Virginia Haussegger

Virginia Haussegger is the face of ABC TV News in Canberra and has presented the national broadcaster’s flagship 7pm News since 2001. A sought after Speaker, Virginia is well known as a passionate polemicist, and a controversial columnist. Her views on women, gender politics, power and leadership continue to ignite broad public debate.
With over 20 years experience in broadcast journalism, Virginia Haussegger’s work has taken her around the world reporting from the Middle East, Iraq, Europe, Washington and New York, for some of Australia’s leading news and current affairs programs; including the 7 Network’s Witness, and channel 9’s A Current Affair.
For many years Virginia was a senior reporter and host of the ABC’s 7.30 Report. Awards include a United Nations Association Media Peace Prize for her coverage of indigenous affairs (1996), and Communicator of the Year 2007 (Toastmasters ACT and Region). In 2009 Virginia added President of the Canberra International Film Festival to her many and varied roles.
In 2002 Virginia wrote an Opinion Editorial for Melbourne’s Age newspaper which opened a floodgate of debate about the issues of childlessness; fertility; feminism and the vexed area of career versus family. Whilst one media commentator suggested that article attracted “more attention than George Bush’s invasion of Iraq”, it nevertheless became a catalyst for ongoing public and media discussion.
In 2005 Virginia’s book Wonder Woman: the myth of ‘having it all’ was launched at the National Press Club by Julia Gillard and telecast live on ABC TV. A weekly columnist for The Canberra Times since 2006, she has been widely published in Australian newspapers and magazines, and continues to provide social commentary on radio and commercial television. Virginia Haussegger is an experienced and highly respected keynote speaker, media commentator, journalist and author.