Chris Kenny (journalist)

Chris Kenny (born 1962) is an Australian political commentator, author and former political adviser. He is currently a columnist for The Australian newspaper as well as the host of the twice-weekly Sky News Australia program Viewpoint.

Born in Adelaide, Kenny initially studied Wildlife Management and worked for South Australia's National Parks and Wildlife Service before returning to university to study journalism. He won the National Tree Program Media Award in 1985 working for The Murray Pioneer in Renmark, South Australia, before going on to work for the now defunct The News in Adelaide. He began his television career at the ABC's 7.30 Report, moving to Adelaide's Network Ten station in 1989 and Channel Nine in 1997. At various times a columnist for The Adelaide Review, The Sunday Mail and The Advertiser.

Kenny became a political adviser in 2000, as Director of Strategic Communications for Liberal Premier of SA, John Olsen. When Olsen was replaced by Premier Rob Kerin, Kenny became Chief of Staff. In 2002 he joined Foreign Minister Alexander Downer's office as media adviser, and was prominent in the handling of issues such as the Iraq War, the Bali terrorism attacks and the AWB scandal. In 2006 he was appointed chief of staff to the Foreign Minister. Kenny also stood for Liberal Party preselection for the Adelaide seat of Unley, but was defeated by David Pisoni, who went on to win at the 2006 state election.

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