Author: Dr Stephanie Fernihough is our Alumni and Community Manager.
Steph works with the people who make up Cranlana’s network of practice, spanning alumni, faculty and more. Steph’s focus is on keeping Cranlana connected and providing our alumni with opportunities to keep learning.
Meet Dr Travers McLeod. From the red soil of Exmouth to the bustling streets of Perth, we follow Travers’ path to becoming a thoughtful voice and decision-maker in the Australian not-for-profit sector.
As an experienced Cranlana Moderator, who in 2025 will return to Perth to support leaders throughout the Colloquium, Travers will connect with leaders from a shared perspective of the Western Australian context, while bringing new learning to light.
A global story, grown in Exmouth
Travers’ story is one of intellectual curiosity and deep commitment to social justice, spanning from the Western Australian coast to Oxford’s hallowed halls, and back to Australia’s policy frontlines. As a Rhodes Scholar, Travers exemplified the bridge-building approach that has defined his career, connecting rigorous academic thinking with practical policy solutions.
Today, as Executive Director of the Brotherhood of St. Laurence, Travers represents a firmly established social justice organisation, working at the intersection of policy and practice to address disadvantage and create lasting change in Australia’s socioeconomic landscape. His leadership approach reflects values we seek to nurture here at Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership—thoughtful reflection, ethical reasoning, and courage in addressing complex societal challenges.
Given his upbringing and professional path, perhaps what makes Travers such a valuable member of our faculty, is his ability to weave together local complexities with a global perspective. Spending his formative years in Western Australia, Travers brings authenticity and a genuine connection to the region’s challenges and opportunities, which is sure to resonate with our Western Australian community.
What draws Travers to Cranlana’s work?
As a Cranlana Moderator and 2015 Colloquium alumnus, Travers has guided many Australian leaders through the transformative experience of philosophical inquiry in leadership development. His lived experience as both participant and facilitator creates an authentic connection with leaders navigating their own journeys.
“…what we like to see from our participants is not just to watch them discuss and thrive through the week, but in the months and years afterward to still be using the lessons from Cranlana to evolve their own leadership style.”
Beyond his work at the Brotherhood of St. Laurence, Travers brings a rich tapestry of experience to his discussions on ethical leadership. His thinking has been shaped by academic explorations at the University of Melbourne and his home state’s University of Western Australia, while his global perspective continues to be enriched through his association with Oxford’s Martin School.
In 2015, Oxford University Press published his thoughtful exploration Rule of Law in War, a work that reveals his natural ability to navigate complex ethical questions with the same balanced approach of intellectual depth and practical wisdom that he brings to Cranlana.
Image: Travers and Associate Professor Leslie Cannold
For Travers, Moderating our 2025 Perth Colloquium represents a meaningful homecoming. In Western Australia, leaders face profound questions about shared prosperity, environmental sustainability and inclusive growth.
Travers’ understanding of both policy frameworks and on-the-ground realities makes him a uniquely insightful Moderator to guide these conversations.
Travers’ contributions to landmark reports, such as the 2013 paper Now for the Long Term, highlight his commitment to thinking beyond immediate pressures—a perspective particularly valuable in a state historically shaped by boom-and-bust cycles. As Moderator for our Perth Colloquium, Travers will explore leaders’ views in Western Australia, where his own leadership journey began.
With his Western Australian roots, global experience, and unwavering commitment to ethical leadership, Dr Travers McLeod embodies the bridge-building approach that will shape Western Australia’s future. His continued contribution to the Cranlana community extends the dialogue of ethical leadership across Australia while bringing special insight to the unique context of Western Australian leadership.
For those seeking deeper engagement, the Executive Colloquium offers an immersive week of philosophical inquiry and leadership reflection under Moderators ( like Travers!) guidance, providing you with a rare opportunity to step back from day-to-day pressures and consider the ethical foundations of leadership.
Find out more about enrolling in one of our upcoming Colloquiums and explore the calendar here:
