Australian newsreader Lincoln Humphries defects to Chinese station CGTN

An Australian news presenter who spent much of his career on the Sunshine Coast has made the leap to a new gig overseas presenting to an international audience.

Lincoln Humphries in action for Chinese station CGTN.

An Australian news presenter who spent much of his career on the Sunshine Coast has made the leap to a new gig overseas presenting to an international audience.

Former WIN News presenter Lincoln Humphries, 34, has shared the ins and outs of his new life in China after he left the Australian news channel in June.

Mr Humphries has anchored China Global Television Network’s (CGTN) Global Business show since August, presenting twice daily most days of the week in addition to contributing to other weekly business shows including BizTalk and BizFocus.

He described his new workplace as “fascinating”, with more than a dozen studios packed into a 51-storey, two-tower skyscraper.

Lincoln Humphries (left) is loving the work in China.

“Presenting global stories to an international audience, from one of the biggest, most significant and influential capital cities in the world, certainly feels like a significant step,” Mr Humphries said.

The long-time news presenter had always aspired to take his career overseas, and was “stoked” to accept CGTN’s offer.

Mr Humphries said it has been a fresh challenge to focus solely on business and financial news, particularly within China’s current economy, which is experiencing deflation rather than inflation like Australia.

Mr Humphries started his journey working at WIN News Toowoomba, where he had attended high school before interning at TV stations across Brisbane.

Lincoln Humphries (right) during his days with WIN.

He then moved on to working at the Sunshine Coast at the age of 22, briefly working in Darwin with Channel 9 before returning to work as a presenter.

His last gig was to WIN’s HQ in Wollongong before he moved to Beijing.

Mr Humphries attributed his success to a “loving, supportive and astute family,” a sense of curiosity and adventure and making sensible choices in order to take calculated risks.

“If you’re not prepared for the worst possible eventuality, you’re not prepared,” he said.

He advised aspiring young people to find someone experienced in their industry to study and encouraged them to ask questions.

Lincoln Humphries read the WIN News Sunshine Coast bulletin for years.

Mr Humphries said he would be “stoked” to offer his own life experience to aspiring Aussies who wish to expand overseas.

He described Beijing as overwhelming at times but his new colleagues aided in the transition to the foreign workplace.

“In many ways, it’s a highly technologically advanced, first world economy existing alongside a society with some elements of a developing country,” Mr Humphries said.

“It can be hard initially to get with the program, but once you’re on the system, life’s very cool and convenient here.”

Another welcoming challenge has been Mandarin Chinese alongside the country’s history.