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Humble, yet very excellent writer, broadcaster, speaker and advocate.
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Antoinette

Meet The Introvert

Antoinette Lattouf is a broadcaster, columnist, author, speaker, human rights advocate, mental health ambassador who dabbles in satire and is popular in WhatsApp groups.

Antoinette is a co-host of news and analysis podcast ‘The Briefing’ and host of The Weekend Briefing which spotlights high-profile Australians.

The multi-award-winning journalist is the co-founder of Media Diversity Australia — a not-for-profit organisation working towards increasing cultural and linguistic diversity in the media.

She can also be heard on ABC Sydney. Her columns appear in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian, and Women’s Agenda.

Antoinette’s first book ‘How to Lose Friends and Influence White People’ was published by Penguin Random House. It is a witty and approachable anti-racism guide and an honest exploration of the modern manifestations of systemic racism in Australia today, and how we, as a collective, can take steps to make change. Providing practical tools, using warmth, humour, and research to share evidence-based solutions that can be used by anyone.

In 2019, Antoinette was named among AFR’s 100 Women of Influence. In 2021 she was awarded a Women’s Agenda Leadership Award and B&T Women in Media’s Champion of Change. In 2022, she was an Influencer of the Year Finalist at the Third Sector Awards. In 2024 she was awarded NSW Council for Civil Liberties president’s award for journalism and Liberty Victoria Voltaire Human Rights award for amplifying human rights atrocities in Gaza and taking a stance in defence of a free and fair press.

In peer selected awards at her year 10 high school formal, Antoinette was awarded Most Likely To Die A Virgin.

Antoinette gave a TEDx talk in Sydney called ‘reverse discrimination doesn’t exist but tokenism does”. Here she tackled the pale, stale, male phenomena by adding what she dubbed ‘Gayle’ to the mix.

Antoinette is also an Ambassador for parent’s mental health organisation Gidget Foundation after experiencing debilitating post natal depression and anxiety with her second child. She now quite likes both of her children. Antoinette also appeared on ABC’s You Can’t Ask That, detailing her harrowing journey.

Broadcaster

Television

Antoinette has held reporting and presenting roles at Network 10, SBS, ABC and triple j. 

She’s been a guest commentator on ABC’s Q&A, The Drum, Insiders, Sky News, Network 10’s The Project, Studio10, SBS’s Insight and The Feed. 

Antoinette has also been a guest host for ABC’s Catalyst program.

Podcast

Antoinette is a co-host and co-creator of  ‘The Antoinettes’ podcast. One name, two smartasses and a new problem each week. The Antoinettes won’t always break bread. 

‘The Antoinettes’ was launched in early 2024 in partnership with DM podcasts.

Antoinette is also the co-host of Listnr’s daily news and analysis podcast ‘The Briefing’. 

The Briefing serves up the latest news headlines, with commentary and analysis, plus a deep dive into a topic affecting you.

Radio

Antoinette has worked in radio news and current affairs at SBS and the ABC. She also guest hosts ABC Sydney’s Morning, Afternoon and Evening shows. 

Antoinette has also anchored special broadcast projects for the Australian Film Television and Radio School.

Speaker

Antoinette Lattouf is a TEDx speaker, mistress of ceremonies and keynote speaker who has worked with not-for-profits, writers festivals, charities, corporates, major brands and government agencies. 

She’s hosted book launches, chaired panels, emceed fundraisers and taken part in national and international debates. She only swears, when absolutely necessary.

Keynote
Debate
Host/MC
Panel

TedX

Speaker

TEDX SYDNEY 2022
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Testimonials

"

Antoinette is such a strong speaker, able to connect with the audience through her humour, honesty and charm. Her talk was one of the most popular of our event, which speaks to her ability to bring life and clarity to a traditionally sticky/tricky area that we don't often like to talk about: racism.

Caitlin Gibson

TEDx Sydney
Antoinette made a real difference to our National International Women’s Day event by using candour with humour to face into the real issue and opportunity at the intersection of gender and race.

Pip Dexter

Deloitte Australia
Antoinette delivered a compelling, impactful and hilarious keynote at KPMG Australia in recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. From the meeting beforehand to understand the audience and objectives, to incorporating requests and passionately presenting on the day, to promptly responding to post-session queries - Antoinette was professional, receptive and thoughtful throughout. Thank you Antoinette for the work you do in this space and sharing your stories and insight.

Saz Asifi

KPMG Australia
As MC, Antoinette added a certain pizazz to the annual Sydney Peace Prize Gala dinner. At a notably ‘unpeaceful’ time in world affairs, Antoinette navigated the situation with charm, compassion and sensitivity. Her insightful and heartfelt comments were seamlessly intertwined with a perfect ordering of speakers, promotion of the silent auction and calls to support the mission of the Sydney Peace Foundation. This year we recognised the contribution of the actor and activist, Nazanin Boniadi, and the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran. Antoinette’s role as an MC, feminist and a leading commentator helped shine a light on this movement. She contributed to making the evening sophisticated and memorable, while reminding people not to lose sight of global struggles for human rights and social justice. As the Federal Member for Sydney the Hon Tanya Plibersek commented, Antoinette is the best MC around. We wholeheartedly agree.

Melanie Morrison

Sydney Peace Foundation
Antoinette Lattouf’s keynote speech for our 2023 International Women’s Day event at the University of Sydney was insightful and provocative. Her intelligent, witty and often colourful anecdotes challenged our collective conscience. She reminded us that we must take an intersectional approach to feminism, including the needs of all women.

Annabelle Hung

University of Sydney
Antoinette's deep understanding of advocacy, influence and its impact on one's career trajectory was galvanising and eye opening. Her practical tips and in-session exercises provided invaluable tools for our members to help them understand how they could strengthen relationships and shift mindsets. And, it almost goes without saying, that Antoinette is an incredibly dynamic presenter, and we are so grateful for her ability to captivate and engage her audience while imparting concrete knowledge.

MELISSA WELHEM

FUTURE WOMEN
Antoinette is an incisive and insightful speaker. Using research, lived experience and creativity, she has the ability to resonate with a range of audiences with frankness and humour, even when the subject matter is sensitive. Thank you, Antoinette!

Dr. Elaine Laforteza

University of Technology Sydney
I am grateful you shared your expertise and insights with the department on the importance of talking about and addressing racism in society and in the workplace. Thank you for helping us understand the different ways in which racism can manifest, the role of allies and how an organisation can achieve individual and structural change. We have much to reflect on.

Simon Duggan

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
When Antoinette took to the stage at our annual debate, she was the 'underdog'. When she walked off, she was the darling of the crowd. She wiped the floor with the opponents, through an argument constructed with data, facts and incisive interpretations. She is able to be precise, articulate and sensitive in a way that is accessible. Right through the events at our festival, be it a public session or a campus activity, audiences were swayed by her passionate and insightful perspectives on the world we inhabit.

Quasar Thakore Padamsee

Mumbai Literary Festival
Antoinette Lattouf is a brilliant presenter and speaker. She’s funny and dynamic —you don’t get better stage presence than this superstar! She is unbelievably powerful and filled with wisdom and lessons for life. Antoinette had our 800 delegates begging for more – not only did she have amazing content but it was  delivered with humour, wit and intellect.

Denis Moriarty AM

Our Community
I am thrilled to provide a testimonial for Antoinette, who served as our keynote speaker at a recent event that we hosted. Antoinette's presentation certainly left a lasting impression on our audience of over 100 Western business leaders and HR/Talent Acquisition specialists. Her ability to articulate the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace was terrific and her presentation was not only informative but engaging, authentic, and insightful. What sets Antoinette apart is her passion and authenticity. She speaks from the heart and with a level of rawness that is both refreshing and inspiring. We would highly recommend her as a speaker to any organisation seeking to understand more about this topic.

HELEN WHITE

WEST RECRUITMENT
We were thrilled to have Antoinette as our opening keynote for Workplace Wellness Festival 2023 and she opened with a bang. Antoinette brought the perfect mix of passion, energy, engagement, humour and sincerity to a topic that aligned perfectly with the themes of the conference. It was the stand out presentation of the day and we can’t wait to have the opportunity to work with Antoinette again in the future.

Tania Arlington

Director, VI Conferences
We can’t thank you enough for your support and sheer brilliance to MC and officially open the Tenth Anniversary Edition of Lebanese Film Festival Australia. You captured the hearts and minds of our audience, who were highly engaged and in laughing stitches most of the time! Your level of care and passion for what the cause stands for was truly projected on the evening. Let’s not forget to mention your wit and humour, organically keeping and adapting to pace.

Jessica Zeait

Lebanese Film Festival
Antoinette was fantastic to work with in the lead up to the event. She was responsive to communication, made herself available for a pre-event teleconference where she brought along a well-thought-out plan for her speech, and she was receptive to suggestions/ideas for her talk as well as to the notions of what our participants enjoyed hearing at events. On the day, Antoinette was engaging, spirited, and an absolute joy to listen to. Her way of delivering a serious and heartfelt message on leadership and intersectionality mixed with humour and authenticity resonated with our audience, who left the session with plenty of practical advice to implement in their own life journeys. I look forward to engaging Antoinette for another event soon!

DR JANET SMITH

WOMEN AND LEADERSHIP AUSTRALIA
Getting the right MC can make or break your event. By engaging Antoinette, you can be confident of a great event. She is a consummate professional – a delight to work with, she listens and respects the brief, reads the room and delivers with panache. The tremendous success of our 2024 Awards Dinner was in no small part due to Antoinette’s skill in engaging the audience she created an immediate connection with her audience and contributed to a great night enjoyed by all.

ANGELA BURROUGHS

AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION UNION
We had the privilege of hearing Antoinette Lattouf speak as a panelist at our event, and her insights and passion left a lasting impression on everyone present. Antoinette's invaluable contributions to our panel discussion on 'Diversity Breeds Creativity' enriched the conversation, and her approachable and entertaining demeanor made the experience truly memorable. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from the attendees speaks volumes. We would love to work with Antoinette again in the future!

Georgia Woodburne

Azerion
Antoinette was an inspiring keynote speaker and host at our recent luncheon ‘Forgetting Inclusion’. Antoinette did an amazing job balancing hard hitting facts and humour to bring the construction industry together and have a much-needed discussion on how we can foster a more diverse and inclusive workplace. We deeply appreciate and thank Antoinette for the unforgettable event made possible by her candid, eloquent and insightful presence

Divya Mehta

DECODE

Columnist

Antoinette is a regular contributor to some of Australia’s most reputable news outlets as well as writing for women’s online publications. From politics, property, parenting to not getting pissed read Antoinette Lattouf’s columns here.

AUTHOR

How to Lose Friends and Influence White People

Antoinette’s first book ‘How to Lose Friends and Influence White People’ was published by Penguin Random House in May 2022. It is a witty and approachable anti-racism guide and an honest exploration of the modern manifestations of systemic racism in Australia today, and how we, as a collective, can take steps to make change. Providing practical tools, using warmth, humour, and research to share evidence-based solutions that can be used by anyone – from a seasoned advocate who is a person of colour, through to a suburban white teenager.

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Reviews

This book is bracing, confronting, data rich but cheerfully accessible. The arguments are real and its time is now. Beyond its obvious purpose, it is a witty guide to effective activism. Lattouf is merciless with the usual suspects in the male, pale, stale patriarchy - myself included - but hardly less so with the “prosecco-flavoured progressives” of middle class white feminism. Racism in her own Australianised Arab community also gets a searching examination. She is particularly compelling on the way that women of colour who offend the mainstream are mercilessly dealt with, forced into silence, their careers destroyed. You don’t have to agree with every argument made here to acknowledge Lattouf’s central and urgent point. As a nation, we have a way to go. We’ll be better, funnier, fairer and truer to ourselves, when we get there.
HUGH RIMINTONPRESENTER, FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT AND AUTHOR
This is arms in the air, squeal in delight reading! Anyone who’s felt the scourge of discrimination is vindicated by the home truths delivered page after page. Antoinette fearlessly uses lived experience, real time Australian examples, expert opinion & irrefutable research to deliver tools for change.
NARELDA JACOBSWHADJUK NOONGAR WOMAN AND TELEVISION PRESENTER
Timely and practical, this guide for navigating the treacherous waters of anti-racism work never loses its heart or humour.
RUBY HAMADAUTHOR AND ACADEMIC
This is a very good book for anyone interested in race, diversity, inclusion and how not to be a massive knob.
JAN FRANJOURNALIST AND PRESENTER
This should be mandatory reading for all.
BOB MOOREAUTHOR AND JOURNALIST
It’s a searing, witty, meticulously crafted manual to anti-racism, feminism, advocacy, power, relationships and individual responsibility.
RAFQA TOUMATHE GUARDIAN
How to Lose Friends and Influence White People is a must-read for every Australian. Antoinette Lattouf explores structural racism from every angle using robust data, clever analogies, and a generous dollop of humour. It’s well and truly time for some critical self-reflection about “pale, stale, male … and Gayle” and “White supremacy in heels”. This book works well on several levels, offering a step-by-step guide for advocates and easy-to-understand calls to action for potential allies. True to Lattouf’s character, the book doesn’t shy away from vexed issues like lateral violence. Ultimately, the author outlines solutions to these deep-seated problems, ending on a note of optimism and hope for the future. This is a tour de force!
TRACEY SPICERAUTHOR/JOURNALIST
Giving an ironic twist to the self-help classic How to Win Friends and Influence People, Lattouf offers savvy and hard-earned advice on how all of us can play a part in challenging and dismantling the systems and assumptions scaffolding white privilege. Real change starts, she argues, with self-education, especially on the part of whites, and with the understanding that it “won’t always be easy or comfortable”. A valuable roadmap for venturing beyond our comfort zones, as individuals and as a society.
FIONA CAPPTHE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
It's a witty, conversational book that doesnt seek to be purely didactic but to evoke empathy and ask questions around power structures in Australia, especially in an unrepresentative media.
WENLEI MANEWS.COM.AU
How to Lose Friends and Influence White People is a fascinating read, full of information, advice, and advocacy. It is undoubtedly eye-opening, even for those of us who see ourselves as very liberal-minded. Lattouf writes with passion, verve, charm, humour, and above all authenticity.
TRACEY KORSTENGLAM ADELAIDE
In this funny and poignant self-help book, Lattouf won’t advise you to “criticise, condemn or complain” like Dale Carnegie’s How To Win Friends And Influence People. Instead, she explores the searing fallout into why you should not do that.
PEDESTRIAN
How To Lose Friends And Influence White People asserts that change and freedom has never been handed out on a silver platter — they’ve always been hard-fought for, and has a price. There are so many barriers to having vital, meaningful, and productive discussions about race — people ignore concrete facts, shut down, or refuse to face their privilege — but Lattouf’s book offers ideas on how to have these dialogues productively.
MILLIE ROBERTSJUNKEE
Previous
Next

Family: Stories of Belonging

The storybook idea of family—dad, mum, kids, gran and grandpa—doesn’t always reflect the bonds that tie us most closely to one another in Australia today. Many of us, even those in traditional family structures, find that the people with whom we feel the greatest kinship—a godmother, a brilliant teacher, a tight-knit group of friends—have no biological connection to us.

The contributors to this collection, among the finest writers in Australia, pay tribute to the people who shaped them, and reimagine what family can mean in the twenty-first century. Forget the old, rigid definitions: this is a celebration of families in all the wonderful forms they may take.

Contributors: Alice Pung, J.P. Pomare, Rachael Treasure, Jackie French and Elaine Harris, Ellen van Neerven, Ruby Hamad, Jaclyn Crupi, Daniel Browning, Amy Remeikis, Leah Jing McIntosh, Antoinette Lattouf, Cath Moore, Oliver Reeson, Fiona Murphy, Shannon Burns, Andy Jackson, Daniel James and Oliver Twist.

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Reviews

The traditional family structure collapses under the rich and complex families described within this collection of short stories. A diverse mix of contributors represents a range of families and their dynamics for all readers to relate to
ARTS HUB
Antoinette Lattouf discusses the meaning of the expression ‘blood is thicker than water’ and that this proverb is actually not so straightforward. Although it suggests that family bonds are stronger than other relationships, the origins of the proverb also draw a conclusion that bonds formed shedding blood together on a battlefield are more powerful than the bond formed sharing a womb
ARTS HUB
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Advocate

Antoinette is the co-founder of Media Diversity Australia — a not-for profit organisation working towards increasing cultural and linguistic diversity in the media.The charity advocates for greater diversity and inclusion in the media and provides a range of programs and resources including academic research, reporting handbooks, fellowships, mentorships and industry memberships.

Antoinette is also a mental health advocate and an ambassador for parent’s mental health organisation Gidget Foundation after experiencing debilitating post natal depression and anxiety with her second child. She now quite likes both of her children. Antoinette also appeared on ABC’s You Can’t Ask That, detailing her harrowing journey.

Awards

In addition to winning ‘Most Likely to Die a Virgin’ at her Year 10 formal, Antoinette is a
Walkley award finalist, and has won many awards for her journalism, advocacy and
leadership.

  • 2024 NSW Council for Civil Liberties President's award for Journalism
  • 2024 Voltaire Human Rights award
  • 2022 Third Sector Awards Influencer of the Year
  • 2021 B&T Women In Media Champion of Change
  • 2021 Winner Women’s Agenda Leadership Award
  • 2020 Finalist B&T Women In Media Champion of Change
  • 2019 Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence
  • 2016 Highly Commended for Cardiovascular Journalism from Victor Chang Media Awards
  • 2016 Finalist B&T Women In Media Award for Journalism
  • 2014 Finalist Kennedy Awards for Most Outstanding TV News
  • 2014 Finalist Kennedy Awards for Most Outstanding TV News
  • 2014 Highly Commended B&T Women in Media Award for Journalism
  • 2013 Finalist B&T Women In Media Award for Journalism
  • 2012 Finalist UN Media Peace Award Best TV News
  • 2019 Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence
  • 2010 Finalist UN Media Peace Award for Best TV Current Affairs
  • 2009 Finalist Walkley Award for Best TV Current Affairs
  • 2007 Winner of NSW Mental Health Media Award
  • 2006 Winner of UN Media Peace Award for Promotion and Understanding of Children's Rights and Issues

Contact

To book Antoinette for television/radio hosting, keynote speaking, emceeing, writing or just to give her a compliment please fill out the form below.

You can also email Lena@atarimae.agency

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