Nationality Australian Name Gael Jennings | Thesis 1982 | |
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Institutions Walter and Eliza Hall InstituteUniversity of MelbourneABC TVABC Radio Known for ABC TV Presenter, Lecturer, Author Books Bloody Moments: Highlights from the Astonishing History of Medicine, Sick As: Bloody Moments in the History of Medicine Institution Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, University of Melbourne |
08 Dr Gael Jennings keynote
Dr Gael Jennings BSc(Hons) Dip Ed PhD is currently an Honorary Fellow at the Centre for Advanced Journalism at the University of Melbourne. She is also a board member of the YMCA Victoria Inc, presenter and commentator for ABC TV, co-host of the ABC Radio 774 Conversation Hour program, and executive director of MediaDoc.
Contents
- 08 Dr Gael Jennings keynote
- Pamela Rabe The Conversation Hour 13 Feb 2018
- Education
- Career
- Organisations
- Projects
- Awards
- References

Pamela Rabe @ The Conversation Hour (13 Feb 2018)
Education

After graduating with a First Class Honours BSc from the University of Melbourne, Jennings completed her PhD in Immunology at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in 1982.
Career

Upon completion of her PhD, Jennings chose a path in media and became the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's first National Science and Medical Reporter for TV News (1986-1989), for the TV Current Affairs program The 7.30 Report (1992-1996), and for the weekly TV Science show, Quantum ( 1989-1992). She was presenter of ABC Radio 774 mid-morning and afternoon shows (1996-1990), until joining SBS TV where she presented the live weekly TV Current Affairs programme Insight.

In 2004, Jennings became a regular member of The Brains Trust on ABC TV's Einstein Factor quiz show for 5 years. In 2006, Jennings worked at the ABC TV network as a development producer for documentaries in the genres of Science, Religion, Ethics, Natural History and Indigenous Production. She appeared in ABC TV and Adam Zwar's HighWire Film's sixth Agony series in 2015.

Jennings runs MediaDoc, a science communication and media management and training business. Jennings was the Chief Executive Officer at a non-profit organisation called Greatconnections Ltd for two years (2008–10), now part of Leadership Victoria and in 2017 was an Honorary Fellow at the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne, where she researches the role of media in violence against women and the impact of the internet on the brain.
She maintains her roles as ABC TV commentator (News Breakfast with Virginia Trioli and Michael Rowland ABC 1), co-host for ABC Radio 774 from 1986–present, and travels as an invited speaker to various events.
Organisations
Jennings has contributed to the following organisations, in the following roles:
Projects
Jennings is the author of two books: the first, titled Sick As!... Bloody Moments in the History of Medicine was published in 2000, won the NSW Premiers History Award in the Young People's History category, and was shortlisted for the 2001 Children's Book Council Australia Award. The second, Beyond Belief: How Five Australian Scientists Changed the World, was published in 2002.
Jennings has served on numerous Arts, Science, Education and Literary Boards, including the Melbourne Writers Festival Board, Museum Vic, Cancer Council Australia, Questacon (National Science and Technology Centre), Old Treasury Building, The Maths and Science Advisory Council (Vic)and is currently on YMCA Vic Board and the City of Melbourne Prevention of Violence Against Women Committee
Awards
Jennings is the recipient of multiple awards, including: