Veteran reporter Dani Isdale will return to Australia to lead ABC’s flagship current affairs program 7.30.
ABC News has appointed Dani Isdale as the new Executive Producer of flagship current affairs program 7.30, with Isdale set to take up the role in June.
The appointment follows the departure of Joel Tozer, who had led the program since mid-2022 before being named Executive Producer of Four Corners late last year.
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Isdale brings more than 26 years’ experience as a journalist working across Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, including the past decade at Channel 4 News.
At Channel 4, Isdale currently serves as Deputy Head of Foreign and Commissioning Editor of the network’s Foreign Film Fund. She also works as a Program and Duty Editor, and last year launched the global affairs vodcast TrumpWorld.
During her time with the British public service broadcaster, Isdale has run both the Washington and Westminster bureaux. Coverage by her team of conflicts across the Middle East, Europe and Africa has received international recognition, including BAFTA, News Emmy and Royal Television Society awards.
Born and raised in North Queensland, Isdale began her journalism career as a cadet reporter with Network 10 in Townsville. She later worked as a state reporter, federal politics reporter, national correspondent, Europe and Middle East correspondent and presenter before moving to roles with SBS World News and Dateline.
ABC Director News Justin Stevens said:
“Working with Sarah Ferguson and the 7.30 team is a big job and a vitally important role.
7.30 is going from strength to strength, growing audiences on broadcast and digital.
It’s a key priority for the ABC, a pillar of prime-time that also bolsters our coverage across other national platforms.
Dani brings exceptional experience and credentials and I’m delighted to have her on board.”
Dani Isdale said:
“Joining Sarah and this exceptional team is a real privilege.
7.30 has spent four decades setting the standard for interviews, investigations and storytelling at home and abroad.
I’m looking forward to building on that legacy and finding new audiences across all platforms.”
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The leadership change comes after ABC News announced a broader reshuffle of its investigative and current affairs programs in December, when Joel Tozer was appointed Executive Producer of Four Corners, replacing Matthew Carney after his 25-year career at the ABC. At the same time, Chris Bendall was named Executive Producer of Insiders, succeeding Sam Clark, who moved into the role of Managing Editor, ABC National News.
Presented by Sarah Ferguson, 7.30 has recorded a 2026 average nightly total TV audience of 885,000 viewers, according to VOZ National Total TV data, representing a 4 per cent increase year-on-year.
7.30 airs Monday to Thursday on ABC and ABC iview.
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