This is the twelfth in a series of interviews exploring the career and life journey of women in the media industry. The aim of the series is to reflect on the wisdom they have gained during their journey.
So far we have had a cross section of women in different roles and career stages: Lauren Joyce, Laura Bouchet, Cathy O’Connor, Megan Smith, Kim Napier, Amanda Lee, Jacquie Riddell, Helen Tzarimas, Rebecca Ackland, Cheryl Lee, and Manpreet Kaur Singh.
This week we profile, Justine Kelly who has experienced many roles in the ABC over the last 25 years. She now works as Manager of Audio Output and Strategy at ABC International.
1.Describe your current professional life and your stage of life.
I’m the Manager of Audio Output and Strategy at ABC International, a role I’ve held for the past three years. The key part of my job is managing ABC Radio Australia, which means I get to work with an incredible team and shape what the network sounds like across the Pacific. I’ve had the privilege of working in a range of roles at the ABC over about 25 years but this role is hands-down the most rewarding.
With geopolitics as they are, it’s an exciting time to be working in international broadcasting, especially alongside such a talented and passionate group of people from across the region.
2. How did you come to be in this industry?
Kind of by accident, really. I actually wanted to be a lawyer, blame LA Law, and had my heart set on studying at the University of Queensland. But my TE score (throwback!) wasn’t quite high enough, so I enrolled in journalism with the plan to upgrade into law later. I did get into law eventually, but by then, the chance to earn a whopping $20K a year at the Dalby Herald in Western QLD had come up, and journalism won out. I’ve never looked back. It’s been an incredible ride, full of stories, people, and places I never imagined I’d get to see.
3. What are your core beliefs? How are your values evident in the work you do or the life you lead?
I believe in working hard, acting with integrity and treating people fairly. One golden rule I’ve stuck to throughout my career: never burn a bridge. I’ve carried these values with me in every role, and I think they’ve played a big part in why I’ve been able to build a long and rewarding career at the ABC. I think being decent and dependable goes a long way.
4. How did your education, formal and informal, enrich your career/ life journey?
Honestly, most of my learning has happened on the job. The biggest lessons have come from the people I’ve interviewed, the stories I’ve covered, and the incredible colleagues I’ve worked alongside.
I’ve never had a formal mentor, but I’ve been fortunate to work with managers who championed me. In every role, I’ve been surrounded by seriously talented people and I’ve learned so much from them. Not just about being a journalist, producer, EP, or manager, but about how to carry yourself while working in those roles.
For more than a decade now, my bosses have been phenomenal women. They’re kick arse, and I don’t mean aggressive – I mean smart, emotionally intelligent, deeply capable, and full of integrity. I often hear stories of people working for difficult bosses, but that hasn’t been my experience. I’ve been lucky to have incredible role models and colleagues, both women and men, who’ve shaped the way I work and lead.
5. What are some of your key decision change points and how did they shape your career/ life journey?
One of the biggest turning points in my career came when I was working as a news reporter at the ABC in Perth. I was the junior state political reporter for radio and absolutely loved it. Like many young journos, I had a clear path in mind: political reporter in Perth, then Canberra, then overseas correspondent. That was the dream.
But then a friend, who was the triple j reporter in Perth at the time, was leaving and said to me, “The only time you can do this job is right now. If you wait, you’ll be too old.” So, much to the news director’s horror, I took the leap and joined triple j. I’ve never looked back.
That decision changed everything. Triple j took me all over WA, and eventually to Sydney, where I produced the breakfast show with Adam and Wil. It was a golden era for radio, before social media took off and before Spotify existed. If you wanted to hear new music or feel connected, you tuned in. We travelled the country, went to festivals and gigs, and had a great time. It was a brilliant time to be in radio.
That choice, to step off the traditional news path, set my career on a completely different trajectory, and I’m so glad it did. After that, I wasn’t particularly strategic. I just knew when it was time to try something new. I’ve always believed that no organisation owes you anything. If you’re not loving your job, move on. Find something that excites you and make space for someone else to step into your role. So my decisions have always come before that point, when I sense the time might be up, I move toward the next challenge.
I think because I’ve always worked hard and with integrity, I’ve been lucky enough to build multiple careers within the one organisation. Always in audio, but across very different roles.
6. What makes you happy? What makes you get up in the morning?
Well, aside from the usual suspects, my kid, my partner, and my awesome family and friends, I genuinely love my job. I find it endlessly interesting, and I’m lucky to work with a brilliant team. Creating audio for the Pacific in particular is deeply satisfying. Getting to tell stories from across the region and give people a platform to be heard is something I feel really proud of. I just love it.
I’ve also come to realise that I thrive when I’m busy. Not chaotic busy, definitely not 15-hour-days kind of busy, but productive busy. There’s that saying “If you want something done, ask a busy person,” and I think that pretty much sums me up. I like having things to do, making progress, and feeling useful. That sense of momentum is what gets me up in the morning.
7. Share your words of wisdom for others in the industry or those wishing to work in the industry?
I always tell graduates and people I’ve mentored: don’t expect to land your dream job in a metro newsroom or anywhere else straight away. Go regional. You’ll have a great time, you’ll cover big stories, because there aren’t as many journos around, and you’ll meet people and communities you’d never encounter in a city setting. Work your way up and be patient. Everyone’s in such a rush to climb the ladder, but honestly, slowing down and soaking up the experience is where the real growth happens. You’ve got plenty of time, use it to learn, listen, and build a solid foundation.
8. Describe your vision for the audio media industry in the near future.
The audio media industry is evolving so rapidly, it can be hard to pin down a single vision, but one thing is clear: the lines between audio and video are blurring. Audio is now video, and video is audio. My focus right now is on how we can visualise podcasts and radio shows in ways that make them accessible and engaging on video platforms, without losing the essence of what makes audio so powerful.
It’s about meeting audiences where they are – whether they’re watching on YouTube and Spotify, scrolling through TikTok, or listening to the radio. The challenge (and the opportunity) is to adapt our storytelling and production methods so that audio content can live and thrive in visual-first spaces, while still staying true to its roots in voice, sound, and connection.
Series compiled by Serena Ahern for radioinfo.
If you have a suggestion for someone to be considered for this series, please send a note to [email protected]
Previous articles in this series:
Wisdom of Women in Media: Manpreet Kaur Singh, SBS Audio Program Manager
Wisdom of Women in Media: Cheryl Lee Co Founder and Manager Rebel Radio Network
Wisdom of Women in Media: Rebecca Ackland Chief People & Culture Officer SCA
Wisdom of Women in Media: Helen Tzarimas News Reader and Journalist Gold 101.7
Wisdom of Women in Media: Amanda Lee, Head of HIT Metro Content/Fox FM Content Director
Wisdom of Women in Media: Kim Napier, Breakfast Presenter ABC Northern Tasmania
Wisdom of Women in Media: Megan Smith, Senior Producer Gold 101.7
Wisdom of Women in Media: Laura Bouchet, Content Director Triple M
Wisdom of Women in Media: Lauren Joyce, Chief Audience & Content Officer ARN