Panellists for the 2018 prize were:

Hon Julia Gillard AC
Former Prime Minister of Australia

Hon John Howard OM AC
Former Prime Minister of Australia

Lisa Alexander
Head Coach, Australian Netball Team

Professor Mark Considine
Provost, University of Melbourne

Leigh Clifford AO
Former Chairman, Qantas Airways

Dr Mukesh Haikerwal AC
Former Federal President, Australian Medical Association

Chris Kenny
Associate Editor (National Affairs), The Australian

Dennis Richardson AO
Former Secretary, Department of Defence

Grant Rule
Co-Founder, Susan McKinnon Foundation

Dr Helen Szoke AO
Chief Executive, Oxfam

Laura Tingle
Chief Political Correspondent, 7.30

Jennifer Westacott AO
Chief Executive, Business Council of Australia

Sashenka Worsman
Chief Executive Officer, Oaktree
The McKinnon Prize in Political Leadership is a collaboration between the Susan McKinnon Foundation and the University of Melbourne.