Dr Mike Minehan

Mike Minehan is the founder and Executive Editor of the Ideas Channel. He graduated from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, with two degrees and the New Zealand literary award, the MacMillan Brown Prize. Mike's first job was as a TV News Director with the then New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation. He helped to pioneer news background programs in NZ before moving to Australia.  

Mike became a primetime Presenter of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s This Day Tonight, and for 3 years, he was the Presenter of the National Nine Network’s A Current Affair. Mike was recognized by his peers with national awards three years in a row for presenting Australia’s highest rating, prime-time news background program. 

He has a PhD in telecommunications, conferred in 1998 by Macquarie University, Sydney, and he has been invited to teach by universities in Australia, the USA, China and Cambodia. He was Head of Program (Communication) for 12 years at UTS: Insearch, the corporate division of the University of Technology Sydney. For 4 years, Mike was also Dean of Graduate Studies at The University of Cambodia.

In South East Asia, Mike became a donor and Volunteer Assistant at the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) while helping to clear that country of the explosive remnants of war. 

Mike has advised China Central TV (Shanghai Television) and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh TV) on broadcasting strategies. He was also hired to advise the Vietnamese government on its introduction of cable TV.

Mike is a photographer, TV producer and a writer. He is committed to reliable news, informed opinion, and education. He also seeks to sponsor innovation and leadership.