Virginia Haussegger

A graduate of Melbourne University, Virginia began her journalism career as an ABC TV News cadet in 1986. A skilled interviewer, she went on to become the youngest woman to host the ABC’s flagship current affairs program the 7.30 Report, and has worked as a reporter and presenter of that program in four capital cities.

In the early 90s Virginia moved to commercial TV reporting for A Current Affair on Channel 9, and later Network 7’s Witness, as Senior Reporter.

In 2001, after working in the corporate sector as a communications specialist with Cosway Australia, Virginia returned to broadcasting as news anchor in Canberra where she was the face of ABC TV News in the national capital until late 2016.

Virginia is widely published across Australian print media, previously as a weekly columnist in The Canberra Times, and contributor to The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.

Virginia’s seminal article on feminism and childlessness was ranked by The Age newspaper as among the most significant opinion pieces published in its 150 year history. Her book Wonder Woman: The myth of ‘having it all’ was launched in a live broadcast at the National Press Club in 2005.

In 2009 Virginia made a self-funded trip to Afghanistan to highlight the plight of women and children. And in 2011 she curated the exhibition “Eye On Afghanistan”, to raise funds for the Australian based NGO Mahboba’s Promise. She later featured in the multi-award winning documentary, ‘Love Marriage in Kabul’ by Amin Palangi.

Virginia is the recipient of various awards including, the United Nations Association Media Peace Prize for coverage of Indigenous Affairs: Penguin Award for Current Affairs Excellence; and Toastmasters Communicator of the Year ACT (2007).