Madonna King
Journalist, Author, Commentator, Speaker & MC
Madonna is an award-winning journalist, author and highly experienced moderator with more than 30 years in Australian media. A bestselling author whose recent work focuses on the lives of tweens and teens, she is known for asking sharp questions, facilitating robust discussion and helping audiences navigate complex issues across education, leadership, politics and business.
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Madonna is an award-winning journalist, author and respected leader of public debate, with more than three decades’ experience across print, online, radio and television. She has written in depth on politics, education, health, crime and business, and has addressed or moderated hundreds of public forums across Australia.
The research underpinning Madonna’s last five books — including the bestselling Being 14 — has focused on the challenges confronting tweens and teens. This work has involved interviews with thousands of young people aged eight to 18, alongside school principals, counsellors, teachers, psychologists, scientists and business leaders. Governments and corporations seeking to better understand this influential yet vulnerable cohort have engaged Madonna extensively for her insight and expertise.
Her other books include biographies of Australia’s leading medical scientist and Australian of the Year, Professor Ian Frazer, and former Treasurer and diplomat, Joe Hockey.
As a journalist, Madonna is known for asking the right questions, listening carefully to the answers and helping audiences make sense of complex issues. She brings these skills to work with schools, universities, sporting organisations and professional bodies including the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Local Government Association of Queensland.
Madonna spent many years as the voice of radio current affairs in Queensland as host of ABC Mornings, has written weekly news columns for more than 20 years, and has regularly appeared on television programs including The Drum and Q+A. She has also served in the Canberra press gallery, interpreting national politics for audiences across the country.
Her experience has created strong demand for her work as a keynote speaker, panel moderator, facilitator and emcee. She is equally comfortable interviewing prime ministers, engaging with community audiences or facilitating high-level discussions on leadership, education, politics, business, law, resources, tourism and the environment.
A Fellow of the prestigious World Press Institute, Madonna has served as a visiting fellow at Queensland University of Technology and on the Walkley Advisory Board for Journalism. She holds a journalism degree and a Diploma of Company Directorships from the Australian Institute of Company Directors, has served on several boards, and is currently deputy chair of a university-related board. She has also been appointed to two government inquiries, including as chair of the Queensland Anti-Cyber Bullying Taskforce.
