The Y20 Summit: Empowering Youth to Shape a Better Future

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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 is laying the groundwork for a brighter, more sustainable future. 

This vision was vividly brought to life through the participation of our 2024 Menzies Foundation Global Voices Fellows, Elina Forsyth and Nicholas Drew, at the recently concluded Y20 Summit in Rio De Janeiro.

The Menzies Foundation is delighted to share the participation of these exceptional young leaders at the Y20 Summit, an event hosted by Brazil that brought together youth delegates from G20 countries to discuss critical global issues and develop policy recommendations that will help shape the future of our world.

As part of their Global Voices journey, Elina and Nicholas attended the rigorous pre-departure briefing and skills-building session in Canberra in May before joining other youth delegates in Rio De Janeiro. The Y20 Summit provided a unique platform for these young leaders to engage directly with policymakers and present their perspectives on issues such as sustainable development, economic inclusion, and global governance.

“Attending the Y20 Summit has been an incredible opportunity to collaborate with young leaders from around the world. The discussions were intense and inspiring, and I am eager to bring these global perspectives back to Australia, where we can begin implementing solutions that drive positive change in our communities.” reflected Elina Forsyth.

Nicholas Drew also shared his insights, saying, “The Y20 Summit emphasised the importance of youth voices in shaping global policy. The connections I’ve made and the ideas we’ve exchanged will be invaluable as we work to strengthen our communities and contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future.”

This experience is just the beginning for Elina and Nicholas. 

As part of their fellowship, they will now embark on an extensive policy fellowship where they will develop key recommendations for domestic implementation. These recommendations will address some of the most pressing issues facing Australian society and the world.  Stay tuned!

For more information on the Menzies Foundation Global Voices Fellows and their ongoing work, please visit our Emerging Leaders platform.

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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.

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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).

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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