Award-winning journalist, broadcaster and international author of 16 books — Madonna King has turned a reporter's curiosity into a career spent understanding the people and pressures shaping our lives.
Madonna King is an award-winning journalist, author and seasoned speaker across the nation's conference stages. She has covered dozens of elections and budgets, headed the top-rating current affairs program on the ABC in Queensland, and won several national awards for her journalism.
The author of 16 books — including biographies of former federal treasurer Joe Hockey and Australian of the Year Professor Ian Frazer — her focus on the nation's tweens and teens has come from interviewing thousands of them for books like Being 14, Fathers and Daughters, Ten-Ager and Screen Wise.
A skilled speaker who brings to life her 16 books and award-winning work as a journalist and broadcaster. Her lively commentary explains the challenges adolescents face — and she is equally at home delivering keynotes and hypotheticals on everything from inside political decision-making to leadership and parenting.
Madonna has been deputy editor of The Daily Telegraph, chief-of-staff of The Australian, and has worked across newspapers, television, radio and online. A fellow of the prestigious World Press Institute, she launched a free afternoon daily, planned the coverage logistics for the Sydney 2000 Olympics for more than 40 newspapers, and sat on the Walkley Advisory Board for journalism.
Thinking on her feet in an interview with the prime minister, calming the anger of a talkback caller, or interviewing leading CEOs — these are the skills Madonna brings to moderating hypotheticals and facilitating conferences around Australia, on subjects as varied as leadership, education, politics, business, resources, the law, tourism and the environment.
Madonna delivers keynotes across four streams — corporate & government leadership, talks for parents, sessions for education leaders and teachers, and a life-ready session for senior students. Every talk is grounded in original research and three decades of reporting, and tailored to the audience in the room.
From international boardrooms and government departments to school communities, parent groups and conference stages. Madonna has spoken to rooms of 1,000-plus, and is equally effective in an intimate workshop or a national summit.
Yes. Madonna is a seasoned Master of Ceremonies and facilitator, regularly moderating hypotheticals, panels and conferences. Her journalist’s rigour means she researches every issue and contacts speakers beforehand so the session lands exactly on brief.
Madonna is based in Brisbane and travels nationally for speaking engagements. Travel and accommodation for interstate and regional events are arranged as part of the booking.
A typical keynote runs 45–60 minutes, with workshops and student sessions generally 60–90 minutes. Format and length are tailored to your program — just let us know what you need.
Send an enquiry through the booking page with your event date, audience and a little about what you’re hoping for. We’ll come back quickly with availability and everything you need to confirm.
Tell us about your audience and the date you have in mind. We'll come back quickly with availability and everything you need to say yes.