multiple paths to market instead of relying on a single product cycle. If you follow ASX fintech stocks, unit economics, or scalable software platforms, there’s plenty here to consider.From there we explore product expansion across online tax returns, wills, insurance, lending, and the Little Money cash advance product, designed to meet year round demand for short term liquidity. We also unpack One Click Super, built and awaiting trustee approval, with a focus on helping younger users consolidate and manage superannuation in one place. To finish, Mark shares what success looks like through 2026 from both a shareholder and customer lens, and how automation and API integration help deliver a smoother experience at scale.If you found value here, subscribe, share the episode with a mate, and leave a review. What would you most want to manage in one app: tax, super, or day to day cash flow?

May 10, 202611 min

GREENTECH METALS LTD (GRE) - A Historic Reef And Mine Data Could Re-Rate GreenTech Metals

Send us Fan MailA thin, high-grade reef can be impressive on paper, but it can also be hard to mine at scale. That’s why we sit down with GreenTech Metals CEO James Rattenbury to talk about a different way to view the Munni Munni platinum group metals system in Western Australia’s West Pilbara: not just the reef, but the wider mineralised zones around it that bring copper and nickel into the story.We walk through what Green Tech Metals is building across a dominant regional footprint, anchored by two projects only about 10 kilometres apart: Munni Munni (PGE with base metals potential) and Whundo (a high-grade copper-zinc VMS asset with overlooked gold). James explains why commodity prices, mining methods, and development benchmarks have shifted since earlier studies, and how that changes what “historic” data can be worth today. We also unpack the practical work underway, including drilling, resampling preserved legacy core, and QA/QC designed to support a JORC 2012 mineral resource estimate targeted for the June quarter.From there, we look ahead to the 2026 catalyst timeline: Money Money’s re-estimated resource in late June, Whundo’s update by August, drilling news flow from June, and the metallurgical test work needed to confirm a simple concentrate pathway with meaningful PGE credits. If you follow ASX mining, critical minerals, platinum group metals, copper, nickel, and WA exploration, this conversation maps the milestones that could drive a re-rate.Subscribe for more ASX Briefs, share this episode with a mate who follows resources, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.