Deborah Thomas

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Editorial Director, Australian Women's Weekly

Deborah Thomas is Editorial Director of The Australian Women's Weekly, the iconic magazine that boasts the highest readership in Australian publishing and, per capita, in the world. Deborah is also Editorial Director of ACP's new cross platform Parenting Group - which has six magazine titles, Bounty hospital sample bags, in-hospital television and a website hub. The Parenting Group aims to be the most comprehensive source of parenting information in the country across multi-media channels.

Deborah Thomas has been at the helm of The Weekly - now in its 75th year - for nine years. Kerry Packer appointed her Editor in 1999 before promoting her to Editor-in Chief in 2000 and Editorial Director in 2005.

Deborah Thomas moved into publishing in 1987 following a full-time modelling career in Europe and experience working in television production and advertising. Deborah held successful appointments with Cleo, Mode and Elle prior to being appointed editor of The Australian Women's Weekly. Her brief: to make the magazine more contemporary without alienating traditional readers. In July 2001, The Australian Women's Weekly announced its first circulation increase in four years. The following year, it scooped the pool at the Magazine Publisher's of Australia Awards ( the magazine equivalent of the Oscars). The awards included Magazine of the Year 2002, General Excellence ( News and General Interest), as well as two advertising awards. Deborah Thomas received the highest accolade, Editor of the Year. 

In March 2004, Deborah was appointed Editor-in-Chief of The Australian Women's Weekly magazine and the Australian Women's Weekly books division and one year later was promoted to Editorial Director responsible for all aspects of this iconic brand.

Outside work, Deborah Thomas is a wife and mother to Oscar and is currently writing her autobiography for Pan McMillan. She appears regularly on the Today Show, A Current Affair and Radio 2UE and is considered an intelligent and informed commentator. Deborah is actively involved in community fundraising projects including the Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, the YWCA, the Starlight Foundation and the Taronga Zoo Foundation.

Deborah Thomas is a board member of The National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre, The Queensland Food Fibre and Science Innovation Council and a councilor of The National Library of Australia. For three years she was a member of the Walkley Foundation Advisory Board, the caretakers of the most prestigious awards in news journalism.

Deborah Thomas speaks on many topics including:

  • Her extraordinary life
  • Women's issues
  • The media
  • Marketing to women
  • Older mothers
  • Juggling a career with motherhood.

Client testimonials

Deborah Thomas is a compelling and inspirational speaker. Her life's story is a fascinating one - from modelling high fashion to climbing to the top of Australia's publishing world. Deborah speaks with insight into life's challenges and peppers her commanding presentation with plenty of good humour. I hear many speakers, but few as entertaining and interesting as Deborah.

Malcolm Turnbull, Federal Minister for Environment and Water Resources (now Shadow Treasurer).

Deborah’s talk “It Girls, from Kiki to Paris”, was most engaging, and reflected a great deal of thought and preparation. Your warm, chatty style really suited the format for Art After Hours.

Art Gallery of NSW

Deborah Thomas has that rare ability to engage her audience from the onset, enlightening, witty and charming, she held Di’s audience in the palm of her hand. As editor of Australia’s most popular women’s magazine, she could be seen as unapproachable but Deborah’s down-to earth- manner is irresistible and thoroughly entertaining.

Pan Macmillan Australia.