Book IWD Speaker: Sally Eeles

Sally Eeles believes her role with `Women in News and Sport' (WINS) - an initiative of ABC International Development (ABCID) - is a gift.  She gets to work with inspiring women across the Indo-Pacific (from India and the Philippines to PNG and Fiji) who are passionate about moving the dial on gender equality in media and sport.

Together, one project at a time, they're doing that. They're seeing women given opportunities for the first time to attend major sports events, as commentators in male-dominated sports, as expert analysts, reporters and content creators. The important space that storytellers have in sport and sport diplomacy is expanding, and Sally and her team plan to occupy it.

Sally has three decades of experience in broadcast journalism. She's worked for every major Australian network: in the city, in the regions, and a bit overseas too. In front of the camera or behind the scenes, she's covered everything from large-scale natural disasters to major events. She's has received a number of awards along the way, including a prestigious Walkley.

She was the Seven Network's first female Executive Producer of News in Queensland and introduced investigative podcasts to the network. One of the podcasts she wrote and produced, 'The Lady Vanishes', became a global hit.

Delving into the 1997 disappearance of Gold Coast teacher Marion Barter (whom no one in authority believed was missing), the podcast prompted a homicide investigation which uncovered a serial conman and multiple female victims around the world. It led to an inquest and the vindication of Marion's daughter, who never believed her mum chose to vanish.
Sally also co-authored the book, 'The Lady Vanishes' - about the podcast.

Her interest in international development began during a trip to the newly independent Timor Leste in 2002 where she established forever friends. Her connections led to her supporting Nelia, a young Timorese woman, who lived with Sally and her family in Brisbane for 2 years while she undertook university studies in Australia.

After completing a Masters in Community & International Development, Sally scored a dream role when she landed with ABCID in 2023.

She believes in lifelong learning and helping others to reach their potential.

A wife and mum-of-two, she loves the arts, travel, fitness and the outdoors. A lapsed blogger, she's still gathering stories for the books that remain ink in her pen.

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