Rae Johnston

Rae Johnston is a multi-award-winning journalist, broadcaster and commentator, recognised nationally for her expertise across technology, science, pop culture and gaming, and for her powerful advocacy for diversity and inclusion in STEM. She was born and raised on Darug and Gundungurra Country in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, with a Wiradjuri mother and Greek father, and brings a deeply informed and uniquely Australian perspective to her work.

Rae is a prominent voice across Australian media. She hosts ABC Radio National’s Download This Show, ABC Radio Sydney’s Saturday Mornings (broadcast state-wide), and iHeartRadio’s Weird Tech podcast. She also appears regularly on television as a host on NITV’s Going Places with Ernie Dingo, ABC’s Back Roads and SBS’s The Secret DNA of Us, travelling the country to tell stories that explore culture, technology and identity.

An accomplished podcast producer and host, Rae has worked on a range of critically acclaimed programs, including Harmful (SBS), 100 Climate Conversations (Powerhouse Museum), Queens of the Drone Age, and Next Gen for UNICEF Australia, where she also serves as an Ambassador. Her work is known for making complex ideas accessible, human and engaging.

Rae currently serves on the boards of the Telstra Foundation and Swinburne University of Technology, where she is also a member of the Technology, Innovation and Value Creation Committee. Her leadership extends across media, education and technology sectors.

Previously, Rae broke new ground as the first Science and Technology Editor for NITV at SBS, the first female editor of Gizmodo Australia, and the first Indigenous editor of Junkee. Over her career, she has worked with every major television and radio network in Australia and continues to make regular appearances across ABC, SBS and NITV as a trusted expert commentator.

Her contributions have been widely recognised. Rae has received the Lighting the Way Award at the Australian Game Developer Awards for advocacy and support of the games industry, and was named Journalist of the Year (2018) and The Gamechanger at the Australian Games Awards for challenging misconceptions about video games and technology.

A warm, highly professional and experienced MC, Rae has hosted events ranging from high-profile interviews with figures such as NBA star Luc Longley to presenting the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science. Her background in stage and event management ensures events — live, virtual or broadcast — run seamlessly. She is also an engaging and in-demand speaker, addressing topics including diversity in STEM, digital culture, technology ethics, burnout and resilience.

In addition to her journalism work, Rae is a trained actor specialising in voice performance. She voices Janali Banks in the animated children’s series Space Nova, produced by ABC and Nine Network.

Rae is deeply committed to mentoring and industry development. She is a founding mentor of The Working Lunch, supporting underrepresented people entering the games industry, an External Assessor for Film Victoria and Screen Australia, and a mentor with Science Media Centre Australia’s Indigenous Science Program and Superstars of STEM. She is also part of the prestigious Leonardos “brains trust” at Science Gallery Melbourne.

Becoming a single teenage mother profoundly shaped Rae’s journey. After 15 years working multiple minimum-wage hospitality jobs while freelancing, she secured her first full-time media role in 2013 as Lifestyle Editor at Techlife. Her story of persistence, curiosity and purpose continues to inspire audiences across Australia.