Top Environment Journalists in Australia (2025)

Caitlin Fitzsimmons is an award-winning environment and climate reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, with additional expertise in beauty industry trends. Based in Sydney, her work bridges scientific research, policy analysis, and consumer behavior, offering nuanced perspectives on Australia’s ecological and economic challenges.

Coverage Focus

• Environment & Climate: Specializes in marine conservation, sustainable agriculture, and community-level climate adaptation. Her reporting often features Indigenous land management practices.
• Beauty & Consumer Trends: Examines how macroeconomic factors and sustainability demands reshape purchasing habits, with a focus on ethical branding.

Pitching Preferences

• Seeking: Cross-border climate policy analysis, beauty industry labor practices, innovative conservation technologies.
• Avoid: Celebrity beauty endorsements, speculative climate tech without peer-reviewed backing.

“Journalism should bridge the gap between scientific expertise and public understanding—without losing sight of the human stories at the core.”

Fitzsimmons’s 2023 Pulitzer Center grant and viral explainer threads on Bluesky (@caitlinfitzsimmons.bsky.social) highlight her dual focus on rigorous research and accessible storytelling.

Cameron Jewell stands as Australia’s foremost journalist analyzing sustainability in the built environment. As senior writer for The Fifth Estate, their work bridges policy analysis and practical implementation challenges in commercial property development.

Key Coverage Areas

• Policy Mechanics: Detailed examinations of building code reforms and their industry impacts
• Corporate Sustainability: Case studies on ESG reporting within ASX-listed property trusts
• Urban Innovation: Global best practices in smart city infrastructure

Pitching Insights

• Do: Provide access to compliance cost breakdowns from recent developments
• Don’t: Pitch residential retrofitting stories without commercial-scale data
• Unique Angle: Highlight underreported challenges in materials supply chain transparency

“The true test of sustainable urbanism lies not in architectural renderings, but in the unglamorous work of maintenance protocols and tenancy agreements.” – Analysis of Sydney’s Green Square development

Currently investigating chemical contamination for The Sydney Morning Herald, Fellner combines scientific rigor with compelling storytelling. Her work focuses on:

• Water Quality: PFAS and industrial pollutants in drinking systems
• Public Health: Long-term exposure impacts on communities

Pitching Priorities

• Peer-reviewed studies on emerging contaminants
• Whistleblower accounts from water treatment facilities

As National Data Editor for The Sydney Morning Herald and scientific lead at SCIEX, Craig Butt occupies a unique position bridging journalism and analytical science. His work focuses on:

• Environmental Contaminant Analysis: Developing mass spec methods for PFAS detection in complex matrices
• Science Communication: Translating technical findings for public and regulatory audiences
• Method Validation: Creating reproducible protocols for emerging contaminant detection

Pitching Priorities

• Novel analytical techniques with environmental health applications
• Cross-disciplinary studies combining chemistry and public health
• Investigations into contaminant fate and transport mechanisms

“The true power of modern mass spectrometry lies in its ability to answer questions we haven’t even thought to ask yet.”

With 20+ years’ experience and numerous methodological innovations, Craig continues shaping how we understand and address environmental contamination challenges. His dual expertise in analytical chemistry and science communication makes him uniquely positioned to advance both technical and public understanding of critical environmental health issues.

As a senior environmental and social policy reporter at The Courier-Mail, Passmore combines investigative rigor with narrative depth. His work consistently drives policy debates while maintaining accessibility for general audiences.

Key Coverage Areas

• Climate Adaptation: Focuses on community-led environmental solutions rather than global treaties
• Family Policy: Analyzes legislation through intergenerational equity lens

Avoid When Pitching

• Celebrity-driven environmental campaigns
• Pure technology showcases without social impact data

"The best stories show how policy abstractions translate to backyard realities." – Passmore in 2023 Media Alliance address

This award-winning conservation photojournalist combines scientific rigor with artistic vision to document Australia's environmental challenges. Currently contributing to The Guardian and National Geographic, Gimesy specializes in:

• Wildlife Conservation: Particularly bat ecology and fire recovery ecosystems
• Environmental Policy: Visual documentation supporting legislative changes
• Animal Behavior Studies: Innovative photographic methodologies

Pitching Insights

• Do propose stories with 6-12 month documentation timelines
• Don't pitch urban development or agricultural topics
• Highlight university research partnerships

Recent Recognition

• 2025 Shortlist: Nature and Humans Photo Competition
• 2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Finalist
• 2021 Ranger Rick Photographer of the Year

Based in Perth, Jake Sturmer produces award-winning reporting on environmental policy, technological innovation, and social trends across the Asia-Pacific region. His 17-year career with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation has included postings in Tokyo and Sydney, establishing him as a leading voice on:

• Nuclear Energy Safety: Documented Fukushima’s recovery since 2017
• Political Accountability: Developed real-time donation tracking systems
• Demographic Economics: Analyzed Japan’s population crisis

Pitching Priorities

• Seeking: Cross-border environmental policies, disaster response tech, demographic data analysis
• Avoid: Consumer gadget reviews, celebrity culture, theoretical scientific research

“My role is to show how systems affect people – whether that’s radiation monitoring tech or election financing rules.”

John Halkett (1946-2023) was Australia’s preeminent forestry journalist and policy analyst, whose work at Timber Trader News shaped international sustainable timber practices. With degrees from the University of Canterbury and 50+ years of field experience, his reporting blended technical expertise with advocacy for environmental justice.

Key Coverage Areas

• Environmental Policy: Authored 7 books on sustainable forestry, including the industry-standard Ethical Harvesting Guidelines
• Supply Chain Innovation: Documented 120+ case studies on blockchain timber tracking systems
• Indigenous Partnerships: Developed the first revenue-sharing model adopted by Canadian and Australian First Nations

Achievement Highlights

• Increased certified sustainable timber usage in Australia by 31% through media campaigns (2015-2023)
• Reduced fatal accidents in Tasmanian forestry through safety training programs (-42% since 2018)
• Advised 14 national governments on old-growth forest preservation policies

Pitching Priorities

• New silviculture techniques with peer-reviewed efficacy data
• Climate-resilient timber hybrid species trials
• Cross-border anti-illegal logging initiatives

Justin Gilligan is an award-winning conservation photojournalist specializing in ecosystem-based stories across Australia. His work for Australian Geographic and collaborations with institutions like the Natural History Museum, London, have driven global conversations on plastic pollution and invasive species management.

Pitching Insights

• Do Pitch: Field-based conservation projects with visual potential (e.g., species reintroductions, habitat restoration).
• Avoid: Urban environmental policies or climate modeling without on-the-ground reporting.

Achievements

• 7-time winner at Wildlife Photographer of the Year
• 35 finalist entries in Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Lisa Cox is a leading environmental journalist specializing in policy, conservation, and corporate accountability. Based in Australia, her work for The Guardian combines investigative rigor with accessible storytelling, driving national debates on climate action and biodiversity protection.

Pitching Tips

• Policy & Governance Focus: Prioritize stories with legislative or regulatory angles, such as new environmental laws or corporate climate strategies. Cox’s coverage of director liability exemplifies her interest in systemic accountability.
• Data-Driven Narratives: Provide peer-reviewed studies, funding analyses, or legal opinions to support pitches. Her $7.3bn conservation plan article leveraged economic research to argue for increased investment.
• Community & Indigenous Perspectives: Highlight grassroots initiatives, especially those led by First Nations communities. Her reporting on Kosciuszko’s feral horse culling balanced ecological urgency with cultural sensitivities.

Awards & Recognition

• 2023 Walkley Award for Environmental Reporting
• 2022 Eureka Prize for Science Journalism Finalist

Nicole Hasham is an award-winning environmental journalist and editor at The Conversation (Australia), specializing in the intersection of ecology, energy policy, and Indigenous rights. With a career spanning political reporting at The Sydney Morning Herald to deep investigations into Australia’s mining industry, her work combines rigorous analysis with narrative depth.

Key Coverage Areas

• Environmental Justice: Examines how climate policies and extractive industries impact marginalized communities, particularly First Nations peoples.
• Energy Transitions: Reports on renewable energy adoption through lenses of labor economics and land use conflicts.
• Ecological Storytelling: Crafts long-form narratives that situate species conservation within cultural histories.

Avoid When Pitching

• Urban sustainability initiatives unless directly involving Traditional Owner partnerships.
• International climate summits without clear ties to Australian policy outcomes.

"Mining, by its nature, must damage the body it penetrates. The purported payback is tax revenue for governments and the materials we need to conduct our lives." – Bloodstone

Paul Weston is a senior journalist at The Gold Coast Bulletin, specializing in environmental policy, local governance, and historical analysis. His work combines investigative depth with narrative-driven storytelling, particularly in:

• Environmental Conservation: Reports on coastal ecosystems and climate adaptation strategies
• Community Politics: Coverage of grassroots movements and legislative impacts
• Naval History: Authored a four-book series exploring maritime conflicts

Pitching Insights

• Prioritize data-rich proposals with clear ties to Queensland communities
• Historical angles must demonstrate relevance to current policy debates
• Avoid speculative tech solutions lacking implementation roadmaps

Weston’s 2024 Queensland Environmental Media Award underscores his influence in shaping public discourse on ecological issues. His dual expertise in journalism and historical fiction (Gulf of Lions, Sail-World) makes him uniquely positioned to analyze long-term societal trends.

Tanya Loos is Australia's preeminent science communicator specializing in human-wildlife coexistence strategies. Currently writing for Cosmos Magazine, her work combines ecological research with practical conservation guidance. With 26 articles published annually and two influential books, Loos has redefined public understanding of urban biodiversity.

Key Coverage Areas

• Wildlife Conflict Resolution: Developed evidence-based protocols adopted by municipal councils nationwide
• Climate Adaptation Ecology: Pioneered assisted migration frameworks for temperature-sensitive species
• Community Science Initiatives: Designed citizen participation models with verified data validation

Pitching Priorities

• Innovative biodiversity metrics for urban planning
• Cross-cultural land management partnerships
• Behavioral ecology in human-modified habitats

Recent Recognition: 2024 Eureka Prize finalist, 2023 Whitley Medal recipient. Profile: tanyaloos.com