Australian television has produced some truly remarkable journalists. People who have broken major stories, survived war zones, challenged prime ministers, and built careers that span decades. Sky News Australia happens to be home to a significant number of them, each with a story worth knowing before you ever see them on screen.
Some of these presenters started out as lawyers. Others began in advertising, finance, or even accounting before finding their way to a microphone. A few have written bestselling books, won Walkley Awards, or made global headlines for reasons far beyond the studio. What they all share is a commanding presence, a deep knowledge of their beat, and the ability to hold an audience’s attention day after day.
Whether you’re a news junkie, a media enthusiast, or simply curious about the faces you see on screen every morning. This list of 25 famous Sky News Australia presenters and reporters is your guide to the people behind the stories.
25 Famous Sky News Australia Presenters and Reporters
- Peta Credlin
- Rita Panahi
- Andrew Bolt
- Sharri Markson
- Paul Murray
- Cheng Lei
- Laura Jayes
- Peter Stefanovic
- Rowan Dean
- Chris Kenny
- Gabriella Power
- James Morrow
- Jaynie Seal
- Ross Greenwood
- Caroline Di Russo
- James Macpherson
- Tim Gilbert
- Kieran Gilbert
- Ortenzia Borre
- Ashleigh Gillon
- Jack Houghton
- Jenna Clarke
- Tom Connell
- Danica Di Giorgio
- Rhiannon Elston
Peta Credlin
Born: January 1, 1970
Most TV presenters come from journalism. Peta Credlin came from power. Before she ever sat behind a camera, she was the woman whispering strategy into the ear of a Prime Minister serving as Chief of Staff to Tony Abbott and running one of the most demanding offices in Australian politics. A trained lawyer with a razor-sharp mind, she knew how government really worked from the inside out.
That’s exactly what makes watching her so compelling. She hosts Credlin on Sky News, writes nationally for The Australian, and in 2021 was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia. Peta Credlin didn’t just cover politics. She lived it.
Rita Panahi
Born: March 3, 1976
Rita Panahi’s life story is more dramatic than most news scripts. Born in Arkansas to Iranian parents who fled the Islamic Revolution, she grew up in Australia as a refugee kid who went on to become one of the country’s most fearless media voices. She didn’t even start in journalism. She holds a Master of Business and began her career in finance before making the switch.
Today she hosts The Rita Panahi Show and the wildly popular Lefties Losing It on Sky News, which became one of the most popular YouTube podcasts in the United States. Sharp, witty, and completely unafraid. Rita Panahi is must-watch television.
Andrew Bolt
Born: September 26, 1959
Love him or loathe him. Andrew Bolt is impossible to ignore. Born in Adelaide to Dutch immigrant parents, he began his journalism career at The Age before becoming one of Australia’s most-read columnists at the Herald Sun. He has never been shy about controversy, and controversy has never been shy about finding him either.
He hosts The Bolt Report on Sky News every weeknight. A program that consistently drives national conversation on everything from climate policy to Indigenous affairs. Bold, opinionated, and utterly unapologetic, Bolt has spent decades challenging mainstream narratives and building one of the most loyal audiences in Australian media. He remains a defining voice of conservative commentary in this country.
Sharri Markson
Born: March 8, 1984
Sharri Markson doesn’t wait for stories to come to her She hunts them down. The daughter of celebrity promoter Max Markson, she began her journalism career as a copy girl at The Sunday Telegraph at just 16 years old. From there she climbed fast State political reporter, Canberra correspondent, investigations editor Never slowing down.
She’s a two-time Walkley Award winner, twice named Young Journalist of the Year, and the author of international bestseller What Really Happened in Wuhan. She hosts Sharri on Sky News, Monday to Thursday. Whether she’s breaking political scandals or chasing global conspiracies, Markson delivers the kind of journalism that actually changes the conversation.
Paul Murray
Born: July 14, 1978
Paul Murray is the guy you want at the pub explaining politics. Loud, passionate, and completely convinced he’s right. Before Sky News, he hosted morning radio on 2UE and built a reputation as someone who never dodged a fight. His show Paul Murray Live debuted in 2010 and essentially rewrote Sky News’ primetime playbook, moving the channel away from straight news into something far more entertaining.
Now airing Sunday to Thursday at 9pm, the show is unapologetically opinionated and fiercely loyal to its audience. In 2019, Murray became the only Australian news anchor given the opportunity to interview President Donald Trump during Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s state visit to the US. That says everything.
Cheng Lei
Born: June 1975
Cheng Lei’s story isn’t just inspiring. It’s extraordinary. Born in China and raised in Australia from the age of 10, she began her career in accounting before taking a dramatic pay cut to pursue journalism. She rose to become a respected international business anchor, reporting from Shanghai and Beijing and interviewing global CEOs during China’s economic boom years.
Then in August 2020, Chinese authorities detained her on espionage charges triggering a major diplomatic crisis between Australia and China. She spent over three years behind bars in a Ministry of State Security detention facility before being released and returning to Australia in October 2023. Today she presents on Sky News, living proof that courage and resilience are not just words.
Laura Jayes
Born: December 24, 1983
Laura Jayes is the kind of journalist who lets her work do the talking. Growing up in Sydney’s Cronulla, she studied journalism at Charles Sturt University before joining Sky News in 2006 as a reporter. She worked her way up quietly but decisively. becoming a respected Press Gallery political journalist in Canberra and one of the most trusted faces in Australian daytime news.
She hosts AM Agenda on Sky News and has covered everything from asylum seeker detention centres to federal elections. In November 2016, Jayes became just the third Australian journalist granted a visa to Nauru. a testament to her tenacity. Professional, precise, and always prepared. Laura Jayes is daytime news done right.
Peter Stefanovic
Born: November 19, 1981
Peter Stefanovic is the kind of journalist who has genuinely seen the world and reported on it. He kicked off his television career at WIN Television in Rockhampton before joining the Nine Network in 2004. From there he became a foreign correspondent based in Los Angeles and London, covering some of the biggest international stories of his generation from the front lines.
He joined Sky News Australia in 2019 to co-host First Edition The network’s early morning flagship program. He’s also the author of Hack in a Flak Jacket, a behind-the-scenes book about life as a roving international reporter. Calm, experienced, and quietly authoritative. Peter Stefanovic brings serious broadcasting credentials to every single morning.
Rowan Dean
Born: 1958
Rowan Dean took the road less travelled to become one of Sky News Australia’s most recognisable faces. Educated at Canberra Grammar School, he built a successful career in advertising agencies across Britain before returning to Australia and reinventing himself as a media commentator and editor. He became editor of The Spectator Australia magazine. A role that perfectly suits his sharp, culturally-aware, contrarian mind.
On Sky News he co-hosts Outsiders every Sunday morning alongside Rita Panahi and James Morrow. A show he has described as the antidote to the ABC’s Insiders. He also presents The World According To Rowan Dean on Fridays. Witty, provocative, and always entertaining. Rowan Dean is never short of an opinion worth hearing.
Chris Kenny
Born: September 28, 1962
Chris Kenny is one of those rare people who has genuinely lived on both sides of the political fence as a journalist and as a political insider. He studied wildlife and park management before switching to journalism, and later served as chief of staff to Malcolm Turnbull. That combination of newsroom experience and political intimacy gives his commentary a depth that few can match.
He hosts The Kenny Report on Sky News every weeknight at 5pm and is a columnist for The Australian. Known for his sharp criticism of ABC bias and his no-nonsense interviewing style, Kenny is authoritative, measured, and deeply connected to the political world he covers every single day.
Gabriella Power
Gabriella Power is one of Sky News Australia’s most energetic and fast-rising talents. She joined the network in 2017 and has steadily built a reputation as a sharp, versatile journalist who is equally comfortable breaking political news as she is covering major international events. She covered both the Tokyo Olympic Games and Australian federal elections proving her range early in her career.
She hosts the digital program Power Hour on Sky News, tackling the biggest stories of the week with a directness that audiences clearly respond to. Driven, determined, and getting better with every passing year. Gabriella Power is exactly the kind of fresh talent that keeps Australian political journalism exciting and relevant.
James Morrow
James Morrow is the American-born journalist who has made himself completely at home in Australian media. A former New York resident, he brought a transatlantic perspective to Australian political commentary that was genuinely missing before he arrived. He is the National Affairs Editor at The Daily Telegraph and a sharp, witty presence on screen who never struggles to find the right words.
He co-hosts Outsiders every Sunday morning alongside Rowan Dean and Rita Panahi, and presents The US Report on Friday evenings making him the go-to voice on American politics for Australian audiences. Funny, well-informed, and effortlessly engaging. James Morrow is one of those rare commentators who makes even the most exhausting news cycles genuinely enjoyable.
Jaynie Seal
Born: May 18, 1973
Jaynie Seal is one of Australian television’s most enduring and beloved presenters, a familiar face that audiences have welcomed into their homes for well over two decades. She was part of the original team when the Weather Channel launched in 1999, discovering a genuine passion for live television from day one.
In 2004 she joined the Nine Network as weather presenter for National Nine News in Sydney, remaining there for seven years before rejoining Sky News Weather Channel in late 2012. Today she presents weather and co-hosts Weekend Edition on Sky News every Saturday and Sunday. Warm, professional, and completely dependable. Jaynie Seal is the kind of presenter that audiences simply trust.
Ross Greenwood
Born: June 29, 1959
Ross Greenwood is one of the most experienced and respected finance journalists Australia has ever produced. With over four decades in the field, he has edited Personal Investment and Business Review Weekly, co-founded Shares magazine, and presented business news on BBC Radio 5 Live, CNN, and Bloomberg Television during his time in London.
Back in Australia, he spent nearly two decades as Nine Network’s Business and Finance Editor across National Nine News, A Current Affair, and 60 Minutes. In 2021 he joined Sky News Australia as Business Editor, anchoring Business Weekend and Business Now. Complex financial stories become genuinely accessible when Ross Greenwood explains them. That’s a rare and valuable gift.
Caroline Di Russo
Caroline Di Russo is genuinely unlike anyone else on Australian television. A child of Perth with Italian heritage, she studied law at the University of Western Australia and spent nearly a decade practising as a lawyer before stepping into the media spotlight. That legal precision is evident in everything she does on screen — sharp, structured, and never caught off guard.
She hosts The Royal Report on Sky News, writes for Spectator Australia, and is a regular panellist on The Bolt Report, Credlin, and Paul Murray Live. She is also president of the Western Australian Division of the Liberal Party. Lawyer, political leader, media commentator, and royals expert — Caroline Di Russo is a genuine triple threat.
James Macpherson
James Macpherson is the sharp satirist and commentator who has quietly become one of Sky News Australia’s most entertaining late-night voices. Before Sky News, he worked as a journalist for News Limited and Rebel News Australia, building a loyal readership through his writing and a devoted following through his Substack newsletter.
He hosts The Late Debate at 10pm on weeknights and The Macpherson Angle on Sunday evenings — two programs that showcase his dry humour, unapologetic conservatism, and genuine talent for cutting through political noise with wit and precision. He doesn’t need flashy production or loud theatrics to hold an audience. James Macpherson simply says what others won’t — and does it with a smile.
Tim Gilbert
Born: October 29, 1967
Tim Gilbert is the steady, reliable presence that weekend morning television genuinely depends on. His media career began at Radio 2GN in Goulburn before he joined the Nine Network in 1996, spending an impressive 22 years there across Nine News, The Cricket Show, The NRL Footy Show, and Today. He built a well-rounded broadcasting foundation that only comes with decades of experience.
Today he co-hosts Weekend Edition on Sky News every Saturday and Sunday alongside Jaynie Seal. Interestingly, he and fellow Sky News presenter Kieran Gilbert are brothers making them one of Australian television’s most notable sibling duos. Professional, warm, and quietly authoritative. Tim Gilbert makes weekend morning news look completely effortless.
Kieran Gilbert
Kieran Gilbert is one of the most respected political journalists in Australia and his credentials back that up entirely. He studied Communications at Charles Sturt University and later earned a Master of International Studies from the University of Sydney, before starting his career as a breakfast news editor at Sydney radio station 2UE. He joined Sky News in 2002 and has been a cornerstone of the Canberra Press Gallery ever since.
As Chief News Anchor, Kieran leads the Sky News Canberra bureau, anchoring NewsDay weekdays at 11am and spearheading its award-winning political coverage. He has covered every major federal election and leadership challenge of the past two decades. And his brother Tim Gilbert is also a Sky News presenter. Talent clearly runs in the family.
Ortenzia Borre
Ortenzia Borre is one of the most impressive multi-hyphenates in Australian media. Born in Australia with Italian and Russian heritage, she began her journalism career as an editorial assistant at a newspaper, and after completing her Bachelor of Journalism went back to university to finish a Juris Doctor. a law degree that gives her commentary a precision most presenters simply don’t have.
She hosts Sky News Australia’s news bulletins nationwide and brings millions of radio listeners the news across ARN’s top-rating stations including Sydney’s KIIS 106.5, WSFM 101.7, Brisbane’s KIIS 93.7 and Perth’s 96FM. She is also a published author and sits on the Sydney Children’s Hospital Committee. Journalist, lawyer, author, philanthropist. Ortenzia Borre genuinely does it all.
Jack Houghton
Jack Houghton is the man who keeps Sky News Australia sharp in the digital age. He completed his Bachelor of Journalism at the University of Queensland between 2008 and 2012. before building his career at News Corp, where he was a regular on-air contributor before joining Sky News full time. As Digital Editor, he is responsible for the editorial output across SkyNews.com.au and the channel’s vast publishing touchpoints, delivering over 20 million video views per month.
He also hosts The Media Show every Friday evening. A program that puts the media industry itself under the microscope. Unafraid to call out fake news, media bias, or journalistic hypocrisy, Houghton is one of the sharpest and most switched-on digital minds in Australian broadcasting today.
Jenna Clarke
Jenna Clarke is one of Australian media’s most versatile and well-travelled journalists. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Edith Cowan University and has worked across Perth, Sydney, and beyond building a career that spans print, digital, and television. She has worked at The West Australian, BuzzFeed, and various Fairfax titles before joining News Corp as Associate Editor at The Australian.
She has been a presenter at Sky News Australia since September 2021, hosting The Front Page. a nightly program that unpacks the day’s biggest stories. Clarke has described Perth audiences as deeply connected to their communities in a way that bigger city markets simply aren’t. a perspective that gives her reporting a refreshingly grounded, human quality.
Tom Connell
Tom Connell is one of Sky News Australia’s most credible and respected political journalists. A man whose peers think so highly of him that they elected him to lead them. In early 2025, Tom was elected as President of the National Press Club of Australia — a significant role within the Australian media landscape as a major forum for political and policy debates in Canberra.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Melbourne University and a postgraduate diploma in journalism from RMIT, joining Sky News in 2009. He hosts Politics Now and anchors NewsDay covering federal politics with balance, rigour, and genuine accountability journalism. When the news gets complicated, Tom Connell is exactly who you want explaining it.
Danica Di Giorgio
Danica Di Giorgio is one of Sky News Australia’s most dynamic and fearless field journalists turned compelling studio hosts. She began presenting national news bulletins at the age of 24, making her one of the youngest presenters in the country at the time. She has covered some of Australia’s most significant stories: the 2022 Northern Rivers Flood Disaster, the Black Summer Bushfires, the search for William Tyrrell’s remains, and the Coronation of King Charles III in London.
Rhiannon Elston
Rhiannon Elston is the kind of journalist who started at the grassroots and worked her way up with quiet determination. Based in South Australia, she began her broadcasting career as a South Australia Correspondent and video journalist at SBS News covering everything from Indigenous community stories to international affairs before making the move to Sky News Australia.
She is now a veteran News and Weather Presenter at Sky News covering floods, bushfires, and major storm events that affect communities right across the country. She currently hosts Sky News Breakfast and presents weekend weather. two roles that demand both versatility and reliability. Grounded, hardworking, and genuinely passionate about the stories behind the weather Rhiannon Elston is a quiet achiever worth knowing.
Final Thoughts
Twenty-five names. Twenty-five careers. Twenty-five reasons why Australian broadcast journalism remains one of the most compelling in the world. Whether you tune in for the hard-hitting political commentary, the breaking investigative reports, or simply the morning weather, the people behind Sky News Australia are the real story. They are opinionated, experienced, occasionally controversial, and always watchable. You may not agree with all of them. You may even argue with your television from time to time. But one thing is certain you’ll keep watching. And that is exactly the point.
