Virginia Haussegger AM Biography

Virginia Haussegger AM is an award winning journalist and media commentator. With more than 25 years in news broadcasting, her work has taken her around the globe reporting for Australia’s leading current affairs programs on Channel 9, the 7 Network and the ABC. Virginia currently presents ABC TV News in and regularly hosts panel discussions for a variety of broadcasts, in addition to facilitating a range of seminar and conference events at the Australian National University and .

Virginia is widely published across Australian print media and has been a weekly columnist for The Canberra Times, and contributor to The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. Her book, Wonder Women: the myth of ‘having it all’, (A&U) was launched in a live broadcast at the National Press Club. Her essay ‘Prospects for Women: Gender and Social Justice’ is published in "The Afghanistan Conflict and Australia's Role" (MUP Ed Prof A. Saikal) As both media commentator and women’s advocate, Virginia regularly addresses business, community and government forums on women, power and leadership. She is Adjunct Professor at the Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis (IGPA), University of Canberra, where she has designed and led various panel and broadcast initiatives to advance the role of women in public sector leadership, and celebrate the contribution of women to public sector excellence. Virginia has a busy portfolio of community engagement and sits on a number of boards and committees, including UN Women National Committee Australia; the ACT Government’s Cultural Facilities Corporation; Women in Media Canberra; and SnowyHydro SouthCare Board of Directors. She is also Patron of the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre.

In 2011, following a self funded research trip to Afghanistan, Virginia curated the photography exhibition “Eye on Afghanistan”, and she continues to actively fundraise for the Afghan NGO Mahboba’s Promise and the Indigo Foundation.

In 2014 Virginia was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), for her “services to women’s rights, gender equity, and the media.”

**