Futurist Professor Brian David Johnson to conduct Threatcasting Lab for Menzies Foundation

/ News / By

The Menzies Foundation focuses on raising the profile of ‘outstanding leadership’ and supports strategic leadership development platforms. One of the Foundation’s
key strategic areas of focus is supporting Australia to grapple with complex legal challenges in a global context. Our focus for the next three years
is cyber security.

The Ninian Stephen Menzies Cyber Law Program, run in partnership with the ANU Cyber Institute and ANU School of Law, supports the Australian legal sector
to grapple with the complex legal challenges of cyber resilience and risk in a global context.

In further support of this initiative, the Menzies Foundation is delighted to be partnering with the University of Melbourne to deliver the 2019 Menzies
Oration which will be presented by Professor Brian David Johnson, Futurist, Arizona State University, on the important topic; The Future of Risk, Security and the Law.

Professor Johnson will run a Threatcasting Lab leading up to the Oration to explore the challenges of resolving transnational legal cyber security threats
and disputes in uncertainty and complexity, amplified by the pace of technological change.

The Threatcasting Lab will be held at the University of Melbourne on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th October, culminating
in the Menzies Oration at the Melbourne Law School on the evening of Tuesday, 8th October 2019.

Professor Brian Johnson is a futurist who works with organisations 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 Centre for Science and the Imagination, a Professor in the School
for the Future of Innovation in Society and the Director of the ASU Threatcasting Lab. He is also a Futurist and Fellow at Frost and Sullivan.

Brian speaks and writes extensively and has contributed to publications like the Wall Street Journal, Slate and Wired Magazine. He was appointed the first
futurist at Intel in 2009 where he worked for over a decade. He regularly appears on the BBC, Bloomberg TV, PBS, FOX News and the Discovery Channel
and has been featured in Scientific American, The Technology Review, Forbes, INC and Popular Science. In addition, Brian has directed two feature films
and is an illustrator and commissioned painter.

Brian’s visit will coincide with a major global Cyber Security Conference taking place in Melbourne in the first week of October, being hosted by the Australian Information Security Association and AustCyber which will host
local and global thought leaders and industry experts focused on cyber risk and resilience challenges.

Please direct your interest in contributing to the Threatcasting Lab or joining us at the Oration to events@menziesfoundation.org.au

Related Posts

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