Rae Johnston

Rae Johnston's Biography

Rae Johnston is a multi-award-winning journalist with a focus on the geekier side of life.

The first Science & Technology Editor for NITV at SBS, her work appears across television, radio, podcasts and online. Previously, Rae was the first female editor of Gizmodo Australia, and the first Indigenous editor of Junkee.

A leading commentator on all things technology, science and pop culture, Rae has worked with every major television and radio network in Australia at some stage of her decade-long career. Today, she makes regular appearances across SBS, ABC and Network Ten.

Rae’s work has seen her awarded the Lighting The Way prize for advocacy and support of the Australian games industry at the Australian Game Developer Awards. The Australian Games Awards named her both Journalist of the Year (2018) and The Gamechanger - awarded for challenging the negative misconceptions about video games throughout her career.

Rae is a warm and highly professional MC, and has worked with the likes of Sydney Opera House, Oz Comic Con, NSW Government, Australian Academy of Science, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney Writer’s Festival and Australian National University. Rae’s background in events and stage management ensures any event she hosts - virtual, live, pre-recorded or stage - run smoothly. She is also an engaging speaker, giving talks on wide-ranging topics everything from diversity in STEM to burnout for events such as the Australian Women’s Leadership Symposium.

An experienced actor for stage and screen, Rae specialises in voice acting. She is currently voicing “Janali Banks” in ABC & Nine Network’s animated children’s series, Space Nova.

Rae is a founding mentor with The Working Lunch program, supporting underrepresented entry-level people in games. She is also an External Assessor with Film Victoria, helping to fund independent games.

A part of the prestigious “brains trust” Leonardos group for The Science Gallery Melbourne, Rae is also a mentor for Science Media Centre Australia‘s Indigenous Science program, and a Federal Council Delegate for the MEAA.

Rae is a proud Wiradjuri woman who was born and raised on Dharug and Gundungurra country in Western Sydney. Becoming a single teenage Mum fuelled her to follow her passions and show her son how to achieve your dreams. He’s now 19, and only a few games away from ranking Immortal in Valorant.

Rae is an enthusiastic, professional and passionate speaker and MC, hosting and talking at conferences, expos and festivals all over the country.

Awards:

Australian Game Developer Awards

Lighting The Way Award (2020)

For advocacy and support of the Australian Games Industry

Australian Games Awards

Journalist of The Year (2018)

The Gamechanger Award (2018)

PauseFest Creator Awards

Silent Achiever Award (2019)

MCV/InGames List Inclusions

Top 50 Gender Equality Champions In Games (2019)

Top 50 Women In Games (2018)

Top 30 Women In Games “The Game Changers” (2017)

Speaking Topics Include

Queens of the Drone Age

STEM with Rae

Diversity and Inclusion