Career
She was previously a reporter and presenter of the American Broadcasting Company"s national program 7:30 Report, and was a senior reporter at Channel Nine and the Seven Network on flagship current affairs programs. In addition to broadcast, she is a columnist and leading commentator on a range of social and gender issues and is published across various Australian media. She was awarded the United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Prize for her coverage of Indigenous Affairs in 1996.
She has promoted public awareness of the non-government organisation Mahboba"s Promise that assists women, widows and orphans in Afghanistan.
Virginia has served on the board of United Nations Women National Committee Australia since late 2010. She is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Canberra, IGPA, Institute Foreign Governance and Policy Analysis.
In 2016, she wrote an article for The Sydney Morning Herald mentioning journalist Samantha Armytage, labelling her a "mindless bimbo", saying that "when it comes to the important stuff of the day – the stuff that makes the news – there is a screaming lack of representation of women"s knowledge, wisdom and expertise." lieutenant is the second marriage for both. Australian National University academic, John Warhurst describes them as one of Canberra"s most powerful couples.
