Leila McKinnon
Encyclopedia
Leila McKinnon is an Australian journalist.
McKinnon is currently co-host of Weekend Today
an is also a reporter and fill in presenter for Nine News and A Current Affair.
in Brisbane
, while finishing a journalism degree at Queensland University of Technology
. In 1993 she accepted a cadetship at WIN Television
in Rockhampton
, before moving to WIN's Cairns bureau. In 1995, McKinnon began work with the Nine Network, reporting and presenting for Nine's Gold Coast News.
After three years she became a reporter for A Current Affair in Brisbane. A brief stint on a short-lived consumer affairs program followed, before McKinnon moved to Sydney and returned to the news department, in late 2001.
In February 2005, McKinnon was appointed news presenter for Today
replacing Sharyn Ghidella
. She remained news presenter of Today
until June when Sharyn Ghidella
was reinstated as news presenter once again. In August she returned to present National Nine Morning News presenting the morning bulletin.
In March 2006, McKinnon relocated to Los Angeles
with her husband, Australian businessman David Gyngell
.
In 2007, McKinnon returned to Australia, as her husband David Gyngell was re-appointed as the CEO of the Nine Network. Since then she has presented the summer edition of A Current Affair.
In 2008, she also regularly filled-in on Nine News Morning Edition and Nine News Afternoon Edition.
In January 2009, it was announced that McKinnon will co-host Weekend Today
alongside Cameron Williams
, with Amber Sherlock and Michael Slater
presenting the news and sport. The new program began in early February, and was introduced to counteract Seven's Weekend Sunrise
. The program later extended to Saturday mornings as well.
In December 2009, Leila co-hosted the Sydney New Year's Eve telecast alongside Cameron Williams
.
In February 2010, McKinnon was a part of Nine's Wide World of Sports coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics
.
to an English mother and a New Zealand father, while her father was working as Service Manager to the late Shah of Iran
's fleet of vehicles.
She grew up in Brisbane
.
McKinnon is currently co-host of Weekend Today
Today (Australian TV program)
Today and Weekend Today are Australian breakfast television programmes, the show is often referred to as The Today Show. The show has been broadcast live by the Nine Network each morning since 1982...
an is also a reporter and fill in presenter for Nine News and A Current Affair.
Career
She began her career reporting part-time for The Sunday TelegraphThe Sunday Telegraph (Australia)
The Sunday Telegraph is an Australian newspaper published every Sunday across New South Wales and parts of Queensland. As of 2011, The Sunday Telegraph is Australia's biggest selling newspaper.- Publication :...
in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, while finishing a journalism degree at Queensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology is an Australian university with an applied emphasis in courses and research. Based in Brisbane, it has 40,000 students, including 6,000 international students, over 4,000 staff members, and an annual budget of more than A$750 million.QUT is marketed as "A...
. In 1993 she accepted a cadetship at WIN Television
WIN Television
WIN Television is an Australian television network owned by the WIN Corporation that is based in Wollongong, New South Wales. WIN commenced transmissions on 18 March 1962 as a single Wollongong-only station, and has since expanded to 24 owned-and-operated stations with transmissions covering a...
in Rockhampton
Rockhampton, Queensland
Rockhampton is a city and local government area in Queensland, Australia. The city lies on the Fitzroy River, approximately from the river mouth, and some north of the state capital, Brisbane....
, before moving to WIN's Cairns bureau. In 1995, McKinnon began work with the Nine Network, reporting and presenting for Nine's Gold Coast News.
After three years she became a reporter for A Current Affair in Brisbane. A brief stint on a short-lived consumer affairs program followed, before McKinnon moved to Sydney and returned to the news department, in late 2001.
In February 2005, McKinnon was appointed news presenter for Today
Today (Australian TV program)
Today and Weekend Today are Australian breakfast television programmes, the show is often referred to as The Today Show. The show has been broadcast live by the Nine Network each morning since 1982...
replacing Sharyn Ghidella
Sharyn Ghidella
Sharyn Ghidella is the weekend presenter on Seven News Brisbane.Ghidella was born in Babinda, in Far North Queensland. Her career in television began in the region, as a reporter and presenter for North Queensland Television . She also produced and presented the regional weekly current affairs...
. She remained news presenter of Today
Today (Australian TV program)
Today and Weekend Today are Australian breakfast television programmes, the show is often referred to as The Today Show. The show has been broadcast live by the Nine Network each morning since 1982...
until June when Sharyn Ghidella
Sharyn Ghidella
Sharyn Ghidella is the weekend presenter on Seven News Brisbane.Ghidella was born in Babinda, in Far North Queensland. Her career in television began in the region, as a reporter and presenter for North Queensland Television . She also produced and presented the regional weekly current affairs...
was reinstated as news presenter once again. In August she returned to present National Nine Morning News presenting the morning bulletin.
In March 2006, McKinnon relocated to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
with her husband, Australian businessman David Gyngell
David Gyngell
David Gyngell is the CEO of Australian commercial broadcasting network Channel Nine. He is currently serving his second stint as CEO after resigning from the job in May 2005...
.
In 2007, McKinnon returned to Australia, as her husband David Gyngell was re-appointed as the CEO of the Nine Network. Since then she has presented the summer edition of A Current Affair.
In 2008, she also regularly filled-in on Nine News Morning Edition and Nine News Afternoon Edition.
In January 2009, it was announced that McKinnon will co-host Weekend Today
Today (Australian TV program)
Today and Weekend Today are Australian breakfast television programmes, the show is often referred to as The Today Show. The show has been broadcast live by the Nine Network each morning since 1982...
alongside Cameron Williams
Cameron Williams
Cameron Williams is an Australian journalist.Williams is currently co-host of Weekend Today alongside Leila McKinnon.- Career:Williams's journalism career began 1984 with a cadetship at The Courier-Mail newspaper in Brisbane. From there he moved to The Australian offices in Melbourne, where he...
, with Amber Sherlock and Michael Slater
Michael Slater
Michael Jonathon Slater is a former Australian cricketer who played in 74 Tests and 42 ODIs for the Australian cricket team from 1993 to 2001...
presenting the news and sport. The new program began in early February, and was introduced to counteract Seven's Weekend Sunrise
Weekend Sunrise
Weekend Sunrise is an Australian breakfast television program, broadcast on the Seven Network. On Saturdays, it runs from 7am to 9am whilst on Sundays it runs from 7am to 10am.-History:...
. The program later extended to Saturday mornings as well.
In December 2009, Leila co-hosted the Sydney New Year's Eve telecast alongside Cameron Williams
Cameron Williams
Cameron Williams is an Australian journalist.Williams is currently co-host of Weekend Today alongside Leila McKinnon.- Career:Williams's journalism career began 1984 with a cadetship at The Courier-Mail newspaper in Brisbane. From there he moved to The Australian offices in Melbourne, where he...
.
In February 2010, McKinnon was a part of Nine's Wide World of Sports coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
.
Personal life
She was born in IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
to an English mother and a New Zealand father, while her father was working as Service Manager to the late Shah of Iran
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...
's fleet of vehicles.
She grew up in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
.