Latest news and updates from the Menzies Foundation on leadership, community, and social impact.
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 […]
Opportunity knocks for Menzies Law Scholar Read More »
She could well be the prototype for the successful modern teacher. Dr Carina Dennis has taken her evidence and research capabilities honed as a medical scientist, combined them with her communication skills as a journalist and editor, and is now using them to full effect in her third career as a teacher. Geneticist and 1993
Teaching exceeds Carina’s expectations Read More »
Chair of the Menzies Foundation, Professor Simon Maddocks, has paid tribute to former governor-general, The Right Honourable Sir Ninian Stephen, who helped shaped the Foundation as its Chairman from 1992-1998. “The Menzies Foundation was lucky to have such a great Australian and preeminent legal mind as its leader in the 90s,” Professor Maddocks said. “During
Paying tribute to Sir Ninian Stephen Read More »
Electrical engineer Olsen Garland has set a cracking pace in his first few months as a Menzies Scholar. As part of the latest group of Menzies Scholars to arrive in the UK, Olsen has started his MBA at the London Business School (LBS) and says from orientation week on it has been nothing short of
Olsen powers up and plugs in Read More »
The call has gone out for applicants to be the 2018 Sir Robert Menzies Indigenous Mentoring Fellow at the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS). The Fellowship, which started this year, is a partnership between the Menzies Foundation and MITS. Each year, 22 Indigenous boys and girls around Year Seven age come to learn and live
Call out for 2018 Menzies Indigenous Mentoring Fellow Read More »
The results of a research trial by Menzies Allied Health Scholar and Liverpool Hospital Senior Physiotherapist, Bernadette Brady, will lead to the development of planning tools that practitioners can use to help them quickly explore a patient’s cultural influences on their pain. Liverpool and Fairfield Hospitals and Western Sydney University have pioneered a chronic pain
Understanding cultural practices to improve pain management Read More »
Glenn Withers is a Distinguished Professor of Economics at the Australian National University and University of New South Wales and was founding CEO of Universities Australia. He was awarded his RG Menzies Scholarship to complete a PhD in Business Economics within the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University in 1970, well before
A scholar's early encounter with Menzies Read More »
Professor Brian Johnson is a futurist who works with organizations to develop an actionable 10-15 year vision and what it will feel like to live in the future. Brian is currently the futurist in residence at Arizona State University’s Center for Science and the Imagination, a Professor in the School for the Future of Innovation
Who is Professor Brian David Johnson? Read More »
The journey through a PhD is often about much more than just research. Being flexible, having patience and persistence, and the ability to work independently while managing research and clinical work were all a part of the challenge for 2015 Allied Health Scholar Teresa Brown who recently submitted her final thesis for review. Teresa’s PhD
What comes after a PhD? Read More »
The Satellite Foundation’s Menzies Young Leader program is in full swing! Eight amazing young people from various parts of Victoria are participating in a series of six Saturday workshops, talking about shared experiences of living in a family where a parent or sibling has mental health issues, and how to capture and transform their experiences and
Young leaders addressing mental health Read More »
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.
