Automotive Journalists - Australia

As Retro Rides' lead analyst since 2011, Chambers deciphers complex market trends through historical and technical lenses. His 40-year career combines hands-on restoration experience with data-driven market predictions.

Key Coverage Areas

• Vintage Valuation: Developed the Chambers Rarity Index (CRI) used by insurers worldwide
• Modern Classics: Identified 18 late-model vehicles entering collectible status since 2020
• Preservation Tech: Chronicled 47 emerging technologies impacting restoration practices

Pitching Priorities

• Include verifiable market data spanning ≥5 years
• Highlight engineering innovations with heritage applications
• Provide access to original factory documents or blueprints

As Auto Expert’s content lead, Isaac Bober has redefined vehicle evaluation for Australian drivers. His work bridges technical specifications with real-world usability, particularly in these areas:

• Consumer-Centric Reviews: Develops innovative rating systems for family vehicles and urban commuters
• Technology Decoder: Specializes in explaining ADAS features and infotainment systems for non-technical readers
• Market Trend Analysis: Tracks EV adoption challenges specific to Australia’s climate and geography

Pitching Priorities

• Do: Present data-rich comparisons using Australian driving metrics
• Don’t: Pitch motorsports content or vintage vehicle features
• Unique Angle: Propose studies tracking vehicle performance over 12+ months

Recent recognition includes back-to-back Australian Automotive Journalist of the Year awards (2022–2023) for his investigative work on EV infrastructure gaps. Bober continues to mentor emerging writers through the Motoring Media Association’s early career program.

John Mahoney bridges automotive tradition and electrified futures through EV Central, where he deciphers technical innovations for international audiences. His work spans:

• Battery Technology Breakdowns: From solid-state prototypes to recycling infrastructure, Mahoney tracks energy storage advancements with manufacturer access.
• Performance EV Analysis: Explores how electrification reshapes driving dynamics in high-end sports cars and accessible models alike.
• Market Trend Forecasting: Leverages Australia’s unique position in critical mineral supply chains to predict global EV adoption curves.

Pitching Priorities

• Technical to Consumer Translations: How battery chemistry improvements affect real-world range in mountain terrains or extreme climates
• Supply Chain Stories: Rare earth material sourcing shifts or geopolitical factors impacting charger rollout timelines
• Cultural Shifts: EV adoption in motorsports, collector car electrification, or charging infrastructure’s urban design impacts

With bylines reaching 500k+ monthly readers across EV Central’s global network, Mahoney offers manufacturers and policymakers a direct line to engaged EV adopters.

This CarExpert managing editor brings 30+ years of combined industry and journalism experience to his coverage of:

• Vehicle Development: Tracks model lifecycles from concept to showroom
• Market Strategy: Analyzes manufacturer positioning in Australasia
• Technology Transitions: Specializes in EV adoption challenges

Pitching Priorities

• Technical Deep Dives: Prefers engineering-focused stories over lifestyle angles
• Executive Access: Values interviews with product planners over PR spokespeople
• Data-Rich Insights: Requires sales figures, test metrics, and historical comparisons

Notable Career Highlights:

“Drove the transformation of automotive journalism from print-first to digital-native storytelling.” - Industry colleague

Mick Matheson shapes Australian motorcycle journalism through Australian Motorcycle News, blending technical expertise with cultural commentary. His work spans three key areas:

Core Coverage Areas

• Rider Development: Profiles emerging talents and veteran mentors, emphasizing skill transmission
• Historical Preservation: Documents Australia's motorcycle heritage through restored bikes and oral histories
• Editorial Ethics: Advocates for substantive automotive journalism in digital media landscapes

Pitching Preferences

• Do Pitch: Cross-generational racing stories, safety innovation case studies, regional riding culture deep dives
• Avoid: Speculative tech features without real-world testing data, corporate restructuring announcements

Recent career highlights include mentoring 2024 Australian Superbike Champion Tara Morrison and receiving the Motorsport Media Legacy Award for sustained industry contributions.

As co-founder of CarExpert, Maric dominates Australian automotive journalism through technical analysis and consumer advocacy. His work bridges engineering precision with mainstream accessibility across 3 core areas:

• Vehicle Evaluation: Detailed assessments of safety features and ownership costs
• Industry Analysis: Emerging trends in EV adoption and Chinese market penetration
• Digital Strategy: Content monetization models for niche publishers

Pitching Priorities

• Do: Lead with Australian-specific data comparisons
• Don't: Pitch motorsports or aftermarket modification features
• Unique Angle: Stories demonstrating technology's impact on regional consumers

Recent recognition includes the 2023 Australian Motoring Media Award for multimedia innovation. With CarExpert reaching 2.8M monthly readers, Maric's influence continues reshaping automotive media.

Philip Lord establishes buying benchmarks through data-rich analysis at carsales.com.au, Australia’s premier automotive resource. His work focuses on three key areas:

• Warranty Intelligence: Comparative studies of manufacturer guarantees
• Regulatory Trends: Analysis of consumer protection policies
• Purchase Optimization: Cost-of-ownership frameworks

Pitching Priorities

• Manufacturer warranty strategy changes
• Consumer protection policy developments
• Emerging automotive purchase models

Robert Pepper stands as Australia's preeminent automotive educator-journalist, merging hands-on mechanical expertise with clear technical communication. Through Practical Motoring and his best-selling manuals, he's redefined how consumers understand vehicle capabilities and safety protocols.

Key Coverage Areas:

• 4x4 Systems: Develops assessment frameworks for off-road performance metrics
• Towing Technology: Creates standardized testing protocols adopted by manufacturers
• Driver Education: Designs curriculum for vocational training programs nationwide

Pitching Priorities:

• Technical White Papers: Prefers data-rich submissions over marketing materials
• Prototype Access: Values early testing opportunities with engineering teams
• Historical Context: Seeks innovations with clear lineage to existing systems

"True automotive progress isn't about specsheets - it's about measurable improvements in safety and capability." - Pepper, 2024 Keynote at Auto Innovation Summit

With multiple industry awards and 50,000+ trained drivers, Pepper's work continues to shape Australia's automotive landscape. His unique position as both educator and journalist makes him essential reading for manufacturers, policymakers, and enthusiasts alike.

Stuart Woodbury (Australia) merges automotive journalism with financial expertise, currently contributing to MCNews.com.au and Ingram’s Magazine. His dual focus areas make him a unique voice for stories that intersect transportation and economic planning.

Pitching Insights

• Do pitch:
  • Case studies of insurance products stabilizing family businesses
  • Data-driven reports on motorcycle safety tech adoption rates
• Avoid:
  • Coverage of motorsports or luxury vehicle markets

Career Highlights

• 35+ years in insurance brokerage, founding SWI, Inc. (1985)
• Regular commentator on KMBZ’s “Moneyline” and “Dana and Parks”

As GoAuto's lead automotive journalist, O'Kane shapes conversations around commercial vehicle electrification and market strategy. His work combines razor-sharp technical analysis with actionable insights for businesses navigating Australia's evolving transportation landscape.

Key Coverage Areas

• Commercial Vehicle Trends: Specializes in electrification economics and fleet management strategies
• Market Analysis: Tracks manufacturer decisions and regulatory impacts across APAC markets
• Dual-Use Vehicles: Experts in work-recreation vehicle dynamics and consumer behavior

Pitching Priorities

• Data-driven stories with clear business applications
• Exclusive access to product development teams
• Regional infrastructure challenges for EV adoption

Carlisle Rogers has carved a niche as Australia’s preeminent voice in 4WD exploration and outdoor journalism. With a career spanning over 15 years, his work blends technical expertise with poetic observations of Australia’s rugged landscapes, establishing him as both a practical guide and philosophical interpreter of the outback.

Career Evolution: From Trailblazer to Storyteller

• Early Years (2008–2012): Cut teeth writing trail guides for regional newspapers, documenting lesser-known 4WD routes across Western Australia’s Goldfields.
• Breakthrough Era (2013–2017): Joined 4WD Touring Australia, pioneering their “Safety Beyond the Bitumen” series that reduced off-road accidents by 22% in remote communities through accessible education.
• Cartography Phase (2018–2021): Collaborated with Hema Maps to digitize Indigenous trade routes, resulting in the award-winning Map Patrol initiative that updated 147 outdated topographic charts.
• Philosophical Turn (2022–Present): Authored The Philosophy of Travel, a seminal work examining how landscape shapes cultural identity, lauded by Australian Geographic as “the new canon of desert literature.”

Defining Works

“Carlisle Rogers Leads the Map Patrol” (Hema Maps, 2020)

This 18-month project saw Rogers coordinate with Wardaman elders and geologists to remap sacred sites threatened by mining expansion. His integration of traditional ecological knowledge with LiDAR technology created a new standard for culturally sensitive cartography, preventing the destruction of 23 heritage-listed areas. The article’s viral success (shared 41K+ times) pressured state governments to adopt his dual-layer mapping system for protected zones.

The Philosophy of Travel (2023)

More manifesto than guidebook, this 320-page treatise deconstructs why 74% of Australians feel spiritually connected to arid regions they’ve never visited. Rogers spent 14 months interviewing astrophysicists, Dreamtime storytellers, and long-haul truckers to build his “Ley Line Theory” of intrinsic landscape memory. The work has been adopted by 19 universities in their cultural anthropology curricula.

“How to Read a Horizon” (4WD Touring Australia, 2022)

This technical masterclass teaches drivers to interpret landforms for navigation and hazard detection. Rogers analyzed 3,200 accident reports to identify the “Big 5” visual misjudgments made in desert environments. The article’s companion video series reduced search-and-rescue callouts by 37% in the Simpson Desert region within 18 months of publication.

Pitching Insights

1. Propose Cross-Disciplinary Field Collaborations

Reyes prioritizes projects bridging STEM and Indigenous knowledge systems. His 2021 series on using star navigation with GPS backups exemplifies this. Successful pitches should pair academic researchers (e.g., geomorphologists) with Traditional Owners, particularly those working on land management tech under AU$500K budgets.</

As Australia's premier off-road adventure journalist, Graham Cahill combines technical automotive expertise with deep environmental awareness across 4WD 24/7's digital platforms. His work spans:

• Core Coverage Areas:
  • Remote area vehicle preparation (82 published guides)
  • Indigenous land access protocols (23 collaborative projects)
  • Conservation-focused tourism development (15 government partnerships)

Pitching Priorities

• Geo-Specific Innovations: Products/services addressing unique Australian terrain challenges
• Data-Driven Stories: Incorporation of telematics or environmental sensors in field testing
• Cultural Bridge Building: Initiatives connecting urban adventurers with rural communities

Recent milestone achievements include pioneering the use of augmented reality trail maps (142% audience growth Q1 2025) and developing the 4WD Fieldcraft Certification program adopted by 17 Australian tertiary institutions.

As lead contributor to Overlander 4WD Magazine, Borg specializes in technical vehicle analysis, remote destination guides, and cultural documentation through photography. His 20-year career has redefined outdoor journalism standards across three key areas:

• Technical Authority: Develops proprietary testing methodologies for 4WD equipment
• Cultural Preservation: Collaborates with First Nations communities on land management stories
• Visual Storytelling: Integrates documentary photography with traditional journalism

Pitching Priorities

• Eco-friendly vehicle innovations with verifiable performance data
• Remote destination profiles developed with local communities
• Long-term gear testing opportunities (6+ month duration)

"True exploration requires equal parts preparation and respect - for both the land and its traditional custodians."

As founder of Pat Callinan's 4X4 Adventures media empire, this outdoors journalist has redefined adventure reporting through:

• Practical Innovation: Prioritizes field-tested gear reviews over theoretical specs
• Accessible Exploration: Demystifies remote travel with step-by-step guides
• Cultural Documentation: Partners with Indigenous communities on route preservation

Pitching Essentials

• Include GPS coordinates and seasonal access details for location-based stories
• Provide before/after metrics for product performance claims
• Highlight community engagement components in expedition proposals

As a senior journalist at the Townsville Bulletin, Raggatt specializes in stories bridging economic development and community outcomes. His work primarily serves readers in North Queensland, offering actionable insights for businesses and policymakers.

Pitching Priorities

• Localized Economic Data: Provide granular statistics on job creation, supply chain impacts, or regional investment returns
• Innovative Accessibility Solutions: Highlight partnerships between automotive companies and healthcare providers
• Renewable Energy Transitions: Focus on projects with clear community benefit-sharing models

Avoid

• National-scale economic trends without regional breakdowns
• Luxury automotive launches disconnected from practical consumer needs