Menzies Leadership Forum

Bonus Episode with Professor David Day + Liz Gillies || The Future of Leadership Development hosted by Dr Toby Newstead

Bonus Episode: Leadership as a Public Good — Developing Collective Capacity for a Complex World

What kind of leadership is needed when no single person can hold the whole picture?

In this Bonus Episode of The Future of Leadership Development, Dr Toby Newstead is joined by Professor David Day and Liz Gillies to explore a defining challenge of our time: the growing gap between the complexity of the world and the way we develop leadership.

As global challenges intensify — from climate disruption and political polarisation to declining trust and the rise of generative AI — leaders are increasingly expected to navigate overlapping crises that no individual can solve alone. This Bonus Episode examines why traditional, individual-focused models of leadership development are no longer fit for purpose and explores the shift toward collective leadership capacity grounded in purpose, ethics, and shared responsibility.

Listeners are invited to rethink leadership not as a scarce commodity or positional role, but as a public good — essential to navigating complexity and shaping a more resilient, humane future.

Key Themes & Talking Points

• Why “hero leadership” models are breaking down

• Leader development vs leadership development

• Collective leadership as a response to complexity

• Purpose and ethics as anchors in uncertainty

• Leadership as a public good

With Toby P. Newstead from University of Tasmania, Professor David Day from Claremont McKenna College and Liz Gillies, CEO Menzies Leadership Foundation

Collective Leadership in Action || with Dr Toby Newstead + Professor Rufus Black

What kind of leadership do we need to shape the future we want?

The final episode looks ahead, asking what a national platform for leadership development should look like in order to meet critical transitions across health, education, climate, and productivity. Do these adaptive challenges demand a new way of leading? And if so, how do we build the individual and collective capabilities required to enable that shift? This conversation will leave listeners with insights into what it will take to ensure leadership development genuinely creates impact for the greater good.

Key Themes & Talking Points:

• The critical transitions ahead and what they demand of leadership.
• The capabilities leaders must develop to navigate these transitions.
• What a national platform for leadership development could look like.
• How to ensure leadership development is impactful, inclusive, and future-focused.

With Toby P. Newstead from University of Tasmania and Professor Rufus Black from University of Tasmania 

Collective Leadership in Action || with Dr Toby Newstead + Jack Manning Bancroft + Liz Gillies

What happens when leadership is shared, not centralised?

Impact at scale requires collaboration across governments, business, philanthropy, and communities. This episode explores real-world stories of distributed leadership, including Indigenous and citizen-led approaches that demonstrate how collective leadership can create more just and sustainable outcomes. Listeners will hear practical lessons on building trust, sharing power, and mobilising diverse groups towards common goals.

Key Themes & Talking Points:

• The value of distributed leadership across sectors.
• Indigenous and citizen-led models as exemplars of collective leadership.
• Building trust and partnerships to drive systemic change.
• What collective leadership teaches us about the future of leadership development.

With Toby P. Newstead from University of Tasmania and Jack Manning from AIME and Liz Gillies from Menzies Leadership Foundation

Thriving in complexity || with Dr Toby Newstead + Professor David Snowden

What does it take to lead in an age defined by polycrisis?

his episode examines the capabilities and mindsets leaders need to navigate unprecedented pressures—from climate disruption and geopolitical instability to social division and rapid technological change. We’ll discuss how leaders can not only survive but thrive by embracing emotional intelligence, systems thinking, and collaboration—and what it looks like to develop these traits in practice.

Key Themes & Talking Points:

• The crises shaping today’s leadership landscape.
• The pressures and tensions these crises create for leaders.
• Core mindsets: resilience, systems thinking, ethical reasoning, collaboration.
• How these capabilities can be developed through leadership education.

With Toby P. Newstead from University of Tasmania Professor David Snowden from The Cynefin Company

Building the Evidence Base what does it take? || with Dr Toby Newstead + Professor Nathan Eva + Benny Callaghan

How do we know when leadership development actually makes a difference?

Leadership development is often promoted as the answer to major social, organisational, and global challenges. But how can we tell if it is truly effective? This episode explores how researchers, practitioners, and communities define “evidence,” from measuring individual growth to evaluating broader systems change. Listeners will hear what it takes to design, deliver, and assess programs that not only build capability but also deliver tangible outcomes for society.

Key Themes & Talking Points:

• The diversity of leadership programs and the problems they aim to address.
• What counts as “evidence” of leadership development.
• Balancing research perspectives with practitioner experiences.
• Measuring transformation: from personal leadership growth to systemic change.

With Toby P. Newstead from University of Tasmania Professor Nathan Eva from Monash Business School; Benny Callaghan from Systems Collaboration Partners

Rethinking Leadership Development For a Changing World || with Dr Toby Newstead + Professor Ron Riggio + Dr Polly McGee

How do we build the courage to challenge tradition and embrace new ways of thinking?

This episode explores why traditional 20th-century models of leadership are no longer fit for today’s realities. By examining the rise of adaptive, collaborative, and ethical approaches, we’ll consider how leadership development must evolve to serve a complex, interconnected world. Listeners will gain insight into what “leadership for the greater good” means in practice—and the risks, resistance, and rewards of reshaping leadership development for a future defined by change.

Key Themes & Talking Points:

• Why outdated “hero leadership” models no longer serve today’s challenges.
• The rise of adaptive, ethical, and collective leadership approaches.
• The influence of global trends on how we develop leaders.
• Guardrails to ensure leadership development creates positive, future-focused impact.

With Toby P. Newstead from University of Tasmania Professor Ron Riggio from Claremont McKenna College + Dr Polly McGee from DisCo | Disruptive Consulting

Leading with Change and Courage - What’s Next? || Hosted by Dr Peter Collins, Featuring Special Guest - Rob Scott

As this eight-part series concludes, we reflect on the leadership Australia needs to meet this moment — bold, purpose-driven and future-focused.

In the final episode of A Purposeful Edge: Leading in Uncertainty, Dr Peter Collins is joined by Rob Scott, CEO of Wesfarmers and former Olympian, to explore how courage, purpose and reform can shape Australia’s future. Listeners gain insights on leading through uncertainty and redefining long-term value creation.; challenging leaders to think generationally, act collaboratively, and lead for the greater good.

Key Themes & Talking Points:

• The kind of leadership needed to navigate uncertainty and drive reform.
• How courage and clarity of purpose build resilient teams and systems.
• The private sector’s role in creating shared, long-term value.
• Lessons on discipline, focus, and leadership under pressure.

Dr Peter Collins from Peter Collins and Associates: Rob Scott from Wesfarmers

Catalysts of Change Science, Leadership and the Future || Hosted by Dr Peter Collins, Featuring Special Guest - Dr. Megan Clark AC

Science is a powerful force for addressing the world’s most pressing challenges — but courageous leadership is needed to drive meaningful change.

This episode will explore how leaders in science can play a transformative role in responding to complex global issues such as climate change, pandemics, and social inequality. Listeners will gain insights into the role of purpose in scientific inquiry, how to overcome resistance to innovation, and strategies for mobilising science to influence policy and public trust.

Key Themes & Talking Points:

• The role of scientific research in tackling 'wicked problems' like climate change and public health crises.
• Why courage is essential in pushing the boundaries of scientific inquiry.
• Navigating public trust in science during times of polarization.
• How purpose-driven science can shape a more sustainable and equitable world.

Dr Peter Collins from Peter Collins and Associates: Dr. Megan Clark AC

Leading Through Crisis The Private Sector’s Role || Hosted by Dr Peter Collins, Featuring Special Guest - Linda Mellors

Business leaders are navigating an increasingly volatile world where financial instability, social unrest, and environmental concerns are reshaping corporate responsibility.

This episode will explore how courageous leaders in the private sector are redefining success by blending commercial imperatives with social impact. Highlighting the importance of embedding purpose and adaptability into corporate strategies, plus its role in building resilience and supporting employee well-being - driving sustainable outcomes during challenging times.

Key Themes & Talking Points:

• How business leaders can manage economic uncertainty while maintaining social responsibility.
• Strategies for balancing financial performance with values-driven leadership.
• The importance of adaptability in fostering innovation and resilience.
• How corporate leaders can engage employees and customers in purpose-driven strategies.

Dr Peter Collins from Peter Collins and Associates: Linda Mellors from Regis Aged Care 

Rebuilding Social Cohesion: A Fractured World || Hosted by Dr Peter Collins, Featuring Special Guest - Paris Aristotle

Social divisions are widening across the globe, placing increasing pressure on leaders to foster inclusion and strengthen community ties.

This episode will explore how courageous leadership can address social fragmentation, counter misinformation, and foster empathy. Examining the complexities of navigating migration, asylum, and social cohesion in turbulent times — listeners will hear insights on practical strategies for building trust, promoting intercultural understanding, and creating inclusive environments where communities can thrive.

Key Themes & Talking Points:

• How leaders can navigate tensions surrounding migration, asylum, and cultural divides.
• Practical strategies for building trust and strengthening social cohesion.
• Countering misinformation to create inclusive and informed communities.
• Supporting displaced and marginalized communities through purposeful leadership.

Dr Peter Collins from Peter Collins and Associates: Paris Aristotle AO from Foundation House Victoria