After more than 51 years in journalism and book publishing, Walkley Foundation Chief Executive Shona Martyn has today announced that she will be retiring in the new year.
“I have had an extraordinary career working solidly from the era of hot metal type to the arrival of AI,” she said. “Leading the Walkley Foundation for the last five years has been the icing on the cake. But I am looking forward to being able to spend more time with my very elderly mum, Jean, in New Zealand, travelling more broadly and simply relaxing.”
With Walkley winner, and former SMH colleague, Helen Pitt, at the 2025 Walkley Awards. Photo: Monique Harmer
Shona, who is 69, has agreed with the Walkley Foundation directors to remain at the Walkley Foundation until the arrival of her replacement sometime in early 2027 so as to ensure a seamless handover to her successor.
Walkley Foundation director David Ross said on behalf of the board:
“The board of the Walkley Foundation thanks Shona Martyn for her tireless efforts guiding it for half a decade. The directors of the foundation acknowledge her tireless steering of it over many years, including a period of disruption.
“Shona leaves the foundation at the summit of a storied and accomplished career in journalism both in Australia and in New Zealand. She knows good journalism and has given the Foundation her expertise over many years”, Ross said.
In arts editor mode, second from right, at the launch of an Opera Australia production at the Sydney Opera House
“Her retirement comes as the Walkley Foundation, a not-for-profit company and a registered charity, steps into the future. The Walkley Foundation, which has been a part of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) – the union and professional association for Australia’s media and creative workers – since it was established, has led the way and is more determined than ever in championing excellence in journalism.
“Personally, I wish to acknowledge Shona’s leadership through a period of transition for the foundation as well as laying the groundwork for the first major review of the Walkley Awards in five years, which will consider the structure of the awards. I have found her an invaluable source of advice to assist directors to understand the work of the Foundation. Shona has stood behind many current and former directors at the Foundation and I celebrate her guidance.”
(L) Cadet reporter Shona Martyn diligently uses Pitman’s shorthand to capture an exclusive interview with Santa Claus in 1975. (R) Shona’s press card photo from 1979
Shona Martyn said: “It has been a tremendous privilege to lead the Walkley Foundation and experience firsthand the excellence of today’s Australian journalism.
“Despite all the challenges from changes in the modern media landscape, I can vouch for the commitment, determination and persistence of the country’s journalists to bring public interest journalism to Australian audiences. There’s nothing like being a fly-on-the-wall at the final judging for the Walkley Awards. I will miss it all.
“I would like to thank the small, stellar team at the Walkley Foundation for their world class performance and unflinching support and dedication. And to past and present directors for all their support and to the supporters and partners who have made our work possible.”
“It was an incredibly exciting environment for a cadet journalist, eavesdropping on senior journalists who were breaking major investigative stories such as the ‘Mr Asia’ drug ring”
– Shona Martyn on The Auckland Star
Shona’s career began in July 1975 at the Auckland Star, an afternoon newspaper with a fine reputation for investigative journalism under legendary deputy editor Pat Booth.
“It was an incredibly exciting environment for a cadet journalist, eavesdropping on senior journalists who were breaking major investigative stories such as the ‘Mr Asia’ drug ring and working on a seven-year campaign relating to farmer Arthur Allan Thomas who was twice convicted for two murders and eventually pardoned in 1979, leading to a Royal Commission. It was an inspirational start for a young journalist and I am so grateful for the thorough training and mentoring I received there, particularly as a beat reporter.”
After moving to the New Zealand Herald as education reporter, Shona won the 1981 New Zealand Journalist of the Year Award, when she was only 23, and moved to the UK, Montserrat in the eastern Caribbean and eventually Sydney where she moved into magazines as a Feature Writer and Arts Editor for Vogue Australia.
As editor of HQ Magazine in 1993
In 1987 Shona joined The Sydney Morning Herald as deputy editor of Good Weekend, before becoming the publication’s editor. In June 1989 she was asked to start a new magazine for Australian Consolidated Press by then Chief Executive Richard Walsh. The award-winning HQ magazine specialised in longform journalism publishing work by many of Australia’s leading journalists, writers, photographers and illustrators.
“HQ has always remained my career highlight,” she says. “I remain so proud of the achievements of the tiny but highly professional team which included Fenella Souter, David Leser, Bruce Daly, Roz Gatwood, Jane Wheatley and Susan Skelly. Some readers still remember it!”
But a new opportunity in book publishing beckoned. In 1996 Shona was headhunted to become Publishing Director of Transworld Australia (later Random House) before moving to the same role at HarperCollins Australia in 1999 where she stayed for more than 17 years, working on Australian, New Zealand and international titles.
“As a senior book publishing executive, I was involved in the publication of hundreds of wonderful Australian books, many by Australian journalists including Nikki Gemmell, Trent Dalton, Peter FitzSimons, Richard Glover, Julia Baird, John Lyons and Paul Ham, not to mention award-winning and bestselling novelists, children’s authors, cookbook queens, cricket captains and even Jimmy Barnes. Indeed I also signed up John Howard’s autobiography Lazarus Rising which many in the industry scoffed wouldn’t sell but went on to become a huge bestseller. It was a tremendous privilege to work in book publishing with all its endless variety while weathering the challenges of industry changes such as the arrival of the GST on books, e-books and online bookselling.”
(L) As HarperCollins Publishing director with authors Nikki Gemmell and Donna Hay. (R) with the ABC’s John Lyons at the publication of his book “Balcony over Jerusalem” and below, with cookbook author and cafe king Bill Granger outside his cafe in London
As Sydney Morning Herald Spectrum editor, captured by the legendary illustrator John Shakespeare
In 2017 Shona returned to the Sydney Morning Herald to edit the Spectrum section.
“Newspaper production had, of course, changed markedly in the 20 years I had been away but it was exciting to get hands-on digital production experience and refresh my knowledge of the modern media landscape and broaden my contacts. This stood me in good stead for my move to the Walkley Foundation in early 2022.”
During her five years as Chief Executive of the Walkley Foundation, Shona has led a small but impressive team overseeing the Walkley Awards, Australia’s leading journalism awards now in their 71st year, as well as grants programs and professional development, including the creation of the Opportunity Scholarships for aspiring journalists from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
“Running the Walkley Foundation has been a wonderful experience but I am looking forward now to new and different adventures. And to have more time to read books and journalism, the two pillars of my career.”
(Left) Celebrating Daryna Zadvirna’s Young Australian Journalist of the Year award in 2023 with donor John B Fairfax
The date of Shona’s departure from the Foundation in 2027 will be announced at a later date.
The Walkley Foundation directors will launch the recruitment process for a new head of the foundation immediately. Anyone interested in the position can make their interest known to the Foundation via executive officer Barbara Blackman, barbara.blackman@walkleys.com.