News

Latest news and updates from the Menzies Foundation on leadership, community, and social impact.

Menzies Foundation CEO, Liz Gillies to join Philanthropy Australia Board

The Menzies Foundation is delighted to announce that our CEO, Liz Gillies, has been elected to join the Philanthropy Australia Board. As CEO of the Menzies Foundation, Liz is working with the Board, Menzies Foundation team and collaboration partners to support a leadership movement which encourages Australians to reflect on leadership, build their leadership capacity, […]

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2022 MedTech Actuator Menzies Fellow: Dr Greg Stewart

‘This story originally appeared on MedTech Actuator.’  MedTech Actuator Menzies Fellow Dr Greg Stewart is fusing research with entrepreneurship to deliver better medicines for psychiatric disease. Developing New Therapeutics For Schizophrenia  Dr Greg Stewart is the Better Medicines program manager and Senior Research Fellow in the Neuromedicines Discovery Centre based at Monash University’s Faculty of Pharmacy

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2022 MedTech Actuator Menzies Fellow: Dr Warwick Nesbitt

‘This story originally appeared on MedTech Actuator.’  MedTech Actuator Menzies Fellow Dr Warwick Nesbitt is fusing research with entrepreneurship to help reduce the prevalence and impact of cardiovascular disease. Unlocking The Potential Of Lab-On-A-Chip Technologies Warwick is the Laboratory Head of the Haematology Micro-platforms Group, based within the Australian Centre for Blood Disease at Monash University.

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SPOTLIGHT: Award winning Menzies Alumni, makes headway in bipolar disorder treatment

2016 NHMRC/RG Menzies Alumni and Lead Researcher Dr Alexis Whitton, is successfully contributing to the research and early detection of bipolar disorder. Dr Whitton completed a combined Masters in Clinical Psychology and PhD at UNSW. She worked with a team at the Black Dog Institute to develop Australia’s first fully automated web and mobile phone intervention

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For-purpose search specialists, join unique school leader initiative

The Menzies Foundation is delighted to announce a partnership with People for Purpose in support of the Menzies School Leadership Initiative. People for Purpose work to ensure excellence in terms of leadership and governance in the for-purpose sector, knowing that great leadership can help solve our endemic social and environmental problems. Whether it be through

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Applications are open for Four $150,000 School Leader Fellowships

Investigating leadership, building insights, provoking action; applications are now open Australia wide for the 2022 Menzies School Leader Fellowship. Fellowships will be awarded to four innovative principals and assistant principals from Australian government, Catholic and independent schools. Powered by the Menzies Foundation and the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), the two-year, $150,000, leadership development

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SNAICC CEO; Catherine Liddle joins Menzies Foundation Board

The Menzies Foundation is delighted to announce First Nation’s advocate and CEO of SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children, the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, Catherine Liddle, has been appointed to the Menzies Foundation Board. Ms Liddle, an Arrernte/Luritja woman from Central Australia and outstanding NFP leader, brings a

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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.