Philippa McDonald is a 30-year veteran of ABC News and one of the most recognised, respected, and trusted
faces in Australian journalism.
She is a greatly admired storyteller with a profound interest in the human experience, borne out of decades of
covering stories from triumphs to tragedies. During her career she’s reported extensively on the Black Summer
bushfires, earthquakes, political upheaval, disasters, corporate collapses, coups, terrorist attacks, serial killers
and royal commissions. She has interviewed prime ministers, governors-general, Indigenous leaders, major
politicians, business leaders, judges, criminals and famous names from arts and entertainment. Throughout her
career she has mentored younger journalists.
Her journalism has taken her all over Australia and the world. Philippa’s interest in international affairs includes
a fellowship at the University of Oxford’s Reuters Institute of Journalism.
Philippa also previously chaired the Walkley Foundation’s Board of Trustees.
Current Work:
Philippa is now focused on conducting journalism masterclasses for women journalists throughout the Pacific,
consulting to a major philanthropic foundation, MCing and presenting webinars and podcasts on Elder Abuse
and conducting presentation training for the legal, academic, and medical profession as well as the cultural
sector.
Most recently, Philippa moderated a Roundtable of international journalists on Press Freedom at a conference
on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
