Contributors

Ian Bushnell

Ian Bushnell is a career journalist and a former News Editor and Chief of Reporting staff at The Canberra Times, where he was at the centre of some of the capital’s biggest stories.

A Canberra resident since 1995, he and his partner have raised…

Kim Treasure

Kim Treasure has been a journalist for more than 35 years, working across regional NSW and Canberra in print, radio and online. She began her career at the Newcastle Herald with Fairfax Media and managed almost 40 mastheads across Southern NSW before…

Edwina Mason

Edwina Mason has worked as a journalist and editor in regional and metropolitan media for over 30 years. Her loop of NSW regional newspapers includes Young, Griffith, Armidale, Singleton, Camden and Queanbeyan before she joined Eric Beecher's Text…

Karyn Starmer

Karyn Starmer is a second career journalist working in print, radio and digital media after completing a Masters in Journalism.
Karyn began her working life as a financial markets trader for an international bank but wandered away from Sydney in…

Tim Gavel

Sports commentator with ABC Grandstand for over 30 years Tim Gavel has called a range of sports including NRL, Super Rugby, Wallabies, Rowing World Cups, Rugby World Cups, Socceroos, Matildas, Opals, Boomers, WNBL, NBL, International Netball, Men's…

Hayden Fritzlaff

Hayden is a writer, musician, and all-around Canberra enthusiast. After studying music and English at ANU, Hayden has worked with a number of Canberra-based arts and media organisations.
When he's not writing, Hayden can usually be found watching…

John Thistleton

John Thistleton’s 30-plus years in the print media began at Cowra, and includes stints in Young, Wellington, Leeton, Crookwell, Queanbeyan, Goulburn, and, over 12 years, the Canberra Times.

As a reporter and managing editor John has watched the…

Rebecca Vassarotti MLA

Rebecca Vassarotti a member of the ACT Legislative Assembly, elected for the ACT Greens in the seat of Kurrajong for the 2020 Territory election.

Prior to her election, Rebecca worked in the health and human services sector, in a range of senior…

Jane Speechley

Jane Speechley is an experienced freelance writer whose natural curiosity and interest in cars mean she knows enough to hold a decent conversation. While happily admitting her Toyota 86 makes promises her street driving can’t quite keep, she’s…

Emma Davidson

Emma Davidson is the ACT's Minister for Disability, Minister for Justice Health, Minister for Mental Health, Assistant Minister for Families and Community Services and Member for Murrumbidgee. She holds one of the six Greens seats in the 10th…

Michelle Robertson

Michelle Robertson is CEO of the RSPCA-ACT.
In addition to her for-purpose and community sector experience, she holds varied executive experience gleaned across a broad range of business sectors.
Michelle shares licks and cuddles from their…

Tuggeranong Arts Centre

Tuggeranong Community Arts Association has been operating out of the Tuggeranong Arts Centre for over 20 years. Our programs, including Fresh Funk and The Messengers Program, invite the community to practice and appreciate art and its relevance to…

Belco Arts

Belco Arts is a place to celebrate, undertake creative journeys, share stories and make memories. Opening in September 2009, it has swiftly established itself as an essential and driven community arts organisation. The core philosophy of Belco Arts…

RSPCA ACT

RSPCA ACT is an independent, non-government community-based charity providing animal care and protection services. We are based in Weston Creek in the ACT.

Guest Contributor

The RiotACT occasionally publishes work from guest contributors who are not regular contributors, and thus do not have profiles. This profile and all content published under this profile has been approved and uploaded by The RiotACT editorial team.

Albert McKnight

Raised on the NSW South Coast, Albert studied psychology at the University of Wollongong before starting in journalism.

He has seven years’ experience as a reporter in the region covering a multitude of issues, from politics and police, to…

Andrew Barr ACT Chief Minister

Andrew Barr is the Chief Minister of the ACT. A longtime Canberran, he has been a Labor Party member for the seat of Molonglo in the ACT Legislative Assembly since 2006, and was elected as Chief Minister in 2014. He holds the portfolios of Treasury,…

Andrew Leigh MP

Andrew Leigh is the Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Federal Member for Fenner in the ACT. Prior to being elected in 2010, Andrew was a professor of economics at the Australian National University. He holds a PhD in public policy from Harvard, having…

Andrew McLaughlin

Andrew McLaughlin is an award-winning defence and aerospace journalist with 25 years’ experience.
Starting as a freelance feature writer in 1997, Andrew gradually built up his freelance portfolio before transitioning to a full-time writing career…

Chris Johnson

Chris Johnson is Region Media's Public Sector Editor.
A Walkley Award winning journalist, Chris was most recently the managing editor of The Mandarin. He has previously been the Canberra bureau chief for Fairfax Media (SMH and Age), the chief…

Claire Fenwicke

Originally from a farm in Walcha, Claire studied a Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Creative Arts (theatre) at the University of Wollongong, and also won the JB Fairfax Award for Rural Journalism while she was a student.
She has been working…

Claire Sams

Claire Sams is a young journalist, born and raised in regional New South Wales. She recently made the move to Canberra, where she continues to cover regional stories about regional people, places and events. Always in the mood for a good meal, a…

Elizabeth Lee MLA

Elizabeth Lee is the Leader of the Canberra Liberals, and the Liberal Member for Kurrajong in the ACT Legislative Assembly. Her other responsibilities include Shadow Treasurer, Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Energy and Emissions Reduction,…

James Coleman

Even before he could actually drive, James Coleman and his brother started a hobby car magazine, and he has been waxing lyrical about all things cars and motoring ever since.

He is told repeatedly that he has a British accent, but Canberra is…

James Day

James Day is an early-career cadet journalist for Region Media, with a focus on regional issues and the public sector. Prior to joining the Canberra office in 2022 he was the Editor-in-Chief of the ANU Observer, and a host of 2XXFM's LocalnLive…

Laura Liu

Laura Liu has lived in Canberra for several years and graduated from ANU with a major in accounting. She is keen to share Canberra's lifestyle, food or stories. If you have a good story idea, email lliu@region.com.au.

Lucy Ridge

Lucy Ridge is a former chef, now turned writer. Lucy brings a passion for food, sustainability and community to her work. On weekends you can find her in the garden or at a gig.

Mark Parton MLA

Liberal Member for Brindabella in the ACT Legislative Assembly. Shadow Minister for Housing and Gaming and Racing. Keen cyclist. West Coast Eagles AFL fan and kitchen man.

Morgan Kenyon

A zealous storyteller and business journalist, Morgan has had the pleasure of writing for peak body organisations, local charities and not-for-profits, industry leaders, national and international franchises, and small to medium enterprises since she…

Ross Solly

Ross Solly is a broadcaster, journalist and political observer with a media career spanning more years than he cares to remember. He has dabbled in newspapers, magazines, television and radio, covering sport, politics, and life in general. His…

Sally Hopman

Long time Canberra journalist Sally Hopman will be familiar to readers from her years at The Canberra Times, where she wrote extensively about Canberra and the Capital Region before joining the National Library.
She began her career as a cadet…

Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA

Member for Kurrajong and Minister in the ACT Government. Interests include life in #HeartofCBR, community, progressive politics, planning, design. Also horses.

Tara Cheyne MLA

Tara is the member for Ginninderra (covering most of Belconnen) in the ACT Legislative Assembly and Government Whip.

Zoya Patel

Zoya Patel is the award-winning author of No Country Woman, a memoir of race, religion and feminism. She is also the founder of feminist literary organisation, Feminartsy. Zoya has won numerous awards for her writing and editing, and has been…