Congratulations on your remarkable achievement of 35 years with 10 News First. What do you remember about your first day?

I remember feeling somewhat overwhelmed as my first day was in the Parliament House bureau working with Paul Bongiorno and Maxine McKew. There was so much to get your head around and then my first story was a cricket story on the Prime Minister’s 11 match and all eyes were on Imran Khan – as were mine at the time ha!

What has kept you passionate about journalism and reporting all these years?

Because what we do matters.  Journalists hold those in power to account and are critical for any robust democracy. The last few decades are littered with so many examples of good journalism, where politicians, public and private institutions etc have been forced to change their ways and deliver better outcomes for so many Australians.

How do you maintain a sense of balance, both personally and professionally, in a job that often demands a lot of time and emotional energy? What do you like to do to switch off?

Family and friends are the key, as well as switching off notifications and devices as much as possible. I get outside and walk everyday as well as try and keep fit. I also grew up in a household wedded to television and movies – so give me a good series or a movie,  and it’s happy days!

Over the years, you’ve likely seen the evolution of technology in broadcasting. How do you feel about the role social media and digital platforms play in news today?

They are a blessing and a curse to be honest. While it’s made the world so connected 24/7, we now also have a generation who don’t know how to converse with each other, face to face. Instead they prefer to connect with strangers, which I find very odd. They also seem to prefer to watch others living their lives, instead of getting out and living their own great lives.

If this job has taught me anything, it’s that life is short and you should get out and make the most of it.

You have broken and reported on many world-changing events over your career. What stories have stuck with you with the most?

Of course September 11 tops the lot, but the Thredbo landslide and the Atlanta Olympics bombing hold very strong memories. When I first came to Sydney it was the Gulf war and every day covering it’s fallout as well as the fall of Baghdad and capture of Saddam Hussein. The assassination of Osama Bin Laden; the Bali Bombings, the Aceh tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear disaster also spring to mind.

Mind you, it’s hard to forget the relentless two years of covering Covid; the Sydney Seige, royal weddings and of course the funeral for Queen Elizabeth II.

Going to Timor ten years after independence was an eye opener, as were releasing orphan orangutans back in to the jungles of Borneo.

Looking back, what advice would you give yourself when you were starting out in journalism, and what advice would you give to aspiring journalists today?

That success is all about hard work, seizing opportunities and good timing.

Never say no to something that challenges you, and good manners are free, but can take you a long way in any business.