Maxine McKew

Maxine McKew

"Walkely Award-winning journalist Maxine McKew is one of Australia’s most experienced and authoritative interviewers. Until 2000 she anchored ABC Television’s prestigious LATELINE, a single-issue programme telecast nationally and throughout the Asia-Pacific region...

"In 2000 Maxine took up a position with the “Bulletin Magazine” as a regular contributor of feature interviews with prominent political business and arts/entertainment figures.

"Maxine continues to be seen on ABC Television as stand-in anchor of the prime time 7.30 REPORT and other programs such as LATELINE.

"A 20-year background in all aspects of television reporting has taken Maxine to many parts of the world, including a period in the 1980’s as political correspondent for both the ABC and Ten networks in their Washington and New York bureaus. As a results Maxine maintains a strong interest in American political and economic issues and July 1998 was invited to participate in the Australia/U.S. Leadership Dialogue held in Washington.

"More recently, Maxine was a guest of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies and visited Israel, a trip which scheduled extensive discussion with a range of officials and politicians on the implications of the Clinton-brokered Wye Accord.

"Maxine maintains strong regional contacts and for the past eighteen months has directed dozens of highly-focused television discussions on the implications of the IMF packages and conditions, and the political and economics challenges facing many of Australia’s northern neighbours.

"A highlight was a programme in early 1998 featuring a representative panel of Asian Young Leaders, which was positive and forward-looking.

"Beyond journalism Maxine is a member of the Women’s Advisory Group to the National Breast Cancer Centre and in 1999 will take up a new position as a board member of Plan International Australia, the humanitarian organisation which provides child sponsorship in 43 of the world’s poorest countries.

"Maxine is in demand as a public speaker and discussion facilitator: over the past year organisations such as the Zurich Group, Freehill Hollingdale and Page, Concrete Constructions, the Prentice Group and the Australian Human Resource Institute have all drawn on her to promote organisational dialogue on relevant industry topics."

• Council 2005/06, Research Institute for Asia and the Pacific