Award-winning journalist, media trailblazer and advocate for equity, leadership and ethical innovation

Overview

Tracey Spicer AM is a multiple Walkley Award-winning journalist who spent more than 30 years anchoring national programs for ABC TV and radio, Network Ten and Sky News — and is now one of the region's most sought-after keynote speakers on artificial intelligence, leadership and social equity. As founding national convenor of Women in Media, she has driven change in representation and inclusion across the media industry, work recognised with the NSW Premier's Woman of the Year award, the Sydney Peace Prize, and the Order of Australia.

Her book Man-Made: How the Bias of the Past is Built into the Future — longlisted for a Walkley Award, and winner of the Social Responsibility category at the Australian Business Book Awards — explores how bias becomes embedded in AI systems, and what leaders must do to build more ethical, inclusive technology. Drawing on her investigative journalism background, Tracey brings rigour and clarity to one of the most urgent conversations facing business today: how to harness AI without repeating the mistakes of the past.

Career Highlights

  • Multiple Walkley Award-winning journalist and broadcaster

  • Author of Man-Made — longlisted for a Walkley Award, winner of the Social Responsibility category at the Australian Business Book Awards, finalist in the Technology category

  • Awarded Member of the Order of Australia (AM)

  • NSW Premier's Woman of the Year (2019); Sydney Peace Prize recipient alongside Tarana Burke

  • Founding national convenor, Women in Media

  • Named one of the Australian Financial Review's 100 Women of Influence

  • TEDx speaker with more than six million views

  • Bestselling author of The Good Girl Stripped Bare and Man-Made

Key Speaking Themes

  • Artificial intelligence, algorithmic bias and ethical technology

  • Leadership and gender equity

  • Diversity, inclusion and workplace culture

  • Media, communication and influence

  • Courageous conversations and social change

Signature Talks

  • Man-Made: How to Beat AI Bias — how flawed data and human assumptions get built into AI systems, and the real risk this poses to organisations

  • Will Artificial Intelligence Take My Job? — navigating the fourth industrial revolution with a clear case for human oversight

  • Frontier Feminism: Beating the Backlash — how far we've come, and how far we still have to go, on equity

What Your Audience Will Gain

Tracey challenges audiences to think differently about leadership, inclusion and emerging technology. Audiences gain practical insight into building more ethical AI systems, addressing bias, and creating equitable workplaces — delivered with the rigour of an investigative journalist and genuine warmth on stage.

Ideal For

  • Leadership and executive conferences

  • Technology and AI forums

  • Diversity, equity and inclusion programmes

  • Media, communications and marketing conferences

  • Government, education and public sector events


FAQs

What does Tracey Spicer speak about? Artificial intelligence and algorithmic bias, leadership, gender equity, diversity and inclusion, and media and communication.

Why does Tracey Spicer speak about artificial intelligence? Her book Man-Made explores how bias becomes embedded in AI systems — research recognised with a Walkley Award longlisting and an Australian Business Book Award. She helps organisations understand how to build more ethical, inclusive technology.

What books has Tracey Spicer written? The Good Girl Stripped Bare and Man-Made: How the Bias of the Past is Built into the Future.

Has Tracey Spicer received major awards? Yes — multiple Walkley Awards, the Order of Australia, NSW Premier's Woman of the Year, and awards recognising both her journalism and her AI research.

Is Tracey Spicer available for keynote presentations and MC engagements? Yes. Tracey is available for keynote speaking, conference facilitation, MC roles and executive communication programmes internationally.

Testimonials

Manager, ADCO Constructions

Tracey was excellent, candid, refreshingly down to earth, interesting, thought-provoking, and funny too! We thoroughly enjoyed listening to her and loved the stories of her life, career and family.

Elizabeth de Somer, Chief Executive Officer, Medicines Australia

Your professionalism and uplifting spirit was a highlight of the night. I know the panellists and patient speakers were grateful to have your calming reassurance on stage and I wanted to thank you for handling the whole night with sensitivity and compassion. Thank you again for sharing your personal story with honesty. It was inspiring and empowering for all of us in the room.

Event Manager, Women & Leadership Australia

It is always such a pleasure to work with Tracey Spicer, and it was a joy to have her involved as our headline speaker. Tracey was adaptable and agile to our needs when creating the events, and her presentations were always engaging, dynamic, informative, and personable, and her messages resonated with our audiences because they were relatable and honest.

The Children's Doctor

Tracey is truly authentic. She held the attention of everyone in the room. It was an absolute pleasure to work with her. She is an amazing woman who is really making a difference in the world.