James Kirby brings three decades of financial journalism experience to his role as Wealth Editor at The Australian, where he oversees the nation’s most-read personal finance section. His signature blend of data-driven analysis and human-interest storytelling has made him essential reading for policymakers and everyday investors alike.
"The best financial journalism doesn’t just report numbers - it reveals what those numbers mean for families sitting around kitchen tables." - James Kirby, 2025
James Kirby has established himself as Australia’s preeminent voice in wealth journalism through a 30-year career blending sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. His work at The Australian consistently bridges the gap between complex financial concepts and mainstream audiences.
This prescient analysis of Australia's first-home buyer scheme combines macroeconomic modeling with human-centered storytelling. Kirby tracked mortgage stress patterns across three housing cycles, interviewing 42 first-time buyers and 15 mortgage brokers. His finding that 68% of 5% deposit holders would face negative equity in a 10% market correction sparked parliamentary inquiries into lending standards.
Through a year-long analysis of 1,200 investment portfolios, Kirby challenged conventional wisdom about real estate supremacy. His team developed a novel "liquidity-adjusted return" metric showing shares outperforming property when accounting for transaction costs. The article’s interactive data visualization became The Australian’s most-shared piece of 2025.
Kirby’s forensic examination of Australia’s wealth elite revealed 73% of new listees derived fortunes from healthcare and aged care sectors. His team cross-referenced ASX disclosures with property records to identify hidden asset streams, setting new standards for wealth reporting accuracy.
Kirby prioritizes stories that reveal how regulatory changes affect actual household budgets. His March 2025 piece dissecting stamp duty reforms used anonymized tax return data from 15,000 families. Successful pitches should mirror this approach - combine policy analysis with verifiable consumer impact data.
With 42% of Australian small businesses facing ownership transitions by 2030, Kirby seeks case studies illustrating generational wealth transfer challenges. His 2024 investigation into family business collapses demonstrated how to humanize complex financial scenarios.
As Australians’ retirement savings exceed $3.5 trillion, Kirby tracks fund managers balancing ethical investing with returns. Pitches should highlight novel investment strategies with performance data spanning at least two market cycles.
Kirby’s 2025 comparison of Adelaide and Melbourne property markets revealed unexpected valuation inversions. Effective pitches will identify similar anomalies through CoreLogic data paired with local developer interviews.
From vineyard valuations to rare whisky auctions, Kirby examines how high-net-worth individuals preserve wealth. Successful pitches require access to exclusive sales data from houses like Langton’s or Deutscher-Menzies.
"Kirby’s work redefines financial journalism as both public service and narrative art." - Walkley Awards Judging Panel, 2024
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Personal Finance, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
