Simon McKeon AO
Business Leader, Philanthropist, 2011 Australian of the Year
A business leader, philanthropist and 2011 Australian of the Year who proves that commercial success and social impact can go hand in hand. From boardrooms to world records, he brings purpose to performance.
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Simon McKeon AO is an Australian businessman, philanthropist and sportsman who was named Australian of the Year in 2011 by Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
While he built a distinguished career as an investment banker and record-breaking yachtsman, it is Simon’s deep and sustained commitment to the community sector — both in Australia and internationally — that has earned him widespread admiration.
Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis more than a decade ago, Simon resolved to make every day count. Despite a successful corporate career, he chose not to defer meaningful community engagement. In 1994, he transitioned into a part-time role as Executive Chairman of Macquarie Group’s Melbourne office, enabling him to devote significant time to charitable and social impact work, including joining the board of World Vision Australia.
Simon served as a director of World Vision Australia for 15 years and is also a director of the Global Poverty Project. He volunteers as a counsellor for people recovering from heroin addiction in St Kilda and supports Red Dust Role Models, working with remote Indigenous communities.
He has held numerous leadership roles in science, disability and governance. Simon is Chair of CSIRO and Business for Millennium Development, encouraging business engagement with the developing world. He was the Founding Chair of MS Research Australia (2004–2010) and has served on the boards of MS Australia and MS Victoria. In 2010, he received the John Studdy Award, MS Australia’s highest honour. He was also the founding President of the Federal Government’s Takeovers Panel.
In 2011, Simon accepted an invitation to serve as Patron of the International Day of People with Disability and the National Disability Awards.
Alongside crewman Tim Daddo, Simon has held the World Speed Sailing Record for much of the past two decades — further demonstrating his drive, discipline and appetite for challenge.
A leading social entrepreneur, Simon exemplifies how business acumen and philanthropy can work hand in hand. He holds degrees in Law and Commerce from the University of Melbourne, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and FINSIA, and began his career as a solicitor with Blake Dawson Waldron in Sydney.
