A humanitarian, a journalist, a transgender activist and an Indigenous leader are among the finalists for the 2016 Australian of the Year Awards.

Formerly jailed Queensland journalist Peter Greste was on the list of 32 state and territory finalists announced overnight.

Greste spent more than 400 days in an Egyptian jail with two Al Jazeera colleagues on questionable charges of operating without a press licence and broadcasting material harmful to Egypt.

Julian McMahon's most notable clients were Bali Nine pair Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran. ( AAP: Roni Bintang )

He has since become a symbol of press freedom across the world.

Victorian barrister Julian McMahon has been nominated for his work as a human rights advocate and his fierce opposition towards the death penalty.

He has represented Australians in capital punishment cases abroad, including Van Tuong Nguyen in Singapore, George Forbes in Sudan and Bali Nine pair Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

Indigenous actor, elder and role model Jack Charles is also on the list of influential Australians. Mr Charles is a member of the Stolen Generation, removed from his mother as a baby and raised in a Salvation Army boys home.

Despite his struggles, he co-founded Australia's first Indigenous theatre group Nindethana at Melbourne's Pram Factory in 1971. He has appeared in several movies including The Chant Of Jimmie Blacksmith and Pan.

Transgender RAAF officer nominated for LGBTI advocacy

Catherine McGregor's willingness to share her story has helped foster an understanding of the transgender community. ( Supplied )

Toowoomba transgender woman Catherine McGregor has been named a finalist under the category of diversity.

A RAAF Group Captain and a former lieutenant colonel in the Army, seeing operational service in East Timor three times, Ms McGregor announced she was changing her gender in 2012 and changed from Malcolm to Catherine.

Since then, Catherine has told the stories of thousands of hidden transgender Australians through her own lived experience, speaking at forums and writers' festivals.

The Australian of the Year Awards panel stated Ms McGregor had inspired people to be their true selves and her personal story resulted in Australians gaining a greater understanding and acceptance of the transgender community.

As well as a leading figure in the transgender community, she is a well-known cricket commentator, author and political columnist.

Food Bank boss up for award

Chef David McNamara's career has taken him from some of Melbourne's best-known restaurants to leading the largest food relief charity in Victoria. The Foodbank Victoria chief executive has focused on feeding the hungry.

David McNamara has helped distribute 17 million meals in the past year. ( Supplied )

He has re-imagined community dining experiences for the disadvantaged, established corporate partnerships and served up 17 million meals in the past year.

This year Mr McNamara secured funding for a program to provide 25,000 students in disadvantaged primary schools with breakfast each day.

"He brings out the best in those around him and is determined to do what is right for both his team and the people who Foodbank serves," the Australian of the Year panel stated.

Finalists fighting the most devastating diseases

Among the list of finalists were a number of Australians fighting to prevent, cure or lessen the burden of cancer and other diseases.

Professor George Jelinek is a leading medical professional and has worked for many years to help people living with multiple sclerosis lead healthy lives.

Australians of the Year 2015 - Rosie Batty, family violence campaigner

2014 - Adam Goodes, AFL player

2013 - Ita Buttrose, media icon

2012 - Geoffrey Rush, actor

2011 - Simon McKeon, social entrepreneur

2010 - Professor Patrick McGorry, mental health expert

2009 - Professor Michael Dodson, Aboriginal leader

2008 - Lee Kernaghan, musician

2007 - Professor Tim Flannery, scientist and writer

2006 - Professor Ian Frazer, inventor of cervical cancer vaccine

Diagnosed with MS in 1999, Professor Jelinek founded Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis and has written countless papers for academic journals.

Also nominated is former Queensland tourist coach driver Col Reynolds, who used his skills to fund day trips and camps for children with cancer to give them a break from hospital life.

He also founded the Kids Cancer project which has raised $27 million for childhood cancer research.

Victoria's Lucy Richards has been nominated for her desire to help young people flourish. She is the inaugural general manager of Smiling Mind, Australia's largest health-tech start-up, which has helped grow an online mental wellbeing movement.

The 2015 Australian of the Year title was awarded to family violence campaigner Rosie Batty.

Ms Batty rose above her personal tragedy and the loss of her 11-year-old-son, Luke, who was murdered by his father on a cricket oval in February last year.

The 2016 winners will be announced in Canberra on January 25 on the eve of Australia Day.

For a full list of winners, visit the Australian of the Year Awards website.