Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding has been recognised for her courageous, visionary, ethical and collaborative political leadership by being named the 2021 McKinnon Emerging Political Leader of the Year.
Formerly a member of the armed forces, Mayor Harding entered local politics in March 2020, tasked with giving Ipswich City Council a fresh start. Within 12 months, Mayor Harding has shown her ability to lead and inspire public confidence in local government.
According to the McKinnon Prize organisation, Mayor Harding took out the top gong for her demonstrated achievements and commitment to transparency and public accountability in political institutions.
Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) CEO Alison Smith said Mayor Harding was an extremely worthy recipient of the Prize.
“Throughout the past 12 months, the LGAQ has seen the impact Mayor Harding has had on the Ipswich region and local government sector broadly through her hard work and fearless leadership,” Ms Smith said.
“Being awarded the coveted McKinnon Prize, which is a national prize, is a marvelous achievement – and one that is truly well deserved.
“I congratulate Mayor Harding for her commitment to transparency and public accountabiity.”
In accepting the Prize, Mayor Harding said she felt proud to be selected as the 2021 McKinnon Emerging Political Leader of the Year, and is proud of what she achieved in Ipswich with her council colleagues last year.
“As somebody who has always been an enthusiastic contributor to the community, it’s a wonderful surprise to be recognised by the McKinnon Prize for the work my colleagues and I have delivered in Ipswich, and to shine a light on the amazing work the team has achieved in 2021,” Mayor Harding said.
“It’s very rewarding to be able to give back to my local community, and I look forward to continuing to do so in the coming years.”
The McKinnon Prize is a non-partisan annual award recognising the highest standard of political leadership and is determined by a panel of distinguished Australians.
This year’s panel included former prime minister Julia Gillard AC, former NSW premier Mike Baird AO, Chancellor of the University of Technology Sydney Catherine Livingstone AO, and Chancellor of Macquarie University Martin Parkinson AC, among others.
As well as the Emerging Political Leader of the Year prize, a Prize for Political Leader of the Year is awarded – this year to former speaker Hon Tony Smith MP.