Meet McKell’s New CEO, Veronica Newman
We welcomed the McKell Institute’s new CEO, Veronica Newman, at a special event attended by the NSW Premier, Members of Parliament, union leaders, and many of our members and partners.
In her address, Veronica set out her vision for McKell’s role in Australian public policy — championing constructive centrism, backing pragmatic solutions over ideology, and reaffirming McKell’s unique place as a meeting point for business, unions, government and civil society.
Read the full speech with you below.
“Good evening everyone.
Premier, thank you for joining us tonight.
I’d also like to acknowledge Anacta for sponsoring our event, the other Members of
Parliament here this evening, the press gallery and the great number of our union leaders, Mckell supporters, partners and if course our members here tonight.
It’s a real privilege to be here with you as the new CEO of the Mckell Institute.
I’d like to thank Ed Canavough for his service to McKell as CEO for the past three years, and also acknowledge that we’re joined tonight by three former CEO’s – Peter Bentley, Sam Crosby and Michael Buckland all who have played a key role in making McKell what it is today.
I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes McKell distinctive — and where we think we can
make the greatest contribution.
And for me, the answer is actually quite simple.
McKell’s rightful position is at the centre of Australian public policy.
Centrism is never the sexiest pitch, I know that.
But I want to champion it because it’s actually where the most change can happen.
McKell isn’t about posturing at the extremities. We’re about creatively using the tools that are actually on the table to fashion solutions that will make Australia stronger and fairer.
Constructive centrism for me is not timidly achieving some middle ground between radical extremes.
It’s about dropping the political dogma before you go searching for solutions.
If one friend wants Thai food and one friend wants Italian, it’s not about finding an Italian – Thai fusion restaurant – it’s about proposing an alternative that works!
McKell can and should be radically progressive in our ambition: ambitious about improving people’s lives, expanding opportunity and building a stronger Australia.
But progressive for me does not mean ideological.
We should start with the problem. We should follow the evidence. And we should be
prepared to ask what will actually work.
Is this pragmatic? Yes. Does pragmatic mean timid? No. Pragmatic is the opposite: it means getting real stuff done.
We should be willing to tackle big problems. We should be willing to challenge conventional thinking. And we should be willing to say when we think governments, markets, business or civil society need to do something differently.
Sometimes the answer will be government intervention.
Sometimes it will be more private investment, greater competition, or freeing the hands of entrepreneurs and business.
Usually it will be a combination of all of them.
Our job is to work that out – honestly and rigorously.
This gives McKell an enormous opportunity around economic growth.
Growth is not an end in itself. But nor is it a dirty word.
Without productivity, without investment, the social outcomes we care about become impossible to achieve. Good jobs, stronger wages, rising living standards – they all depend on growth.
So I want McKell to be part of the conversation about how Australia becomes more
productive, more innovative and more prosperous.
We want these things because we want to share that prosperity.
This is why I am passionate about McKell’s unique role in bringing people together.
It is no secret that our origins lie in the Australian labour movement.
But for our entire history we have prided ourselves on being a place where left meets right.
Where a union leader and a business leader can talk about their shared goals.
Where an entrepreneur can challenge a public servant — and vice versa.
McKell creates spaces where ideas are tested, challenged and improved.
Our role then is to turn those ideas into practical policy.
That is the McKell I want to lead.
There’s never been a better time than now to build on McKell’s strengths and ensure we remain at our core.
In a world that’s increasingly polarised – to stand your ground in the centre of
politics is more needed than ever.
Thank you.”
EVENT DATE
16 September 2026
LOCATION
Parliament of NSW