The 2025 Andrew Olle Media Lecture will be presented by Geraldine Doogue AO on Friday July 25 at the W Hotel in Darling Harbour. Brain Cancer Australia is the charity partner.
Doogue said:
“I’m honoured to be presenting the Andrew Olle Media Lecture. Andrew represented a terrific example of broad, generalist and above all curious journalism that needs lionising, now more than ever.”
Geraldine Doogue has spent more than 50 years as a journalist and broadcaster across print, television and radio. She was made an Officer in the Order of Australia in 2003 for services to the community and media and has also been awarded two Penguin Awards for excellence in broadcasting from the Television Society of Australia and a UN Media Peace Prize. In 2018 she was inducted into the Australian Media Hall of Fame, alongside Andrew Olle.
For the last year and a half Doogue has co-presented Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish MacDonald on ABC Radio National Saturday mornings at 8:30, looking in-depth examination of a single issue of national or international importance. The program is also played at 6pm Mondays, 5.30am Tuesdays and released as a podcast.
The Andrew Olle Media Lecture is held in honour of the ABC’s iconic broadcaster. He was presenter on a number of the ABC’s current affairs programs including Four Corners, The 7.30 Report, Nationwide and A Big Country. From 1987 to 1995 he also hosted the mornings program on ABC Radio Sydney (then 2BL).
In 1995, Olle died suddenly at age 47 after collapsing at home from an undiagnosed brain tumour.
Robyn Leonard OAM, Founder and Director of Brain Cancer Australia said:
“Brain cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers and it’s unacceptable that survival rates have barely changed in the 30 years since we lost Andrew Olle to this devastating disease.
The Andrew Olle Media Lecture plays a vital role in raising both awareness and funds to support our mission. Brain Cancer Australia is building the infrastructure, collaboration and national momentum that will drive breakthroughs in brain cancer – and bring hope to patients and their families.”
Tickets for the 2025 Andrew Olle Media Lecture can be purchased here.
The Andrew Olle Media Lecture is an annual event held in his honour that focuses on the role and future of the media and was first given in 1996. Funds raised from the evening are donated to Brain Cancer Australia to further research and awareness of the disease.
Previous Andrew Olle Media Lecture speakers include Fran Kelly, Leigh Sales, Ita Buttrose AC OBE, Peter FitzSimons, Lisa Wilkinson, Caroline Wilson, Joseph Kahn, Waleed Aly, Helen McCabe, Kate McClymont, Mark Colvin, Laurie Oakes, Ray Martin AM, John Hartigan, John Doyle AM, Lachlan Murdoch, Kerry Stokes AC and Jana Wendt.