Julia Baird

Julia Baird is an award-winning author and journalist. She writes columns for Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and the ABC. Her first book, Media Tarts, which was re-released in 2021, was based on her history PhD about the portrayal of female politicians. After moving to the US to take up a fellowship at the Harvard Kennedy School, she became a columnist and senior editor at Newsweek. She was then made an op-ed contributor at the New York Times. Julia's biography of Queen Victoria was one of New York Times' top ten books of the year. Her bestselling book, Phosphorescence: On Awe, Wonder and the Things That Sustain You When the World Goes Dark, won several awards including ABIA Book of the Year. Her most recent book is Bright Shining: How Grace Changes Everything. Her two-year investigation into domestic violence in religious communities earned her four Our Watch Awards for Excellence in Reporting on Violence Against Women, including the gold, and a Walkley Award nomination. She lives near the sea with two children and an abnormally large dog.

Photo by Susan Papazian