Stephanie Fernihough is Cranlana’s Alumni and Community Manager. When it was announced Cranlana House was listed for sale, she took the opportunity to engage with the people who remember the home from the days we used it as our primary location. Together, they reflected on the memories held within its walls and famed grounds.
“The (Cranlana Programme) was launched with an inaugural Cranlana weekend in 1993.
I will always recall the address by Victorian Governor and distinguished academic and theologian Dr Davis McCaughey, which still stands as a dignified and masterful statement of the Programme’s purpose. Reflecting on why engaging with thinkers of the past was important, McCaughey offered a range of reasons.
Amongst them he noted “it is true of almost everyone of these figures from the past that once they had thought, written or spoken, serious men and women, perhaps for centuries, could never think or speak as though they had not been.” Observing that now some of these texts might seem a little strange he added, unforgettably, “of course they are strange…. but they are greatly strange.”
– Memories of the first Cranlana Programme run at Cranlana House, provided by Dr Michael Liffman, one of Cranlana’s founders.
As Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership marks its 32nd year, it’s an opportune moment to pause for profound reflection. As Michael Shmith remarked in Cranlana: The first 100 years, “the beginnings of the programme – in fact, its very rationale – were already embodied in the bricks and mortar of Cranlana itself. Not for the first time, the house would play an almost living role in the genesis of an ambitious and innovative family endeavour in which the spirit of place was just as important as the spirit of the idea.”
For nearly three decades, Cranlana has been a sanctuary for leaders seeking deeper understanding. Alumni describe their experiences as pivotal, transformative and for some, there’s a palpable feeling of something magical in the room.
Cranlana Estate may be hitting the market for the first time in a century, but its place in our formative years remains an important piece of the organisation we are today.
I still remember the sound of my shoes walking with purpose up the gravel of the long drive. Entering the home through wide open doors, past carefully cultured gardens and paths hidden in shady seclusion, to the smell of wood polish and the sight of oiled portraits hanging high above. Entering the ballroom, where the program was held in such a sacred space. Listening. Learning. A warm, cosy feeling of curiosity and inclusion.
Regardless of how many times you made the journey, I’m sure that for you, like me, the experience has stayed with you. Just as it has for the following leaders…
Maria Dimopoulos AM
Director and Principal Consultant, Myriad Kofkin Global and 2006 Colloquium Alumna and Cranlana Guest Speaker
Each participant’s journey reveals the profound impact of our programs. Maria Dimopolous shared a powerful reflection on her experience: “Standing in front of an audience during this program, sharing my speech, I felt the weight and significance of my journey as an advocate for justice and equity. It was a moment where the personal intersected with the political, and I realised how deeply my own experiences—of resisting harmful narratives, challenging exclusion, and reclaiming identity—reflected the broader fight for systemic change.”
She continued, emphasising that “true leadership lies not in speaking the loudest but in creating space for others to be heard, valued, and empowered. It strengthened my commitment to pushing for structural change while imagining and working toward a more just and equitable future.”
Dr. David Cooke
Executive Director, ESG Advisory and 2017 Executive Colloquium Alumnus and Cranlana Guest Speaker
Dr. David Cooke captured the unique essence of Cranlana House as the location for the experience described by Maria, noting, “studying at Cranlana was a deeply enriching experience, and while grappling with issues of morality and virtue and justice stimulated my mind, it was the setting of Cranlana that nourished my soul. This uniquely beautiful, tranquil, historical home was the perfect setting for our discussions.”
Jo Smyth
Director, Twiga Group and 2006, 2009 Colloquium Alumna and Cranlana Guest Speaker
Jo Smyth painted a vivid picture of the transformative environment: “Stepping into the tranquil grounds of Cranlana House felt like entering a world where time slows, thoughts deepen, and the pursuit of wisdom takes precedence. There is something profoundly grounding about sitting in a space imbued with so much history, knowing that countless leaders before me had walked the same paths and wrestled with similar challenges.”
Dr. Peter Miller
Principal, The Geelong College and 2019 Executive Colloquium Alumnus, VFF Fellow and Cranlana Guest Speaker
Dr. Peter Miller offered a poetic reflection on the house itself: “I wish the structure of Cranlana House could talk given all it will have heard over the years. They would be wise, sensible words the house would share, informed by the millions of conversations engaged within the house or in its beautiful garden.”
Brittany Pullen
Former Program Manager, Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership and 2019 Colloquium Alumna.
There was something extraordinary about the original Cranlana House. As former Program Manager Brittany Pullen recalls, it offered participants an “escape from the real world,” a unique space to explore life’s big ideas and ethical challenges. While the staff experienced the quirks of working in an old mansion—from blown fuses to gardeners’ leaf blowers—the house remained a special place of inspiration.
However according to Brittany, Cranlana’s impact didn’t falter through the move from the house to it’s new Melbourne location at Airlie in South Yarra; “no matter where the programs are held, participants will still experience the inspiration and opportunity for the deep thinking and big ideas that a Cranlana program offers, and that experience will stay with them.”
Looking forward
While our physical location may have changed, our commitment remains. We continue to carry forward the vision established by the Myer Foundation—to cultivate ethical practice and responsible leadership across Australia.
As we close 2024, we are filled with gratitude for the leaders who have walked our halls, the conversations that have shaped perspectives, and an ongoing commitment to ethical leadership.
From Cranlana House to today, we are committed to building a brave, connected community of ethical practice.
Once you’ve participated in a Cranlana experience, we’ll keep you linked into the network of over 4000 Australian leaders. Start here – we’d love for you to join us at the next Colloquium, or start a conversation about our custom ethical partnership options.
