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Julie Dao Appointed as Menzies Leadership Foundation 2025 Youth Board Observer

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The Menzies Leadership Foundation is delighted to announce Dr. Thi Kim (Julie) Dao as the 2025 Youth Board Observer, a position created to empower young leaders and amplify their voices within the organisation. Julie’s remarkable accomplishments and unwavering dedication to leadership and ethical challenges position her as an exemplary choice for this role. A Champion […]

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Building shared approaches to teaching and learning

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School systems worldwide acknowledge the vital importance of school leadership in building and enhancing the quality of education, to improve student learning outcomes. With a lens on collective efficacy, the work of the Menzies School Leadership Incubator suggests we need a new approach to leadership that supports school leaders to better manage transformational change and

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A Crisis of Trust: The Growing Disconnect Between Australians and Their Government

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The Civic Health of Australia: A National Portrait in 30 Charts, published by the Australian Leadership Index and OurVoice, and powered by the Menzies Leadership Foundation, highlights the global retreat of democracy and the challenges facing political systems worldwide.  Recent research has painted a stark and deeply concerning picture of the current state of trust

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The State of Civic Participation in Australia: A Changing Landscape

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The Civic Health of Australia: A National Portrait in 30 Charts, published by the Australian Leadership Index and OurVoice, and powered by the Menzies Leadership Foundation, highlights the global retreat of democracy and the challenges facing political systems worldwide.  Recent studies on civic engagement in Australia reveal a complex picture of how Australians perceive and

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Challenges & Opportunities in Developing Leadership 

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Authored by: Amber CY Tsai, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Tasmania, Toby Newstead, PhD, Leadership Scholar and Executive Leadership Coach, and Joseph Crawford, PhD, Organisational Behaviour Scholar.  What stands between us and more effective leadership development?   From the research-practice gap to emerging challenges like climate change and leader burnout, traditional approaches to leadership development

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Global Decline in Democracy: Australia’s Struggle with Polarisation and Trust

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The Civic Health of Australia: A National Portrait in 30 Charts, published by the Australian Leadership Index and OurVoice, and powered by the Menzies Foundation, highlights the global retreat of democracy and the challenges facing political systems worldwide.  In recent years, research from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance has shown a troubling

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Demystifying Generative AI – Leading Through Uncertainty, Designing for Integrity

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As artificial intelligence accelerates into the mainstream, the legal profession finds itself at a pivotal moment—challenged not only to interpret the implications of emerging technologies, but to lead with clarity, accountability, and care. In July 2024, the Menzies Leadership Foundation, in collaboration with the Centre for AI and Digital Ethics (CAIDE), hosted a landmark event

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From Isolation to Impact, Rethinking School Leadership in a Complex World

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By any measure, 2024 was a year of extraordinary pressure and promise for education. Across Australia, school leaders have been asked to carry more than their share of complexity: rising demands, cultural shifts, workforce pressures, student wellbeing concerns, and a lingering sense of societal uncertainty. In that context, the Menzies School Leadership Incubator offered not just

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Shaping Leadership for the Legal Profession of Tomorrow

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The Menzies Foundation, in collaboration with Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Ethics (CAIDE) at University of Melbourne, is proud to announce the release of New Legal Thinking for Emerging Technologies, a pivotal report addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies for the legal profession, drawing on extensive research to provide actionable insights and

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Leadership: Navigating Complexity Podcast Series with Dr Aiden M. A. Thornton

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In a world characterised by rapid change and understanding the complex nature of leadership is essential for leaders at all organiastional layers.The Leadership: Navigating Complexity podcast series, powered by the Menzies Foundation, serves as a critical resource for for those seeking to comprehend the multifaceted and complex dynamics of effective leadership. Through engaging discussions led

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Natasha Eskinja

Digital Communications Coordinator

Natasha is driven by a profound passion for both creativity and analytics, a synergy that fosters authentic storytelling in the digital realm with both innovation and integrity. 

Throughout her career, she has consistently integrated the overarching marketing and communications narrative with the emotional connections of audiences. She is currently pursuing a Certificate in Society and the Individual from Flinders University, furthering her exploration of human behaviour and the critical importance of connectedness between organisations, individuals, and communities.

LinkedIn | natasha.eskinja@menziesfoundation.org.au

Sarah Jenkins

Strategic Communications Manager

Sarah has more than 18 years’ experience in communications and marketing leadership across a range of sectors.

Communications strategy and organisational growth is a continuing theme in Sarah’s career. Most recently, she leads the development of a Leadership Movement, evaluated by Menzies Viral Co-efficient Model; a contribution to the NFP. 

Sarah’s early career centred around best practice in marketing and communications which later culminated into the establishment of her very own agency. This work extensively spanned across PR, traditional media, event management, strategy, digital marketing, graphic design and business development consultancy. 

In 2019, Sarah joined the lean and robust team at the Menzies Foundation. She has since crafted the Foundation’s narrative and communication strategy. The development of this strategic communications platform is essential for ‘movement building’ and requires a strong strategic, management and communication skills set. Sarah has brought so much to this important work, which sits at the forefront of communication practice. 

Sarah continues to contribute to the NFP sector through her commitment to Purpose; as she reflects on her own leadership, builds her own leadership capability and contributes to the greater good. 

LinkedIn | sarah.jenkins@menziesfoundation.org.au | 0401 880 071

Rohan Martyres

Director, Strategy and Partnerships

Rohan has 15 years’ experience in facilitating cross-sector collaborations to address complex social and health challenges.  He has worked with the World Economic Forum in Australia, led an international conflict resolution field team in Nepal, and directed a 10-year £40m initiative to reduce health inequity in London.

Most recently, Rohan was Major Grants Development Manager at the Ian Potter Foundation.  He refined the foundation’s major grants strategy, and co-developed a series of large scale initiatives, including joint philanthropic-government funding for a new national organization to support place-based approaches across Australia.

Rohan has held several non-executive roles, including with an international NGO and with London Funders, the peak body of independent foundations in London.  He holds several qualifications including a graduate degree in innovation and strategy from the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.

When Rohan isn’t exploring Melbourne’s creeks with his partner and 6yo daughter, he’s working on his currently weak Australian accent (after 15 years in the UK).

LinkedIn | rohan.martyres@menziesfoundation.org.au | 0404 505 954

Trudy Morrison

Operations Manager

A marketing and communications specialist with over 20 years experience in government, corporate and consumer marketing, Trudy brings her adaptive and organisational project management skills to the Menzies Foundation team. 

With a BA degree in Public Relations, Trudy began her career with the City of Melbourne and in magazine publishing, before moving into marketing communications consulting. She has worked in strategic marketing leadership roles with retail brands and enjoys juggling many projects and tasks simultaneously. Her skills were further enhanced when managing her own communications business representing industries across private education, financial services, aviation, government and the health industry. 

Trudy is passionate about leadership and all people being encouraged to reach their full potential through research and educational initiatives and opportunities throughout Australia. A skilled and accomplished writer and editor Trudy is enthusiastic about bringing her variety of skills to the Menzies Foundation team. 

LinkedIn | trudy.morrison@menziesfoundation.org.au | 0402 361 878

Liz Gillies

Chief Executive Officer

Liz Gillies has had over 25 years experience in a range of fields focused on initiatives for social impact. She has held roles in multiple sectors and academia.

In 2018, Liz was appointed CEO of the Menzies Foundation which aspires to build a leadership movement that supports Australians to pivot to purpose, build their leadership capability and contribute to the ‘greater good’.

Liz joined the Melbourne Business School in 2009 and was instrumental in establishing the Asia Pacific Social Impact Centre (APSIC) and The Centre for Ethical Leadership. In November 2011 she was appointed as research fellow to lead a partnership focused on strategic philanthropy which culminated in the release of the reports: Philanthropy: Towards a Better Practice Model (2018) and the Philanthropy: The Continued Journey to Real Impact and better Practice (2021).

Liz has extensive governance experience, having served on the Board of the Publish Galleries Association of Victoria, Social Firms Australia, Uniting Care Community Options, United Way Australia and the Development Committee of the Towards a Just Society Foundation. She is currently on the Philanthropy Reference Group of Barmal Bijiril and a Director of Philanthropy Australia.

LinkedIn | liz.gillies@menziesfoundation.org.au | 0416 112 703

Natasha Eskinja

Digital Communications Coordinator

Natasha is driven by a profound passion for both creativity and analytics, a synergy that fosters authentic storytelling in the digital realm with both innovation and integrity. 

Throughout her career, she has consistently integrated the overarching marketing and communications narrative with the emotional connections of audiences. She is currently pursuing a Certificate in Society and the Individual from Flinders University, furthering her exploration of human behaviour and the critical importance of connectedness between organisations, individuals, and communities.

natasha.eskinja@menziesfoundation.org.au