In her 20 years as a journalist, Ellen Fanning has reported from locations as diverse as the North Pole, the White House, an airline refuelling fighter jets over Bosnia and a Collins Class submarine deep in the Indian Ocean. Currently a reporter on 60 Minutes, she was the last presenter of the Nine Network's prestigious Sunday program and a columnist in legendary The Bulletin magazine.
Ellen spent the first ten years of her career at the ABC until 1992, when she was appointed the presenter of the prestigious PM program, becoming the youngest person and the first woman to host a national current affairs program for ABC Radio.
In 1998, Ellen served as the ABC's Washington correspondent and later in 2004, as a freelance documentary maker she completed a six part series Fine Line, which dealt with the ethical dilemmas of journalism. Broadcast on SBS Television, the program is now used by media students at secondary schools and is required viewing for journalism students around the country.
Ellen has hosted award ceremonies for government, business groups and industry organisations over many years, including the BRW / ANZ Private Business Awards 2009, Australian Council of Local Government - Commendation and Category Awards and Dinner, 2009; Australian Investor Relationship Awards 2008; and the Prime Minister John Howard's Employer of the Year Awards at the Great Hall, Parliament House.
She works closely with the organisers on the script for the evening and makes herself available for full rehearsals prior to the event at a time suitable to the organisers. An impeccable presenter, Ellen is able to ad-lib and improvise when necessary to keep events flowing and to ensure prize winners and other presenters feel comfortable when delivering their own speeches stage and when engaged as the MC for awards events, Ellen briefs herself fully on the awards and endeavours to discover small details about each winner that she can use to inform her comments during the prize giving.
With a wealth of experience in communications, politics, social, cultural and business issues - her facilitation strength lies in her ability to clarify goals, define roles and reach agreed outcomes across both cultural and language barriers, making her an ideal MC, moderator, facilitator and keynote speaker.
