As the Financial Times’ Australia and Pacific Correspondent, Nic Fildes deciphers how regional business decisions ripple through global markets. His reporting combines granular financial analysis with geopolitical foresight, particularly on:
Successful story ideas typically feature:
Nic Fildes’ career began in the pulsating heart of London’s music scene, where he honed his narrative craft covering the intersection of culture and technology for outlets like The Times and The Independent. This foundation in storytelling through shifting cultural landscapes would prove invaluable as he transitioned to decoding complex financial ecosystems at the Financial Times.
“The best business journalism doesn’t just report numbers—it reveals the human dramas shaping markets.”
Fildes’ 2025 investigation into the A$15 billion logistics software firm became a case study in corporate governance reporting. Through exclusive interviews with dissident board members and analysis of 10,000+ internal documents, he revealed how personality clashes overshadowed strategic decision-making. The piece’s impact reverberated through APAC markets, with six major institutional investors revising their governance policies within weeks of publication.
This cultural-economic hybrid analysis tracked how pandemic-era work patterns permanently altered the $100B global nightlife industry. Fildes embedded with Berlin club owners, New York promoters, and Tokyo venue operators to create a vivid portrait of an industry adapting to remote work’s “homebody economy.” The piece sparked policy debates about urban revitalization strategies in 14 major cities.
As his first major geopolitical analysis from Sydney, Fildes mapped China’s growing influence in Solomon Islands through infrastructure investments and security pacts. The article’s revelation of undersea cable negotiations prompted Australia to fast-track its own $2B Pacific connectivity initiative.
Fildes prioritizes stories that reveal APAC’s evolving role in global systems. A successful pitch might examine how Indonesian nickel exports are reshaping EV battery markets, supported by customs data and CEO interviews. Avoid generic “Asia rising” narratives—his work focuses on specific pressure points like the Australia-China trade détente.
With 38% of his 2024 output analyzing the business implications of geopolitical shifts, Fildes seeks stories that connect boardroom decisions to security realities. Example: How private maritime companies are navigating South China Sea tensions while maintaining supply chains.
His ongoing investigation into Australia’s “green steel” policy framework demonstrates interest in market-shaping regulations. Pitches should highlight novel policy approaches to climate tech or trade agreement modernization.
While Fildes maintains tech sector expertise, he typically focuses on infrastructure-level innovations rather than consumer gadgets. Pivot pitches toward topics like submarine cable geopolitics or cloud computing’s energy demands.
His music journalism roots surface in analyses of K-pop’s financialization or TikTok’s impact on Asian tourism. Successful cultural pitches must demonstrate clear economic throughlines, such as Bali’s co-working scene reshaping digital nomad economies.
Honored for his investigation into Singapore’s role in Russian oil sanctions evasion, this recognition from Australia’s most prestigious journalism body highlighted Fildes’ ability to decode complex financial networks. The judging panel noted his “unparalleled synthesis of spreadsheet rigor and narrative drive.”
His FT series on pandemic-era container shipping profits made him the first Australia-based journalist shortlisted for this honor since 1998. The work revealed how carriers leveraged algorithmic pricing to amplify supply chain crises.
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 Business, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
