Advertise on podcast: Menzies Leadership Forum

How are young Australians redefining leadership for a new generation? Young Australians are reshaping what leadership looks like—challenging outdated models, amplifying inclusion, and driving innovative solutions to the issues that matter most to their peers and communities. This episode explores the unique energy, vision, and courage that young leaders bring to the national conversation. It examines the challenges they face in being recognised, the new forms of leadership they are pioneering, and the role intergenerational collaboration plays in ensuring youth voices influence the future. Key Themes & Talking Points: Youth perspectives on leadership and change. Challenges young leaders face in being heard. Innovation and inclusivity as hallmarks of next-gen leadership. Inspiring peers to step into leadership roles. Dr Jo Newton OAM, agricultural scientist and youth advocate recognised nationally for leadership, research excellence, and championing young people in agriculture. About the series Voices of Leadership, Extraordinary Impact is a collaboration between the Order of Australia Association and Menzies Leadership Foundation, bringing to life the stories and insights of Australians recognised for their contribution and service. Hosted by The Hon Vicki O’Halloran AO CVO FAICD, former President of the Order of Australia Association (2023-2026), the eight-part series explores the lived experiences, values and leadership lessons of Order of Australia recipients and what their stories can teach us about leading in service of others.

What happens when communities take the lead in shaping their future? Communities hold extraordinary power when leadership is shared and local voices are amplified. This episode highlights the principles of grassroots leadership—how empathy, listening, and action rooted in community priorities create lasting transformation. It considers the role of trust and collaboration in bringing people together, the pride that grows when communities see themselves reflected in change, and the ripple effects that extend beyond local boundaries. By exploring examples of community-led initiatives, the discussion shows why leadership begins close to home and builds towards collective strength. Key Themes & Talking Points: The role of grassroots leadership in social change. Listening as a powerful leadership practice. Building civic pride and resilience. The ripple effects of community-led action. Cathy Chong AM, President of Chinese Welfare Services SA and long-serving multicultural, healthcare and community advocate. About the series Voices of Leadership, Extraordinary Impact is a collaboration between the Order of Australia Association and Menzies Leadership Foundation, bringing to life the stories and insights of Australians recognised for their contribution and service. Hosted by The Hon Vicki O’Halloran AO CVO FAICD, former President of the Order of Australia Association (2023-2026), the eight-part series explores the lived experiences, values and leadership lessons of Order of Australia recipients and what their stories can teach us about leading in service of others.

How can resilience and courage turn obstacles into leadership opportunities? Barriers—whether systemic, cultural, or personal—can derail leadership or strengthen it. This episode explores how leaders emerge through adversity, reflecting on the determination it takes to persist when doors are closed or opportunities are denied. It examines the inner resources people draw on to persevere, how setbacks become lessons, and why resilience often shapes the most authentic and impactful leaders. By unpacking stories of challenge and perseverance, the discussion reveals how courage in the face of obstacles can inspire others and create lasting change. Key Themes & Talking Points: The barriers faced by leaders from diverse or marginalised backgrounds. How resilience strengthens character and influence. Finding strength in the face of systemic challenges. Lessons for others navigating similar struggles. Annette “Floss” Roberts AM, former Executive Director of Royal Life Saving NT, celebrated for her leadership in drowning prevention and remote community water safety. About the series Voices of Leadership, Extraordinary Impact is a collaboration between the Order of Australia Association and Menzies Leadership Foundation, bringing to life the stories and insights of Australians recognised for their contribution and service. Hosted by The Hon Vicki O’Halloran AO CVO FAICD, former President of the Order of Australia Association (2023-2026), the eight-part series explores the lived experiences, values and leadership lessons of Order of Australia recipients and what their stories can teach us about leading in service of others.

How does serving others define leadership and strengthen communities? Leadership begins with service. This episode explores how acts of service, whether large or small, become the foundation of trust, connection, and resilience in communities. It considers the values that motivate people to dedicate themselves to others, the sacrifices such choices often require, and the transformative impact that flows when leadership is rooted in generosity and responsibility. From volunteering and mentoring to long-term civic contribution, the conversation highlights why service remains at the core of leadership for the greater good. Key Themes & Talking Points: Why leadership rooted in service matters now more than ever. The sacrifices and rewards of dedicating oneself to others. Stories of community transformation through service. How small acts of service create national impact. Dr Peter Rogers AM, Engineer, Educator, and Community leader recognised for advancing women in engineering and contributing to Indigenous and community development.  About the series Voices of Leadership, Extraordinary Impact is a collaboration between the Order of Australia Association and Menzies Leadership Foundation, bringing to life the stories and insights of Australians recognised for their contribution and service. Hosted by The Hon Vicki O’Halloran AO CVO FAICD, former President of the Order of Australia Association (2023-2026), the eight-part series explores the lived experiences, values and leadership lessons of Order of Australia recipients and what their stories can teach us about leading in service of others.

What kind of leadership does the next chapter demand? In environments of heightened scrutiny and institutional fragility, leadership requires moral clarity and disciplined restraint. Through a Defence or national service lens, this episode explores how leaders remain anchored in purpose when obligations are formal, stakes are high and public legitimacy must be protected. The series concludes by examining leadership as guardianship — holding authority on behalf of others and sustaining institutional trust in times of uncertainty. Key Themes: Duty and obligation Ethical reasoning in high-stakes environments Institutional legitimacy under pressure Leadership as guardianship Brigadier John Fenwick (Retd), Adjunct Professor at the University of Canberra in the faculty of Business, Government and Law, and a moderator/facilitator with the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership

How do institutions hold purpose across time, not just performance cycles? Some institutions are designed to steward capital, assets or public trust across generations. Their decisions shape not just quarterly performance, but long-term national resilience. This episode examines how leaders balance fiduciary discipline with broader responsibility — particularly when volatility and political pressure compress decision-making timeframes. What does ethical reasoning look like when trade-offs unfold across decades? How do leaders remain anchored in purpose when market cycles and media cycles pull in different directions? Stewardship is reframed not as caution, but as leadership maturity — the discipline to hold long horizons in short-term environments. Key Themes & Talking Points: Intergenerational accountability Governance under volatility Ethical reasoning across time horizons Trust sustained over decades Will Hetherton, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer - Future Fund

How do leaders of global organisations align performance, trust and long-term responsibility? Leadership at scale carries a particular gravity. Decisions made in boardrooms ripple through workforces, communities, capital markets and national systems. The larger the enterprise, the wider the consequence. This episode explores the tension between performance and responsibility in global organisations operating under intense scrutiny. How do leaders sustain commercial discipline while maintaining social licence? How do they navigate transition, geopolitical complexity and stakeholder expectation without eroding institutional trust? Purpose is examined not as a statement of values, but as a stabilising anchor when competing pressures intensify. When every decision carries reputational, economic and societal implications, ethical judgement must operate in real time. The conversation surfaces what leadership capability looks like at scale — and how legitimacy is built, sustained or lost. Key Themes & Talking Points: Social licence and institutional legitimacy Ethical reasoning under competing stakeholder claims Navigating transition in global systems Trust as a leadership outcome Caroline Cox, Chief Legal, Governance and External Affairs Officer - BHP

What kind of leadership does the next chapter demand? In environments of heightened scrutiny and institutional fragility, leadership requires moral clarity and disciplined restraint. Through a Defence or national service lens, this episode explores how leaders remain anchored in purpose when obligations are formal, stakes are high and public legitimacy must be protected. The series concludes by examining leadership as guardianship — holding authority on behalf of others and sustaining institutional trust in times of uncertainty. Key Themes: Duty and obligation Ethical reasoning in high-stakes environments Institutional legitimacy under pressure Leadership as guardianship Jo Tarnawsky, Former Chief of Staff to the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia

What guides leadership when compliance is not enough? Financial institutions operate within highly regulated environments — yet regulation cannot resolve every dilemma. This episode explores the limits of compliance-based governance. When risk models fail to capture social consequence, where does judgement reside? Leaders reflect on how moral clarity, disciplined reasoning and institutional culture shape decisions under uncertainty. Purpose operates as a stabilising anchor when formal controls are insufficient. Key Themes: Governance beyond compliance Moral judgement under uncertainty Risk, accountability and consequence Trust in financial institutions Michael Saadie, CEO & Chairman JBWere

What does purpose demand when affordability and supply chains intersect? Retail and consumer-facing sectors operate at the frontline of cost-of-living pressures. Leaders must navigate supplier relationships, workforce expectations and consumer affordability simultaneously. This episode examines how fairness is interpreted across interconnected value chains. What responsibility does a leader hold upstream and downstream? How are trade-offs made transparent? Purpose becomes the anchor that clarifies responsibility across complex economic ecosystems — ensuring commercial viability does not erode trust. Key Themes: System-wide fairness and accountability Supply chain responsibility Cost-of-living pressures Transparency and stakeholder trust Callum Smith, Chief Merchandise and Marketing Officer Kmart Australia Limited and Dr Peter Collins - Executive Director, Peter Collins and Associates

How do leaders balance fairness, sustainability and responsibility in essential services? Education and health systems operate at the centre of public trust. Leaders in these environments face deeply human dilemmas — balancing equity, funding pressures, regulatory requirements and workforce strain. This episode explores how purpose anchors judgement when no option is without cost. How do leaders prioritise access, sustainability and fairness simultaneously? What happens when institutional resources are constrained but community expectations are not? The conversation reveals the moral weight carried by leaders in essential services — and how disciplined judgement sustains legitimacy in environments of constraint. Key Themes & Talking Points: Equity and access in essential systems Contextual ethical dilemmas Resource allocation under pressure Trust in public institutions Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, CEO and Group Managing Director Australian Unity and Dr Peter Collins - Executive Director, Peter Collins and Associates

EPISODE ONE: PURPOSE AS an Operating System How does purpose move from statement to organisational discipline? Purpose often appears in strategy documents — but far fewer organisations successfully embed it into governance, incentives and daily behaviour. This episode explores how leaders translate purpose into operational systems. How are decisions filtered? How are trade-offs made visible? How is accountability reinforced? The discussion surfaces how ethical reasoning capability is cultivated across leadership teams — not just at the top. Culture, performance metrics and governance structures must align if purpose is to guide behaviour under pressure. Purpose becomes an operating system — shaping judgement before crisis arrives. Key Themes & Talking Points: Embedding purpose in governance and strategy Leadership modelling and cultural alignment Incentives, accountability and behavioural signals Building distributed ethical reasoning capability Will Harvey, Professor of Leadership - Melbourne Business School and Dr Peter Collins - Executive Director, Peter Collins and Associates

What does purpose look like in the next generation of leaders? As new forms of leadership emerge at the intersection of technology, behavioural insight, and social impact, how will purpose evolve? In this closing conversation, guests explore how data, economics, and human motivation can work together to drive a more inclusive and values-aligned future — one where purpose becomes an active force for systems change. Key Themes & Talking Points: The next frontier of purpose-driven leadership Data, behavioural science, and the future of civic engagement Redefining leadership impact for emerging generations With Thomas Walker - CEO of Think Forward & Hosted by hosted by Elly Hanrahan and Indigo Atkinson, Global Voices

Purpose isn’t a solo act — how do we co-create meaning and impact together? This conversation examines how shared purpose builds momentum, trust, and collective action. Guests explore the beauty and friction of co-leadership and reflect on what it takes to align across difference in pursuit of the greater good. Key Themes & Talking Points: Aligning across difference The dynamics of co-leadership and collaboration Purpose as a system-wide, relational practice With Beth Eggleston - Co-Founder & Director at Humanitarian Advisory Group & Hosted by hosted by Elly Hanrahan and Indigo Atkinson, Global Voices

Purpose isn’t a solo act — how do we co-create meaning and impact together? This conversation examines how shared purpose builds momentum, trust, and collective action. Guests explore the beauty and friction of co-leadership and reflect on what it takes to align across difference in pursuit of the greater good. Key Themes & Talking Points: Aligning across difference The dynamics of co-leadership and collaboration Purpose as a system-wide, relational practice With Thom Woodroofe – Senior International Fellow with the Smart Energy Council & Hosted by hosted by Elly Hanrahan and Indigo Atkinson, Global Voices "Power Prosperity Planet" visit: https://www.booktopia.com.au/power-prosperity-planet-thom-woodroofe/book/9781923192751.html