Kim McKay facts for kids

Kim Coral McKay is an amazing Australian who works to protect our planet. She is an environmentalist, author, and businesswoman. She helped start the Clean Up Australia campaign in 1989. Later, she also helped create the Clean Up the World campaign in 1992. Kim McKay also worked with The National Geographic Society to create The Genographic Project. This was the world's biggest study of human DNA.

Early Life and Education

Kim Coral McKay was born in Sydney, Australia. She went to Mackellar Girls’ High School in Manly Vale. After high school, she studied at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). She earned a degree in Communications.

What She Does

Kim McKay started her career helping to organize big events. She worked on things like a solo yacht race around the world. She also helped with surfing events and legal events.

Clean Up Australia and Clean Up the World

In 1989, Kim McKay helped start the Clean Up Australia campaign. She worked with Ian Kiernan to make it a huge success. This project helps people clean up their local areas. It became one of Australia's largest environmental projects. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers joined in. They cleaned up rubbish in over 900 towns.

Kim McKay also helped create the "Rubbish Report." This was a way for volunteers to collect data. They recorded what kind of rubbish they found. This helped scientists understand pollution better. It was one of the first "citizen science" projects.

In 1992, she co-founded Clean Up the World. This campaign works with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It helps people clean up their communities in over 125 countries. Millions of volunteers take part. Kim McKay believes that "everyone can make a difference." This idea guides her work.

Working with Discovery and National Geographic

Kim McKay also started her own company called Profile Communications. It helped create and market special events. One of her clients was Discovery Channel. She helped with their Eco-Challenge adventure race. This was a tough sports race held in wild places.

Later, she joined Discovery Communications in the United States. She managed marketing for the Eco-Challenge. Then, she moved to National Geographic Channels International. There, she handled marketing for their TV channels around the world.

Momentum2 and The Genographic Project

In 2004, Kim McKay returned to Australia. She started a new company called Momentum2. This company helped other businesses with marketing. It also focused on being environmentally friendly.

She also helped create The Genographic Project for National Geographic. She worked with a scientist named Dr Spencer Wells and IBM. This project used DNA to study human history. It helped us understand where people came from. It was the largest DNA study of its kind.

Leading the Australian Museum

In 2014, Kim McKay became the Director and CEO of the Australian Museum. This is a very important museum in Australia. She made many changes there. She made it free for children to visit. She also built a new entrance called Crystal Hall.

She also started the Australian Museum Centre for Citizen Science. This helps people get involved in science. She created new exhibits and restored old parts of the museum. One famous part is the Westpac Long Gallery. It now shows "200 Treasures of the Australian Museum."

Teaching and Media

Kim McKay has also taught at the Macquarie Graduate School of Management. She is an honorary professor there.

She often talks about environmental issues in the media. She has given "True Green Tips" on Sky News. She also wrote a "True Green" column for a newspaper. She has spoken on ABC radio too. She helps people learn how to live in a more eco-friendly way.

Awards and Recognition

Kim McKay has received many awards for her work.

• In 2008, she was given the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). This is a very high honor. It was for her great work for the environment.
• In 2010, she won the UTS Chancellor's Award for Excellence.
• In 2011, she was featured in a book called "The Power of 100." This book highlighted 100 women who shaped Australia.
• In 2013, she was named one of Australia's 100 Women of Influence.
• She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales.
• She received the Australian Geographic's Lifetime of Conservation Award in 2013. This was for her dedication to protecting Australia's environment.

Other Important Roles

Kim McKay has been part of many non-profit groups. These groups work for good causes.

• She is a board member for the Australian Museum Trust.
• She is on the advisory board for One Million Women.
• She is also involved with the Sydney Institute of Marine Science.
• She was a co-founder of the Short-handed Sailing Association of Australia.

In 2008, she even traveled to Antarctica. She was part of an expedition team. She gave talks on board a cruise ship there.