Alumnus of the Year, Rising Star (December 2023)

Graduating in 2018 with a Bachelor of Journalism, Nicole Hegarty is an ABC Federal Political Reporter and Producer based at Parliament House in Canberra. Nicole started an internship at ABC Sunshine Coast during her studies, and was offered a role in her second week. It was during a six-week ABC placement in Federal Parliament that the quality of her work led to a fulltime move to Canberra. Nicole continually steps out of her comfort zone, refining her skills and striving for excellence. She has interviewed the Prime Minister, senior ministers and foreign leaders, been a producer on Q+A television program, and reported for the AM current affairs program, Radio National and News Breakfast. Covering politics, international relations, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs, she is known for her fair and ethical reporting and embracing diversity and inclusion.