The Australian Press Council is pleased to announce Cheng Lei as the recipient of the 2024 Press Freedom Award. This award recognises individuals who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to the cause of press freedom, often at great personal risk.

Cheng Lei, an Australian journalist and former business anchor for China Global Television Network, endured more than three years of detention in China on charges of sharing state secrets. Her resilience and courage throughout her ordeal brought global attention to the importance of press freedom.

Detained in August 2020 for three years and two months, Cheng was held under harsh conditions, including prolonged solitary confinement and restricted access to her family.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commended Cheng’s strength, calling her “a strong and resilient person”

The Press Freedom Award (formerly the Press Freedom Medal) underscores the Press Council’s commitment to supporting individuals who uphold the principles of free speech and transparent journalism. Nominees include journalists, editors, legal professionals, and educators who have contributed to press freedom or shone light on important societal issues.

The Australian Press Council congratulates Cheng Lei for her extraordinary efforts in championing press freedom.

The Australian Press Council (APC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Kaaren Koomen and Susan Nicholson as Public Members and Peter Kennedy (representing Country Press Australia) as an Industry Member.

Simon Hayes has been appointed as an Adjudication Panel Member.

Kaaren Koomen AM is an executive leader with more than 35 years’ experience in the communication and IT law and policy environments. She is the Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs at IBM Australia/New Zealand and was previously General Manager, Multimedia Regulation and Strategy, at Cable and Wireless Optus/Singtel Optus. During the 1990s, Kaaren was the Director of Internet Content Regulation at the Australian Broadcasting Authority (now ACMA).

Kaaren has extensive board-level experience. She is a Director on the Board of IBM Australia Limited, a Member of the Edith Cowan University and IBM Future Lab Governance Committee and a Member of the CSIRO National AI Centre Think Tank. She was Deputy Chair of the NSW Telecommunications Authority Advisory Board from 2017 – July 2023 and Chair of the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka from 2014 - 2018. Kaaren has practiced as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW and has lectured in Law at Charles Sturt University.

Susan Nicholson is a senior executive with a strong focus on customer-centric and stakeholder management, demonstrated by her success in driving strategy and change initiatives across diverse sectors including high-growth technology environments. Currently serving as the General Manager of Digital Payments for Australia Post, Susan brings a wealth of experience to her role. Previously, she was Director of Product and Marketing at NYSE-listed payments processing and information management systems company WEX Inc.

Susan’s extensive strategic leadership experience includes direct reporting to subsidiary boards. She has also contributed to the advancement of gender parity, diversity, and inclusion as a Member of the Advisory Board of Women in Payments, a global organisation dedicated to supporting women in the payments and fintech industries. Susan has served on the Board of St Columba’s Primary School in Elwood, demonstrating her commitment to community and education.

Peter Kennedy is the Executive Director of Country Press Australia, the industry association representing more than 230 independent regional, rural, and local news publishers.

He is an experienced general manager and editor working in the media production industry and previously owned and operated his own boutique public relations firm. His media career spans more than four decades. Peter also serves as Executive Officer of the Victorian Country Press Association.

Simon Hayes is a strategy consultant with deep experience in advising multinational companies on investment decisions in the Asia Pacific region. He is the Managing Director of Global CFO Network, the membership group for the Chief Financial Officers of multinational companies operating in Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Simon is a former technology journalist and also has a background in professional standards, having been a Member of the NSW Civil & Administrative Tribunal and the NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal. He was also previously a Member of the NSW Bar Association's Professional Conduct Committee. As an independent non-executive Director, Simon sits on the Boards of Dara School in Adelaide, and the Royal Society for Asian Affairs in London. Both organisations are not-for-profits.

The APC is responsible for promoting freedom of speech through responsible and independent journalism and adherence to high journalistic and editorial standards. Members include many of Australia’s major newspapers, magazines, and online publishers.

For more information, please contact Dorothy Kennedy, APC Media Advisor, at dorothy.kennedy@presscouncil.org.au.