MEET KIRSTY

ABOUT KIRSTY

At age 9, Kirsty’s grandfather told her she reminded him of renowned Australian television current affairs journalist Jana Wendt. It sparked an interest in storytelling, interviewing, and pursuing social justice that continues to this day. Kirsty officially began her journalism career in 1994 on the Blacktown Guardian Newspaper in Sydney’s west. The independent masthead won best Australian community newspaper during her time there as a reporter and photographer.

Kirsty gained valuable insight into communications and politics working as a media officer for the New South Wales Education Minister. But she had always set her sights on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. After completing a Master of Journalism and working unpaid in community radio, for ABC 7:30, ABC Radio Illawarra, and 9 News Sydney, Kirsty got her break. She moved from Sydney to the heart of Australia, Alice Springs, to take up a posting with the ABC in 1999, instantly falling in love with the town and its people.

Except for a two-year stint in London managing media relations for the UK nursing and midwifery regulator, Kirsty made Alice Springs her home until 2010, when she took up a senior posting in the ABC Far North Queensland bureau in Cairns. During her ABC career, Kirsty covered many national stories including the abduction of British backpackers Joanne Lees and Peter Falconio, the Federal Government’s Intervention in Northern Territory Aboriginal communities and the first trial of Pine Gap protestors under Cold War-era national security legislation. Her reporting earned her several accolades:

Best Radio News Journalism - Northern Territory Media Awards

Highly Commended – Walkley Award for Regional Journalism

Highly Commended - The John Bean Award for News and Current Affairs Camerawork - Queensland Clarion Awards

Stories of triumph over adversity and fighting for the underdog have always motivated Kirsty. So, when she met Som Tamang after the devastating 2015 earthquake in Nepal, she was immediately drawn to his campaign to help remote villages including his own, Batase, recover. Kirsty learned of Som’s humanitarian work protecting children from trafficking and premature marriage through Friends of Himalayan Children and knew she had to help.

After volunteering as a teacher in Batase during a leave of absence from the ABC, Kirsty made two life-changing decisions – she wanted to become a trainer and write Som’s biography.

Both of those dreams have now come to fruition. In 2017, Kirsty started Regional Media Training, to help organisations learn how to share their stories and engage effectively with the media. Almost three years later, Kirsty joined forces with her dear friend, accomplished video editor Suzie Cray, who shared her love of training, and they launched eMotion Video Training & Production.

Kirsty now travels Australia delivering media training and smartphone video courses and offers video production services in Cairns. She is the founder of Women in Media Far North Queensland and proudly mentors regional journalists and business owners. Kirsty is an advocate for mental and women’s reproductive health.