Leadership Series
The John Monash Leadership Series showcases talented and influential Australian leaders in conversation with John Monash Scholars on a revealing theme – What I’ve Learnt About Leadership – that is destined to provide insightful lessons for anyone interested in the challenges of leadership.
The series, launching in 2024, is an initiative of the John Monash Foundation Leadership Academy, part of the core activities of the General Sir John Monash Foundation.
The Foundation provides annual postgraduate scholarships for Australians to study overseas, and the Leadership Academy then helps John Monash Scholars, as they complete their studies and then throughout their career, to become leaders for life in the Australian community – in business, the public sector and academia. The Academy works closely with more than 260 Scholars from a wide variety of disciplines who, when taken as a collective, represent a talent bank for the nation.
The John Monash Leadership Series, made possible by the generosity of our five special guests, our university partners and corporate sponsor BHP, is aimed at elevating the national debate about leadership and nation-building.
The series so far
Brisbane
Andrew N. Liveris AO, President of the Board of the Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, provided candid and inspirational advice on leadership during the first of five national John Monash Leadership Series events, held May 15 at The University of Queensland. Interviewed by 2013 BHP John Monash Scholar Jillian Kilby, Andrew shared some of the most pivotal challenges of his career, and the decisions that helped him to overcome them.
Reflecting on his experiences in his early life, Andrew discussed how his background helped shape him into the leader he is today.
"My upbringing made me later realize that everyone should have a seat at the table. No one should be excluded based on where they were born or where they were educated. Growing up in a multicultural world, which is Northern Territory and Darwin, was amazing and really gave me that opportunity to excel."
Motivated by opportunities for radical innovation and change, he holds a firm belief in the necessity of discomfort for enabling growth.
"Embrace reality in crises or, if there's not a crisis, create one."
Adelaide
The second event in the John Monash Leadership Series, held at Flinders University’s sparkling CBD campus, took place on May 28 to a full room of South Australian supporters, students, academics and sponsors. Esteemed national leader Her Excellency the Hon. Frances Adamson AC, the 36th Governor of South Australia, shed light on how people can better lead with purpose, compassion and integrity during a compelling interview that included a mixture of both personal and professional insights.
Her Excellency reflected on how her leadership style has developed and adapted to enable more meaningful communication across various high-pressure environments, and how she navigates her career by focusing on 'impact' as her guiding objective.
"I do spend time thinking about impact. It's worth building time in to stop weekly, monthly, yearly and think about what you want that to be," she says.
By incorporating a reflective and collaborative working style, Her Excellency embraces adaptability and open-mindedness as her strengths.
"Listening is such an important skill for a leader. Having an open mind about things in light of what you hear is important."
Still to come
With Dr Fiona Wood AO, reconstructive surgeon and world-leading burns specialist, in conversation with 2012 John Monash Scholar Dr Sam Brophy-Williams.
With Dr Alan Finkel AC, higher education leader and former Chief Scientist of Australia, in conversation with 2014 NSW Premier's John Monash Scholar May Samali.
With David Thodey AO, telecommunications and innovation leader and newly appointed Chancellor of the University of Sydney, in conversation with 2006 John Monash Scholar Dr Aruna Sathanapally.