Alison (Ali) Drower, a much-loved newsreader and media leader, has died after a short battle with cancer. She passed away on Sunday, September 28, at Canberra Hospital, surrounded by her family.
Drower was a familiar voice to listeners for many years, working alongside Doug Mulray and his breakfast team where she became known for her sharp wit and warmth on air – and for collecting more than a few nicknames along the way.
Her career spanned both radio and television, and she rose to become Regional News Director for Southern Cross Austereo, a role that saw her lead and mentor teams across multiple markets.
In her most recent role, Drower was a freelancer for the Australian Radio Network (ARN) working to champion new talent and endlessly inspiring those who had been in the industry for several years, this writer included.
In her role at ARN, Drower worked closely with Fiona Ellis-Jones, Head of News and Information. Through tears, Ellis-Jones wrote the below touching tribute to Drower:
“Ali Drower was a giant of the Australian news industry. She had a rare mix of curiosity, strategic insight and sharp intellect that made her one of the most remarkable minds in news. Ali could look at any challenge and instantly see the opportunities. She knew the people who could make it work, and the resourcing and scheduling it required. She understood audiences, whether in Sydney or Scottsdale.
“She also had a wicked sense of humour and loved a good yarn – preferably over a good wine. Ali was deeply passionate about the role of regional journalism and dedicated to mentoring the next generation of radio talent.
“Ali was a true friend of ARN. She worked closely with us to redesign our entire news operations, led teams in NSW and Canberra, and guided our podcast commissioning in the regions. To me personally, she was both a dear friend and an invaluable sounding board.
“Ali taught me so much about being a commercial news leader – and about being a good human. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had her support and friendship for so long. I will miss her deeply.
“Her legacy lives on in the hundreds of journalists she mentored and the leaders she inspired. More than anything else, Ali was a mum and a wife.
“My thoughts are with her husband Rick and her beloved Zachy.”