From Insight to Impact: How the Menzies Incubator is Redefining School Leadership

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School leaders today face a tough challenge: balancing the everyday demands of the education system while navigating an increasingly complex landscape. From shifting student needs to changing expectations, the role of school leadership has never been more important—or more demanding.

Since 2019, the Menzies School Leadership Incubator has been working alongside educators to explore new ways of supporting school leaders to thrive. Driven by the belief that strong leadership is key to improving student outcomes, the Incubator has been developing insights, tools, and strategies to help leaders build stronger, more collaborative school communities.

At the heart of this work is collective efficacy—the shared belief that a team can achieve its goals together. Research shows that when teachers and school leaders feel confident in their collective ability, student outcomes improve. By focusing on this idea, the Incubator has supported schools to develop new ways of working together that empower leaders, educators, and students alike.

Key Achievements 

New Tools to Measure and Build Collective Efficacy
To help schools strengthen collaboration, the Incubator created the Collective Efficacy Tracking Tool and the Elements of Collective Efficacy Scale. These resources enable schools to assess and develop their collective efficacy, providing practical ways for leadership teams to track progress and build stronger, more effective teams.

Rising Team for Schools Platform
In partnership with a technology company, the Incubator developed the Rising Team for Schools platform. This scalable tool helps leaders and teams collaborate better, with step-by-step guidance, pulse checks, and AI-powered coaching. Following prototyping in 2023 and testing in 2024, the platform is set for commercial release in 2025. With pilot programs underway in Australia and the United States, real-world feedback will help refine its capabilities.

Redefining Leadership Roles and Career Pathways
The Incubator’s work has also highlighted the need for clearer leadership pathways in schools. By mapping technical and adaptive leadership capabilities, the Incubator has created a pathway model that helps leaders build essential skills and track their development. Future plans include a Digital Leadership Platform to provide ongoing, context-specific support for leaders navigating complex school environments.

Rethinking School Strategic Planning
The Incubator’s research has shaped a fresh approach to strategic planning in schools, with collective efficacy positioned as a core driver of improvement. This strategic shift is designed to help schools align efforts, strengthen collaboration, and improve learning outcomes at scale.

Looking Ahead

The Incubator is set to expand its partnership with the Complexity Leadership Lab at the Australian National University. This collaboration will delve deeper into how leaders and teams can develop the collaborative capacity needed to navigate complexity. Insights from this research will inform new leadership development strategies tailored to the unique challenges faced by educators and school systems.

The Menzies School Leadership Incubator remains committed to empowering school leaders with practical tools, innovative ideas, and scalable strategies—ensuring Australian students and educators are equipped to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Stay tuned for updates on the upcoming launch of the Rising Team for Schools platform and other exciting developments.

The Menzies Leadership Foundation aspires to amplify a leadership movement which encourages citizens to clarify their purpose, deepen the collective understanding of our responsibility to each other and motivates all to act for the ‘greater good’. 

Our work emphasises the imperative of building a non-siloed coalition of the willing to explore and build a new leadership paradigm which engenders confidence in our leaders, builds collaborative capacity and best positions each of us to step forward with the attributes and ability to navigate the complexities of an increasingly challenging and polarised world. 

We invite you to join us in this quest.

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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.

natasha.eskinja@menziesfoundation.org.au