Transforming Leadership Capacity in Education;
Individual, Team and System Level

School systems worldwide acknowledge the vital importance of school leadership in building and enhancing the quality of education, to improve student learning outcomes. With a lens on collective efficacy, the work of the Menzies School Leadership Incubator suggests we need a new approach to leadership that supports school leaders to better manage transformational change and a deeper collaborative capacity necessary to lead in complexity, acknowledging the interplay between individual, team, and systemic dynamics in improving student learning outcomes.

Through bold research, innovative tools, and strategic guidance, Menzies Leadership Foundation is empowering schools and leaders to drive meaningful change. Join us on this transformative journey and help shape the future of education for generations to come.

Collaboration partners include;  Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), Rising Team, and Collier Charitable Fund

In commitment to driving transformative change in schools through innovative leadership initiatives and cutting-edge tools, the Rising Team for Schools Platform is empowering teams to navigate complexity with confidence. The groundbreaking Phase 3: Making Sense of Complexity will look to equip educators with practical strategies to collaborate effectively and tackle the challenges of modern education. The use of advanced survey tools are refining how we measure collective efficacy and leadership impact, turning insights into actionable improvements that foster trust, innovation, and results-driven outcomes.

In collaboration with Dr Aiden Thornton at the Australian National University, the Complexity Leadership Lab is pioneering research into how schools can thrive in uncertain and demanding environments. Through creative learning experiences and adaptive leadership practices, school teams will gain the tools to think strategically and act decisively in the face of complexity.

In parallel, the Foundation are reimagining school improvement with a new strategic planning framework, replacing outdated, linear approaches with dynamic and outcome-focused strategies. This guidance equips schools to align high-level goals with actionable plans, ensuring efforts translate into measurable impact for students, staff, and communities. Leaders are supported to build subordinate strategies, clear processes, and organisational architectures that turn vision into results.

Leadership development is also entering a new era with the development of a digital leadership capability platform, a groundbreaking tool designed to bridge competency gaps in the education sector. This platform integrates leadership standards with tailored learning resources, enabling school leaders to assess, build, and track their growth. From on-demand tools to structured training, it provides everything needed to develop stronger leadership pipelines and more effective schools.

Menzies Foundation is committed to developing a best practice approach to its philanthropic work and supporting better practice in the sector.

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.