Latest news and updates from the Menzies Foundation on leadership, community, and social impact.
As the new students arrive at the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School to start Year 7, one of the people helping make them feel at home is Michelle Kerrin, who recently wrote about her experience as the Inaugural RG Menzies Indigenous Mentoring Fellow. Michelle Kerrin and Menzies Centenary Prize winner, Courtney Dove, come from very different […]
The Menzies Foundation has kicked off the new year with a number of key leadership changes. With over 20 years’ experience in social impact, philanthropy and leadership development, Elizabeth Gillies has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Menzies Foundation. CEO Sarah Hardy is starting a new role as CEO of the RE Ross
Today marks 30 years since the official opening of what was the Menzies Centre for Population Health Research in Tasmania (now the Menzies Institute for Medical Research), by the Right Honourable Sir Ninian Stephen KG, AK, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, QC, when he was Governor General of Australia. For 30 years the people of Tasmania have
30 years of outstanding Menzies research in Tasmania Read More »
2017 Menzies Alumni President and Engineering Scholar, Dr Adrian McCallum, has just returned from an expedition to Nepal with his engineering students, exploring various aspects of earthquake risk and impact. “It was a multi-faceted adventure, with two weeks spent investigating post-earthquake building construction in Nepal, with my fourth year engineering students from the University of
Scaling the heights to develop avalanche warning Read More »
Professor Michel Coppieters has been appointed as the Menzies Foundation Professor of Allied Health Research at the Menzies Health Institute in Queensland. Professor Coppieters is a physiotherapist with a focus on treatment of neurogenic disorders. He has a special interest improving musculoskeletal health and reducing persistent pain. Griffith University spoke with Professor Coppieters about his new role and
Menzies Allied Health Research professor appointed Read More »
Menzies Scholars and Fellows have been awarded fellowships and project grants from the NHMRC valued at over $10.7 million in the latest round of announcements. They include: 2012 NHMRC/RG Menzies Fellow, Associate Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson, who was awarded a Career Development Fellowship ($476,728) at the University of Melbourne, for her work on circulating tumour DNA.
Scholars granted over $10 million in latest NHMRC round Read More »
Taking the big jump from feeling safe, supported and surrounded by family in a small town in Queensland to studying at the University of Melbourne, is an experience that will guide the mentoring efforts of the 2018 Menzies Indigenous Mentoring Fellow. Proud Mamu Waribarra woman from Tully in Far North Queensland, Serena Rae Thompson, has
Associate Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson is on a journey to demonstrate the value of blood-based circulating tumour DNA testing in better treating and monitoring cancer patients. It’s a journey which started as part of her NHMRC/Menzies Fellowship in Cambridge and has just been given a major boost with the CSL Centenary Fellowship. Sarah-Jane, who has joint
Can blood tests improve outcomes for cancer patients? Read More »
Leo Ng from Marist College in Canberra has taken out the National History Challenge special category ‘Sir Robert Menzies and today’s Australia’ with an excellent essay addressing the question ‘Did Sir Robert Menzies contribute to a better world?’. Leo was awarded the prize for the special category on Sir Robert Menzies at the National History
History challenge winner – Menzies contributed to a better world Read More »
From coffee with an ex-PM, to dinner at the House of Lords and a deep dive into legal theory at Oxford, it’s a cracking pace of life for a Menzies Scholar in the UK – and Nathan Van Wees is loving it. Nathan was awarded the 2017 Menzies Scholarship in Law and is completing a
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.
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 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
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 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 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.
