Walkley-winning sports broadcaster, author of AFLW origin story 'ROAR' — MC, moderator and keynote speaker
Sam Lane is a Walkley and Quill Award-winning broadcast journalist with over 20 years covering sport across television, radio and print — including three Summer Olympic Games, three editions of the men's Tour de France, the landmark 2022 women's Tour de France and the 2016 Commonwealth Games. She has graced Channel Seven, Channel Ten and ABC screens, covered every AFLW season since its inception and co-hosts the ABC's The W podcast with Sharni Norder. Her acclaimed book ROAR — the definitive account of the birth of the AFL Women's League, published by Penguin Random House — was endorsed by Julia Gillard and launched to global acclaim.
Lane's distinctiveness lies in where journalism and advocacy meet. She was a pioneer in breaking ground for women in Australian sports media, worked through the AFL's boys club to write a Quill Award-winning article that attracted a death threat, and later chose solo motherhood. These are not background facts — they are the substance of her keynote on resilience and one-out women, delivered with warmth, humour and genuine authority. She has hosted sold-out tours with Luc Longley and Adam Goodes, and moderated panels from Paris to the MCG for clients including NAB, Virgin and the NGV.
Lane is the natural choice for events focused on women in leadership, equity in the workplace, or the intersection of sport and social change. She is equally effective as a keynote speaker, a panel moderator, an event host or an interviewer — and is consistently described by clients as the most prepared, most engaged and most professional person in the room. The calibre of those who have endorsed her — Bruce McAvaney, Annabel Crabb, Brendon Gale, Natasha Stott Despoja, Craig Foster — speaks to a reputation that extends well beyond sport.
Samantha Lane is a keynote speaker and MC based in Victoria who speaks on media & journalism, sport and women in business. Book through Executive Speakers Australia.
She was absolutely lovely and extremely professional. She had thoroughly researched the content, was well prepared and genuinely engaged and interested. You never quite know what high-profile speakers are going to be like until you meet them personally. Sam was incredibly down to earth and asked all the right questions. She was so polite and stuck around to chat to the guests. I've had nothing but amazing feedback on Sam, she was the perfect fit for our event and I truly hope to work with her again in the future.The Launch Box
Sam Lane is intuitive, smart, quick, highly professional, and a major journalistic talent. Her moderating skills across a variety of panel subjects were outstanding. She applied a journalist's forensic focus and innate curiosity to her research, and her natural warmth and energy made each of her events inclusive, safe and exciting. Audiences love her. Panel members love her. Festival volunteers love her.Founding Director, Sorrento Writers Festival, Journalist, Author
Sam is one of the very best in the business. Combining intelligence and insight with humour and hard work, she is the complete package, whether as a host, reporter, interviewer or MC. A genuine interest in her subjects is the magic ingredient that so many other reporters and interviewers are missing. Subjects reveal their true selves to Sam - often on national television! And it's never about Sam, which is something all-too rare in our industry.Supervising Producer, JAMTV Australia
Tell us about your event and our consultants will return a curated shortlist within one business day.
