Malavika Santhebennur anchors her reporting in three core areas:
We've tracked Malavika Santhebennur's evolution from a features writer at Money Management to her current role as a content specialist at Momentum Media, where she shapes coverage for The Adviser and Smart Property Investment. Her early work focused on retirement products and superannuation reforms, but she gradually expanded into mortgage lending trends and housing policy analysis.
This November 2024 investigation into Australia's housing shortage demonstrated Santhebennur's ability to translate complex urban planning concepts into actionable policy recommendations. By interviewing developers, strata managers, and government officials, she revealed how medium-density housing could address 37% of the projected housing deficit. The article's impact led to parliamentary discussions about zoning law reforms.
Her November 2024 deep dive into corporate DEI strategies showcased her knack for connecting HR policies to financial outcomes. Through case studies from major Australian banks and super funds, Santhebennur proved that companies with standardized promotion processes saw 28% higher female retention rates. This piece became required reading for ASX200 HR directors.
This exclusive March 2025 scoop revealed how AMP and Bravura Solutions collaborated to create Australia's first scaled retirement advice platform. Santhebennur's analysis of the hybrid advice model's fee structure demonstrated her ability to decode complex fintech partnerships for mainstream audiences, influencing competitor product roadmaps.
Santhebennur consistently prioritizes stories that connect construction trends to financial markets. Her strata housing analysis demonstrates appetite for solutions bridging urban development and investment strategies. Pitches should highlight novel funding models or regulatory changes affecting housing supply.
Her workplace inclusion reporting shows particular interest in measurable outcomes over generic DEI statements. Successful pitches quantify how leadership training programs or promotion policies impact financial performance metrics like AUM growth or client retention.
The AMP-Bravura analysis proves her focus on strategic alliances reshaping advice delivery. Target pitches explaining how API integrations or white-label solutions enable new retirement products, emphasizing scalability over niche applications.
While she avoids international finance, Santhebennur contextualizes overseas lending innovations for Australian regulators. Recent RBA commentary on her variable rate coverage suggests openness to comparative analyses of Canadian stress-testing models or UK affordability frameworks.
Her ASIC reporting history indicates keen interest in enforcement trends. Pitch anticipatory analyses of draft legislation, particularly around advice fee structures or superannuation disclosure requirements, with compliance timelines and implementation cost estimates.
"Santhebennur's housing crisis investigation represents financial journalism at its most impactful - equal parts diagnostic and prescriptive." - 2024 Australian Property Media Awards Judging Panel
As a three-time finalist for the Women in Finance Awards (2023-2025), her work has been recognized for advancing gender equity coverage in financial services. The 2024 nomination specifically cited her mentorship program analysis that influenced Westpac's executive promotion criteria.
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 Finance, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
