Keynote Speaker: Dr Julia Baird | JOURNALIST & AUTHOR

Julia Baird is an award winning journalist and best selling author based in Sydney, Australia. She hosts The Drum on ABCTV and writes columns for the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age and the New York Times. Her writing has appeared in a range of publications including Newsweek, The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Guardian, the Good Weekend, The Sydney Morning Herald, the Sun-Herald, The Monthly, Time and Harper’s Bazaar. Her new book, Phosphorescence: On awe, wonder, and the things that sustain you when the work goes dark, is a number one best seller in Australia.

Julia has had a wide-ranging career in print and broadcast journalism both in the United States and Australia. Her work has earned her four Walkley Our Watch Awards, (including the Gold) for her reporting on domestic violence, a Walkley Award for team election reporting, and two further Walkley nominations, for analysis and commentary and for Victoria: The Queen.

Baird’s history Ph.D., on female politicians and the media, formed the basis of her first book, Media Tarts: How the Australian Press Frames Female Politicians (2004). Baird has also taught history and made radio documentaries on subjects as diverse as black metal music and convent education.

Baird received both her B.A. and Ph.D. in history from Sydney University. She is a regular commentator on television and radio.