From climate change to technological disruption, today’s leaders are operating in a more complex and more highly scrutinised world. Communities, employees and customers are asking businesses to think beyond profit and short-term gains and take responsibility for the wider impact of their decisions.
The concept of responsible leadership has been discussed for decades, but recent events have made its importance impossible to ignore. Australia has seen its share of cautionary tales, for example the recent inquiries into Crown Resorts which exposed the damage caused by weak governance and poor accountability eroding public trust.
By contrast, many leaders and organisations have charted a different course including Atlassian’s Mike Cannon-Brookes who has become a high-profile advocate for corporate action on climate change, showing that business leaders can play a critical role in shaping national conversations. Bank Australia has built its reputation on ethical banking, refusing to invest in fossil fuels or harmful industries, and Who Gives A Crap, the social enterprise founded by Simon Griffiths, reinvests half its profits to improve global sanitation. These examples highlight how values-driven decision-making can build trust, loyalty, and long-term resilience.
So, what sets a responsible leader apart? Integrity, accountability and a willingness to think long-term. Responsible leaders act with transparency, acknowledge mistakes when they occur, and make choices that balance the needs of shareholders with those of employees, customers, communities and the environment.
Professor Naomi Birdthistle, Director of Griffith University’s MBA, says these qualities are increasingly non-negotiable for anyone seeking to make an impact in leadership.
“Responsible leadership is not about perfection; it’s about having the courage to do what is right, even when it’s difficult. It means being honest, thinking about the long-term impact of your decisions, and recognising that leadership is about people as much as it is about profit,” she says.
This perspective is also reshaping how business education is taught. At Griffith Business School, concepts like sustainability and ethics are not treated as standalone topics but woven throughout the MBA program. Courses encourage students to challenge traditional business logic, consider the wider systems their organisations operate within, and reflect on the kind of leaders they want to be.
Graduates often describe the experience as a shift in mindset, one that broadens leadership beyond quarterly results to a form of stewardship: of resources, communities and trust.
This kind of leadership is not static. It requires ongoing reflection, continuous learning and the ability to adapt as challenges evolve. In practice, it means engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders, listening carefully, and making decisions that are inclusive as well as strategic. It also means building cultures within organisations where openness and accountability are valued, and where purpose is not separated from performance.
As global and local challenges intensify, the demand for leaders who can balance commercial success with social responsibility is growing. What was once seen as a “nice to have” is now central to building organisations that can endure, inspire and contribute positively to society.
For Griffith, fostering this type of leadership is about preparing graduates not only to succeed in their careers, but to help shape a future where business and societal wellbeing are deeply connected.
“The leaders who will thrive in the years ahead are those who understand that success is not measured by profit alone. It’s also measured by the trust you build, the impact you have on people’s lives, and the legacy you leave for future generations.”
Professor Naomi Birdthistle
When a storm or Tropical Cyclone impacts mainland Australia, would you get behind the wheel of a vehicle?
New Griffith University research has explored this question by analysing driver behaviour during the four most extreme days of Tropical Cyclone Alfred – 6-9 March 2025.
Dr Matt Stainer from the MAIC Griffith University Road Safety Research Collaboration at Griffith’s School of Applied Psychology surveyed 319 drivers with results showing 29.47 per cent of people drove at some point during 6-9 March.
Dr Matt Stainer
Of the 310 people who reported driving, 1.94 per cent drove every day, 6.45 per cent drove three days, 7.42 per cent drove two days, and 11.60 per cent drove one day.
The number of people driving decreased from Thursday to Saturday, the day Tropical Cyclone Alfred made landfall, but it increased again on Sunday.
Dr Stainer said participants reported a range of reasons for travelling during the four-day period.
“Reasons given were for essential trips for food and safety, but also for non-essential outings such as going to the gym or popping out for a coffee,” he said.
“In the lead up to Tropical Cyclone Alfred’s project landfall, most trips were for food and supplies as people prepared for the storm.
“Friday saw an increase in visits to family and friends, either due to power outages at their own homes, or checking on others.
“Work trips declined on Friday and Saturday, possibly reflecting business closures during this time.”
Other reasons provided included leisure and recreation, damage assessment, and shelter and safety.
Dr Stainer hoped the insights from the research would be used to guide public safety messaging, support emergency planning, and help reduce road risks in future extreme weather events.
“We found the number and nature of trips changed throughout the approach, crossing, and aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Alfred,” he said.
“Most driving in the buildup was for necessary tasks, such as gathering supplies and helping friends and family to prepare.
“When the storm was at its worst, trips tended to be for more serious reasons such as evacuating from flooding or power loss, or to help others in urgent need.
“In the aftermath, things returned to ‘normal’ quickly with people completing less critical tasks such as going to survey the damage to the beaches.
“When the weather eased, people seemed to become far less cautious – but this is actually a very dangerous time as floodwater, debris left by the storm, and power outages to traffic lights meant many participants were surprised by how hazardous driving was.
“Being storm-ready, reducing trips to only those that are necessary (including after the event has ‘finished’), and checking Transport Main Roads and the BoM websites for advice before heading out can help people to be safer on the roads.
“We also need to be especially understanding and considerate of other road users.
“Many people told us they were anxious to be on the road, but their trips were unavoidable.
“At times of heightened stress, it is most important we work together to keep our community safe on the road.”
A recent survey of Griffith’s Brisbane South (Nathan) campus in Toohey Forest achieved more than 4000 individual observations of more than 500 different species, underscoring a strong community passion for the forest and an improved understanding of its rich biodiversity.
Dr Wade Hadwen.
The Griffith University Toohey Forest BioBlitz was created by Dr Wade Hadwen, from Griffith’s School of Environment and Science and the EcoCentre, as a proof-of-concept event to create new biodiversity records, better engage the community, and inform improved management of the area.
Across two days – 5-6 September – 82 citizen scientist participants (who were largely new to events such as this) took to the forest to contribute species observations.
Using the iNaturalist app, participants uploaded photos and sounds of species they encountered in the forest during the event.
At the end of the two-day BioBlitz, 4166 unique observations were made, identifying 516 different species of plants, animals and fungi.
Sightings included the powerful owl (listed as ‘vulnerable’), koalas (‘endangered’) and a large number of previously undocumented species of invertebrates and fungi.
The survey data also revealed:
54 per cent of participants had previously participated in some form of citizen science event
71 per cent of participants were female, 29 per cent male
100 per cent of participants believed citizen science contributed to meaningful scientific outcomes
“Our BioBlitz has generated significant new knowledge of the inhabitants of Toohey Forest, with a substantial increase in species records across most taxonomic groups – we have almost doubled the species list for this site for plants and insects and have even larger increases in knowledge for spiders and fungi.”
Dr Wade Hadwen
“As stewards of the land on which Griffith’s Brisbane South (Nathan) campus is situated, these observations provide critical information that will inform management, including controlled burning practices and management of endangered and vulnerable species on our campus.
“We attracted a large number of new citizen scientists for this event, including our students and staff and members of the local community.
“Many participants were amazed by the diversity of life and the ease of uploading observations, making the experience fun and rewarding.”
With the event proving a success, Dr Hadwen hoped the data collected in the 2025 BioBlitz can act as a baseline for future surveys, while continuing to grow the community engagement and awareness of Toohey Forest’s unique biodiversity.
All images below taken within Toohey Forest by Dr Wade Hadwen
As Australia’s aviation sector regains momentum, reducing its carbon footprint is critical. The sector’s emissions now exceed those of all Australian buses and trucks combined, and domestic aviation emissions tripled between 1990 and 2019. Meanwhile, Australian airlines are pushing toward net zero by 2050, introducing fuel-efficient aircraft and operational improvements to reduce CO₂ per flight. With such high stakes, revisiting the Aviation Reimagined webinar series is timely — its content remains a vital resource for anyone working in sustainable aviation.
A five-year conversation
The Aviation Reimagined – Contextualising Decarbonisation webinar series ran annually from 2020 to 2024 and created a unique platform for evidence-based dialogue on aviation’s low-carbon future. Hosted by the Griffith Institute for Tourism and facilitated by Professor Susanne Becken, Dr Emma Whittlesea, Professor Tim Ryley and Dr Bojana Spasojevic, the series brought together national and international voices from research, government, and industry.
Over its five-year span, the series engaged hundreds of participants in conversations spanning economics, regulation, science, technology, and social justice. More than 350 people joined the 2024 discussions alone, reflecting growing momentum for aviation decarbonisation.
Exploring the pathways to low-carbon flight
Each year featured timely and often provocative sessions, exploring not only the technical possibilities of decarbonisation but also its regulatory, financial, and societal dimensions. Highlights included:
Policy leadership and industry innovation – from Sweden’s crisis leadership to the UK’s Jet Zero Council, and New Zealand’s push toward electric regional aviation.
Aircraft of tomorrow – showcasing pioneering efforts such as Heart Aerospace’s 19-seat all-electric regional airliner, hydrogen fuel cell aircraft prototypes, and proposals for 100-seat zero-emission jets by 2030.
Transforming airports – exploring net zero strategies across Europe and Asia-Pacific, sustainable investment as a licence to operate, and the future of “smart” airports ready to accommodate new technologies.
Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) – with global experts unpacking the challenges of scaling production, aligning regulation, and ensuring credibility in the supply chain.
Advanced air mobility – debating the opportunities and complexities of eVTOLs, vertiports, and infrastructure for urban air mobility.
Science matters – separating myth from fact on aviation’s climate effects, including the impact of contrails, limits of carbon offsetting, and climate risk for airlines.
Social benefits and climate justice – examining how low-carbon travel could transform accessibility, credibility, and public trust in the aviation sector.
These sessions underscored that aviation’s decarbonisation is not just a technological challenge but also an economic, regulatory, and social one.
Bridging research, policy and practice
Professor Susanne Becken from the Griffith Institute for Tourism said the series aimed to bridge academic insight with the practical needs of industry and government.
“Aviation is often portrayed as one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise, yet it is also one of the most critical to get right.”
“This series created a forum where diverse stakeholders could share knowledge, debate evidence, and identify opportunities for collaboration.”
Delivered in partnership with Griffith’s Climate Ready Initiative, Griffith Aviation, and the Griffith Institute for Tourism’s Climate Change Action Cluster, the webinars became a go-to forum for advancing sustainable aviation debates across Australia and beyond.
Access the recordings
For those who missed the live events — or want to revisit key insights — Griffith University has made a partial collection of webinar recordings and presentation slides available online. These remain a valuable reference for policymakers, professionals, educators, and students seeking to understand the shifting landscape of sustainable air travel.
Looking ahead
Although the series concluded in 2024, its legacy continues. The insights shared through Aviation Reimagined highlight both the complexity and the enormous potential of aviation’s transition to a low-carbon future.
As global attention turns to milestones such as the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games — events that will place aviation and climate action firmly under the spotlight — these conversations are as relevant as ever.
Explore the collection of Aviation Reimagined presentations and recordings on the Griffith Institute for Tourism website – Aviation Reimagined Webinar Series.
New research led by Griffith University has measured individual tree heights across 3.1 million hectares in the New South Wales Northern Rivers region, revealing old growth forests and a tree as tall as a 27-storey building at 81m.
Dr Patrick Norman.
In the study published in Australian Journal of Botany, advanced mapping techniques using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and computational power revealed a detailed assessment of forest structure at the single-tree level over large geographic extents of the Northern Rivers region.
LiDAR uses laser light to measure distances to create detailed three-dimensional (3D) models of the landscape, including trees.
Lead author on the National Environmental Science Program Resilient Landscapes Hub project, Dr Patrick Norman from Griffith University, said the advanced mapping techniques allowed them to use publicly available Airborne Laser Scanning data to model forest canopy height and individual trees across 3.1 million hectares, at a level of detail that had not been achievable until now.
“This has allowed us to map the forest canopy in incredible detail capturing more than 180 million individual trees across this huge area,” Dr Norman said.
“We have been able to identify the tallest trees, including an 81m flooded gum (Eucalyptus grandis) and a 77m hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii). This has also allowed us to understand a better picture of where the remaining areas of old growth forest are, which will be important for conservation efforts.”
Dr Patrick Norman
The analysis of tree heights across different vegetation types and land uses showed the tallest trees were found in wet sclerophyll forests, in areas of native forest designated for nature conservation or timber production.
LiDAR image of a 77m hoop pine.
“This information provides valuable insights into the influence of environmental and human impacts on tree heights, which could be used to inform management strategies and conservation efforts within the region and can also be applied to other forested landscapes,” Dr Norman said.
This research was part of a project to develop climate change adaptation plans for the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales and the Wet Tropics of Queensland.
Both regions were home to many threatened species and ecological communities and contained a diverse range of land uses and protected areas, including significant wetlands, national parks, World Heritage Areas, Indigenous Protected Areas and Indigenous Land Use Agreements.
They were also places of rapid change: in a three-year period in the Northern Rivers region, unprecedented drought had been followed by bushfires and floods in rapid succession.
Australians who use anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are turning to online forums for advice on how to safely discontinue steroid-use, rather than seeking expert clinical support.
New Griffith University research has delved into the practice of ‘post-cycle therapy’ (PCT), a controversial process aimed at restoring the body’s natural hormone balance after stopping steroid use.
Dr Tim Piatkowski
Lead author Dr Tim Piatkowski from Griffith’s School of Applied Psychology, along with a team of researchers, analysed more than 5,000 posts across online steroid forums.
“While many consumers use PCT as an important tool for managing withdrawal symptoms, protecting sexual health, and maintaining muscle gains, the advice being shared is inconsistent and often conflicting,” Dr Piatkowski said.
“People are seeking support, but instead of turning to health services where stigma and a lack of expertise are barriers, they are relying on their peers in online forums for guidance.
“Most often the advice reflects subjective perspectives of people with lived experience of AAS-use with some people appearing to be more focused on short-term health improvements rather than long-term health promotion or longevity.
“This makes them vulnerable to misinformation and unnecessary health risks.”
The research also discovered significant barriers to safe steroid discontinuation including stigma, regulatory restrictions, and strong anti-PCT voices within online forums.
“The data underscores the urgent need for evidence-based, non-stigmatising clinical support for steroid consumers in Australia,” Dr Pitakowski said.
“It also highlights a gap in clinical knowledge with some health professionals often unprepared to guide patients through safe cessation, leaving forms to fill the void.
“We desperately need to close the gap so AAS-users have access to evidence-based support.”
The paper ‘Looking for the best way to come off steroids safely? Exploring post-cycle therapy, cessation, and recovery discourse and practice in Australian steroid consumer forums’ has been published in Drug and Alcohol Review.
New findings highlight the pioneering role of human groups who lived in the interior of northern Arabia shortly after the hyper-arid conditions of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), guided by the return of seasonal water sources – and leaving behind a monumental legacy in rock art.
Professor Michael Petraglia with the team.
A team of international archaeologists, led by the Heritage Commission, Saudi Ministry of Culture, and comprising scholars from the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology), University College London, Griffith University’s Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution (ARCHE) and more – made the discoveries as part of the Green Arabia Project.
The team identified more than 60 rock art panels containing 176 engravings in three previously unexplored areas – Jebel Arnaan, Jebel Mleiha, and Jebel Misma – along the southern edge of the Nefud Desert in northern Saudi Arabia.
The engravings, primarily depicting camels, ibex, equids, gazelles, and aurochs, include 130 life-sized and naturalistic figures, some measuring up to 3m long and more than 2m high.
Dr Maria Guagnin.
The engravings date to between 12,800 and 11,400 years ago, a period when seasonal water bodies reappeared in the region following extreme aridity.
These water sources, confirmed through sediment analysis, supported early human expansions into the desert interior and offered rare opportunities for survival.
“These large engravings are not just rock art – they were probably statements of presence, access, and cultural identity,” said lead author, Dr Maria Guagnin from Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology.
Dr Ceri Shipton, co-lead author from the Institute of Archaeology, University College London, said: “The rock art marks water sources and movement routes, possibly signifying territorial rights and intergenerational memory.”
The team working in the arid field site.
Unlike previously known sites where engravings were hidden in crevices, the Jebel Mleiha and the Jebel Arnaan panels were etched onto towering cliff faces, some up to 39 meters high, in visually commanding locations.
One panel would have required ancient artists to climb and work precariously on narrow ledges, underscoring the sheer effort and significance of the imagery.
Artefacts including Levantine-style El Khiam and Helwan stone points, green pigment, and dentalium beads suggest long-distance connections to Pre-Pottery Neolithic (PPN) populations in the Levant region.
However, the scale, content, and placement of the Arabian engravings set them apart.
One of the camel monument artworks.
“This unique form of symbolic expression belongs to a distinct cultural identity adapted to life in a challenging, arid environment,” said Dr Faisal Al-Jibreen, from the Heritage Commmission, Saudi Ministry of Culture.
“The project’s interdisciplinary approach has begun to fill a critical gap in the archaeological record of northern Arabia between the LGM and the Holocene, shedding light on the resilience and innovation of early desert communities,” said Professor Michael Petraglia, Director of Griffith University’s ARCHE and lead of the Green Arabia project.
As a tribute to one of its true pioneers, Griffith University has unveiled the Calvin Rose Soils Teaching Laboratory in its newest building at the Brisbane South (Nathan) campus, N81, named in honour of Professor EmeritusCalvin Rose AM, whose pioneering work in environmental science helped shape both the University and the field itself.
Professor Emeritus Calvin Rose AM meets guests at an event to honour his life and work at Griffith.
Professor Rose’s career began far from Australia’s east coast – in aircraft structural design and later teaching physics in Uganda.
He then joined the CSIRO Division of Land Research, where he assessed the agricultural potential of Northern Australia.
This laid the groundwork for his expertise in environmental and agricultural physics, soil science, and crop modelling, skills that would prove essential in shaping a new kind of university.
In 1972, Professor Rose was appointed the Foundation Dean of Griffith’s School of Australian Environmental Studies, even before the University’s buildings were complete.
“There was no building at that stage,” he said.
“We had to operate out of town and build a temporary lab in the humanities building, to help with the teaching of science.”
From these humble beginnings, Professor Rose later established the School of Environmental Engineering in 1989, and was again elected Dean in 1992.
Professor Rose outside the laboratory named in his honour.
Despite the modest beginnings, his work in soil erosion and sediment transport laid the foundation for what would become one of Australia’s leading environmental research institutions.
As a founding figure of what evolved into the Australian Rivers Institute, his work in soil erosion and sediment transport played a key role in shaping a national understanding of river systems.
“I’m very proud of being a pioneer,” he said.
“I started something that became the Australian Rivers Institute – and we did a good job.”
Professor Emeritus Calvin Rose AM
Internationally respected, Professor Rose directed major soil conservation programs across Southeast Asia and designed Griffith’s unique Tilting Flume Simulated Rainfall Facility.
Among many honours, he is a Life Member of the Australian Society of Soil Science, a Fellow of two national academies, and a Member of the Order of Australia.
Now immortalised in the very architecture of Griffith, Professor Rose said he felt “honoured and surprised” by the tribute.
“It’s a big surprise to me, and very generous,” Professor Rose said.
“I’m very honored, and very pleased indeed to be remembered this way.”
Ceiling fans as a sole form of cooling do not do enough to fully ameliorate heat-induced physiological strain for vulnerable populations once the mercury surpasses 31°C.
New Griffith University research set out to evaluate whether ceiling fans reduce core body temperature and physiological strain in bed-resting older adults who had been exposed to prolonged indoor heat of 31°C and 45 per cent relative humidity, typical indoor environments experienced during summer in South East Queensland.
Dr Fergus O’Connor
Dr Fergus O’Connor from Griffith’s School of Allied Health, Sport and Social Work said ceiling fan use significantly reduced peak core temperature by 0.2°C, heart rate by five beats per minute, and thermal discomfort, however, heat induced strain was not fully mitigated.
“In ambient conditions of 31°C and 45 per cent relative humidity, ceiling fans were not wholly efficacious and did not fully ameliorate heat-induced physiological strain,” Dr O’Connor said.
“Under the environmental conditions tested, core temperatures were elevated by nearly 1°C and heart rate was elevated by 22 beats per minute, even with the use of a fan.
“Therefore, while ceiling fans offer some benefits, they are not as wholly effective as a standalone cooling mechanism and should be combined with air conditioning, where possible.”
The study advises ceilings fans are best used early during heat exposure and when ambient temperatures are below 33°C.
Setting an air conditioner to around 26°C, coupled with a ceiling fan, was an ideal option to minimise electrical consumption and avoid the negative health effects of heat exposure.
Furthermore, fans can worsen heat strain when the temperature exceeds 40°C, and a common cooling intervention can make your home more like a convection oven than a cool oasis.
People may experience fatigue, dizziness, reduced cognitive function, and if exposure continues, heat-related illnesses.
Dr O’Connor said as climate change drives more frequent and intense heatwaves, and indoor overheating becomes more commonplace, sustainable and accessible cooling interventions such as ceiling fans will play a vital role in protecting people’s health, particularly for older adults.
“However, recommendations for public health guidance should be steeped in interventions which are effective, and not just interventions that will likely not cause harm,” he said.
“Expanding access through government subsidies to enable access to powerful cooling, such as air conditioning, is imperative to protecting the most vulnerable.”
People living with mental health conditions in Brisbane have been participating in free university-level arts courses thanks to Griffith University.
Associate Professor Jane Fowler
The eight-week courses were taught by university tutors and were designed to foster creativity, build confidence and develop new skills through creative writing, singing, acting, studio drawing and painting.
Named ‘Mosaic’ to reflect the coming together of diverse pieces to create a cohesive, vibrant, and impactful whole, the program was open to adults currently receiving support for their mental health, with a desire to engage and learn.
Program Director, Associate Professor Jane Fowler said the education focus, rather than a traditional patient health focus, represented a new way of working in mental health.
“Mosaic provides access to education for people who might otherwise not see it as a possibility,” she said.
