Menzies Leadership Forum

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 

Mental Health Leadership: The Long Haul of Reform || Hosted by Dr Peter Collins, Featuring Special Guest - Rachel Green

Meaningful change in mental health requires courageous leadership that embraces both resilience and compassion.

This episode will explore the complexities of mental health reform, with a focus on the long-term commitment required to shift systems, reduce stigma, and improve access to care. Listeners will hear how purpose-driven leadership can inspire sustained change, promote community resilience, and address the increasing mental health challenges facing individuals and families.

Key Themes & Talking Points:

• Why mental health reform requires long-term resilience and courageous leadership.
• The growing mental health crisis and its impact on individuals, families, and communities.
• How leaders can champion mental health reform in workplaces and public policy.
• Personal reflections on leadership through adversity and systemic inertia.

Dr Peter Collins from Peter Collins and Associates: Rachel Green from SANE Australia 

Transforming the Law, a Digital World || Hosted by Dr Peter Collins, Featuring Special Guest - Terri Mottershead

As the legal sector rapidly evolves, leaders are faced with difficult decisions about ethics, technology, and tradition.

Episode three will explore how courageous leadership can help reshape legal frameworks to keep pace with social and technological advancements. From the implications of artificial intelligence to innovations that improve access to justice, this episode will explore how purpose-driven leadership can balance digital transformation with social responsibility.

Key Themes & Talking Points:

• How technology is reshaping the legal landscape — and what this means for leadership.
• The courage required to challenge traditional legal frameworks and embrace innovation.
• Balancing technological advancements with ethical practice and justice.
• How leaders can embed purpose and trust in digital transformation strategies.

Dr Peter Collins from Peter Collins and Associates: Terri Mottershead from Mottershead International Pty Ltd