Table of Contents
Who is Leigh Sales?
Leigh Sales is a very well-known author and one of Australia’s most recognized journalists as well as TV presenter. Besides, she has also served as the anchor of the ABC’s federal election coverage and has interviewed every living Australian prime leader.
Accordingly, she has also interviewed scores of global leaders and celebrities including Hillary Clinton, Tony Blair, Henry Kissinger, the Dalai Lama, Paul McCartney, and many others as the host of ABC’s premier current affairs program, “7:30”.
Reportedly, she recently quit the ABC’s current affairs broadcast 7:30, Australia’s most high-profile presenting position. However, the official reasoning for her resignation is yet to be revealed to the public.
Profile of Leigh Sales
Full Name | Leigh Peta Sales |
Popular As | Leigh Sales |
Birthdate | 10th May, 1973 |
Place of Birth | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
Gender | Female |
Profession | Journalist & Author |
Nationality | Australian |
Race / Ethnicity | Caucasian |
Religion | Agnostic |
Education | Graduate |
University | Queensland University & Deakin University |
Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Age | 49 Years Old |
Sun-sign | Taurus |
Eye color | Blue |
Hair Color | Blonde |
Height | 5’6” |
Marital status | Divorced |
Parents | Dale Sales & Ann Sales |
Siblings | Glen Sales |
Ex-Spouse | Phil Willis |
Children | 2 (Daniel Oscar Willis & James Willis) |
Net Worth | Undisclosed |
Leigh Sales is a well-recognized as well as respected Australian journalist and author. Moreover, she is best known for hosting the news and current affairs show 7:30 on the Australian television channel ABC. Further, Leigh was awarded the Order of Australia in 2019 for her contributions to broadcast journalism.
Early-life, Education & Family Background
Leigh Sales was born on the 10th of May, 1973 in Brisbane, to parents Dale and Anne Sales. As of 2022, she is 49 years old. Accordingly, her father is indeed a regimental sergeant major in the Australian Army, while her mother formerly served as a clerk at Telecom Australia. In addition, she has a younger brother Glen with whom she grew up with. Unfortunately, her father Dale passed away in July 2018.
Leigh’s life has been a roller coaster of events and identifies herself as an agnostic which has been mentioned in her book. Apparently, she’s encountered two near-death experiences, the most recent of which occurred while she was pregnant with her second child.
Regarding her education, Leigh attended Brisbane’s Aspley State High School. Additionally, the Australian journalist holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Queensland University. Moreover, Sales also holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from Deakin University in Australia.
Leigh Sales’s Journalism Career
Leigh has always had a passion for writing and reporting. And, her enthusiasm for the media was clear from the beginning. After graduating, Leigh accepted a job with the Nine Network. Afterwards, she moved to Sydney to work for the ABC in a number of roles as she worked toward a foreign correspondent position. Gradually, she paved her way through the media and has established herself as the prominent media personality.
Leigh Sales got her big break in 2001, when she was named ABC’s Washington network correspondent, a post she held until 2005. Consequently, she covered Hurricane Katrina, the Iraq War, the 2004 presidential election, and many other stories while in America.
Eventually, Sales returned to Sydney in 2006 to work as the national security correspondent. Moreover, between 1999 and 2007, she worked in a variety of positions, including as a current affairs reporter for national radio, as well as a reporter covering the Olympics and state elections.
Meanwhile, before joining ABC and earning her reputation, Sales was a member of the Nine Network. In 2011, the network rewarded her hard work by appointing her as a presenter for the network’s premier news show. Until recently, she used to serve as the prime host of host of ABC’s 7:30. However, she reportedly resigned Australia’s most high-profile presenting post as the ABC’s current affairs program 7:30 in February 2022 for undisclosed reasons.
Books, Blogs & Podcast
In parallel to her television career, Leigh also serves as the co-host of the popular podcast “Chat 10 Looks 3” with Annabel Crabb. Specifically, in November 2014, Sales launched a podcast wherein they discuss books, movies, television, the media, culture and more.
Besides, Sales is an established author with well-known publication works. In 2007, Leigh published her first book, “Detainee 002”. It was a massive success, and she released her second book “On Doubt” (2009) after two years. In addition, she has also authored the bestseller novel “Any Ordinary Day” (2018).
Furthermore, Sales also publishes a fortnightly blog titled “Well-read Head”, which emphasizes on books and reading. The blog provides readers a ten-item list of things to read, watch, or listen to. Moreover, the blog may be found on both the ABC’s The Drum and News Limited’s The Punch webpages.
Honors & Achievements
Leigh has received three Walkley Awards, Australia’s highest journalism accolades during her prolific career. Additionally, she also won the Walkley Award for Best Radio Current Affairs Reporting on Guantánamo Bay in 2005.
Moreover, she also received the George Munster Award for Independent Journalism in 2007 for “Detainee 002” and the Walkley Award for Broadcasting and Online Interviewing in 2012.
Leigh’s Personal-life & Relationships
Leigh Sales is currently divorced and single. Formerly, she was married to Phil Willis. Meanwhile, her ex-husband serves at Newington College as a Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence professor.
Leigh wedded her Phill in 1996 and they were married till 2006. Moreover, they have two gorgeous children together over their two decades of marriage. Daniel Oscar Willis, their oldest son, was born in 2012, while James Willis, their youngest son, was born in 2014.
Further, Sales revealed that she had a uterine rupture during the birth of her second child and survived. Also, she stated that her eldest son Daniel has a tremor in his hands, which has necessitated multiple surgeries.
Physique
Leigh is a normal-statured woman with an attractive physique. She is 5 feet and 6 inches tall and weighs roughly 59 kilograms.
Social Media Handles of Leigh Sales
Leigh Sales can be reached on her personal social media accounts, where she has a substantial fan base. Her Instagram account has more than 117k followers, while she has 21k Twitter followers. Similarly, she has over 24 thousand Facebook followers.
Leigh Sales | |
Leigh Sales | |
Leigh Sales |
Net Worth of Leigh Sales
Unlike other nations, privacy laws in Australia prevent broadcasters from disclosing their income. As a consequence, assessing Leigh Sales’s actual net worth and salary is impossible.
According to a published income spreadsheet from 2013, the Australian broadcaster was paid $280,000 at the ABC network. Because of Leigh’s ever-increasing experience and popularity, the personal worth of Leigh is projected to have increased over time.