Mary Gearin

Over 35 years, Mary has presented, and reported on, some of the biggest breaking news stories in Australia and overseas, delivering information and analysis with ease and relatability.

Her extensive experience as a live TV broadcaster and radio host, across a range of topics, audiences and tones, gives her the vital ability to improvise and keep events to time. She puts a particular emphasis on thorough research and preparation, working with clients to deliver results.

Mary began her career as a casual at ABC while still a journalism student.

She was a pioneer, as the ABC’s first woman to present TV News sports – and later as the ABC’s first National Sport Correspondent, Mary was at the forefront of the public broadcaster’s sports coverage, including covering four Olympic Games – Athens, London, Rio and PyeongChang – two Commonwealth Games – Glasgow and Gold Coast – and the 2015 Rugby World Cup, as well as leading big stories such as the AOC crisis, the cricket pay deal, and Tennis Australia’s handling of child abuse allegations.

Mary also presented news from the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games during her time on the flagship sports feature program, Sports Sunday, at Nine’s Wide World Of Sports, where she produced award winning features.  She has also been a news presenter and senior reporter at Ten News, in Melbourne.

As ABC Europe Correspondent, she led the ABC’s coverage of major breaking world news events, including the 2015 Paris terrorist attack, the Germanwings tragedy, the Greek debt crisis, was nominated for a Logie for the ABCs coverage of Europe’s migrant crisis, witness first hand the retirement of one Pope and the election another and covered the birth of Prince George live from London.

For five years, she was 7pm News presenter and a senior journalist in the Melbourne newsroom, leading rolling coverage of breaking news such as the 2019-20 bushfires.  Other roles have included award-winning reporting for 7.30, hosting Mornings and Drive on ABC Radio Melbourne and stints co-hosting News Breakfast and The World.

All saw her forge deep connections with audiences across platforms. Mary has a personable and authoritative presentation style, while also able to conduct live interviews holding politicians to account, breaking down complex topics and telling personal stories with sensitivity and humour.

Mary is an Our Watch Fellow and produced a range of stories focussing on the impact of trauma from gendered violence.

Mary Speaks About

Mary is passionate about a range of topics including the changing face of news coverage, the role and values of sport, women in sport and the media, social justice issues – in particular, violence against women – and the transformative powers and ethical challenges of science. Importantly, drawing on personal experience, she discusses the power of connection, plain-speaking and how to cut through in a post-truth world.