Zoe Daniel Biography: Husband, Age, Children, Net Worth, Height, Career, Political Career, Books

Zoe Daniel is an Australian former journalist and politician who gained national prominence as the first independent member of parliament for the Division of Goldstein.

Elected in the 2022 federal election, she was part of the “teal independents” movement, challenging traditional party strongholds with a focus on climate action, integrity, and gender equality.

Before her political career, Daniel spent nearly three decades as a foreign correspondent for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), covering major global events and crises.

Profile

• Full name: Zoe Daniel
• Date of birth: 28 November 1972
• Age: 53 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
• Nationality: Australian
• Profession: Former journalist, former politician, author, media consultant
• Height: 1.70 m (5 feet 7 inches)
• Weight: 62 kg (136 lbs)
• Eye color: Hazel
• Hair color: Blonde
• Parents: Peter Daniel (father), a former Essendon AFL player and coach
• Siblings: One younger brother
• Spouse: Rowan Daniel
• Children: Arkie Daniel, Pearl Daniel
• Relationship status: Married
• Religion: Christian
• Ethnicity: Anglo-Australian
• Net worth: $1.8–2.5 million AUD

Early Life and Education

Zoe Daniel (53 years old) was born on 28 November 1972 in Melbourne, Victoria, and raised in Launceston, Tasmania, after her father’s football coaching career took the family there when she was two.

Her father, Peter Daniel, was a well-known Australian rules footballer for the Essendon Football Club in the 1970s and later a coach for several state teams.

Zoe attended Riverside High School in Launceston before completing her higher education in Victoria.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT University) in the early 1990s.

Personal Life

Zoe Daniel is married to Rowan Daniel, a former ABC cameraman and producer.

They met while working together during international assignments and have since collaborated on projects involving media literacy and humanitarian storytelling.

The couple has two children, Arkie and Pearl, and resides in Hampton, Bayside Melbourne, where they moved permanently in 2013 after returning from her posting as ABC’s U.S. Bureau Chief in Washington D.C.

Zoe has spoken publicly about balancing motherhood with the demanding life of a foreign correspondent, especially while covering crises such as natural disasters and conflicts.

Career

Zoe Daniel began her journalism career in 1993 as a regional reporter for ABC Radio in Shepparton and later worked in Adelaide and Canberra.

She soon rose to prominence as a foreign correspondent, serving across multiple continents.

Her postings included:

Africa Correspondent (2005–2007) – reporting on the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and Zimbabwe.

Southeast Asia Correspondent (2009–2013) – covering the 2011 Thai floods, Cyclone Nargis, and regional political unrest.

U.S. Bureau Chief (2015–2019) – leading ABC’s coverage of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the Trump presidency, and mass shootings.

In 2020, Daniel left the ABC after 27 years, citing her desire to pursue advocacy and leadership roles.

In 2021, she announced her candidacy as an independent for the Division of Goldstein, supported by the Voices of Goldstein movement and Climate 200, part of the “teal independents” campaign pushing for stronger climate action and political integrity.

In May 2022, she defeated Liberal MP Tim Wilson, becoming the first independent representative for Goldstein.

Her time in Parliament was defined by her advocacy for:

Climate change policy and renewable energy transition

Federal integrity commission establishment

Women’s safety and equality

Zoe Daniel served until May 2025, when she lost her seat to Tim Wilson in a closely contested election.

After her political career, she transitioned into consultancy, focusing on ethical media strategy, political communication, and leadership mentoring.

Awards

Zoe Daniel has received multiple recognitions over her career, including:

• UN Media Peace Award (2006) – for coverage of the Sudan conflict
• Walkley Award nomination (2011) – for reporting on the Thai floods
• Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence (2018) – for journalism and leadership
• Melbourne Press Club Recognition (2019) – for excellence in foreign reporting

Net Worth

Zoe Daniel’s estimated net worth is between $1.8 million and $2.5 million AUD.

Zoe Daniel’s wealth comes from her three-decade career as a senior journalist and foreign correspondent with the ABC, book royalties, paid public speaking engagements, consulting and media training work after leaving Parliament, and her salary as a member of the Australian Parliament between 2022 and 2025.

Social Media

• Instagram: @zoedanielmp
• Twitter (X): @ZoeDanielMP

Filmography

• Foreign Correspondent (ABC) – featured reporter and host
• Four Corners (ABC) – contributor and field journalist
• The Drum (ABC News) – panelist and guest commentator

Books

• Storyteller: A Foreign Correspondent’s Memoir (2014)
• Angel: Through My Eyes – Natural Disaster Zones (2014)
• Greetings from Trumpland: How an Unprecedented Presidency Changed Everything (2021)