Liz Skelton

How Australia’s history and culture influence collective impact initiatives and create momentum for collaborative work that is more equitable and inclusive.

Lost Conversations is the result of 2 years work by 9 authors — 5 Aboriginal and 4 non-Indigenous who have first-hand experience of what happens when black and white Australians come together to try and create change. The book acknowledges that while there is no lack of goodwill, motivation or commitment to change, there is a glaring lack of skills — skills that are new, undeveloped and largely untested — skills that have to do with how we relate.

Lost Conversations is for black and… Show more

Lost Conversations is the result of 2 years work by 9 authors — 5 Aboriginal and 4 non-Indigenous who have first-hand experience of what happens when black and white Australians come together to try and create change. The book acknowledges that while there is no lack of goodwill, motivation or commitment to change, there is a glaring lack of skills — skills that are new, undeveloped and largely untested — skills that have to do with how we relate.

Lost Conversations is for black and white change agents who know that we don’t need another program, initiative or money thrown at the “Aboriginal problem”. It aims to kick-start new dialogue and move away from trying to ‘fix’ things towards looking at how we actually work together.

The book raises issues and experiences that normally go unspoken. It is a provocative response to the Australian problem that offers you a deeper learning that you can take in to your own workplace.
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Lost Conversations—a new book which brings together perspectives from a diversity of Aboriginal and non-Indigenous authors, all with first hand knowledge of what happens when 'black' and 'white' Australians come together to work on change.

Lost Conversations tells personal stories and proposes new ways of working (not new 'fixes', programs or money) as the missing element in how to make progress on reconciliation.

Lost Conversations​ aims to take black:white conversations to new… Show more

Lost Conversations—a new book which brings together perspectives from a diversity of Aboriginal and non-Indigenous authors, all with first hand knowledge of what happens when 'black' and 'white' Australians come together to work on change.

Lost Conversations tells personal stories and proposes new ways of working (not new 'fixes', programs or money) as the missing element in how to make progress on reconciliation.

Lost Conversations​ aims to take black:white conversations to new levels of courageousness and openness. Show less

Australians bemoan the quality of our leaders. We blame those in power for not showing leadership, only to turn on them when they start tackling the hard issues they are expected to fix. No wonder, then, that even the most passionate and talented among us hesitate to take up this important role.

The Australian Leadership Paradox offers a circuit breaker for this impasse, providing new insights into Australia's distinct leadership culture and a new way forward. It exposes the inherent… Show more

Australians bemoan the quality of our leaders. We blame those in power for not showing leadership, only to turn on them when they start tackling the hard issues they are expected to fix. No wonder, then, that even the most passionate and talented among us hesitate to take up this important role.

The Australian Leadership Paradox offers a circuit breaker for this impasse, providing new insights into Australia's distinct leadership culture and a new way forward. It exposes the inherent tensions in Australians' historical relationship with authority, interrogates our culture of mateship and egalitarianism, and challenges the narrative of a nation of Aussies leading in adversity when we are actually living in 'the lucky country'. These tensions are the four key paradoxes of Australian leadership.

Drawing on their extensive experience, Geoff Aigner and Liz Skelton ask the deep questions on what it means to lead well. Working with hundreds of leaders from government, business and community organisations, they have identified how we can develop more purposeful leadership. They show how it's possible for leadership to be inspiring, sustainable and effective in bringing positive economic and social change. Incisive and practical, this unique book shows how we can participate in creating the change we want to see in the world.

'Aigner and Skelton challenge our understanding of what leadership characteristics are needed in the Australian context, with every page presenting new insights and possibilities... a fascinating portrayal of how leadership is exercised in our institutions but leaves us yearning for something much better.' - Robert Fitzgerald AM, Commissioner, Productivity Commission

'...in the tradition of Donald Horne's The Lucky Country, ...challenges us to rise above complacency and complaint and accept that leadership and power are needed for progress.' - Professor Geoff Gallop, former Premier of Western Australia Show less