Madonna King has spent three decades asking the questions that matter, and turning the answers into insight audiences can use.
An award-winning journalist, author of 15 books and one of Australia's most experienced broadcasters, Madonna built her reputation as host of ABC Radio Brisbane's Mornings program, and as a senior figure inside News Limited and The Australian, including as deputy editor of The Daily Telegraph and chief-of-staff of The Australian. She has covered elections, budgets and the machinery of seven Australian governments, and reported from inside the Canberra press gallery.
Her recent books, including the best-selling Being 14, Fathers and Daughters, Ten-Ager and Screen Wise, are built on interviews with thousands of children, parents, teachers and researchers. That research gives Madonna sharp insight into what young people are actually facing, and what parents, schools and workplaces can do about it.
As a Keynote Speaker, Madonna draws on this same reporter's instinct for what an audience needs to hear. She has addressed hundreds of forums and school communities across leadership, education, politics, business and technology.
Madonna is equally in demand as a Master of Ceremonies and facilitator. Thinking on her feet in an interview with a prime minister, calming an angry caller live on air, or interviewing CEOs onstage are skills she brings to hypotheticals, panels and conferences on subjects as varied as leadership, resources, law and tourism.
Beyond the microphone, Madonna chaired the Queensland Anti-Cyberbullying Taskforce, is a Fellow of the World Press Institute, and sat on the Walkley Advisory Board. She currently convenes the non-partisan Queensland Women In Politics program and holds a diploma in company directorship, having served on several boards focused on children's welfare.
Talking Points
A Global Online Experiment We Didn't Ask For
Drawing on interviews with thousands of children, teachers, researchers and scientists, Madonna unpacks the unseen impact of screens, AI, gaming and algorithms on the next generation. She shows parents how to take back control of their children's digital lives, rather than leaving it to government or schools, and offers a practical path to change their family's trajectory.A Global Online Experiment We Didn't Ask For
Key Takeaways:
- Parents hold more power over their children's digital lives than they realise.
- Role-modelling the behaviour we want has never mattered more, and the evidence backs it up.
- Practical tools for raising independent, resilient kids, from building critical thinking skills to bringing back the family dinner.
The Secret Power of Fathers
A good father or father figure is a hidden asset in a child's success, whether that father is a teacher, a company chief, a tradie or a marketing executive. Madonna explores how fathers shape a child's resilience, ambition, academic results and ability to bounce back from setbacks, and unpacks what that looks like at home.The Secret Power of Fathers
Key Takeaways:
- A father's willingness to show vulnerability and own his mistakes can change the course of a struggling teenager's life.
- Fathers have more influence than anyone else on the romantic relationships their children go on to seek.
- Teens value a father's clarity and calm advice, from friendship troubles to Maths homework, far more than they let on.
Mothering: Intention Versus Reality
Motherhood is the hardest, most joyful and most complex role most of us will take on, yet mothers rarely give themselves credit for the energy and heartache it demands. Madonna looks at what actually works, where the biggest roadblocks sit, and why mothering a daughter looks so different to mothering a son.Mothering: Intention Versus Reality
Key Takeaways:
- Every child needs to be parented differently, and that takes the same research a tricky work problem would.
- Daughters will almost always push back against their mothers at some point. It rarely means they won't come back.
- Perfection isn't possible, and chasing it does more harm than good.
The Power of Storytelling: The Key to Changing Children's Lives
Storytelling is the tool every teacher and school leader already has, and Madonna shows how to use it to change the trajectory of the students and staff in front of them. Storytelling has existed forever, but few leaders use it deliberately. Madonna proves it works, and shows how to start.The Power of Storytelling: The Key to Changing Children's Lives
Key Takeaways:
- Everyone's life holds small and big stories that can be told to create change.
- A simple overheard conversation or a hard-won lesson can be the plot that changes someone else's life.
- This skill needs no degree and no extra time in the diary. It is already there, waiting to be used.
Teachers Rock, OK!
Somewhere today, a teacher is changing a child's future. Madonna takes audiences on a tour of some of the country's biggest names and the teacher who set them on their path, making the case for how much our educators are shaping tomorrow's leaders, not just teaching them.Teachers Rock, OK!
Key Takeaways:
- From company chiefs to Olympians, many high achievers point to a single teacher who saw something in them first.
- Teachers' value has been eroded, but simple changes can shift how parents and politicians see the profession.
- The country needs more big-hearted, big-minded teachers, and we all have a stake in getting them.
Who is the Parent Here? Delineation and Delegation
Parenting is a verb, not a noun, yet over the past decade schools have absorbed an extraordinary number of parental responsibilities, from tying shoelaces to providing breakfast. Madonna examines how that happened, and what education leaders can do to hand parenting back to parents so educators can focus on educating.Who is the Parent Here? Delineation and Delegation
Key Takeaways:
- Clear, transparent engagement rules between school and parents are essential.
- Teachers need the skills to communicate respectfully with parents, and to switch off when required.
- Success in school policy, from uniforms to AI adoption, comes down to schools and parents working together.
Are You Life Ready?
Built for students in years 10 to 12, this 60 to 90 minute session challenges young people to think past the school gates to who they want to become once the structure of school disappears. Madonna offers a practical guide to flourishing as a young adult, built on the stumbles she has seen young people make once that structure is gone.Are You Life Ready?
Key Takeaways:
- Students leave with a checklist, from everyday life skills to the keys to getting ahead at work.
- Building a personal support network after school matters as much as any qualification, and Madonna shows how to start one.
- Graduation marks the beginning of an adult life, and the point to start polishing teamwork, communication and listening skills.
The Power of Storytelling: How to Influence the People You Lead
For 30 years, Madonna has told other people's stories, across 15 books spanning biography, parenting and the events that shape the nation. She shows leaders, from CEO to team leader, how to use their own challenges and wins to empower their teams, starting the moment the session ends.The Power of Storytelling: How to Influence the People You Lead
Key Takeaways:
- Personal experience is a gold mine leaders can use to drive the change they are seeking.
- A well-told story, from something overheard to a challenge personally met, can shift someone else's thinking for good.
- This skill needs no extra study and no extra time. Madonna offers a step-by-step guide to start using it.
Authentic Leadership: What Makes Them and What Breaks Them
Over 30 years, Madonna has reported on seven prime ministers and interviewed dozens of leaders across politics, business, arts and sport. From biographies of former treasurer Joe Hockey to Professor Ian Frazer, she has an unmatched vantage point on what separates authentic, good leaders from those who fall short.Authentic Leadership: What Makes Them and What Breaks Them
Key Takeaways:
- Authenticity matters, and how a leader shows it is part of what makes it real.
- Leadership is a relationship. Madonna asks how leaders build more active followers, not passive ones.
- Storytelling, especially around personal failure and success, can change how a team sees its leader.
From her research and prior preparation with our guest speakers to her willingness to engage with our guests, she brings a level of professionalism to this role that ensures the luncheon ser ... keep reading Australian Institute of Company Directors
The St Vincent de Paul Society of Queensland has been delighted to work with Madonna King for our annual Minnie's CEO Sleepout event over the past two years. She worked closely with our event team to deliver a professional, successful and enjoyable event. Her natural ability to engage with an audience of high-level business, community and government leaders kept the night flowing, and her facilitation skills brought out the best of all the speakers. Madonna was an absolute pleasure to work with, and we look forward to working with her again.
Madonna is a true professional. She understood our panel topic with minimal explanation, conducted thorough research and proposed an interview format which matched our brief perfectly. Her presence was well received by panel and audience members and was a key factor in the success of our event. High Distinction.
Her command of such events is without peer: she is engaging with the audience, judicious with panellists and keeps a rein on the discussions to ensure the target outcome is achieved. We intend on using Madonna for further events.
In her role as Master of Ceremonies for the largest event on the API calendar, Madonna brings an exceptional level of professionalism and enthusiasm. I would not hesitate in referring someone to Madonna when looking for a Master of Ceremonies.
Madonna conducted two hypotheticals, and they were excellent, providing serious content in an entertaining, engaging and fun way. Madonna flawlessly researched the issues, contacting all speakers beforehand, and her journalistic rigour, ability to think on the spot and dose of good humour meant the sessions were also full of valuable lessons. We'd certainly recommend her.
