Ambassadors

Nina May

With more than 20 years experience in the media, Nina May has an eye for news. Born in Adelaide, Nina started out as a newspaper journalist before turning her hand to television and then moving to Sydney to pursue her career.

Thriving on covering breaking news live on air, Nina co-hosts SKY NEWS FIRST EDITION and NEWS NOW, keeping viewers up to date with the latest breakfast and morning news.  

Nina's journalism career has covered a multitude of areas - courts, politics, finance, health, environment, entertainment and sport. She began presenting for SKY NEWS in 2006 and in early 2008 was part of the original presenting line-up for the newly-launched SKY NEWS BUSINESS CHANNEL. Here she delved into finance - just as the world went into economic meltdown.

Nina hosted the unique talkback TV program Your Money, Your Call, fielding questions about the share market, property, personal finance and art live on air, while moderating a panel of expert guests.

Before moving to SKY, Nina spent more than a decade with National Nine News, working on major international stories including the East Timor crisis, Fiji coup and Sydney Olympics.  

Nina is married with a daughter Mikaela and son Archie and is a proud and passionate Ambassador for Melanoma Institute Australia, helping raise awareness and funds.

"My husband was diagnosed with a melanoma when I was heavily pregnant with our first child. I was shocked to discover it's the most common cancer in young Australians aged between 15-44 years. I'm passionate about doing everything I can to raise awareness - and much needed funds - to try and prevent this terrible disease. Australians need to know that melanoma is our national cancer, and we need greater understanding to help save lives."

Hayden Quinn

Growing up on Sydney’s beautiful northern beaches there wasn’t much that would drag Hayden away from the surf and sand but there was one thing that was guaranteed to get him home by sun down; his Mum’s cooking. Mum, Jo-Anne, a Home Economist, spotted her son’s enthusiasm for cooking at an early age and it was his eagerness to learn (or maybe the appeal of a kitchen hand) that saw Jo-Anne teaching a young Hayden everything she knew about food.

Whilst at home and not in the kitchen Hayden found time to explore his other great passion, the ocean. In 2009 he completed a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology at distinction level and has been a Professional Lifeguard for Warringah Council for the past seven years.

It was his sense of adventure and natural curiosity that, in September 2010, lead him to apply for the third series of Channel 10’s MasterChef. His laid back and friendly nature made him an instant hit with the judges, his fellow contestants and the audience alike but this surfer boy was not to be underestimated. Reaching the top six, Hayden’s shock elimination in week 12 sent the media wild, Twitter was busting at the seams seconds after the announcement with fans posting messages of shock and support.

Since leaving MasterChef, Hayden has proved to be as popular off screen as he was on. His website, launched on the night of his elimination, went into melt down due to the number of hits. Hayden is a regular on Channel 10’s ‘Breakfast’ and recently commentated for Channel 10 at the NutriGrain Iron Man Series and Surf Life Saving Championships. He has released two, of three, small eBooks with Murdoch Books which will form a full cookbook to be published in 2013. Clocking up his frequent flyer miles, Hayden has travelled all over Australia to make appearances at festivals, corporate events and launches and has recently been announced as the Cleo Bachelor of the Year for 2012. 

If he’s not cooking, travelling, writing or standing behind (or in front) of a camera, you’ll find Hayden down at the beach, waxing up his board ready to hit the surf, laughing with his mates and enjoying the beautiful place he calls home.  

"For me, becoming an ambassador for Melanoma Institute Australia was a no brainer. The outdoors have always been a huge part of my life, be it working or playing there is no part of my day that doesn’t involve some kind of outdoor activity. However unlike some, I have always been aware of the harmful effects of our harsh Australian sun and taken precautions against it.

"Melanoma is the most common cancer in young Australian’s today and while I have been lucky in that no one in my family nor my immediate friends have been effected by this preventable disease, if I can help to get the message out there that you can enjoy an outdoor lifestyle free of melanoma but just taking a few precautions and knowing the signs then I all for it. If becoming an ambassador for Melanoma Institute Australia means I can prevent just one family from dealing with the hardship of this cancer then it’s entirely worth it.”

Watch Hayden get a skin check at Melanoma Institute Australia.

Lisa Wilkinson 

Lisa Wilkinson is one of Australia’s most admired and respected journalists and co-hosts the Nine Network’s very popular TODAY Show with Karl Stefanovic. 

For more than two decades, Lisa Wilkinson has blazed a trail through the Australian media landscape, first in publishing, then on to radio and television. Lisa’s media career got off to an astonishing start when she was appointed editor of the national young women’s magazine Dolly at the tender age of 21.

Four years later, after almost tripling the circulation, Lisa was head-hunted by the late Kerry Packer, who offered her the editorship of the iconic Cleo magazine. Over the next decade, Lisa guided the magazine to new circulation highs, making it the No.1 selling women’s lifestyle magazine per capita in the world.

With her skills now in demand internationally, Lisa set up her own magazine consultancy, whilst juggling three small children and her new role as radio host, working alongside some of the industry’s best, including Doug Mulray and Mike Carlton.

Apart from her unrivalled magazine skills, Lisa is also known as a mentor to young women. Under her special brand of guidance and training, there are now 23 women and men around the world who have gone on to become successful magazine editors themselves. Nicole Kidman, Megan Gale and Miranda Kerr can also thank Lisa for her astute talent-spotting abilities and the role she has played in launching their careers.

Lisa is married to journalist, best-selling author and former Wallaby and rugby international, Peter FitzSimons AM, and they have three children.

Lisa has been touched by melanoma herself, and is generously using her profile to raise awareness of melanoma in the community.

"There is a reason why this happened and I need to do whatever I can to spread the message."

Read more about how Lisa was touched by melanoma.