natasha eskinja

Australia is entering an era defined by uncertainty, interdependence and accelerating change.   Climate instability, technological disruption, global tensions and profound social fragmentation are reshaping every sector — demanding leadership capable not of controlling complexity, but of navigating it.  In this moment, the ANU Leadership & Complexity Lab, supported by the Menzies Leadership Foundation, has emerged […]

By Sarah Jenkins, Menzies Leadership Foundation AI will not replace leaders — but leaders who cannot govern AI responsibly will be replaced by those who can.  Artificial intelligence is reshaping societies, economies and institutions faster than most leaders can absorb. From automated decision-making to personalised learning systems, AI is now embedded in everyday life. Yet

Youth leadership in Australia is experiencing a quiet but profound transformation. As global systems strain under the weight of escalating complexity — what many now describe as a “polycrisis” — young Australians are not simply observing from the sidelines. They are stepping forward with clarity, conviction, and purpose. Few organisations embody this shift more powerfully

The Challenge While school improvement often focuses on resources, curriculum, or structures, research shows that a hidden factor may be even more powerful: collective efficacy. This is the belief among educators that, together, they can positively impact student outcomes. Yet, until recently, collective efficacy was almost impossible to measure. Leaders knew culture mattered, but they

Finding the Middle Ground: Rediscovering Our Shared Responsibility In a world marked by polarisation and fragmentation, how do we rediscover the space between us — the middle ground where shared purpose and collective action can flourish? In the fourth episode of The Future of Leadership Development, host Dr Toby Newstead is joined by Jack Manning

By Sarah Jenkins, Menzies Leadership Foundation The greatest act of leadership today is not to resolve every tension, but to hold it — with steadiness, humility, and imagination — until something better becomes possible.  Leadership in 2025 is defined not by clarity of answers but by the courage to navigate competing truths. Across institutions, communities

The Challenge For many principals, leading in today’s environment feels like carrying a mountain on their shoulders. Issues like disengaged students, teacher burnout, or cultural divisions don’t come with clear answers. Yet too often, these burdens fall disproportionately on school leaders, leaving them feeling isolated. At Warakirri College, a senior leader reflected that while their

Leading Through the Unknown: Thriving in the Age of Complexity How do you lead when the path ahead no longer exists? In an era where institutions, ecosystems, and communities are all reshaping themselves in real time, leadership has become less about direction and more about navigation. In the third episode of The Future of Leadership

By Sarah Jenkins, Menzies Leadership Foundation The new equation of leadership is simple: clarity plus energy equals collective resilience. In 2025, human sustainability is not a luxury — it is the foundation of the future. Everywhere you look in 2025, exhaustion is visible. Employees are overwhelmed by relentless demands. Communities are worn down by climate

From Service to Systems: Reclaiming Leadership as a Shared Responsibility What does leadership look like when no one person holds the map? When challenges stretch across institutions, communities, and generations, the notion of a single heroic leader begins to fracture. In the second episode of The Future of Leadership Development, host Dr Toby Newstead is