Colleen Egan

Colleen Egan's Biography

Colleen is one of the true advocacy journalists of our time, willing to bear immense personal sacrifice in order to see that justice is served for the disempowered.

The Perth based journalist was the first to properly investigate the case of Andrew Mallard, convicted and detained in 1995 for the murder of Perth jeweller Pamela Lawrence.  Approached by the Mallard Family in 1998, Colleen’s subsequent investigations revealed that Mallard’s conviction had been largely based on a forced confession.

Since then, she has been the driving force behind an eight year long campaign to prove the Western Australian’s man innocence.  Her stories and commentary on Mallard, published in The Australian and Sunday Times over many years served to spark public interest in the family’s campaign to have him released.

After years of work, Colleen helped uncover new evidence that led to Mallard’s release after 12 years of imprisonment, and a public apology from W.A. Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan. The conduct of the police involved in the case is now under scrutiny by W.A.’s Crime and Corruption Commission.

Colleen’s insightful work inspired other journalists, to whom she volunteered her support, including the ABC’s Four Corners and documentary maker Michael Muntz, whose program Saving Andrew Mallard screed on the ABC in May 2006.  Eagan’s own work in The Australian and Sunday Times led to her being awarded journalism’s highest honour – a Walkley Award for the Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism.  She was also presented with the Sir Keith Murdoch Award for Excellence in Journalism which was personally presented to Colleen by Rupert Murdoch at a major awards evening in Sydney.

Colleen first etched a name for herself as an investigative journalist in 2000 when her exclusive interviews with terrorist Jack Roche were published in The Australian. Her work has since taken her to London covering trials at the Old Bailey, and back to Perth as an investigative reporter for The Australian and Sunday Times. In early 2009 Colleen was appointed Assistant Editor of The West Australian.

Colleen has shown what can be achieved when individuals commit themselves to a worthy cause. Colleen used the full extent of her skills to doggedly pursue a worthy cause and redress a wrong doing. Her work has been responsible for the overturning of a major miscarriage of justice.

She is also a much sought after speaker for corporate events.  Her presentation ‘Persevering to Achieve Results: An 8 Year Battle to Save a Man’s Life’ will inspire, entertain and motive any audience.

Speaking Topics Include

‘Persevering to Achieve Results: An 8 Year Battle to Save a Man’s Life’