The Menzies Leadership Foundation warmly congratulates our Board Director Tony Surtees AM on his appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours List, recognised for “significant service to the support and advocacy of technological and charitable entrepreneurialism.”
Tony is a visionary leader whose career bridges technology, entrepreneurship, public policy, and philanthropy. As Chairman of Food Ladder, he champions a world-first network of climate-controlled greenhouses in schools across Australia, enabling over one million students to grow and access healthy, locally produced meals. This transformative initiative, supported by IBM and recognised by Sydney University and the Australian Financial Review, is setting a new national benchmark for sustainability and innovation in education.
Tony’s leadership extends beyond the social sector. With over a decade of contribution to national innovation policy, including as Chair of the Entrepreneurs’ Programme Committee within the Federal Department of Industry, Science, Energy, and Resources, Tony played a critical role in the investment review of more than 650 grants supporting expansion and commercialisation. His work contributed to measurable outcomes for Australian business, including over $19.5 billion in additional turnover, $7.5 billion in export growth and 20,000 new jobs five years into the program.
A long-time advocate for the ethical and applied use of artificial intelligence, Tony continues to shape national strategy through his role on the AI Action Plan Programs Committee, helping ensure AI enables resilient, well-governed growth across sectors.
He also served as President of the Stanford Australia Association, connecting global and local innovation leaders and promoting educational exchange and leadership development.
At the Menzies Leadership Foundation, Tony has played a pivotal role in shaping our strategic direction and championing initiatives that sit at the intersection of leadership, innovation, and systems change. His insight and commitment have helped guide our evolution as we work to build a national movement for leadership that serves the greater good.
“Tony embodies the spirit of adaptive, values-led leadership the Foundation stands for,” said Liz Gillies, CEO of the Menzies Leadership Foundation. “His work in technological innovation and social entrepreneurship exemplifies leadership in action — and we are so proud to celebrate this well-deserved honour with him.”
Tony’s appointment to the Order of Australia affirms the power of leadership that bridges sectors, drives scalable impact, and leaves no community behind.
What does it really take to lead in a way that leaves no one behind?
At the Menzies Leadership Foundation, we believe leadership is not a title — it’s a commitment. A commitment to steward innovation, amplify impact, and drive change that serves the greater good.
Tony Surtees AM exemplifies this conviction.
His career stands as a powerful reminder that when leadership is cultivated with purpose — across systems, sectors, and communities — the outcomes are transformative. From pioneering national innovation policy to enabling over a million students to grow their own food, Tony’s leadership is values-led, future-focused, and grounded in real-world results.
This is what it means to take leadership development seriously.
Because the future will not be shaped by charisma or convention. It will be shaped by those who understand that true leadership demands vision, collaboration, and rigour — and who invest accordingly.
So what does meaningful leadership look like in your context — and how will you help grow it?
