Ita Buttrose AC OBE
Buttrose in June 2014
Chair of theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
In office 28 February 2019[1] – 6 March 2024
Nominated by	Scott Morrison[1]
Governor-General	Peter Cosgrove
Deputy	Kirstin Ferguson
Preceded by	Kirstin Ferguson(Acting)
Succeeded by	Kim Williams[2]
Personal details
Born	Ita Clare Buttrose (1942-01-17)17 January 1942 (age 83) Potts Point,New South Wales, Australia
Spouses	Alasdair Macdonald ​ ​ (m. 1963; div. 1976)​ Peter Sawyer ​ ​ (m. 1979; div. 1981)​
Children	2
Residence(s)	Sydney,New South Wales, Australia
Occupation	Television Network ChairMagazine editor Fashion journalist Media personality Businesswoman Author Ambassador

Ita Clare Buttrose (born 17 January 1942) is an Australian television and radio personality, author and former magazine editor, publishing executive, newspaper journalist and television network executive chairperson.

Buttrose was the founding editor ofCleo, a high-circulation magazine aimed at women aged 20 to 40 that was frank about sexuality (and, in its infancy, featured nude male centrefolds) and, later, the editor of the more conventional theAustralian Women's Weekly. She was the youngest person to be appointed editor ofThe Weekly, which was then, per capita, the largest-selling magazine in the world.

Buttrose was a panellist on theNetwork Ten morning programStudio 10 from 2013 until 2018.^[3]

In 2019, Prime MinisterScott Morrison announced Buttrose as the new chair of theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).^[1] She served a five-year tenure and was succeeded byKim Williams in March 2024.^[2]

Buttrose's tenure faced criticism for her involvement in the unlawful termination ofABC Radio Sydney presenterAntoinette Lattouf in 2023 (seeControversies).

Buttrose was born on 17 January 1942 inPotts Point,Sydney,^[4][5] and named after her maternal grandmother, Ita Clare Rodgers (née Rosenthal), pronounced/ˈaɪtə/ (rhyming with 'fighter').^[6] She hasJewish ancestry on her maternal side.^[7] She was raised as aCatholic by her parents.^[8] Buttrose's father, Charles Oswald Buttrose, was a journalist and at one time the editor ofThe Daily Mirror in Sydney. By her own account she had decided on a career in journalism at the age of 11.^[9] Buttrose spent her first five years inNew York City when her father was the New York correspondent forThe Daily Mirror.^[10] The family returned to Australia in 1949 and settled in the harbourside suburb ofVaucluse. Her parents divorced during her teens, after 25 years of marriage, and details of her father's private life were printed in the tabloid press, causing considerable anguish to her mother. Buttrose briefly attended a private school but because her father could not afford the fees she was then moved to a public school. She completed her secondary education at Dover Heights Home Science High School, leaving at 15 to begin her career.^[5]

She started her career atAustralian Consolidated Press, owned by the Packer family, working as a copy girl atThe Australian Women's Weekly, then became a cadet journalist onThe Daily Telegraph andThe Sunday Telegraph in Sydney. Her first byline came in 1959 when the 17-year-old covered the Australian tour byPrincess Alexandra.^[10][11]

Buttrose was appointed women's editor of theTelegraph at just 23 years old. In 1966 she won a racetrack fashion contest run by a rival newspaper, for which the first prize was an overseas trip, including a visit toExpo 67 in Montreal. Buttrose and her husband then stopped in England in 1967 where she worked for a time on the British national magazineWoman's Own before giving birth to her first child, a daughter, Kate.^[5] It was after her daughter's birth that she received atelegram from SirFrank Packer, head of Australian Consolidated Press, offering her back her former job as women's editor at theTelegraph.^{[citation needed]} The family then returned to Australia.^{[citation needed]}

In 1971, Buttrose was chosen as founding editor of a new Australian women's magazine.^[12] This was originally intended as an Australian edition of the American magazineCosmopolitan, but the deal fell through afterHearst Magazines sold theCosmopolitan rights to longtime Packer rivalsFairfax; so Packer and Buttrose set about creating a new publication, dubbedCleo, which they launched in 1972 several months ahead of its rival.Cleo was an instant hit, selling its entire original print run in just two days; the magazine broke new ground in Australian mainstream publishing, featuring the first nude malecentrefold (actorJack Thompson) and frank articles on female sexuality and other topics, leading to the inclusion of the first sealed section in an Australian magazine. During the early months of the magazine, Buttrose became pregnant with her second child, Ben, but with the grudging support of the Packers she worked through her pregnancy; an unusual feat for that time as it was still common for women to have to give up work permanently after they became pregnant.^[13]

Buttrose editedCleo until 1975, when she was appointed editor of the Packers' flagship magazine,The Australian Women's Weekly (1975–76). She then became editor-in-chief of both publications from 1976 to 1978, before being appointed publisher of Australian Consolidated Press Women's Division from 1978 to 1981.^{[citation needed]} In 1981, she left the Packers after their rivalRupert Murdoch offered her the job of editor-in-chief of theDaily Telegraph andSunday Telegraph, making her the first female editor of a major metropolitan newspaper in Australia, a position she held until 1984; she was also appointed to the board ofNews Limited. During the period 1982-1983 she also had her own weekend radio talk back show simply titledIta for the 2UE radio station. She made frequent appearances on radio and TV and in 1980, her media prominence led to her becoming the subject of the song "Ita", recorded by rock bandCold Chisel, which was included on their successfulEast album.

Buttrose was chair of the National Advisory Committee on AIDS (NACAIDS) from 1984 until 1988.^[14] On one occasion, she appeared personally in a nationwide TV campaign to explain that donating blood at a blood bank did not pose a risk of catching AIDS (the fear of which had caused a significant drop in donations). During the mid- to late 1980s, she also had a regular weekly "Ask Ita" page for the magazineWoman's Day which gave readers advice on personal issues.^{[citation needed]}

After her stint with News Limited, Buttrose founded her own publishing company, Capricorn Publishing, and launched her own magazine,Ita, in 1989. Due to the recession and a decline in monthly sales the publication eventually folded and she launched a new company, the Good Life Publishing Company, which in 2005 publishedbark!, a lifestyle magazine aimed at dog owners.^[15]

Buttrose utilised the services of celebrity agent Max Markson to assist her with publicity and promotion.

Buttrose was a regular onBeauty and the Beast in the 1990s and early 2000s. She was also a regular commentator on theNine Network breakfast showToday and was at one point considered to replaceKerri-Anne Kennerley in the network's morning slot.^[16]

In June 2013, Buttrose joinedNetwork Ten where she hosted morning programStudio 10 two mornings a week for the station alongsideJoe Hildebrand,Sarah Harris,Denise Drysdale andJessica Rowe. The show premiered in late 2013.^[17] However, 2016 saw Buttrose reduce her appearances on the program to just twice a week to spend more time with her grandchildren.

She made a cameo appearance in episode 7547 ofThe Bold and the Beautiful alongsideBrendan Jones andAmanda Keller as a news reporter airing in March 2017.^[18]

In April 2018, Buttrose resigned as panelist onStudio 10 to focus on other parts of her life, including spending more time with her grandchildren and writing.^[19]

Since leaving Network Ten, Buttrose has appeared onThe Morning Show on the Seven Network and filled in forSonia Kruger onToday Extra on the Nine Network.^{[citation needed]}

In 2019 she was controversially appointed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison as chair of theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) for a five-year term. Morrison said he had ignored the established selection process and had decided to make a “captains pick” as he had been disappointed the independent panel had not recommended any women. She decided against seeking a second term, and was succeeded byKim Williams in March 2024.^[20][21]

Buttrose is also a prolific author and has published ten^[when?] books, including her autobiography,A Passionate Life. In 2011, Penguin publishedA Guide to Australian Etiquette.^{[citation needed]}

From 1993 to 1994, Buttrose was president ofChief Executive Women.^[22]

Buttrose is or has been a patron of Women of Vision,World Vision Australia, the Macular Disease Foundation of Australia, theUniversity of the Third Age, theJuvenile Diabetes Foundation of Australia, Amarant, the National Menopause Foundation, the Sydney Women's Festival, Safety House, and the National Institute of Secretaries and Administrators.^{[citation needed]}

Buttrose is^[when?] also an ambassador of the Australian Women Chamber of Commerce (AWCCI) and sits on the AWCCI Advisory Board.^[11] She works on the professional speakers' circuit.^[23][24]

Buttrose was made anOfficer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1979,^[25] and appointed anOfficer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1988.^[26] In 2003, she was awarded theCentenary Medal.^[27] Buttrose was inducted to theVictorian Honour Roll of Women in 2001,^[28] and advanced toCompanion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2019.^[29]

In August 2017 Buttrose was recognised for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement at the annualKennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism.^[30][31]

In 1984 she was named the Variety Club 'Personality of the Year' as well as winning the Australasian Academy of Broadcast, Arts and Sciences for the 'Most Promising Newcomer to Radio'. In 1993 Buttrose was named Juvenile Diabetes Foundation's 'Australian of the Year'.^{[citation needed]}

In April 2011, Buttrose andCleo were the subject of theABC-TV two-parttelemoviePaper Giants: The Birth of Cleo, starringAsher Keddie as Buttrose,Rob Carlton asKerry Packer andTony Barry as Frank Packer.^[32]

In January 2013, Buttrose was named the 2013Australian of the Year.^{[citation needed]}

She was awarded an honoraryDoctor of Letters degree byMacquarie University in 2014 in recognition of her contribution to the arts. In 2015, she was awarded a second honorary Doctor of Letters degree by theUniversity of Wollongong for her distinguished service to Australian society and for her commitment to advocating for vulnerable people in the community.^{[citation needed]} She was awarded an honorary Doctor of the university degree by theUniversity of New South Wales in 2018 in recognition of her eminent service to health, and for being an inspirational role model for aspiring women in business and for those wanting to make a difference in society.^[33]

At 21 years of age, Buttrose married architect Alasdair "Mac" Macdonald and had two children. In 1975, while editingThe Australian Women's Weekly, her marriage to Macdonald broke down and the couple divorced in 1976. Later she met Peter Sawyer and they married in 1979. By her own account it was "not a very happy marriage"; Sawyer left in 1980 and they subsequently divorced.^[5]

Buttrose cared for her father after he was diagnosed withvascular dementia. He died in 1999.^[34]

In his 2007 bookWho Killed Channel Nine?, former Nine Network producerGerald Stone claimed that Buttrose and Kerry Packer conducted a private but intense affair during Buttrose's tenure onCleo. Stone also claimed that Packer even offered to marry her but she rejected the idea and they split after a "blazing row". Buttrose herself has repeatedly declined to comment on the matter.^[35]

In 2023 Buttrose was implicated in a controversy concerning the dismissal ofABC Radio Sydney presenterAntoinette Lattouf. Her truthfulness and her understanding of protocol and procedure at the ABC was challenged whenFederal Court Justice Darryl Rangiah ordered the ABC to pay Lattouf $70,000 following the illegal actions of the ABC, Buttrose and several staff members. In response to a campaign coordinated by Lindy Blashki and other members of the 'Lawyers for Israel'WhatsApp group, Buttrose applied pressure to Lattouf's manager to have her dismissed, a claim that was explicitly reinforced by Justice Rangiah’s Federal Court condemnation of the ABC’s capitulation to “pro-Israel lobbyists” who had specifically used Buttrose to “cancel” Lattouf.^[36]

During Federal Court proceedings, private communications and an affidavit by ABC Managing DirectorDavid Anderson indicated that Buttrose had intervened in the termination process.^[37] The documents revealed that she pressured senior executives to remove Lattouf and forwarded several complaints by lobbyists to Chief Content Officer Chris Oliver-Taylor—allegedly bypassing the broadcaster’s standard disciplinary procedures. Buttrose described Lattouf as an "activist" and the Court found she "wanted Ms Lattouf gone as soon as possible."^[38] While the Federal Court found Buttrose "placed pressure" on Oliver-Taylor to dismiss Lattouf, she did “not materially contribute” to the decision.^[39]

Critics have argued that such interventions by senior ABC management could undermine internal governance and editorial independence, and the ABC's management faced criticism for its handling over Lattouf's dismissal.^[40] The ABC had maintained until the trial's conclusion that Lattouf’s dismissal adhered to its internal policies and defended the actions of Buttrose, Oliver-Taylor and David Anderson, but was later retracted in an apology by Managing Director Hugh Marks who acknowledged that “many millions of dollars have been spent that shouldn’t have been spent” and that “the matter was not handled in line with our values and expectations”.^[41]

In the UNSW Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) National Webinar EventUnapologetically Ita: In Conversation with Professor Henry Brodaty AO on 18 November 2025, while promoting her autobiography,Unapologetically Ita, Buttrose made the following statements about immigration in Australia: “Well, I think we’re more divided. I don’t think the multicultural society that we’ve spoken about so proudly in Australia is working as well as it could be. And that’s because we’ve allowed divisive groups to come into Australia. But – and that’s fine. I mean, we need all points of view, but this is Australia. So I think we have to be emphatic that you try and live our way, not the way you did when you were in the country that you left to become an Australian, because most people that do come here do end up taking our citizenship.”^[42]

Buttrose has authored or co-authored many books, including:^{[citation needed]}

• A Guide to Australian Etiquette (2011)
• Eating for Eye Health: the Macular Degeneration Cookbook, co-authored with Sydney chef Vanessa Jones (2009)
• Get in Shape: A complete workout for strength, health & vitality, co-authored with Lee Campbell (2007)
• Motherguilt: Australian women reveal their true feelings about Motherhood, co-authored with Dr Penny Adams (2005; reprinted 2006)
• How Much Is Enough? Your Financial Roadmap to a Happy Retirement, co- authored with Will Buttrose and Mike Galgut (2003)
• What is Love? (2000)
• A Word to the Wise (1999)
• A Passionate Life (1998; updated paperback version published 2001)
• Every Occasion: The Guide to Modern Etiquette (1985)
• Early Edition: My First Forty Years (1985)

• Foreword: Martins, Ralph and Ragg, Mark.Understanding Alzheimer's: the complete Australian guide to the management and prevention of Alzheimer's (2013, Pan Macmillan Australia).

Wikimedia Commons has media related toIta Buttrose.

• Buttrose, Ita Clare (1942–) atThe Australian Women's Register (archive)
• Buttrose, Ita Clare (1942–) atThe Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia

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