Stars join The Australian

Award-winning journalists join The Australian in a series of key editorial appointments to further­ strengthen the national broadsheet’s news-breaking cred­ential­s.

Sharri Markson, recently appointed Investigations Editor at The Australian.

Award-winning journalist Sharri Markson has returned to The Australian — one of a series of key editorial appointments to further­ strengthen the national broadsheet’s news-breaking cred­ential­s.

Markson will lead investigations for The Australian, joining her Walkley Award-winning colleague­ Kylar Loussikian, who returns as national chief of staff.

Kylar Loussikian, Chief of Staff at The Australian. Picture: News Corp Australia

Kieran Gair, recently appointed Staff Reporter at The Australian. Picture: Britta Campion

Markson held several senior positions at The Australian before­ winning the prestigious Sir Keith Murdoch award and Kennedy­ Awards journalist of the year in 2018 as national political editor of The Daily Telegraph. She is also host of Sky News Sunday­ prime-time show Sharri.

Loussikian rejoins The Aust­ralian in the key news role after several years at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, as well as a stint covering federal politics at The Daily Telegraph.

The highly credentialled pair won a Walkley Award together at The Daily Telegraph for a series of revelations that led to the demis­e of Barnaby Joyce as deputy prime minister.

In addition to the new appointments, Sid Maher, who has held several key posts at The Australian, including news director and Canberra bureau chief, has been promoted to deputy editor.

Sid Maher, newly promoted Deputy Editor of The Australian. Picture: Hollie Adams

Petra Rees, Deputy Editor of The Australian. Picture: Renee Nowytarger

The promotion is recognition of Maher’s importance as a key newsroom leader with fellow deputy editor Petra Rees.

Talented newsman Kieran Gair has also been appointed as a reporter in the Sydney bureau.

Editor-in-chief Christopher Dore said the changes would enhanc­e The Australian’s position­ as the nation’s most trusted newspaper.