The Shaun McCambridge Podcast

What happens when the business you built, your reputation and your sense of identity unravel almost overnight? Shaun sits down with Mark Sowerby to discuss the rise of Blue Sky Alternative Investments, the personal impact of its collapse and the extraordinary challenge that helped him rebuild. Mark shares what completing the Oceans Seven taught him about resilience, purpose, preparation and finding wisdom “out on the edge”.

Mark Sowerby is an experienced business leader, investor and adventurer whose career has spanned global commodity trading, agribusiness, private equity and venture capital. He founded Blue Sky Alternative Investments in 2006 and now heads up Caithness Ventures.

Beyond business, Mark is an accomplished endurance swimmer. In 2024, he completed the Oceans Seven global swimming challenge, an achievement featured in the documentary Don’t Be Prey.

Mark reflects on his path from boarding school and commodity trading to founding Blue Sky Alternative Investments. After listing in 2012 with a market capitalisation of approximately $33 million, the business grew rapidly and later reached a peak valuation of around $1.2 billion.

That trajectory changed dramatically following an activist short-selling attack. Although Mark had already left Blue Sky, he watched from the outside as the company collapsed and his reputation, wealth and life’s work came under intense scrutiny. He speaks openly about the effect on his mental health and the people who helped him through that period.

A conversation with his former English Channel coach gave Mark a new purpose: completing the Oceans Seven, one of the world’s most demanding endurance challenges. Through years of training and seven difficult channel crossings, he began rebuilding his health, confidence and sense of direction.

Shaun and Mark discuss resilience, preparation, family, accountability and the importance of winning critical moments. They also explore why growth is often found beyond the comfort zone and the story behind Mark’s documentary, Don’t Be Prey.

• Mark’s path from commodity trading to founding Blue Sky Alternative Investments

• Building Blue Sky from a small Brisbane office into a ASX listed business 

• The activist short-selling attack and Mark’s account of what followed

• The personal cost of losing control over his wealth, reputation and life’s work

• Mental health, survival and the people who supported Mark

• Finding a renewed sense of purpose through the Oceans Seven challenge

• How preparation, discipline and routine supported his recovery

• The physical and mental demands of seven major channel crossings

• Why endurance is about winning critical moments, not simply following a plan

• Learning that our capacity for discomfort is often greater than we realise

• Why Mark believes wisdom and growth are found “out on the edge”

• Protecting his sons and the role family played throughout the crisis

• Heidi’s (his wife’s) influence as the foundation of the Sowerby family

• Mark’s pursuit of accountability through the class action

• The story behind Don’t Be Prey

1:30: Blue Sky’s growth from $33 million to a ASX market darling 

2:30: Mark’s founder story and decision to work for himself

4:30: The opportunity that gave Blue Sky its North Star

5:30: Boarding school, university and developing confidence

7:00: Listing Blue Sky and its rapid rise

9:00: The activist short-selling attack and the collapse that followed

12:00: The media campaign and watching events unfold from outside the business

13:00: The impact on Mark’s mental health

14:00: The conversation that gave Mark a new purpose

15:30: Rebuilding through training, structure and supportive people

20:00: The class action and pursuit of accountability

24:00: Taking on the Oceans Seven challenge

28:00: What suffering and preparation taught Mark

30:00: Trusting his coach and winning the critical moments

33:00: Leaving the comfort zone and finding wisdom “out on the edge”

35:00: Why Mark considers his sons his greatest achievement

36:30: Heidi’s role as the foundation of the family

38:00: What justice and winning now look like for Mark

40:00: The making and message of Don’t Be Prey

42:00: Shaun’s closing reflections

• Don’t Be Prey documentary: www.dontbeprey.film

• Don’t Be Prey on YouTube: YouTube channel

• Starlight Children’s Foundation: www.starlight.org.au

• Oceans Seven challenge: World Open Water Swimming Association

• Bond University: www.bond.edu.au

• Australian Securities and Investments Commission: www.asic.gov.au

• Senate inquiry into ASIC investigation and enforcement: Parliament of Australia

• Caithness Ventures

• Blue Sky Alternative Investments