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Kim Coral McKay AO FRSN is an Australian environmentalist, author, entrepreneur, and businesswoman. She co-founded the Clean Up Australia campaign in 1989, and the Clean Up the World campaign in 1992, and also co-created The National Geographic Society's The Genographic Project, the world's largest DNA population study.
Kim Coral McKay was born in Sydney. She attended Mackellar Girls’ High School, in Manly Vale.
She attended the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), graduating in BA Communications. [1]
From 1983 to 1987, McKay was a consultant and then partner at Harfield McKay Communications, where she specialised in major events sponsorship and tourism activities, including The BOC Challenge solo around the world yacht race in 1982/82 and 1986–87. She also worked on Australian Professional Surfing Association events and Law Week for the Law Society of New South Wales.
McKay co-founded the Clean Up Australia campaign in 1989, and the Clean Up the World campaign in 1992, [2] with the support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). She worked in partnership for 10 years with 1994 Australian of the Year Ian Kiernan AO to develop Clean Up into a leading non-profit community environmental organisation. She served as Deputy Chairwoman from 1989 to 2009 and developed the "Rubbish Report" volunteer citizen science program for data collection and analysis, one of the first "citizen science" community initiatives. Clean Up Australia became one of the largest community environmental projects in Australia, operating in more than 900 cities and towns across the country, involving more than half a million volunteers at its peak.[ citation needed ]
In 1992, McKay co-founded Clean Up the World, securing a partnership with UNEP to endorse and support the activity, along with international corporate support. The program operates in more than 125 countries and involves many millions of volunteers. McKay, who was also Deputy Chairwoman of Clean Up the World from 1993–2009, told ABC radio that: "The belief that everyone can make a difference is a driving theme behind my actions." [3]
In 1989, McKay established Profile Communications Pty Ltd, a Sydney-based event marketing and communications consultancy. The company focused on special event creation and marketing communications programs, with clients including Discovery Communications and Discovery Channel Eco-Challenge in Cairns. McKay was Managing Director of Profile Communications until 1998, when she closed the company to move to the United States to work for Discovery Communications.[ citation needed ]
In 1998, McKay joined Discovery Communications, based in Washington D.C., where she oversaw the marketing and communications for Discovery Channel's largest event and documentary production — the Emmy-award-winning Discovery Channel Eco-Challenge, the world's leading adventure sports race. She worked in close collaboration with the Executive Producer and the Race Director Mark Burnett to ensure the successful operation of the extreme sports event, held annually in remote locations around the world, including Morocco and Patagonia.[ citation needed ]
In 2000, McKay joined National Geographic Channels International, where she was responsible for the global marketing and communications activities for the world's fastest-growing cable channel.[ citation needed ]
In 2004, McKay returned to Australia to start Momentum2, [4] a Sydney-based marketing and communications agency specialising in major events, corporate sustainability and social responsibility programs. Key clients included National Geographic, Qantas and Harpo Productions (Oprah's Ultimate Australian Adventure). [5]
McKay co-created The Genographic Project with population geneticist Dr Spencer Wells for the National Geographic Society, in partnership with IBM. The multiyear research project, the world's largest DNA population study, uses cutting-edge genetic and computational technologies to analyze historical patterns in DNA from around the world, to better understand our shared genetic roots.[ citation needed ]
In February 2014, McKay was appointed as the 17th director/curator of the Australian Museum, succeeding Frank Howarth. [6] She had previously served from 2012–14 as a Trustee of the museum.[ citation needed ]
Since starting in the role as Director and CEO, in April 2014, McKay has initiated a transformation program at the museum, including enshrining free general admission for children into government policy, [7] constructing the new award-winning entrance pavilion, Crystal Hall, [8] establishing the Australian Museum Centre for Citizen Science [9] (part of the Australian Museum Research Institute), creating new galleries and programs, and restoring the Westpac Long Gallery, Australia's first museum gallery, which reopened in October 2017 and now houses the permanent exhibition "200 Treasures of the Australian Museum". [10]
As of 2016 [update] McKay was an honorary adjunct professor at the Macquarie Graduate School of Management. [1]
McKay is a media commentator on practical environmental action and is a public speaker addressing business and not-for-profit conferences, as well as schools and community groups. She presented a series of on-camera "True Green Tips" for Sky News in Australia (as part of the weekly Eco Report in 2009), co-authored a weekly "True Green" column for The Sunday Telegraph (Sydney) Body and Soul section in 2007 and was named one of G Magazine's Top 20 Australian Eco Heroes in November 2009. McKay has also presented a weekly "True Green" radio spot for ABC regional radio in NSW. She was the master of ceremonies at the media conference for "Oprah's Ultimate Australian Adventure" at the Sydney Opera House, in December 2010. [11]
In 2008, McKay was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia AO for distinguished service to the environment and the community. [12] [13]
In 2020, she was awarded the UTS Chancellor's Award for Excellence in 2010. [1]
In 2011, McKay was included in the book "The Power of 100...One Hundred Women who have Shaped Australia". In 2013, McKay was named in The Australian Financial Review's 100 Women of Influence list.[ citation needed ]
Other honours and awards include:
McKay is the co-author with Jenny Bonnin of the "True Green" series of books, published in Australia by ABC Books and by National Geographic Books in the United States. [17]
True Green Kids won the AAAS/Subaru Book Prize for Best Hands On Science Book in 2009 [18] and was featured in the journal Science Magazine.
McKay's previous roles have included: Clean Up Australia/World Deputy Chairwoman; Fairtrade Australia and New Zealand Board Member; RANZCO Eye Foundation Board Member; National Business Leaders Forum on Sustainable Development Steering Committee; CSIRO's ECOS Magazine Chairwoman of the Advisory Board; Center for Australian and New Zealand Studies, Georgetown University, Board Member; National Breast Cancer Foundation Marketing Advisory Committee; Sydney Olympic Games Bid Community Relations Committee; Short-handed Sailing Association of Australia Co-founder.
In 2008, she travelled to Antarctica as part of the Expedition Team, lecturing on board the Australian-based cruise ship ORION.
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is a public research university located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The university was founded in its current form in 1988, though its origins as a technical institution can be traced back to the 1870s. UTS is a founding member of the Australian Technology Network (ATN), and is a member of Universities Australia (UA) and the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN).
Kay Cottee is an Australian sailor, who was the first woman to perform a single-handed, non-stop and unassisted circumnavigation of the world. She performed this feat in 1988 in her 37 feet (11 m) yacht Blackmores First Lady, taking 189 days.
Ian Bruce Carrick Kiernan was an Australian yachtsman, property developer, builder, and environmental campaigner, known for co-founding with Kim McKay the not-for-profit Clean Up Australia campaign in 1989 and, in 1993, a similar Clean Up the World operation, serving as the event's chairman, the annual initiative attracted participation from 30 million volunteers in 80 countries.
Larissa Yasmin Behrendt is an Australian legal academic, writer, filmmaker and Indigenous rights advocate. As of 2022 she is a professor of law and director of research and academic programs at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at the University of Technology Sydney, and holds the inaugural Chair in Indigenous Research at UTS.
Ahmed Fahour is a Lebanese Australian businessman. He was the managing director (MD) and CEO of Latitude Financial Services, and was formerly MD and CEO of Australia Post, and CEO Australia of the National Australia Bank (NAB).
Lisa Gaye Curry AO MBE, also known by her married name Lisa Curry-Kenny, is an Australian former competition swimmer.
Catherine Mary Harris is an Australian company director. She has served as Chairperson of Harris Farm Markets since 1999.
Kay Maree Goldsworthy is an Australian bishop of the Anglican Church of Australia. She is the current archbishop of Perth in the Province of Western Australia. Upon her installation as archbishop, on 10 February 2018, she became the first female archbishop in the Anglican Church of Australia. Previously, she served as diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Gippsland in the south-eastern Australian state of Victoria.
Philip Sutton Cox is an Australian architect. Cox is the founding partner of Cox Architecture, one of the largest architectural practices in Australia.
Catherine Brighid Livingstone is an Australian businesswoman who has held positions in the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, CSIRO, Macquarie Bank and Telstra.
Heather Rose is an Australian author born in Hobart, Tasmania. She is the author of the acclaimed memoir Nothing Bad Ever Happens Here. She is best known for her novels The Museum of Modern Love, which won the 2017 Stella Prize, and Bruny (2019), which won Best General Fiction in the 2020 Australian Book Industry Awards. She has also worked in advertising, business, and the arts.
Danelle Bergstrom is an Australian visual artist known for landscapes and portraits of significant Australians and International figures.
Kate Michelle Jenkins has been the Sex Discrimination Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission since 2016. Previously, she was Commissioner at the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. Jenkins is also on the Board of Berry Street Victoria – the state's largest independent child and family welfare organisation – and a member of the boards of Heide Museum of Modern Art and Carlton Football Club.
Vicki Rubian Sara is an Australian endocrinologist, who specialises in research into growth hormones and foetal brain development.
Maria Kavallaris is an Australian scientist, based at the University of New South Wales' Children's Cancer Institute, where she is best known for her contributions to the field of cancer research. On 25 January 2019, Kavallaris was appointed a member of the Order of Australia.
Gene Sherman is a philanthropist, academic and expert on art, fashion and architecture. In 2018, she founded the Sherman Centre for Culture and Ideas.
Amanda McKenzie is a public commentator on the climate crisis in Australia. She is the CEO and co-founder of the Climate Council, Australia's leading climate science communications organisation. Previously, McKenzie co-founded the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, and was its National Director for four years. She has also served on Renewable Energy Expert Panels for the Queensland and Northern Territory governments. McKenzie was the founding Chair of the Centre for Australian Progress, and is a former Board Director at Plan International Australia and the Whitlam Institute. She has won numerous awards, including being recognised as one of Westpac's 100 Women of Influence, and a finalist in Telstra Young Business Woman of the Year Awards.
Kristine Kay Klugman is an Australian author, academic and the co-founder of Civil Liberties Australia. Prior to her role as inaugural President of Civil Liberties Australia, she had a career in research, politics and public service, including serving as the first female President of the Trust of the Australian Museum (1984-1988). She was also the first female board member of the Board of Fire Commissioners of NSW in 1982, she was later appointed the first full-time deputy president in the organisation's then-100-year history.
Katherine Lesley Woodthorpe is an Australian chair and company director, president and fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, and fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has also been chair of the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Bushfire and Natural Hazards, chair of Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC, as well as Chair of National Climate Science Advisory Committee.
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