Menzies Leadership Forum

“What is Leadership”, the premise is simple: in order to effectively develop leadership (and therefore justify the exorbitant spending on it), we need greater clarity on what exactly 'it' is.   This webinar adaption explores the backdrop of the multi-billion-dollar leadership industry, within which little consensus exists in relation to what leadership actually is or how to develop it, and in consideration of the often-bemoaned gap between research and practice, Talking Leadership Development showcases diverse perspectives in an effort to distill synergies and lift the understanding and practice of leadership development in Australia and beyond.  Hosted by Dr Toby Newstead and Dr Joey Crawford from the University of Tasmania, the panel included Adam Gowen from Country Universities Centre Southern Shoalhaven; Professor Amy Tian from Curtin University; Associate Professor Nathan Eva from Monash University; and Katherine Ellis, CEO of Leadership Victoria. 

Leadership: Pivot to Purpose Series, hosted by Peter Collins  Welcome to the third episode of the series, "Navigating Challenges with Purpose," featuring Andrew Crisp AM APM, former Australian police officer, Emergency Management.  Andrew Crisp has held several notable roles, including Deputy Commissioner in Victoria’s Police Force, part of the counter-terrorist unit at Vic Pol, service in Papua New Guinea, and participation in Australia’s peace-keeping mission in Timor-Leste. He was also a key leader in managing COVID-19 and Emergency Management in Victoria. Over 30 years, he has worked to bridge gaps between various migrants and other communities in Victoria, solidifying his purpose as being a ‘connector’: building trust and reaching out, even to those with critical views of Victoria Police.  ______________________________________________________________________________________ In complexity, the anchor that ensures progress is made is the identification of a shared purpose, underpinned by the values and principles that enact that purpose. Often referred to as the ‘north star’, purpose galvanises action, creates the imperative and provides the context to reconcile what matters most. It is the thing that shapes who and what we want to become. It is through this lens, the Leadership: Pivot to Purpose podcast series, hosted by Dr Peter Collins, will feature the perspectives of eight, multi-sector, influential figures, with each episode offering insights into how individuals navigate challenges and lead with courage, wisdom, and resilience. From personal anecdotes to practical insights, this series promise to engage, enlighten, and empower listeners to embrace purpose-driven leadership in their own lives. _______________________________________________________________________________________

Leadership: Pivot to Purpose Series, hosted by Peter Collins  Welcome to the second episode of the series, "The Foundation of Purpose," featuring Australian astronaut, Dr Beth Jens, NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Engineer.  Dr Jens, was instantly inspired when NASA came to her hometown of Geelong to talk about space when she was 16 years old, her life has never been the same since. She now works for NASA in the United States and has dedicated her working life to being an astronaut who will go on a mission to Mars.  Beth holds purpose as a guide to her life. To quote JFK, “we do these things not because they are easy but because they are hard and because we need to push the limits of human possibilities to new frontiers – whether that be in space, or medical research or in the way we teach and inspire young people to realise their full potential and their purpose.” ______________________________________________________________________________________ In complexity, the anchor that ensures progress is made is the identification of a shared purpose, underpinned by the values and principles that enact that purpose. Often referred to as the ‘north star’, purpose galvanises action, creates the imperative and provides the context to reconcile what matters most. It is the thing that shapes who and what we want to become. It is through this lens, the Leadership: Pivot to Purpose podcast series, hosted by Dr Peter Collins, will feature the perspectives of eight, multi-sector, influential figures, with each episode offering insights into how individuals navigate challenges and lead with courage, wisdom, and resilience. From personal anecdotes to practical insights, this series promise to engage, enlighten, and empower listeners to embrace purpose-driven leadership in their own lives. _______________________________________________________________________________________

*NEW SERIES* - Leadership: Pivot to Purpose Series, hosted by Peter Collins  Welcome to the first episode of the series, "Purpose and Leadership," featuring Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC, and Menzies Foundation Board Director. An Arrernte/Luritja woman from Central Australia, Catherine's mission is of rich tapestry that culminates in traditions of Indigenous storytelling, kinship, and community, all foundational pillars of leadership and resilience for over 60,000 years. “He had blue eyes.” This poignant memory, captures the lasting impression her grandfather had of the government official who took him away from his parents. Despite this painful history, Catherine has found a profound purpose inspired by Aristotle's concept of human flourishing, a dedication and contribution that is deeply seeded in ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children experience well-being and the full breadth of opportunities available in life.  ______________________________________________________________________________________ In complexity, the anchor that ensures progress is made is the identification of a shared purpose, underpinned by the values and principles that enact that purpose. Often referred to as the ‘north star’, purpose galvanises action, creates the imperative and provides the context to reconcile what matters most. It is the thing that shapes who and what we want to become. It is through this lens, the Leadership: Pivot to Purpose podcast series, hosted by Dr Peter Collins, will feature the perspectives of eight, multi-sector, influential figures, with each episode offering insights into how individuals navigate challenges and lead with courage, wisdom, and resilience. From personal anecdotes to practical insights, this series promise to engage, enlighten, and empower listeners to embrace purpose-driven leadership in their own lives. _______________________________________________________________________________________

Finance is one of the most powerful systems in the world. It can drive a community’s economic growth, create jobs, and support the development of housing and other crucial infrastructure. It can enable new and innovative sectors to flourish, and support communities, organisations, and households through crises or otherwise disruptive transitions. Join us as we explore how Web3 can revolutionise community finance and challenge financial inequities. What is Web3? Web3 is the next generation of the internet where individuals control their digital lives through blockchain technology, enabling secure and transparent interactions.  Facilitated by Liz Gillies, CEO, Menzies Foundation, this podcast features insights from Joy Anderson, Founder and President of Criterion Institute; Michelle Baldwin, Senior Advisor at Community Foundations of Canada and contributor to SuperBenefit DAO;  Anna Powell, CEO of Collaboration for Impact. Learn more - REPORT: Designing Web3 Financial Innovations for Social Change ______________________ This important work is powered by Menzies Foundation and in collaboration with Criterion Institute. Working systemically, Menzies Foundation is committed to exploring the culture infrastructure and capability platform to build citizen leadership, resilience, and new ways of thinking to inform the development of governance and capital flows to support the agency and autonomy of communities to flourish.

Dr. Aiden Thornton discusses leadership and complexity, emphasizing the need for true beliefs in navigating challenges. He explores cognitive development in leaders, qualities of effective leadership in the 21st century, and the Menzies Foundation's role in driving positive change through innovation.

The Menzies Foundation is delighted to welcome back to the Menzies Leadership Forum; Cindy Mitchell, a remarkable individual who joined us several years ago as a Menzies PhD scholar. Cindy plays a crucial role in our Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship initiative, focusing on empowering Indigenous Women and as an industry PhD fellow, she has not only contributed significantly to the Maganda Makers program but also serves as the storyteller shaping the narrative at the core of our mission. In this episode, we delve into her transformative journey over the past few years and discover the profound insights and knowledge her PhD has unearthed and how it continues to shape and inform our ongoing work. We are excited to celebrate Cindy's extraordinary contributions and explore the impact of her work on Maganda Makers and beyond.

"So, there's the thing about the pushback around this is just too difficult and complex, and it's just like, "Well, get over it, because the challenges we face are difficult, and complex, and we need to evolve different ways of working to meet them." So I'm not particularly sympathetic to that response. And I also note that I think there's a common sense of people's of urgency and frustration is, "I want to do action, I want to be involved in action." And then I quite often hear in the next sentence, "We're really bad at collaborating with others." And it's like, "Well, this is the point, and these two things actually aren't mutually exclusive." This is about investing in ways of organising to enable more joined up ways of acting. And the fact that we're not doing it at the moment, and we have to shift our mindsets, and our skillsets, and ways of working towards it is just a challenge. But it's better than the alternatives". Join Alex Hannant and Menzies Foundation CEO, Liz Gillies as they explore catalytic philanthropy, systems transformation and uncover the conditions we need to accelerate regenerative and distributive futures. Alex Hannant is Executive in Residence, Griffith Centre for Systems Innovation and Director, Pocketknife

"Australia is still critical, indigenous is the heartbeat of everything we do, mentoring is still our bread and butter and our nerve and everything else, and we create experiences that uplift humanity to remember who they are".  Join AIME Co-CEO's; Parul Punjabi and Suzie Winkelman togther with Menzies Foundation CEO, Liz Gillies as they explore purpose and leadership, the collaborative journey and the patterns that humans hold with each other and the world around us

"So I would just invite everyone to, and it's different for everybody, but to consider our own personal relationships and what leadership looks like in those relationships. And to broaden the concept of leadership, which is something that we've spoken about a lot, beyond the title of someone with a certain stature or status. And to see leadership as a form of stewarding relationships to people in place every single day and that's something that we all are part of". Join Al Jeffery and Menzies Foundation CEO, Liz Gillies as they explore purpose and leadership in what is an increasingly complex, polarized, tribal and challenging world. Al Jeffery is an internationally renowned community-designer, group-facilitator, author and leadership expert in service to our hyperconnected-yet-deeply-fragmented world. As Co-Founder and Director at The Base Between (formerly Base Commons), Al explores the themes of disconnection prevalent today, designs and facilitates spaces for re-connection in communities, leadership and the lives of individuals. With his creative career starting at just 12 years old, Al has been listed in Australia’s Top 30 Entrepreneurs Under 30 twice in a row and nominated for Young Australian of the Year.