McKell Medal
The 2009 McKell Medal brochure 
PDF [486kb].
The McKell Medal is the most prestigious Australian award for excellence and achievement in natural resource management.
The award commemorates the outstanding contribution made to soil and land conservation by Sir William McKell, Premier of NSW (1941-47) and Governor-General of Australia (1947–53).
The McKell Medal is awarded annually to recognise outstanding achievements in shaping community attitudes and practices in natural resource management through promotion, education, research or other development activities.
The medal is sponsored by Australian, state and territory government agencies through the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council. Award nominations are assessed by an independent McKell Medal Advisory Panel PDF [27kb].
The panel includes representatives of Australian, state and territory governments, rural industries, the landcare community, rural communications and the natural resource management community.
Nomination criteria
The McKell Medal is open to individuals or individuals working in partnership. Groups and organisations are not eligible.
Nominees must be:
- Australian citizens living in Australia
- individuals currently involved in natural resource management in Australia.
Nominees should demonstrate a high degree of self-motivation and active involvement in their chosen field of natural resource management.
Nominees must be able to promote the ethics of sound natural resource management.
Nominees’ outstanding achievements in changing land-use practices and community attitudes about sustainable management of natural resources would be demonstrated by one or more of the following:
- community leadership in ethical land stewardship at local, regional, state or national level
- development and implementation of effective and innovative educational or promotional programs
- research undertaken, promoted or applied to make a significant contribution to the above criteria.
The 2009 McKell Medal nomination form 
Word [114kb]
McKell medalists
- Kevin and Alice Knight received the 2008 McKell Medal at the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in Hobart on 21 May 2009.
- Previous McKell Medal winners - pre-eminent practitioners of natural resource management in Australia.
Contact information
Email: McKell Medal Advisory Panel
Phone: 02 6272 3889
Fax: 02 6272 5524
The Secretary
McKell Medal Advisory Panel
Sustainable Resource Management Division
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601