){kind=logo}
)
12 DEC 2025
)
We are pleased to announce that Jordana Hunter will join McKinnon as Program Director, Education in March 2026.
Jordana is one of Australia’s most respected policy thinkers on school system reform.
She joins us after five years as Education Program Director at the Grattan Institute, before which she served in the Department of Prime Minister Cabinet, Department of Premier and Cabinet and the ACCC, where she focused on competition policy, market design and regulatory strategy.
At Grattan, Jordana’s research provided the analytical foundation for our work on Multi-School Organisations (MSOs) — a model which brings families of schools under shared executive leadership, enabling them to pool resources, align curriculum and teaching practice and lift outcomes for every student.
Following a 2024 UK study tour led by McKinnon, Tasmania’s Education Minister Jo Palmer announced a groundbreaking five-year trial of the MSO model starting in 2026. McKinnon will partner with the Tasmanian Department for Education, Children and Young People to support the trial.
Jordana’s appointment strengthens McKinnon’s capacity to support ambitious, evidence-informed policy innovation. We look forward to advancing systemic improvement in Australia’s schools under her leadership.
McKinnon Policy Innovation: supporting systemic change to improve education outcomes
Drawing on robust research, evidence, and international best practice, McKinnon help adapt and develop approaches that are practical, effective, and relevant to the Australian context.
Through international study tours, expert engagement, and collaborative design processes, McKinnon are helping to strengthen local capability and ensure that policy innovations in education are implemented in a way that is practical, scalable, and aligned with broader system goals.
EXPLORE MORE FROM MCKINNON
Leadership
The quality of Australia’s political leadership directly impacts our nation’s ability to address complex challenges and seize opportunities. That is why we invest in building and celebrating exceptional Leaders.
Public Sector
The effectiveness of Australia’s public sector directly impacts our nation’s productivity and success. That is why we invest in developing measurable frameworks that drive impact and making research and resources accessible and useable.
Policy Innovation
Australia faces specific challenges that require fresh thinking and proven solutions. From education inequality to economic productivity, we need policy approaches that work - not just in theory, but in practice. That’s why we focus on finding and implementing the best policy innovation to accelerate progress and build trust.