On 21 April, Griffith University and Thermo Fisher Scientific signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic partnership focused on advancing innovation across health, biotechnology and translational research, anchored within the Gold Coast Health & Knowledge Precinct (GCHKP).
From left: Tony Acciarito, Jo Broughton, Bronwyn Harch and Craig Rowsell.
The partnership brings together Griffith’s strengths in biomanufacturing, glycoproteomics and next-generation therapeutics with Thermo Fisher’s global capability in analytical instruments, diagnostics, laboratory technologies and biotechnology services. Together, the organisations will explore opportunities to accelerate research translation, strengthen commercialisation pathways and build capability across the Precinct’s innovation ecosystem.
The GCHKP will provide a strategic environment for this collaboration, supporting closer connection between research, industry, infrastructure and clinical capability. Through the MoU, Griffith and Thermo Fisher will explore a shared innovation and co-lab space within the Precinct to support co-location, access to specialist laboratories and equipment, and future Thermo Fisher presence within the ecosystem.
The organisations will also collaborate on research in glycoproteomics, spatial-omics, mass spectrometry, robotic sample processing and other enabling technologies, while pursuing joint grants and exploring the potential for a future Centre of Excellence. The MoU also creates opportunities to support a deep technology incubator, expand workforce capability, and develop student placements, internships and broader training initiatives.
Griffith University Vice President (Industry and External Engagement), Professor Bronwyn Harch, said the partnership reflected strong alignment between the two organisations and a shared ambition to translate research into meaningful outcomes.
“This partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific brings together complementary strengths across research, technology and innovation,” Professor Harch said.
“Anchored within the Gold Coast Health & Knowledge Precinct, it creates a strong platform to accelerate clinical, commercial and industry outcomes in biotechnology and next-generation therapeutics.
“It also creates new opportunities for our researchers, students and partners to work at the intersection of discovery, translation and impact.”
Thermo Fisher Scientific Vice President and General Manager, Australia and New Zealand, Jo Broughton said the partnership reflected a shared commitment to innovation and long-term collaboration within the Gold Coast innovation ecosystem.
“Our partnership with Griffith University reflects a shared ambition to connect research capability, technology and industry to accelerate innovation,” Broughton said.
“The Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct provides a strong environment to support that collaboration and help unlock future opportunities in health and biotechnology.”
Gold Coast Health & Knowledge Precinct Director Craig Rowsell said the collaboration demonstrated the value of the Precinct as a place where leading organisations can come together to drive innovation and growth.
“This partnership highlights the role of the Gold Coast Health & Knowledge Precinct in bringing together world-class research, clinical capability and industry,” Mr Rowsell said.
“It is an important example of how the Precinct can help enable collaboration, attract investment and support the growth of high-value innovation.”
The MoU will be supported by a joint steering committee with equal representation from Griffith University and Thermo Fisher Scientific, helping to provide strategic oversight and identify future opportunities for collaboration.
Over time, the partnership is expected to support industry-led growth, strengthen workforce capability and create new high-value jobs, while reinforcing the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct as a destination where global organisations can partner, innovate and scale their impact locally and internationally.
Griffith University Council has congratulated Professor Carolyn Evans on her appointment as Vice Chancellor of the University of Melbourne and has now commenced a recruitment process for the sixth Griffith University Vice Chancellor.
Griffith University Chancellor Andrew Fraser.
Chancellor Andrew Fraser said: “Carolyn has been an outstanding Vice Chancellor for Griffith, and I know she will excel at the University of Melbourne—her alma mater.
“On behalf of Griffith, I place firmly on the record our appreciation for her dedication to Griffith and the meaningful impact of her leadership.”
“Carolyn has led Griffith at a time of enormous change and challenge, through a pandemic and numerous external shocks. She will leave the university well positioned for the future: a stronger research record, outstanding philanthropic performance, deeper engagement with our alumni, improved rankings and the game-changing acquisition of the iconic Treasury Building set to open as Griffith’s Brisbane CBD campus in early 2027 are some highlights.
Professor Evans said: “Griffith is a remarkable university and being Vice Chancellor has been one of the great honours of my life. I have no doubt at all that with the wealth of talent and the upward momentum of the university, it will continue to thrive.”
Outgoing Vice Chancellor Professor Carolyn Evans.
“My sincere thanks to the Council for entrusting me with the role at Griffith, to all of my talented colleagues who have been a joy to work with, and also to our partners with whom we have achieved so much.
“Our students are at the heart of everything we do, and I wish them every success during and after their study.”
Mr Fraser affirmed the Griffith Council had commenced the process to appoint Professors Evans’ successor as Vice Chancellor of Griffith.
“Carolyn joined Griffith after a recruitment process in 2018, and we have a planned succession process underway with global recruitment firm Odgers mandated to perform the search with the process being led by Jenny Sutton.
“Professor Evans will continue to lead the University through to the conclusion of her term at the end of August 2026, ensuring continuity of leadership and momentum as Griffith progresses its strategic priorities,” said Mr Fraser.
Griffith University’s High Performance Hub on the Gold Coast will play an even greater role in Australia’s Olympic and Paralympic success, with the launch of a world-class elite gym completing the facility.
Supporting more than 500 emerging athletes, Olympians and Paralympians, the High Performance Hub also includes the athletics track and field, the Aquatic Centre and is underpinned by Griffith’s sport science and health research facilities.
Griffith is home to the greatest number of student Olympians and Paralympians in Australia, with students and alumni contributing 34 per cent of Australia’s medal tally at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
The High Performance Hub strengthens Griffith’s position as a critical contributor to Australia’s Olympic and Paralympic pathway.
Griffith Student Lachlan Kennedy, Griffith sports College Director Naomi McCarthy and Griffith Student Georgia Harris.
The new elite gym brings together world-class equipment, cutting-edge performance technology and leading sport science expertise in a fully integrated environment designed to prepare athletes for competition at the highest level.
Record-breaking Australian Athletics sprinter and Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Business student Lachlan Kennedy said the elite training facilities made it easier to commit fully to both his sport and his studies.
“Having easy access to elite facilities is crucial to getting in quality training and having it ‘next door’ to somewhere where I’ll be spending a lot of time studying is a huge win,” Mr Kennedy said.
Griffith student and dual Olympian in athletics Ellie Beer OLY said the High Performance Hub supported student-athlete success.
Griffith student athlete Ellie Beer.
“I’m super excited to see the opening of the new Griffith gym facilities,” Ms Beer said.
“As an athlete that is striving for the next two Olympics, this is another example of how Griffith supports their student athletes towards success.”
Griffith Performance Coach Dan Favier oversaw the gym’s design and delivery in consultation with VERVE Fitness, and said the new facility was built with elite performance outcomes in mind.
“This new high performance gym facility is centered around creating the best possible environment for sporting success,” Mr Favier said.
Griffith University Performance Coach Dan Favier.
“The dedicated training space fills a long-awaited need for elite athletes on the Gold Coast, supporting athletic development through strength and conditioning, injury prevention and rehabilitation, load management, and recovery.
“Bringing our athletes and sport scientists together in one dedicated space builds on the world-class work Griffith is already known for, giving us even more ways to continue supporting elite performance.”
The gym facility was also designed in consultation with the Queensland Academy of Sport and various national Paralympic athletes and coaches to provide a holistic and inclusive approach to athletic development leading up to the LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Griffith Sports College Director Naomi McCarthy OAM OLY said the new gym reinforced Griffith’s long-standing commitment to supporting student athletes as they balance academic study with elite sport.
“With world-class facilities, tailored support high-performance programs, Griffith Sports College has supported thousands of athletes to pursue both their sporting and academic goals,” Ms McCarthy said.
Griffith was the first university to be named an exclusive Australian Olympic Pathway University in partnership with the Australian Olympic Committee and remain a gold‑tier member of the Australian Institute of Sport’s Elite Sport Education Network.
New research has revealed cocaine pollution can change how wild fish move through their environment, with juvenile Atlantic salmon swimming farther and dispersing more widely when exposed to concentrations found in polluted waterways.
Dr Marcus Michelangeli.
The international study, led by researchers from Griffith University, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Zoological Society of London and Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour, is the first to demonstrate the effects of cocaine contamination on fish behaviour in the wild rather than in laboratory conditions.
To understand how these pollutants influenced animal movement, the researchers used slow-release chemical implants and acoustic telemetry tracking to monitor 105 juvenile Atlantic salmon over eight weeks in Lake Vättern, Sweden.
The fish were assigned to one of three treatment groups: a control group, a group exposed to cocaine, and a group exposed to benzoylegonine, the primary metabolite of cocaine that is commonly detected in wastewater.
The team found fish exposed to benzoylecgonine swam up to 1.9 times farther per week than unexposed fish and dispersed up to 12.3km farther across the lake.
These changes became more pronounced over time, indicating that exposure altered how fish used space in a complex natural ecosystem.
Co-author Dr Marcus Michelangeli, from Griffith University’s Australian Rivers Institute, said the findings were important because movement played a central role in how animals interacted with their environment.
“Where fish go determines what they eat, what eats them, and how populations are structured,” he said.
“If pollution is changing these patterns, it has the potential to affect ecosystems in ways we are only beginning to understand.”
Cocaine and its metabolites were increasingly detected in rivers and lakes around the world, primarily entering waterways through wastewater systems that were not designed to fully remove these compounds.
Dr Daniel Cerveny in the lab. Pic: Jörgen WiklundDr Marcus Michelangeli moving experimental fish. Pic: Aneesh BoseField technician Wiktor Fransson retrieving acoustic receiver on Lake Vättern. Pic: David Solstorm
While previous research has shown cocaine could affect animal behaviour, those studies had been limited to laboratory settings.
This study provides the first evidence that these effects also occurred in the wild, where animals experienced far more complex environmental conditions.
The researchers also found the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine had a stronger effect on fish movement than cocaine itself.
This was significant because risk assessments typically focused on the parent compound, even though metabolites were often more common in waterways, suggesting current approaches may overlook important biological effects.
The team emphasised the findings did not indicate a risk to people consuming fish.
The exposure levels reflected those already found in polluted waterways, the compounds break down over time, and the fish studied were juveniles well below legal-catch size.
Dr Michelangeli said the study highlighted a broader issue about the types of pollutants entering aquatic ecosystems.
“The idea of cocaine affecting fish might seem surprising, but the reality is that wildlife is already being exposed to a wide range of human-derived drugs every day. The unusual part is not the experiment, it’s what’s already happening in our waterways.”
Dr Marcus Michelangeli
Future research would aim to determine how widespread these effects were, identify which species were most at risk, and test whether altered movement patterns translated into changes in survival and reproduction.
Researchers inspect the salmon hatchery tanks. Pic: Aneesh Bose
As online child exploitation (OCE) continues to rise in Australia, new research from Griffith University suggests parents and carers may be the most important, and overlooked, factor in preventing harm.
The study, involving parents and carers of children aged 11 to 17, found while many families were aware of online risks, what can make a difference in how effective they were in keeping their kids safe online, is whether they felt responsible, concerned, and motivated enough to act on that knowledge.
Associate Professor Jacqueline Drew from the Griffith Criminology Institute, who led the study, said The findings showed parents with greater knowledge of online safety strategies were significantly more likely to use them, but this was further strengthened when combined with the right mindset and awareness.
“There’s a human element we need to overlay onto hard protections; we cannot rely on social media or gaming platforms to keep our children safe,” she said.
The findings showed parents with greater knowledge of online safety strategies were significantly more likely to use them, but this was further strengthened when combined with the right mindset and awareness.
Parents who felt personally responsible for their child’s safety were more likely to act; higher levels of concern were linked to stronger protective behaviours and misconceptions about who was at risk reduced effective prevention.
“Parents who believe, for example, that OCE offenders only target teenage girls may be more complacent in protecting their younger children or sons from nefarious online actors,” explained Professor Drew.
“If parents believe their children are not at risk because they ensure they only access age-appropriate online gaming, they may become less vigilant, taking fewer proactive actions to supervise their children’s online activities, even though in reality many OCE offenders are targeting kids on these platforms.”
It was concluded that beyond increasing knowledge, additional elements should be added to crime prevention advice and education curriculum designed for parental guardians.
These included debunking myths about online child exploitation, fostering stronger concern about OCE risks, reinforcing a personal sense of responsibility for children’s online safety and reducing reliance on third parties or solutions.
Improving vaccines targeted at keeping the community safe and healthy will be the core focus of Griffith University’s new Centre of Research Excellence.
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) in Vaccine Adjuvant Discovery and Development (Vaccine-ADD) will be located at Griffith’s Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics at the Brisbane South (Nathan) and Gold Coast campuses, and will include partners from around Australia.
Vaccine-ADD researchers will discover new adjuvants, which are components of many current vaccines.
Adjuvants can provide important benefits such as improving vaccine efficacy, including in people at higher risk of disease such as those over 65 or with weak immune systems.
Associate Professor Danielle Stanisic and Professor Katherine Andrews
CRE Director, Professor Katherine Andrews, said vaccines played a critical role in human health and wellbeing.
“Over the past 50 years, it’s estimated more than 150 million lives have been protected due to vaccines against diseases such as polio, measles, whooping cough, tuberculosis, and COVID-19,” Professor Andrews said.
“Many of these vaccines contain adjuvants.
“It is imperative we discover new adjuvants so we can improve vaccines, including minimising injection site reactions, decreasing the time between booster vaccines, and providing adjuvants for different or new types of vaccines where current adjuvant options may not be suitable.
“We hope to achieve this by discovering and developing new chemical compounds with properties which could make them candidates as new vaccine adjuvants.”
CRE co-Director, Associate Professor Danielle Stanisic, said: “Our team of national experts will test unique, Australian-owned chemistry from Griffith University and partner organisations to identify new adjuvant candidates, investigate how these molecules work, and test them in vaccines using cancer and infectious disease models.”
The Vaccine-ADD CRE will also have a strong focus on providing mentoring and professional development opportunities for the next generation of vaccine scientists.
Associate Professor Stanisic said: “We hope our research will not only unearth new adjuvants but will also provide the opportunity to address consumer needs for new safe and effective vaccines.”
The NHMRC has provided Griffith University with $3 million in funding over the next five years for the Vaccine-ADD CRE.
Like a naughty pet labrador, the Australian lungfish has little restraint when it comes to food.
Australian Rivers Institute PhD Candidate Colin Burke with an Australian lungfish.
“We had 360sqm of aquatic plants growing inside enclosures; but, once the fences were removed, lungfish and other aquatic animals feasted on the plants, and most of the vegetation was gone within 21 days.”
Colin Burke, a PhD Candidate within Griffith University’s Australian Rivers Institute, is leading a study to restore and reestablish critical aquatic vegetative habitat in the Brisbane River downstream of Wivenhoe Dam for the federally threatened Australian lungfish, while also supporting broader native freshwater fauna communities.
Funded by Seqwater, with support from the National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Resilient Landscapes Hub, restoration trials of underwater aquatic plants, particularly Vallisneria nana (ribbon plant) has been underway since 2020 in an area that historically supported extensive aquatic plant habitat before the 2011 floods.
Seqwater’s Chief Executive Officer, Emma Thomas, said the study was critical to supporting native floral and fauna in South East Queensland rivers.
“Protecting our native fauna and flora is essential to the long‑term resilience of our rivers and the water quality our communities rely on. Strengthening our understanding of these ecosystems helps us to take action to protect them and support healthy, sustainable and thriving natural systems for future generations,” she said.
The Australian lungfish is one of Australia’s most ancient and unique freshwater species, and survives in only a few rivers in South East Queensland.
Lungfish are extremely long-lived, with individuals known to survive for decades. This means populations recover very slowly when numbers decline.
“Repeated flooding without sufficient habitat recovery can reduce recruitment of young lungfish to adulthood, increasing long-term risks for already vulnerable populations,” Burke said.
“When aquatic plants are removed by floods, recovery downstream of major dams can be slow. That loss of habitat can become self-reinforcing, with plants taking years to naturally re-establish. Well established plants are also crucial for lungfish as they are not only a food source, but they use them to lay eggs.”
PhD Candidate Colin Burke
Early aquatic plant restoration trials led by Seqwater used natural fibre mats to hold underwater plants in place, helping them establish, but were unfortunately grazed upon.
The proceeding trial, which was documented in a study published in the Journal of Environmental Management, saw initial success in establishing 360sqm of ribbon plant using fenced enclosures which was grazed upon when the fences were removed.
“And managing fences in flowing rivers is logistically complex and time-intensive, and there is always a risk they could be damaged or lost if flooding occurs,” Burke said.
An Australian lungfish caught snacking on the Vallisneria nana (ribbon plant) bed in Wivenhoe Dam.
Despite these initial trial-and-error setbacks, Burke and the team’s recent efforts – essentially distributing clumps of ribbon plant propagules by throwing them downstream and allowing them to establish in shallow parts of the riverbed – were showing promising results.
“This is called ‘managed hydrochory’, which focuses on restoring the natural process of plant dispersal by water rather than planting large beds all at once,” Burke said.
“So far, we’ve released about 150kg of plant material, equivalent to roughly 40,000 individual propagules, allowing plants to spread naturally through the river.
“This approach helps spread grazing pressure along the river reach. We have also installed wooden stakes throughout a 1.5km reach where these stakes should enhance retention of the released propagules. Another benefit of this method is that the aquatic plant propagules might be able to settle and establish further downstream.
“It’s a low-cost, scalable method that has strong potential to help rivers recover after severe floods that scour the riverbed.
Burke releases the Vallisneria nana (ribbon plant) propagules into the river.
“To our knowledge, this is one of the first process-based restoration trials for submerged aquatic plants in rivers anywhere in the world.
“The research being undertaken by Griffith University, is provides valuable insights that strengthens our understanding of how large dams influence the ecology of South East Queensland’s rivers,” said Dr David Roberts, Seqwater Senior Research Scientist.
“It is helping to fill critical knowledge gaps and improve how we protect and enhance river health. For example, we did not previously understand that large dams could delay the natural recovery cycle of aquatic plants after major flood events like those in 2011 and 2022.
“This research is equipping Seqwater with powerful new tools to better mitigate these impacts, support river health and help restore the natural balance of aquatic plants that, in turn, will support diverse river ecosystems and improve water quality.”
Burke and the team will continue to monitor the how released aquatic plant propagules establish and spread through the river over time, then trial this method at multiple sites downstream and gradually scale up the amount of plant material released.
“We are hoping to see self-sustaining aquatic plant communities that can persist and naturally recover following large flood events,” Burke said.
“Having collaborators means the research is grounded in real-world river management, not just theory. Working closely with Seqwater allows us to test ideas in the river, learn quickly from what works and what doesn’t, and apply those lessons directly to restoring lungfish habitat.”
From high rollers to higher education, Griffith University is breathing new life into its heritage-listed Brisbane CBD location with FDC Construction and Fitout, and COX Architecture on board to revitalise the Treasury Building.
The landmark development will offer teaching in IT, law and business for undergraduate and postgraduate students from 2027, and is expected to attract more than 6,000 students and 200 staff by 2028, reenergising the top end of Queen Street Mall.
The international students alone are projected to contribute more than $100 million to the local economy every year.
Renovation work will include three bespoke 12m feature skylights installed above the enclosed courtyard, thereby opening the space up to natural light alongside a customised moot court featuring repurposed early 1900s furniture from Queensland’s old Supreme Court.
Griffith Vice Chancellor and President Professor Carolyn Evans
Vice Chancellor and President Professor Carolyn Evans said: “The opening of the Treasury Building will mark an exciting chapter for Griffith University.”
“The new CBD location, combined with our existing creative and performing arts hub at South Bank, will create a dynamic, cross-river Brisbane City campus,” Professor Evans said.
FDC Managing Director Russell Grady said: “We are honoured to work with Griffith University on the restoration of Brisbane’s iconic Treasury Building.”
“This project reflects the trust placed in our teams to balance heritage sensitivity with contemporary functionality,” he said.
COX Architecture Director Kellie Newman said: “COX is proud to be working with Griffith University on its new campus within a building that carries such a rich history.”
“By rethinking pedagogy, timetabling and spatial scale, we are creating flexible, modular environments that respect the building while allowing the University to adapt and grow.”
The Treasury Building will feature:
Exciting engagement spaces for partners to come and collaborate with Griffith staff and students
Fantastic location with the building close to all forms of public transport enabling students, who were previously unable to come to Griffith, to enjoy a Griffith education and Queensland’s public to learn more about the iconic building and its history
Event spaces to draw alumni and the public to city-shaping events
Library with 24/7 access for students
Multiple food outlets available for students, staff and the public
A student hub including kitchen facilities, vending machines and a food pantry
Communal study spaces for students with a focus on collaborative learning
Numerous event spaces
Financial trading room for business students
Moot court for law students
Cyber range room for IT students
End of trip facility
Australia’s population is projected to age over the next 40 years and the number of centenarians expected to increase six-fold, prompting calls for the widespread introduction of dementia education in the education and training of health professionals.
Griffith University researchers were part of an international consortium which identified a gap in effective dementia education and subsequently developed a roadmap for educators.
The number of Australians aged 65 and over will more than double and the number of citizens aged 65 and over will more than triple.
Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare revealed one in 12 people aged 65 and over have dementia, rising to two in five for those aged 90 and over.
Dr Tien Khoo from Griffith’s School of Medicine and Dentistry said it was imperative the gap was addressed given 2023/24 data showed dementia was the leading cause of death in Australia.
“There is an inherent need to evolve health professional education in relation to dementia and other conditions associated with the country’s ageing population,” Dr Khoo said.
“With this in mind, it will be critical to develop clinical acumen and application in a holistic, interprofessional manner.
“This will need to include communication skills and empathy, crucial elements that, at times, can be neglected in the current drive to embrace technology such as advance artificial intelligence.
“In order to facilitate a practice-ready medical workforce which can effectively meet the needs of the individual and community, challenges will need to be addressed from the perspective of how education and training is delivered as well as how students best learn.
“Educators could scaffold experiential learning to develop deeper learning and appreciation of dementia and how it effects the individual, family and caregiver.
“Appropriate planning and investment in the training needs of our future health professionals will not only benefit patients, families and caregivers, but will likely have significant benefits in health economics.”
Dr Ellen Tullo from the University of Sunderland said: “Increasing numbers of people living with dementia means that healthcare professionals must be equipped with the knowledge and skills to provide good care.”
“Historically, healthcare education has tended to neglect dementia as a priority,” she said.
“Our model offers educators a structure to introduce robust teaching into existing curriculums.
“The numbers of people with dementia is growing fastest in developing countries, and there is a corresponding need to better understand the existing provision of dementia education and how this can be improved, according to local needs.”
Executive Dean of Education at The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Professor Andrew Teodorczuk said: “This is an innovative piece of medical education research that uses realist methodology to produce real world findings.”
“Though specific to dementia education there are broader learnings for the medical education community,” he said.
The paper ‘Embedding effective dementia education into undergraduate medical curricula – a realist review’ has been published in Age and Ageing.
When leaders express negative emotions such as irritability and withdrawal, behaviour is often judged differently for female and male leaders, according to new research from Griffith University.
The study of 190 professionals examined how leaders’ emotions and behaviours transferred to employees and how gender dynamics shaped employees’ responses.
Researchers found leaders’ emotions often crossed over indirectly to employees, influencing wellbeing, attitudes and workplace behaviour.
Associate Professor Carys Chan from the Department of Management at Griffith Business School
Associate Professor Carys Chan from the Department of Management at Griffith Business School said leadership behaviour was frequently interpreted through gendered expectations.
“When leaders experience job stress or other psychological strain, their emotions and behaviours can influence how employees feel and respond at work,” Associate Professor Chan said.
“Our research shows those behaviours are not judged in the same way for male and female leaders.”
The study found female employees showed greater appreciation for emotional and relational support from female leaders.
Male employees placed greater value on task-focused support and goal alignment from male leaders.
Both female and male participants were more tolerant of male leaders who displayed lower levels of emotional support.
“This suggests male leaders may be given greater flexibility when emotional support is limited, while female leaders may face stronger expectations to provide emotional care,” Associate Professor Chan said.
Negative emotional behaviours from leaders were associated with reduced trust, disengagement, stress and higher turnover intentions.
Positive leadership behaviours generated higher levels of job satisfaction, motivation, engagement and trust among employees.
Emotionally aware leaders were more effective at fostering supportive workplace environments regardless of gender.
Employees who consistently received support from leaders were also more likely to empathise when leaders showed signs of stress.
“Regularly checking in with employees about their wellbeing can shape how leadership behaviour is perceived and experienced,” Associate Professor Chan said.
“Leaders also need to nurture their own wellbeing, so their emotions, behaviours, and body language in the workplace are positive, and help employees to feel supported.
“This includes making time for pleasurable recovery activities after work and learning how to manage stress effectively.
“Leaders can be trained to be aware of their emotional states and develop strategies to manage their behaviours and experiences.”
The research also showed gendered leader and employee dynamics influenced broader perceptions of organisational culture.
