Ray Martin AM

Ray Martin is one of Australia’s most trusted storytellers. From a childhood shaped by hardship and resilience, he rose to become a five-time Gold Logie–winning journalist whose career has spanned over fifty years. Beginning as an ABC cadet in 1965, Ray went on to report from the frontlines of history - the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and the moon landing - before helping to launch Sixty Minutes, the most influential current affairs program in Australian television.

Beyond the camera, Ray has been a tireless advocate for fairness and equality. A founding member of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, former chair of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation, and long-time supporter of the Fred Hollows Foundation, he has used his profile to champion Indigenous education, health equity, and human rights. His award-winning documentaries Is Australia Racist?, First Contact, and Look Me in the Eye, challenge Australians to confront prejudice and find common ground.

Whether interviewing world leaders, telling the stories of everyday Australians, or standing alongside communities seeking justice, Ray brings integrity, empathy, and a deep belief that every voice matters. His life’s work reflects the values at the heart of the Joan Kirner Social Justice Oration: courage, compassion, and a commitment to making Australia fairer for all.

If it is a major event, political or otherwise - or a superstar that glowed brightly anytime in the past fifty years, then Ray Martin was probably there and has a yarn or two to tell you.