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Image: State Library Victoria
Biography

Jon Faine is a Vice Chancellors Fellow at the University of Melbourne for 2022 and 2023, attached to The Melbourne Law School but with a roving commission across the entire university.

His book "Apollo & Thelma" is released on 1 April 2022. It tells the tall but true tale of The Mighty Apollo, legendary strongman and circus performer, 'the strongest man on earth', 'Champion of Champions' and a legendary show business figure. Apollo and his then underage sons inherited a remote outback pub from his sister, Thelma, who died suddenly in 1981. Thelma had been the solo publican at Top Springs in the NT for more than twenty years, earning a reputation as a formidable outback figure.

 

Jon was the families lawyer, and tells the remarkable tale of these two characters and their extraordinary lives. Along the way, we re-visit the struggle for indigenous land rights and the Gurindji walk-off as well as the role of iconic yarn-spinner Frank Hardy. Published by Hardie Grant, and with over 100 photos both colour and black and white, the story is part memoir and part history.

 

Until October 2019 Jon Faine was the host of the agenda-setting morning broadcast for ABC Radio in Melbourne for over twenty years. Before joining the ABC in 1989 to host ‘The Law Report’ on Radio National, Jon had  practised for seven years in both commercial litigation and as a legal aid/human rights advocate. Countless conference presentations, panel moderations, MC duties, guest lectures and public events complement his legal and media career. Add to that a best selling travel book, several oral history publications, multiple opinion and commentary pieces for major newspapers, regular TV appearances and guest radio spots,  as well as being script advisor for several films completes his diverse career.

For over thirty years, Jon has been in demand for conference keynote speeches, presentations, facilitation, and panel moderation. Specialising in complex matters of public policy, strategy, legal issues, technological challenge or cultural clashes, his work has covered every imaginable field.

Amidst the Covid pandemic, Jon has facilitated regular Zoom and Skype conferences sessions for business and universities as well as consulting to the superannuation industry lead body ISA. The wildly successful and acclaimed 'Covid Safe' ads for the Victorian Government Health Department, featuring Magda Szubanski, Matt Preston, Shane Jacobson and others were created, written and produced by Jon in three frantic weeks in the early stages of covid in 2020.

Awards

Member, Order of Australia [AM]

ABC Broadcaster of the Year 2000

Nominated Walkley Award, three times

Victoria Law Foundation

Melbourne Press Club, Quills

NSW Law Foundation, Golden Gavel

Monash University Distinguished Alumni
 

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Image: ABC Radio Melbourne

Recent Assignments

Newspapers

Jon writes weekly for The Age and you can click here to read the latest articles

The new elites: are you in or out? - The Age 18/4/20

Pell acquittal puts Victorian courts on trial, and shows they need a reality check - The Age 7/4/20

The ATO just got a gift - The Age 4/4/20

Is Daniel Andrews up to the challenge? - The Age 28/3/20

Victoria is leading the nation in negotiating a treaty - The Age 14/3/20

Fishermans Bend presents an unmissable opportunity - The Age 29/2/20

Ethics in Australian public life have reached an all-time low - The Age 16/2/20

Who will be Victoria's next top cop? - The Age 26/1/20

Lessons of Black Saturday being Ignored - The Age 5/1/20

Magazines

Jon has been a monthly columnist for Unique Cars since 2015 . You can visit  Unique Cars magazine website for Jon's monthly column or buy the magazine each month.

Recent Conferences & Workshops

Australian Fleet Managers Association, Annual Conference, Melbourne, May 2021

Australian Technologe Network, Solutions Summit, Deakin Uni virtual national conference, April 2021

Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees ASI 2020 [Virtual Conference] , Sept 2020

Halliday Wine Awards, Virtual Awards, August 2020

'Germs & Justice" 3 part series, podcast/ broadcast, ABC RN, for Melbourne University Law School

MC,  9th International Criminal Justice Conference

MC,  ARC Centre for Excellence on Integrative Brain Function, Monash University

Keynote: Glen Eira City Council: Trust in the Public Sector

MC, Drug Policy and Law Reform Public Meeting

Keynote, Institute of Public Administration Senior Executive Leadership Programme

Keynote, I-Med Doctors Conference

Interview with PM on stage, PNG Business Council, Prime Ministers Business Breakfast, Port Moresby

Half-day Workshop, PNG Centre for Judicial Excellence, Judges Training Workshop, Courts and the Media, Port Moresby

Magda Szubanski
00:40
Grant Hansen & Leila Gurruwiwi
00:24
Matt Preston
00:27
Michelle Payne
00:26
Shane Jacobson
00:30
Tayla Harris
00:25
Nazeem Hussain & Waleed Aly
01:15
Mo Hope
00:24

Coronavirus Ad Campaign 2020

Amidst the covid 19 pandemic lockdown, the Victorian Department of Health & Human Services commissioned multiple social media and broadcast TV ads. Communicating complex health messages, the ads featured doctors, nurses and patients who had survived Covid 19. In addition, DHHS commissioned Mouthpiece Productions Pty Ltd and Jon Faine to make 8 short "herogrammes" for initially social media and later broadcast TV. 

 

Featuring famous Victorians, the ads used a lighter touch and humour to get the message across, targeting groups in the community who are often resistant to any Government messaging. Immediately upon launch the ads went viral.

 

The series of ads featured Hollywood star and TV comedian Magda Szubanski, actor and TV host  Shane Jacobson, TV cooking show host and food journalist Matt Preston, Gold Logie winner, TV host and academic Waleed Aly & comedian Nazeem Hussain, AFLW star Moana Hope, boxing champion and AFLW star Tayla Harris,  Marngrook Footy Show presenters Grant Hansen & Leila Gurruwiwi and finally Melbourne Cup winning jockey and trainer Michelle Payne with her equally famous strapper brother and Stevie Payne. Most donated the token fee offered  to charity. 

 

Launched by the Victorian Premier, the ads were viewed 1.5 million times in just their first week on social media and countless times since. They were then released for broadcast TV. 

 

All eight ads were filmed in less than two weeks. No scripts were written or pre-approved. The celebrity worked with the production team to convey the health message in words that expressed their personality but were consistent with the DHHS guidelines. The entire campaign from concept to completion was executed in one frantic month. Faine featured in Media Diary | The Australian speaking about the project. 

Recent Work

Testimonials

"AIST has worked with Jon for a number of years in the delivery of conference and event sessions. Jon is articulate, well researched and thought provoking and provides great value to meaningful sessions.  He asks the hard questions of speakers and is great at involving the audience in the discussion.  AIST values the contribution that Jon makes to the growth and development of the profit-to-member superannuation sector." MaryAnn Mannix-White, AIST, Sept 2020

"Jon Faine was recently a moderator at our annual Neuroethics free public event, held at the State Library Victoria with an audience of around 270 people. Jon facilitated a rich discussion that was engaging and thought-provoking with our four expert panelists from the areas of digital health and privacy. Prior to the event, Jon worked with us to ensure the panel discussion would be entertaining and flow smoothly so that the audience would feel like they had attended a worthwhile event. I would not hesitate in recommending Jon as a speaker, moderator or MC. He is incredibly professional and will definitely add value to your event. " ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, Monash University

"Jon Faine MC’d the 9th International Criminal Justice Conference which was a great success. Not only was Jon professional and efficient to work within the lead up to the event, he was captivating and on point throughout the entirety of the conference, keeping the audience engaged and bringing the sessions together, asking questions where necessary and subtly keeping all presentations on schedule." Alignment Events

You can get in touch with Jon about speaking at your next event here.

Testimonials
Past Employment

Past Employment

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Image: ABC News: Erin Marsicovetere

Presenter, Mornings, ABC Radio Melbourne 1997 - 2019

From 0830hrs until Noon, five days a week, the Morning show with Jon Faine has been the agenda setter for Melbourne. Breaking news on local and national stories, Jon Faine has steered the most listened to ABC local radio program in the country. Every PM, Premier, leading business figure, sporting heroes, film and TV stars, musicians….  they all make their way to Jon’s studio.

 

Listen back to Jon's final show from the Melbourne Town Hall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can read about Jon's career at ABC Radio Melbourne here:

ABC Radio Melbourne: Jon Faine thanks Melbourne audience

ABC TV One Plus  One interview with Virginia Trioli

ABC News Jon Faine's career of questions

The Age 'I don’t apologise for that': Jon Faine leaves ABC with no regrets

The Age Jon Faine will be a  Hard Act to Follow

The Australian Victorian Premiers past and present join Jon Faine

The Guardian Jon Faine's farewell: ABC puts reality on hold for epic radio love-in

The Guardian: The Three Lessons ABCs Jon Faine taught me

The Age / SMH  Melbourne is set to become the country’s most populous city by 2026 – with vast ramifications

Freelance Facilitator,  1995-6 :NRMA, Demutualisation Taskforce : Review of Australian Honours and Awards  [Commonwealth  Government]    

TV Presenter ABC TV ‘Wize Up’ 1995-6

TV Presenter, ABC TV ‘The Investigators 1995

Radio Presenter, ABC Radio [3LO] 1993-94

Radio Presenter, ABC Radio National  1989 -92

Sessional Chairperson, Social Security Appeals Tribunal [Clth] 1988-91

Counsel Assisting, Mental Health Tribunal, 1987

Solicitor In Charge, Fitzroy Legal Service, 1984-87

Clinical Teacher, Monash University Law School, 1984

Solicitor, Holding Redlich, commercial litigation, 1983-84

Solicitor, Articled Clerk, Barker Harty & Co, Commercial litigation, 1981-82

                                       

Education: Monash University, BA [1979], LLB [1981], NMIT, Fitting and Turning Certificate, 2008

 

Board Positions: Victoria Law Foundation

Nominee of the A-G, 1992-96

Amnesty International [Vic]

International Commission of Jurists [Vic]

Fitzroy Legal Service, Fitzroy Community Health Centre

While employed as an ABC presenter Jon was unable to join any boards so as to avoid conflicts of interest

Books

Editor, The Law Handbook, Fitzroy Legal Service, 1987

Taken On Oath, Federation Press, 1991

Lawyers In The Alice, Federation Press, 1993

Jon Faine Joke Book, ABC Books, 1994

From Here To There, [with Jack Faine], Harper Collins, 2009 [20,000 copies sold]

Audio Book, From Here To There, [with Jack Faine], Bolinda Audio

Apollo & Thelma

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Books

Contact

To make an enquiry for Jon to speak at your event please contact ICMI

To send Jon a message please use the form below:

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