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17 AUG 2026
What does good political leadership look like?
The McKinnon Prize in Political Leadership brought together political leaders, public figures and guests in Canberra to celebrate political leadership at its best.
Watch highlights from the evening, featuring excerpts from the acceptance speeches of our 2025 McKinnon Prize winners as they reflect on leadership, public service and the people and experiences that have shaped their work.
The evening also featured a wide-ranging conversation between former UK Prime Minister Lord David Cameron and journalist Jacqueline Maley. In the short excerpts from this conversation below, Lord Cameron reflects on his time in public life, political leadership and the importance of working across differences.
Together, these moments capture the spirit of the McKinnon Prize: celebrating leaders who bring vision, courage, collaboration and integrity to public life.
Watch the highlights and explore our conversation with Lord Cameron below.
Lord David Cameron: the McKinnon Prize keynote
One of the defining challenges facing democracies today is the rise of populism on both sides of politics and increasing political division. At the 2026 McKinnon Prize event, former UK Prime Minister Lord David Cameron shared his perspective on how leaders can respond.
Opposition creates space to think, plan and prepare for the responsibilities of government. In our final video from Lord David Cameron's conversation at the McKinnon Prize, he reflects on why time out of government can be one of the most important periods for political leadership.
In conversation with host Jacqueline Maley at the McKinnon Prize Event, Cameron reflected on the virtues and challenges of political leadership in the modern age.
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