KENNEDY AWARDS SUPERVISING JUDGING PANEL

As part of the Kennedy Foundation's ongoing commitment to transparency, integrity and best-practice governance, the Board continues to appoint an independent panel of highly respected media professionals to oversee the judging process for the annual Kennedy Awards.

The Supervising Judging Panel plays an important role in helping ensure the Awards remain fair, rigorous and independent, while recognising the very best in Australian journalism.

We are honoured to welcome three distinguished and experienced industry leaders who will serve on this year's panel:

  • ….is one of Australia's most respected journalists, broadcasters and authors, with a distinguished media career spanning more than three decades.

    Best known for her long-standing role as co-host of Sunrise, Melissa has reported on and presented some of the most significant news events in Australia and around the world. Throughout her career, she has interviewed world leaders, covered major national and international stories, and earned a reputation for her professionalism, empathy and unwavering commitment to quality journalism.

    Melissa has received numerous industry awards and honours in recognition of her contribution to Australian media and her dedication to public service. A trusted and familiar voice to audiences across the country, she continues to be a passionate advocate for thoughtful storytelling and the important role journalism plays in Australian society.

  • Professor AJ Brown (AM) has had an illustrious career over 30 years leading on issues such as integrity, governance, transparency, gender equality and whistleblower protection.

    Professor in public policy and law in the School of Government & International Relations at Griffith University.
    Co-leader of the Centre for Governance & Public Policy’s integrity, leadership and public trust program.
    Chair of Transparency International Australia, the world anti-corruption organisation
    A senior investigator for the Commonwealth Ombudsman and Associate to Justice G E Tony Fitzgerald AC KC.
    He currently leads a $1.2 million Australian Research Council Discovery project on public trust, mistrust and distrust.
    Past President of the Australian Political Studies Association (2017-18).
    A Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia.
    A Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law.
    In 2023, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to the law and public policy, particularly through whistleblower protectio

  • Allan Hogan has had a long career at the top of some of the best journalism outlets in the country. He reported from the Vietnam War and was the only Australian journalist to interview the notorious, Idi Amin.

    Founding reporter for the ABC Radio program AM.
    Producer and reporter on the ABC's This Day Tonight and Four Corners.
    Founding executive producer of the Nine's Sunday program.
    Executive producer of SBS' Insight and supervising producer on SBS' Dateline
    Script Editor, Enough Rope with Andrew Denton.

The 2025 Kennedy Awards Judges

The Kennedy Foundation thanks each of our judges for the generous time and professional diligence they contributed to this important process.

  • Kevin Airs - Daily Mail Australia

  • Vic Alhadeff OAM - SBS

  • Kate Allman - Freelance 

  • Monica Attard - UTS

  • Josh Bavas - Nine News 

  • Michael Best Nine News 

  • Sarah Blake - News Corp

  • Paul Bousfield  

  • Dave Braithwaite - Nine Publishing 

  • Clarissa Cavalheiro  

  • Deb Clay - Freelance 

  • Jennifer Cooke - Australian Pharmacist 

  • Mex Cooper - The Age 

  • Deborah Cornwall - Freelance 

  • Pip  Courtney - ABC

  • Robert Craddock - News Corp 

  • Danielle  Cronin - ABC

  • Mike Dalton - Nine News 

  • Lindsay Day - Freelance 

  • Kate De Brito - KD Media 

  • Anabel Dean - Freelance 

  • Mathew Dunckley - The Age 

  • Rocco Fazzari - Freelance 

  • Kat Feeney - ABC

  • Emma Garlett - Garlett Group

  • Peter George - ndependent For Franklin

  • Peggy Giakoumelos - SBS

  • Tom Godfrey - Bell George Communications 

  • Russell Gould - News Corp

  • Craig Greenhill - Salty Dingo

  • Rashell Habib - Network 10

  • David Hardaker - thepolitics.com.au

  • Lanneke Hargreaves SBS

  • Ben Hawke - Freelance 

  • Stewart Hawkins - Forbes Australia

  • Felicity Hetherington - Daily Mail Australia

  • Toni Hetherington - ABC

  • Paul Horan - Slightly Uncomfortable Productions 

  • Julieanne Horsman  

  • Jack Houghton - Sky News 

  • Stephanie Hunt - Sky News 

  • Dan Ilic - A Rational Fear 

  • Anita Jacoby AM  

  • Eric Johnston - The Australian

  • Yvette Kelly - Daily Mail Australia

  • Tracey Kirkland - ABC

  • Andy Kollmorgen - Choice Magazine 

  • Ray Kuka -Seven Network 

  • Stella Lauri - Win News 

  • Sylvie Le Clezio - Freelance 

  • Tim Love - Sky News 

  • Ann Loveday - Money Magazine 

  • John Lyons - ABC

  • Steve Marshall - Nine News 

  • Philippa McDonald - Freelance 

  • Luke McIlveen - Nine Publishing 

  • Michael McKenna  The Australian

  • Philip McLean - Mediality Racing

  • Duncan McNab - Freelance 

  • Caro Meldrum-Hanna - Freelance 

  • Larry  Meltzer - Melt Media 

  • Christine Middap - The Australian

  • David Mills - Australian Financial Review 

  • Mark Morri - News Corp

  • Jason Morriison 

  • Simon Nasht - Freelance 

  • Margot O'Neil - Original Thinking Productions 

  • Rachael Oakes-Ash - Freelance 

  • Natalie O'Brien -The Nightly 

  • Uma Patel  Google 

  • Aaron Patrick - The Nightly 

  • Michael Pelly - Capital Brief 

  • Jodan Perry - University of Newcastle.

  • Craig Platt - Sydney Morning Herald 

  • Amber Plumb - The Australian

  • Andrew Psarianos - Picture Perfect Productions

  • Jo Puccini - ABC

  • Chris Reason - Seven Network 

  • Stephen Rice - The Australian

  • Hugh Riminton - Network 10

  • Louise Roberts - Sky News 

  • Simone Roberts - News Corp

  • Josh Robertson - ABC

  • Lisa Ryan -ABC

  • Rhys Sain - Sky News

  • Lillian Saleh - News Corp

  • Scott Sanbrook - Freelance 

  • Alison Sandy - Seven Network 

  • Ross Scheepers - SBS

  • Kirrily Schwarz  - News Corp

  • Stefanie Sgroi - Nine News 

  • Bevan Shields - Sydney Morning Herald 

  • Linda Silmalis - News Corp

  • Ginny Stein - Freelance 

  • Michelle Stephenson - Nova Entertainment 

  • Tiania Stevens  - Sydney University 

  • Christian Stokes - Sydney Morning Herald 

  • Joel Supple - SBS

  • Simone Sutcliffe - SBS

  • Greg Thomson - News Corp

  • Michael Usher - Seven Network 

  • Saba Vasefi - Sydney University 

  • Kerry Warren - News Corp 

  • Martin White - Network 10

  • Paul Whittaker - Sky News 

  • Mandi Wicks - SBS