Leadership and family the driving forces behind Deakin graduate's success

After two decades at Deakin University, Liesl Freeman’s passion for leadership is stronger than ever—so much so that she’s about to graduate with a Master of Leadership.

Liesl, who has spent 20 years working and studying at Deakin, took on the intense course after COVID-19, driven by firsthand experience of how crucial good leadership is during a crisis.

As she guided her team through the challenges of lockdowns while ensuring critical research continued, she saw the power of strong leadership in action—and wanted to learn more.

She graduated on Monday 10 February in front of her biggest supporters: her husband, Matt, and their two children, aged 11 and nine.

‘There’s no way I could have done this without Matt,’ Liesl said.

‘He’s an incredible husband and father, and I’m so happy for him and the kids to see the results of all this hard work.’

Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Liesl has called Geelong home for the past two decades after marrying Geelong-boy Matt 21 years ago.

‘There’s no way I could have done this [degree] without [my husband] Matt.’

Wanting to work for a large organisation with lots of opportunities and a progressive environment, she set her sights on Deakin—and has never looked back.

‘Deakin ticked all the boxes. I’ve had so many opportunities to grow, build great relationships, and develop my skills,’ she said.

‘I’ve also had two children during my time at Deakin, and the flexibility and support I’ve had from colleagues meant I never had to put my career on hold.’

Liesl stepped into the role of Operations Manager at Deakin’s Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM) – which aims to raise worldwide standards of living by redesigning materials for a circular economy and better functionality – just six weeks before lockdowns began.

Tasked with overseeing technical, communications and administrative teams supporting close to 200 researchers and more than 150 students across 96 laboratories, she faced an enormous challenge.

Navigating a global pandemic while ensuring vital research continued made one thing clear: strong leadership is everything.

‘Great leadership drives innovation, fosters collaboration, and helps teams navigate complexity,’ Liesl said.

‘People are your best asset, and as a leader, your job is to empower them.’

One of her greatest joys is seeing her own team members grow into exceptional leaders.

‘They’re solutions-focused, people-oriented, and highly engaged leaders—even in the toughest environments,’ she said.

Four years on, Liesl is now Associate Director Operations at IFM.

Reflecting on her nearly 20-year career at Deakin, Liesl is grateful for the opportunities, the challenges, and, most of all, the people.

‘I genuinely love my job and the people I work with. I’ve always been surrounded by great colleagues and meaningful work—it’s made all the difference.’

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This story originally appeared as a Deakin media release.