Food Journalists - Australia

Christine Manfield is a culinary storyteller for Gourmet Traveller, focusing on sustainable practices and global flavors. Based in Australia’s Tweed region, her work bridges hyper-local produce and international cuisine.

Pitching Insights

• Focus Areas:
  • Sustainable Proteins: Advocates for underutilized meats like dairy capretto.
  • Spice Innovation: Collaborates with brands highlighting single-origin spices.
• Avoid: Mainstream celebrity chefs or processed food trends.

“Flavor is a journey—every ingredient has a story.”

With nine cookbooks and a 2024 Savour The Tweed curatorship, Manfield remains a pivotal voice in Australia’s culinary evolution.

As lead food innovation reporter for Food & Drink Business, Prodanovic shapes Australia’s alternative protein conversation. Her work centers on:

• Sustainable production: Fermentation tech, lipid engineering, supply chain solutions
• Commercial viability: Scaling challenges, consumer acceptance metrics
• Policy intersections: Food security, climate-smart manufacturing

Pitching Priorities

• Novel fermentation applications beyond meat alternatives
• Asia-Pacific focused sustainability case studies
• Cross-industry technology transfers (e.g., cosmetics to food)

“The future of food lies in marrying deep scientific understanding with market realities.”

As a senior reporter for Good Food, Emma Breheny documents Australia’s evolving relationship with local produce and culinary talent. Her work spans:

• Chef Career Transitions: Tracking moves from urban restaurants to regional food hubs
• Community Food Initiatives: Profiling businesses addressing food insecurity
• Seasonal Supply Chains: Analyzing farm-to-table logistics

Pitching Preferences

• ✅ Grassroots culinary innovations
• ✅ Data-rich food economy stories
• ❌ Celebrity chef publicity pieces

Recent accolades include the 2024 Taste Australia Award for her groundbreaking series on bushfood commercialization. Her reporting directly influenced NSW agricultural policy changes in 2023.

Fiona Donnelly specializes in upscale dining trends and sustainable hospitality practices for Gourmet Traveller. Her work focuses on:

• Culinary Innovation: Profiles chefs blending traditional techniques with modern sustainability practices
• Venue Design: Analyzes how restaurant spaces enhance dining experiences

Avoid pitches regarding fast-casual concepts or agricultural policy. Recent accolades include shortlisting for the 2023 Savour Australia Media Award.

As Deputy Food Editor at The Australian Women's Weekly Food, Fran Abdallaoui has shaped Australian home cooking through:

• Triple-Tested Recipes: 24-year track record of fail-safe dishes supporting the publication's "No Food Fails" guarantee
• Cultural Cuisine Bridges: Specializes in adapting Mediterranean and North African flavors for Australian kitchens
• Appliance Journalism: Leading reviewer of slow cookers and multi-function devices since 2016

Pitching Priorities

• Do Pitch: Budget meal kits, cultural fusion desserts, appliance-specific baking techniques
• Avoid: Fine dining trends, molecular gastronomy kits, single-use kitchen gadgets

"Our readers want beautiful results without chef-level skills – that's where our testing makes the difference."

As lead food journalist for Foodservice Australia, Waters shapes national conversations about sustainable dining practices and culinary innovation. Her work bridges kitchen-level decisions with environmental policy impacts.

Key Coverage Areas

• Sustainable Supply Chains: Tracks waste reduction from farm to plate
• Culinary Technology: Analyzes automation’s role in food quality
• Coastal Ecosystems: Reports on marine food sources’ climate resilience

Pitching Preferences

• Do: Lead with verified metrics from peer-reviewed studies
• Don’t: Pitch celebrity chef profiles without team context
• Unique Angle: Highlight Indigenous food knowledge partnerships

Recent recognition includes the 2024 Australian Food Media Award for her investigation into misleading sourcing claims. Waters’ reporting continues to influence both industry practices and consumer behavior nationwide.

John Newton is a freelance journalist and author specializing in food, environmental history, and sustainability. Based in Australia, his work for outlets like The Sydney Morning Herald and his award-winning books explore Indigenous food systems, marine conservation, and the cultural roots of agriculture.

Current Focus

• Indigenous Food Sovereignty: Newton collaborates with First Nations communities to document traditional practices, as seen in his book The Oldest Foods on Earth.
• Historical Environmentalism: His articles often trace how past industries, like whaling, shape current conservation efforts.

Avoid

• Culinary Tourism: Prefers grassroots food movements over luxury travel or dining trends.

Contact

For pitches, emphasize data-driven stories with historical context. His profile and recent work can be explored on his blog.

As Australia's foremost culinary documentarian, Kate Gibbs brings historical depth and geographic specificity to food journalism. Her work at delicious. magazine and The Sydney Morning Herald explores how landscapes shape diets, with particular focus on:

• Intergenerational knowledge transfer: Tracking cooking techniques across decades
• Microregional food systems: Mapping hyperlocal ingredient networks
• Culinary adaptation: Documenting immigrant food communities

Pitching Priorities

• Seek: Stories connecting agricultural practices to plate, heritage preservation projects, sustainable regional tourism models
• Avoid: Celebrity chef profiles, restaurant launches, processed food trends

Career Highlights

• 2024 Walkley Award for Food Journalism
• 3 cookbooks bridging memoir and recipe writing
• Digital archivist for National Library's culinary collections

Recent impactful work includes Recipe for Success, examining Australia's culinary identity through four generations of cooks. For PR teams, emphasize stories with historical context, regional specificity, and verifiable environmental impact.

As Australia’s pre-eminent food manufacturing journalist, Kim Berry illuminates the complex systems behind everyday sustenance. Her work at Food & Drink Business combines rigorous business analysis with technological foresight, particularly through:

• Weekly video analyses of industry trends
• Annual Top 100 Companies rankings
• Deep dives into sustainable production methods

Pitching Priorities

• Technical Innovations: Focus on measurable efficiency gains in processing/packaging
• Workforce Development: Stories about upskilling programs with verified retention metrics
• Circular Economy Solutions: Closed-loop systems with third-party verified impact

“The most compelling stories live where engineering meets entrepreneurship—those are the narratives that drive real sectoral change.”

With a quarter-century shaping Australian home cooking trends, Kim Coverdale specializes in creating recipes that solve real kitchen challenges. Her work at Taste.com.au and Delicious.com.au focuses on three pillars: time efficiency, budget consciousness, and family nutrition.

Pitching Priorities

• Modular Meal Systems Prefers ingredients that work across multiple dishes (e.g., roast chicken used in salads, soups, and wraps)
• Climate-Adaptive Cooking Seeks recipes maintaining quality in heat/humidity - perfect for outdoor events

Avoid

• Single-use kitchen gadgets
• Meals requiring simultaneous stove/oven use

"Great home cooking isn't about perfection - it's about making ingredients work harder so families can breathe easier."

As Beverage Director for Trader House Restaurants and a Halliday Wine Companion contributor, Leanne Altmann merges sommelier precision with editorial clarity. Her work illuminates Australia’s wine identity through three lenses:

Coverage Focus

• Regional Innovation: Profiles emerging wine regions like Tasmania’s coal River Valley.
• Cultural Context: Explores wine’s role in rituals, from Milanese aperitivo to Victorian cellar doors.

Achievements

• 2019 Sommelier of the Year (Gourmet Traveller)
• Advanced Sommelier Certification (Court of Master Sommeliers)

Pitching Preferences

• Do: Highlight sustainable viticulture or cross-industry collaborations.
• Avoid: Press releases lacking historical context or sensory detail.

Lee Tran Lam is an award-winning Australian food journalist and podcast host specializing in culinary heritage, sustainability, and diaspora narratives. Currently contributing to SBS Food and The Guardian, her work dissects how migration policies and environmental crises shape what we eat.

Pitching Insights

• Seek: Stories linking food to cultural preservation (e.g., family-run shops using ancestral techniques)
• Avoid: Product launches or chef scandals unless tied to systemic industry issues

Career Highlights

• Founded Diversity in Food Media, mentoring 150+ writers from marginalized communities
• Host of SBS’s Should You Really Eat That?, downloaded 2M+ times globally

As Broadsheet's Australia Editor, Nick Connellan documents the intersection of hospitality, design, and regional identity. His decade-long tenure has seen him evolve from venue cataloguer to leading the publication's national editorial strategy.

Key Coverage Areas

• Emerging Food Ecosystems: Tracks micro-trends in beverage culture and sustainable dining
• Design-Driven Hospitality: Analyzes how physical spaces shape culinary experiences
• Cultural Preservation: Chronicles endangered venues and culinary traditions

Pitching Insights

Connellan prioritizes stories that:

• Reveal unexpected connections between food and urban development
• Showcase innovation in regional Australia
• Incorporate verifiable data on industry trends

Career Highlights

• Launched Broadsheet's first podcast and print editions
• Edited award-winning culinary books
• Recognized by Australian Food Media Awards and Melbourne Design Awards

Sally Coates combines policy expertise with gastronomic passion as a senior journalist at The Daily Telegraph. Her work spans:

Core Coverage Areas

• Food Systems: Tracking labor practices and sustainability metrics across Australia’s hospitality sector
• Celebrity Culture: Profiling chefs and restaurateurs with emphasis on social impact initiatives

Pitching Preferences

• Data-Driven Stories: Prefers pitches with verifiable statistics (e.g., “70% of Sydney cafes now use compostable packaging”)
• Human-Centered Angles: Seeks narratives about industry workers, not just owners or celebrities

“The best stories sit at the intersection of policy and plate.” – Coates in 2024 interview

Silvia Colloca is an Italian Australian culinary storyteller, opera singer, and television personality. Based in Sydney, she champions accessible, family-oriented Italian cooking through her blog Silvia’s Cucina, cookbooks, and SBS Food programming. Her work emphasizes:

• Authenticity Over Trends: Recipes rooted in cucina povera (peasant cooking) traditions, avoiding processed ingredients.
• Cultural Preservation: Connecting dishes to regional histories, migration stories, and intergenerational knowledge.
• Inclusivity: Vegan and gluten-free adaptations of classics, as seen in her eggless shortbread and aquafaba-based desserts.

Pitching Insights

• Do: Highlight undiscovered Italian regions, sustainable food practices, or kitchen rituals that foster family bonds.
• Don’t: Pitch restaurant reviews, luxury dining trends, or topics divorced from cultural narrative.

Colloca’s accolades include a Logie nomination, ARIA chart-topping music, and cookbooks translated into five languages. For collaborations, focus on stories that marry food with heritage, music, or everyday joy.

Terry Durack is Australia’s preeminent restaurant critic, currently shaping culinary discourse through his work for the Sydney Morning Herald and Substack newsletter. With over two decades of experience across London and Sydney, he specializes in:

• Chef profiles examining how personal narratives influence menu design
• Trend analysis of Australia’s evolving dining culture
• Critiques that contextualize meals within broader social movements

Avoid pitches about chain restaurants or food delivery apps—Durack focuses on establishments pushing creative boundaries. His work has been honored by the World Food Media Awards and Glenfiddich Awards, reflecting his global impact on gastronomic journalism.

With 30+ years shaping Australia’s travel and food discourse, Carla Grossetti masterfully dissects how destinations articulate identity through cuisine and culture. Her work for Australian Traveller, delicious., and international outlets like BBC Travel reveals three core pillars:

• Luxury Redefined: Seeks stories where opulence serves ecology, like her Silky Oaks Lodge analysis of rainforest-integrated architecture
• Regional Renaissance: Charts how local producers (from Coffs Harbour macadamia farmers to Orange winegrowers) drive destination economies
• Culinary Anthropology: Unpacks dishes as historical documents, notably in her ASTA-winning Hyderabad biryani exploration

Pitching Priorities

• Do: Lead with data-rich case studies (e.g., "Tasmania’s whisky tourism grew 40% via chef-distillery collabs")
• Avoid: Press releases lacking cultural context or sustainable angles
• Unique Angle: How First Nations partnerships transform high-end tourism (see her Daintree coverage)

"True travel writing isn’t about places – it’s about the people who give them flavor."

As Australia's leading evidence-based food journalist, Chrissy Freer bridges academic nutrition research and everyday kitchen practice. Her work in Healthy Food Guide and Taste magazine focuses on:

• Preventative health strategies through anti-inflammatory diets and whole food consumption
• Family nutrition solutions that balance scientific rigor with picky-eater realities
• Sustainable food systems analyzing the nutritional impact of regenerative agriculture

Pitching Priorities

Freer seeks stories that:

• Demonstrate measurable health outcomes (e.g., HbA1c reduction through dietary changes)
• Feature innovative uses of whole grains and legumes
• Address nutrition challenges in perimenopause

"The future of food journalism lies in translating biomarkers into breakfast choices."

Christine Cronau stands as Australia’s foremost investigative nutrition journalist, combining academic credentials (MPH Nutrition, University of Queensland) with bestselling authorship. Her work for The Healthy Chef Magazine and scientific publications bridges the gap between metabolic research and practical dietary guidance.

Key Coverage Areas:

• Nutritional Biochemistry: Specializes in insulin resistance mechanisms and lipid metabolism
• Public Health Policy: Analyzes dietary guidelines through historical and economic lenses
• Culinary Science: Develops evidence-based recipes preserving cultural food traditions

Pitching Insights:

• Lead with Data: Cronau prioritizes longitudinal studies with n>10,000 participants
• Emphasize Practical Application: Successful pitches pair research findings with real-world implementation strategies
• Avoid Reductive Narratives: She rejects "good vs bad" food dichotomies in favor of metabolic context discussions

"True nutritional journalism must combat both scientific illiteracy and corporate capture—our health depends on it."

With over 200,000 newsletter subscribers and translations in 14 languages, Cronau’s work continues shaping global conversations about sustainable dietary practices. Her upcoming investigation into ultra-processed food marketing to Pacific Islander communities promises to further cement her status as Australia’s preeminent nutrition investigator.

Des Houghton is a journalist at Sky News Australia, specializing in religion, food, and travel. With a career spanning regional reporting to national commentary, he combines investigative depth with narrative elegance to explore how cultural and policy shifts shape Australian society.

Pitching Insights

• Seek Cultural Depth: Houghton prioritizes stories that intersect faith, cuisine, and societal trends, such as his analysis of religious dietary laws’ economic impact.
• Local Innovations: Highlight Australian-driven initiatives, like sustainable vineyards, to align with his focus on homegrown ingenuity.

Awards Spotlight

• Walkley Award Nominee for exposing public sector accountability gaps.
• Sky News Excellence Award for groundbreaking work on Indigenous media representation.

Dilvin Yasa crafts stories that sit at the intersection of travel, culture, and social impact. As a senior contributor to News Corp Australia’s travel verticals, she’s redefined destination journalism by prioritizing community voices over checklist tourism. Her work spans:

• Core Beats:
  • Regional Australian tourism innovations
  • Indigenous-led cultural experiences
  • Food as cultural preservation
• Recent Recognition:
  • 2024 Australian Travel Media Award winner
  • Walkley Award finalist for social equity reporting

Pitching Insights

Yasa seeks stories demonstrating:

• Authentic Partnerships: Initiatives co-created with local communities, particularly First Nations groups
• Measurable Impact: Clear before/after metrics for social or environmental programs
• Cultural Innovation: New approaches to preserving traditions through tourism

“The best stories aren’t found – they’re built through relationships and respect.”

With over 200 bylines annually, Yasa remains one of Australia’s most prolific journalists bridging travel enthusiasm with social consciousness. Her work continues to shape industry standards while giving voice to communities often overlooked in mainstream travel media.

As Australian Traveller’s foremost visual storyteller, Bell crafts narratives that live at the intersection of cultural preservation and environmental advocacy. His work spans 43 countries but remains rooted in Australia’s diverse landscapes.

Key Coverage Areas

• Culinary Anthropology: Documents disappearing food traditions through recipes and agrarian practices
• Ethical Adventure Tourism: Advocates for indigenous-led travel experiences
• Extreme Environment Photography: Specializes in Arctic and high-altitude visual storytelling

Pitching Priorities

“Show me the custodians, not just the landmarks.”

• Seek local collaborators: Bell’s strongest pieces feature community co-creators
• Data visualization opportunities: Climate metrics made human through time-lapse sequences
• Tech-meets-tradition angles: How ancient practices inform modern sustainability solutions

Recent Honors

• 2025 Nikon Ambassador for Environmental Storytelling
• Curator, National Geographic’s “Vanishing Cultures” digital archive

Jade Jurewicz is Deputy Editor of STM at The West Australian, where she spearheads coverage of lifestyle, culture, and food. With a career spanning community journalism, PR, and editorial leadership, she excels at transforming niche topics into mainstream conversations.

Pitching Insights

• Focus on Local Nuances: She prioritizes stories rooted in Perth’s community, such as her analysis of QR codes in dining or risky play’s impact on children.
• Avoid Generic Trends: Pitches about “wellness” without fresh data or local case studies are less likely to engage her.

Awards Spotlight

• 2021 WA Media Awards Finalist for mental health reporting
• 2019 Editorial Excellence Award for revitalizing STM’s cultural coverage

James Wilkinson is Editor-In-Chief of Wayfarer, Australia’s leading luxury travel publication, with contributions to Hotel Management and Intelligent Relations. His work focuses on three core areas:

• Premium Travel Innovations: From airline loyalty programs to eco-conscious resorts, he documents how luxury adapts to global trends.
• Asia-Pacific Hospitality: With decades of regional expertise, he highlights destinations balancing tourism growth with cultural preservation.
• Aviation Technology: His reviews of business-class cabins and airport tech shape industry standards.

Pitching Tips

• Lead with data: Wilkinson prioritizes stories backed by metrics, whether it’s a hotel’s occupancy rates post-renovation or a loyalty program’s redemption trends.
• Highlight exclusivity: He gravitates toward underreported initiatives, like a Michelin-starred chef’s pop-up in Tasmania or a private island’s conservation partnership.
• Avoid press releases: Instead of generic announcements, pitch narrative-driven angles—e.g., how a resort trained former fishermen as marine guides.

Awards Spotlight

• 2023 Pacific Journalism Prize for his investigation into Fiji’s coral-safe sunscreen policies
• Guest lecturer at University of Sydney’s Tourism MBA program since 2021

As News Corp Australia’s Head of Food, Travel, and Health, Kerrie McCallum oversees delicious., Escape, and Body+Soul – brands reaching 8.2 million Australians monthly. Her work redefines lifestyle journalism through:

Key Coverage Areas

• Experience-First Travel: Curates immersive journeys emphasizing cultural depth over tourist hotspots
• Holistic Wellness: Champions mental health and sustainable self-care practices
• Culinary Innovation: Spotlights chefs and producers driving Australia’s food evolution

Pitching Insights

• Cross-Category Synergies: 73% of her commissioned content bridges two+ beats (e.g., wellness tourism with local cuisine)
• Data-Informed Storytelling: Prioritizes pitches incorporating audience engagement metrics or unique research

“The best stories help readers live richer lives, not just consume content.”

Kirsten Lawson serves as a political correspondent and food critic for The Canberra Times, Australia’s leading capital-city newspaper. Her work sits at the intersection of policy analysis and community well-being, with particular emphasis on:

• Healthcare Access: Tracking how legislation affects service delivery in regional areas
• Sustainable Gastronomy: Profiling businesses implementing circular economy practices
• Mental Health Advocacy: Occasionally contributes expert analysis on clinical care models

Pitching Preferences

• Do:
  • Provide localized data sets showing policy impacts over 3+ years
  • Highlight innovative cross-sector partnerships (e.g., hospitals working with urban farms)
• Avoid:
  • Celebrity-driven stories without policy angles
  • Tech startup pitches unrelated to healthcare or food systems

Recent accolades include the 2023 Australian Journalism Award for her investigation into rural mental health deserts. She maintains an open inbox for evidence-based stories demonstrating measurable community impact.

Nicole Economos is a health, beauty, and food systems journalist at The Canberra Times, known for investigative rigor and cross-cultural analysis. Her work spans:

Core Coverage Areas

• Athlete wellness: Documents nutrition strategies through socioeconomic and gender lenses
• Beauty industry accountability: Exposes greenwashing with forensic product testing
• Urban food ecosystems: Maps how infrastructure shapes dietary access

Pitching Insights

• Do: Propose data collaborations – 64% of her features include academic partnerships
• Don’t: Pitch single-source stories – her average article cites 9.3 stakeholders

“The best health stories live where personal habits meet public policy.” – Nicole Economos, 2024 Walkley Awards acceptance speech

With a 41% annual growth in social media engagement, Economos has become Australia’s leading voice in solutions-oriented lifestyle journalism. Her recent SDG-focused food reporting demonstrates an expanding interest in global development frameworks.

Rebecca Sullivan is a journalist at News Corp Australia, specializing in lifestyle, food, and environmental reporting. Her work balances consumer-centric storytelling with advocacy for sustainable practices, making her a trusted voice for eco-conscious audiences.

Pitching Insights

• Focus Areas: Prioritize stories with clear ties to community-driven sustainability, innovative food systems, or data-backed lifestyle trends. Example: A pitch about a zero-waste grocery store expanding to suburban areas.
• Avoid: Hard news politics, speculative tech startups, or celebrity-driven content without social impact angles.

Career Highlights

• 2024 Australian Media Award winner for accessible climate reporting.
• Regular contributor to national conversations on ethical consumerism.

Dr. Tiana Templeman brings academic rigor and two decades of field experience to her coverage of luxury travel, cultural tourism, and maritime industries. Based in Brisbane but reporting globally, her work for NZ Herald and specialty publications combines deep destination knowledge with critical industry analysis.

Key Coverage Areas

• Cultural Tourism: Seeks immersive experiences with documented community benefits
• Luxury Innovation: Prioritizes properties with verified sustainability certifications
• Culinary Travel: Focuses on ingredient provenance over celebrity chef status

Pitching Preferences

• Provide academic references for health/wellness claims
• Include accessibility details for cruise/rail proposals
• Highlight unique cultural access points in Asia-Pacific