Connection is the root of strong leadership.
In nature, hyphae are the fine underground threads of fungi. Unseen, but essential.
They connect roots across vast distances, transfer nutrients, and help the forest survive and thrive.
When these threads link together, they form what scientists call the mycorrhizal network (the “wood wide web”). Through this hidden network, trees share resources, warn each other of threats, and keep the whole forest in balance.
They are the quiet infrastructure of connection, collaboration, and resilience. That’s the kind of leadership ecosystem we’re building. One where experience and insight move freely between leaders. Where emerging talent is nourished by those who’ve walked before.
Where no one is left standing alone.
From Acorn to Hyphae
For several years, the Acorn Network was home to our mentoring work, connecting young leaders with sector experience and creating national conversations about leadership.
The model worked. The results spoke for themselves. But as our focus widened, and branched wider. We saw the need for a space that wasn’t about one career stage or one type of leader.
Hyphae Network is that next chapter.
It honours the strong roots we planted with Acorn, while growing a broader canopy of connection for leaders at every stage, in every part of aged care and community health.
Our Commitment
We believe leadership growth doesn’t happen in isolation. It grows in networks, in reflection, in the honest sharing of stories and challenges.
And just like the mycorrhizal network under the forest floor, the most powerful connections are often the ones you can’t see. You feel their strength when you need them most.
Our Purpose
We’re here to make sure no leader in aged care or community health has to navigate in isolation.
We do this by:
Linking experienced and emerging leaders in structured, supported relationships.
Sharing leadership tools and reflective practices grounded in real-world experience.
Creating a culture of reciprocity, where giving and receiving are both valued.
The result is stronger leadership pipelines, healthier workplace cultures, and better outcomes for the communities we serve.
The Hyphae Approach
Everything we do is designed for impact that lasts beyond a single program:
Structured yet flexible: Clear frameworks, adaptable to each leadership journey.
Cross-organisational: Breaking down silos so ideas and support flow freely.
Virtual first: Accessible to leaders wherever they are, without travel barriers.
Measured outcomes: Because growth should be felt — and seen.
Our alumni report increased clarity in leadership goals, greater confidence navigating complexity, and stronger professional networks that extend beyond the program.
More Ways to Work With Hyphae
Beyond mentoring, we offer:
Leadership program design and delivery
Strategic project management
Workforce and leadership consulting
Event facilitation and sector conversations
About Samantha Bowen
Samantha is the founder of Hyphae Network and a recognised leader in aged care and community health.
For over a decade, she’s worked across governance, workforce strategy, and sector reform. Delivering programs and projects that connect leaders, strengthen teams, and improve care outcomes.
Her work has:
Matched and supported hundreds of mentoring partnerships across Australia, with over 90% of mentors returning to participate again.
Led to measurable shifts in leadership confidence, clarity, and retention in participating organisations.
Brought sector leaders together through high-impact events, including the Dementia Symposium and national mentoring initiatives.
Contributed to policy discussions at national and Commonwealth levels, influencing workforce and leadership priorities.
Samantha’s approach blends practical experience with a deep belief in the power of relationships to create change. Her work has been recognised nationally and internationally, and she continues to champion leadership and deliver projects that are grounded, collaborative, and values-led.
