The Top 27 Influential Women in Radio

Brad March is a former CEO of the Austereo Network.

Thanks to your comments and feedback, what started out as a Top 25 has now grown to a list of the Top 27 most powerful women in Australian radio today.

The list includes on-air talent, management, senior executives, directors and owners who influence the airwaves and the business of radio.

They contribute to contemporary culture and can influence society's views, standards and opinion. They are the women who help shape the fortunes of the Australian radio industry.

If you'd like to add any other names to the list or make a comment make sure you do below. We welcome your feedback.

Brad March

27

Rachel Corbett

co host with Merrick Watts on Triple M's national 'Highway Patrol'

26

Sally Dobson

co owns regional radio group Resonate Broadcasting with SCA’s Guy Dobson and Rex Morris

25

Brigitte Duclos

co host of Gold FM’s breakfast show with Lehmo. Previously appeared on Triple M’s The Cage and Mix Melbourne Breakfast

24

Donna Puechmarin

Content Director SAFM and previously Executive Producer of B105’s Breakfast show

(this is the only photo we could find of Donna - her FB profile pic)

23

Anna Murdoch Mann
(nee Torv)

Owner of Gold Coast radio station Hot Tomato since 2002

22

Linda Mottram

Presenter of ABC702 mornings and is one of the ABC's most respected journalists

21

Chrissie Swan

co host of new Mix Melbourne Breakfast show with Jane Hall. Previously was on Vega breakfast

20

Kate Langbroek

has co hosted Nova Melbourne Breakfast with Dave Hughes since the station was launched

19

Jo Stanley

co hosts top rating Fox Breakfast show with Matt Tilley

18

Liz Adams

Owner of Adams Management overseeing the careers of talent such as Matt Tilley, James Brayshaw & Kate Langbroek

17

Fifi Box

currently co host of Today networks Drive show with Jules Lund

16

Irene Hulme

Content Director Nova Adelaide and was previously Content Director of ARN’s Mix Melbourne

15

Kate Torney

Director of News ABC. Previously was head of Asia Pacific News

14

Linda Wayman

General Manager of Southern Cross Austereo’s Perth station’s 92.9 and Mix 94.5

13

Sam Thompson

Group Content Director at MCM Media and was previously General Manager at DMG Melbourne

12

Kate Dundas

Director of ABC Radio. Previously held senior roles in ABC including Head of National Networks

11

Meshel Laurie

co hosts Nova National drive show with Marty Sheargold and Tim Blackwell

10

Toni Pipicelli

Group Music Director at DMG for the Nova stations

9

Fran Kelly

Radio National Breakfast

8

Helen Davies

General Manager of DMG Melbourne and previously GM Austereo Sydney

7

Janet Cameron

Managing Director of Grant Broadcasters which operates more than 30 regional radio stations and the Radio Sales Network

6

Jackie O

co hosts 2DayFM’s top rating Breakfast show and nationally the Today Networks Hour of Power

5

Amanda Keller

co hosts WSFM’s Breakfast show and MCM’s national My Generation. Was previously on Triple M Sydney Breakfast

4

Cathy Thomas

National Sales Director for Southern Cross Media for over a decade

3

Joan Warner

Commercial Radio Australia

2

Siobhan McKenna

Managing Partner of Lachlan Murdoch's Illyria which owns 50% of DMG

1

Cathy O'Connor

CEO of DMG and previously General Manager of Triple M Sydney and 2DayFM

Brad March is a former CEO of the Austereo Network

Published on Friday, 20 July 2012 05:59

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A (8:00am 20 Jul 2012)

Great read and interesting that 16 of the 25 are off air key roles in the radio industry

Anonymous (8:33am 20 Jul 2012)

How come Kyle didn't make the list? lol

Josh Withers (8:41am 20 Jul 2012)

If we're talking actual influence then Sally Dobson needs to be higher on this list for her mentoring & training. Making sales budgets is well & nice, as is hosting a pretty radio show after being on reality TV, but is this a popularity contest or about influencing the industry for the better?

Anonymous (8:46am 20 Jul 2012)

Was this list created in 2003?

BR (8:51am 20 Jul 2012)

I was surprised to read that there are so many women who wield such influence in the male dominated radio industry.
Your list suggests that women hold a lot of power in radio and if international trends are anything to go by that number will only grow

Joanne (8:57am 20 Jul 2012)

Most of these women are a lot tougher ( and ) smarter than their male counterparts

Kathy (9:02am 20 Jul 2012)

Refreshing to see a list ov very talented women here who are achievers because of their talent not because of their gender

GS (9:04am 20 Jul 2012)

A great list again on Radio Today Well done Brad Well put together

Helen (9:15am 20 Jul 2012)

I remember years ago Brad hiring Wendy Harmer to star on Breakfast radio then followed by Tracy Bartrum Until then females had always been the side kicks on breakfast .Always thinking outside the square Brad ! Women have certainly come a long way in radio

Richard (9:34am 20 Jul 2012)

Hi Brad, I'd hoped to have seen Andrea Ho - Manager of 666 ABC Canberra in there, given the amount of politicians both local and federal that grace the 666 airwaves in Canberra.

Goldie (9:51am 20 Jul 2012)

There are countless other women in radio who didnt make it on this list Maybe next time ?

Terry (10:47am 20 Jul 2012)

Surprised looking at some of the people on this list that Joan Warner didn't make it and if not her atleast Bianca Dye.

Keith Williams (11:46am 20 Jul 2012)

Hey Brad. If Fran Kelly on RN Breakfast is not in the Top 25 your list is skewed.

Josh Withers (2:15pm 20 Jul 2012)

A quick call from Aunty Warner makes it a top 26!

Anonymous (2:27pm 20 Jul 2012)

This is very strange

Need to define what powerful and influential means.
Whilst Jackie O and Cathy O Connor influence a lot of people ... they're certainly not influencing the same people for any similar reasons...

Do they influence the radio industry?
Or brain dead FM audiences who don't really care about 'the industry'?

Needs to be one or the other...
combining them doesn't make sense.
Apples and Oranges.

Nicole Williamson (3:32pm 20 Jul 2012)

Brad - so pleased that one of my early morning Facebook comments has already been addressed!! Joan Warner...Good work.

Fran Kelly is still to be added to your Top 5. I agree with the comment from someone else who said force yourself to do a reality teev thing and vote someone off the Island!!! How dramatic...

Nice work.

Kate (3:43pm 20 Jul 2012)

You've got Jackie O in and No Fran Kelly? Love to know the rationale behind that.

Jason McLean (3:49pm 20 Jul 2012)

Great list Brad......right on the money I reckon. Good to see Irene Hulme there. I knew her about 20 years ago on the Gold Coast and she always said her goal in life was to be a PD. She's done more than that.

Joan Warner (4:10pm 20 Jul 2012)

Josh Withers - just FYI - wasn't even aware of this list until I was sent it - and am not sure whose "aunty" I'm supposed to be or who I'm supposed to have called. However, it WOULD be nice to think that any "quick calls" from me could change something so quickly but, sadly, I think I am not that influential!

Jason Mclean (4:29pm 20 Jul 2012)

I wouldn't worry about that Joan, I don't know you personally, but there's no question you should be in the top 10 let alone 25 or 26.

Anonymous (5:22pm 20 Jul 2012)

how do you place Siobhan McKenna in 2nd place? have read a bit on her, and she sounds lovely, but hardly influential to radio in the same way the rest of your list is. (neither dmg or ten can be called powerhouses either right at the moment)

Anonymous (11:00pm 20 Jul 2012)

What have any of these women actually done to "influence" females in the industry or female audiences? Most of our commercial radio is still homophobic, racist, massively dumbed down and banal. If women are allegedly the smarter sex, perhaps they should be influencing what comes out of the speakers. I don't understand how you can include people like Rachel Corbett and Jo Stanley and not real women on air who actually DO change the way we view the world like Fran Kelly. Undermines it's credibility. Sorry.

Start Prev 1 2 Next End

Page 1 of 2

27	Rachel Corbett co host with Merrick Watts on Triple M's national 'Highway Patrol'
26		Sally Dobson co owns regional radio group Resonate Broadcasting with SCA’s Guy Dobson and Rex Morris
25	Brigitte Duclos co host of Gold FM’s breakfast show with Lehmo. Previously appeared on Triple M’s The Cage and Mix Melbourne Breakfast
24		Donna Puechmarin Content Director SAFM and previously Executive Producer of B105’s Breakfast show (this is the only photo we could find of Donna - her FB profile pic)
23	Anna Murdoch Mann (nee Torv) Owner of Gold Coast radio station Hot Tomato since 2002
22		Linda Mottram Presenter of ABC702 mornings and is one of the ABC's most respected journalists
21	Chrissie Swan co host of new Mix Melbourne Breakfast show with Jane Hall. Previously was on Vega breakfast
20		Kate Langbroek has co hosted Nova Melbourne Breakfast with Dave Hughes since the station was launched
19	Jo Stanley co hosts top rating Fox Breakfast show with Matt Tilley
18		Liz Adams Owner of Adams Management overseeing the careers of talent such as Matt Tilley, James Brayshaw & Kate Langbroek
17	Fifi Box currently co host of Today networks Drive show with Jules Lund
16		Irene Hulme Content Director Nova Adelaide and was previously Content Director of ARN’s Mix Melbourne
15	Kate Torney Director of News ABC. Previously was head of Asia Pacific News
14		Linda Wayman General Manager of Southern Cross Austereo’s Perth station’s 92.9 and Mix 94.5
13	Sam Thompson Group Content Director at MCM Media and was previously General Manager at DMG Melbourne
12		Kate Dundas Director of ABC Radio. Previously held senior roles in ABC including Head of National Networks
11	Meshel Laurie co hosts Nova National drive show with Marty Sheargold and Tim Blackwell
10		Toni Pipicelli Group Music Director at DMG for the Nova stations
9	Fran Kelly Radio National Breakfast
8		Helen Davies General Manager of DMG Melbourne and previously GM Austereo Sydney
7	Janet Cameron Managing Director of Grant Broadcasters which operates more than 30 regional radio stations and the Radio Sales Network
6		Jackie O co hosts 2DayFM’s top rating Breakfast show and nationally the Today Networks Hour of Power
5	Amanda Keller co hosts WSFM’s Breakfast show and MCM’s national My Generation. Was previously on Triple M Sydney Breakfast
4		Cathy Thomas National Sales Director for Southern Cross Media for over a decade
3	Joan Warner Commercial Radio Australia
2		Siobhan McKenna Managing Partner of Lachlan Murdoch's Illyria which owns 50% of DMG
1	Cathy O'Connor CEO of DMG and previously General Manager of Triple M Sydney and 2DayFM

The Top 27 Influential Women in Radio

27

Rachel Corbett

26

Sally Dobson

25

Brigitte Duclos

24

Donna Puechmarin

23

Anna Murdoch Mann (nee Torv)

22

Linda Mottram

21

Chrissie Swan

20

Kate Langbroek

19

Jo Stanley

18

Liz Adams

17

Fifi Box

16

Irene Hulme

15

Kate Torney

14

Linda Wayman

13

Sam Thompson

12

Kate Dundas

11

Meshel Laurie

10

Toni Pipicelli

9

Fran Kelly

8

Helen Davies

7

Janet Cameron

6

Jackie O

5

Amanda Keller

4

Cathy Thomas

3

Joan Warner

2

Siobhan McKenna

1

Cathy O'Connor

What's the best way to axe a breakfast show ?

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Anna Murdoch Mann
(nee Torv)