Roanna Edwards

Roanna Edwards's Biography

ABC Radio presenter, journalist, Management Consultant, Speaker& Master of ceremonies

Much of the Perth community kick start their weekend with Roanna Edwards. She hosts ABC Radio’s Saturday Breakfast program and co-hosts Aunty’s hugely popular gardening program ‘Roots & Shoots’ with gardening expert Sabrina Hahn.

Roanna is a Ballardong and Whadjuk woman who is delighted to be back living on Noongar boodjar (country) after spending much of her life living in regional Western Australia.  This included the Mid West and Wheatbelt as a child and the Kimberley as an adult.

Roanna’s professional journey began as a cadet journalist at the Geraldton Guardian, before turning her hand to radio as a trainee in the ABC’s sports department ahead of four years producing and presenting ABC Grandstand’s flagship shows out of the Perth office.

Since 2011, Roanna has worked largely in Aboriginal Affairs in a variety of roles. This included time as a Media/PR representative for the nation’s most powerful Aboriginal Land Council based out of Darwin and almost a decade in the utility industry working for remote and regional government trading enterprise – Horizon Power.

Roanna now works as a management consultant leading the WA office of PwC’s Indigenous Consulting focussing on economic development.

Roanna is also the Chairperson of the Aboriginal Lands Trust and serves on the board of directors of her beloved Swan Districts Football Club in the WAFL.

Roanna has a warm and vibrant character, and her thoughtfulness as well as her eloquence make her a highly-regarded master of ceremonies and corporate speaker.

Roanna has a unique way of sharing her lived experiences of growing up Aboriginal in Australia and brings Aboriginal perspectives to any discussion in an inclusive and thought-provoking way.

She is a lover of people and their stories and her conversational style delivers engaging interviews and panel discussions for any type of audience.

Speaking Topics Include

But You’re Different – Roanna’s life journey and how consistently being told she wasn’t one of “those” Aboriginal people shaped her.

Reconciliation Begins with You – Roanna shares her take on the role you and your organisation have in Australia’s reconciliation journey.

Can You Hear Me – Roanna shares experiences of being the lone voice in the room, from years in the male dominated sports media to a heavily male-dominated utility industry and always….as one of few Aboriginal voices in predominantly white workplaces.