The McKinnon Institute for Political Leadership has announced the 19 federal, state and territory MPs who will form the 2026 cohort of its Advanced Political Leadership program. 

Since APL’s launch in 2021, 91 parliamentarians have completed the program. 

The 2026 cohort joins a growing network of McKinnon Scholars drawn from across jurisdictions and political parties — united by a commitment to governing effectively and making a lasting difference in the lives of Australians. 

The 2026 APL cohort are: 

• Mary Aldred MP 

• Ash Ambihaipahar MP 

• Sarah Andrews MP 

• Ryan Batchelor MP 

• Janie Finlay MP 

• Emily Hamilton MLA 

• Hon Ben Hood MLC 

• Lachlan Hunter MLA 

• Sen Maria Kovačić 

• Tania Lawrence MP 

• Sen Corinne Mulholland 

• The Hon Chansey Paech MLA 

• The Hon Chris Rath MLC 

• Dan Repacholi MP 

• Olivia Savvas MP 

• Jayne Stinson MP 

• Marcus Vermey MP 

• Hermann Vorster MP 

• Hon Pierre Yang MLC 

The McKinnon Institute for Political Leadership is Australia's only organisation dedicated to strengthening the capability of our ministers, governments and parliaments — developing the capacity to lead with vision, act with integrity, renew the system we all rely on and build the relationships through which real change is made.  

The Institute is part of McKinnon's broader commitment to strengthening political leadership across its full arc — identifying and inspiring the next generation of political leaders, developing capability through the McKinnon Institute, and recognising and celebrating excellence through the McKinnon Prize. 

About the program 

Australia's first advanced leadership course for parliamentarians who are potential ministers, APL is a collegiate, cohort-based experience designed to be both intellectually rigorous and practically relevant. The program encourages participants to step back, reflect and engage with faculty and peers — challenging them to think differently about leadership, governance and the decade ahead. 

The 2026 program is led by Co-Facilitators Dr Susan Close and Raj Nahna, and runs from June to September across Melbourne, the Adelaide Hills and Canberra. 

Selection 

The 2026 cohort has been chosen by an independent selection panel comprising a former senior public servant, a former senior Liberal Minister and a former senior Labor Minister. The panel considered criteria including demonstrated leadership potential, personal drive, self-awareness, adaptability and willingness to learn. 

The panel members are: 

• Peter Woolcott AO (Chair) is a Vice-Chancellor's Professorial Fellow at Monash University. He is a former Australian Public Service Commissioner, former CoS to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and former senior diplomat. 

• Prof The Hon Jill Hennessy is a former Victorian Attorney-General and former Minister for Health, Workplace Safety, Ambulance Services and the Coordination of Justice and Community Safety: COVID-19. 

• The Hon Nick Minchin AO served as Liberal Senator for SA from 1993 to 2011, as a Howard Government Minister from 1997 to 2007, as Coalition Senate Leader from 2006 to 2010, and as Australian Consul-General in New York from 2014 to 2017.