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Can a new national initiative help rebuild the norms of respect, dialogue and trust that hold communities together? In recent years, many Australians have sensed a shift in the tone of public conversation. Debates that once unfolded with a degree of mutual respect increasingly feel sharper, louder and more divisive. Social media has amplified disagreement, […]

Leadership today is not faltering because capable people are absent.It is faltering because the mandate to lead can no longer be assumed. Across institutions, organisations, and public life, leaders increasingly discover that authority — once conferred by role, expertise, or election — no longer guarantees consent. Decisions are questioned before they are implemented. Intentions are

Across Australia, communities are beginning to ask a different question about economic development.  Rather than waiting for solutions to arrive from elsewhere, what happens when communities themselves shape their economic future — investing in local assets, mobilising local leadership and building institutions that reflect shared values?  In Mount Alexander Shire in central Victoria, this question

In February 2026, researchers and practitioners contributed to an important global conversation about the future of education leadership.  At the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI) in Qatar — one of the world’s leading conferences on education systems improvement — Dr Kerry Elliott, Menzies Senior Research Fellow at the ANU Leadership & Complexity Lab, and Willie Thompson, Founder of

Across Northern Australia, a powerful leadership movement is quietly gaining momentum.  Indigenous women are building enterprises that strengthen families, sustain culture and create new pathways for community leadership. These businesses may begin small — often as side ventures grounded in local knowledge, cultural practice or community need — but their influence extends far beyond economic participation.  They are shaping

For much of the past century, leadership has been built around a simple assumption: that with enough information, authority and expertise, leaders could understand the system they were responsible for and steer it in the right direction. But the systems shaping our lives today no longer behave that way. Climate disruption, technological acceleration, geopolitical uncertainty

In a time when the fabric of our civic life faces unprecedented challenges, the Menzies Foundation remains committed in its ambition to empower communities and cultivate leadership that serves the greater good. In support of this exploration, we share this report, “The Civic Health of Australia: A National Portrait in 30 Charts.” This report, powered by

At the heart of the Menzies Foundation’s mission lies a steadfast commitment to shaping a new generation of leaders who will drive positive change, strengthen communities, and make a lasting impact on Australian society and the world. By empowering young Australians with the tools, experiences, and networks they need to become effective leaders, the Foundation