ABC NSW appoints weekend news presenters

ABC News has announced journalists Nakari Thorpe and Lydia Feng for the NSW Weekend 7PM News in a shared role arrangement.

They replace Jeremy Fernandez, who succeeded Juanita Phillips as anchor of the weekday bulletin.

Lydia is currently presenting Weekends and Nakari will join in March 2024, when she returns from parental leave.

Lydia Feng said: “I am delighted to become a permanent NSW 7PM News Presenter and feel incredibly privileged to take on this important role.

“I very much look forward to delivering the weekend news to the ABC’s loyal audience alongside continuing my reporting work across the network.

“Journalism brings me into contact with so many people from all walks of life and I hope to continue to honour their stories in all the work that I do at the ABC.”

Nakari Thorpe said: “It’s an honour to be given this opportunity and one I don’t take lightly.

“Our newsroom works incredibly hard to bring relevant, engaging and timely stories to our audiences everyday and to be part of that in this way is a great privilege.

“I’m looking forward to working in this role and alongside colleagues who I admire and respect and continuing my work across the network.”

ABC Director, News Justin Stevens: “We are excited to have Lydia and Nakari present the NSW news weekend bulletin and know that they will bring their trademark professionalism and dedication to the role”.

Lydia Feng joined the ABC in 2019 as Local Communities Reporter in Sydney. In addition to a focus on diverse communities, Lydia has covered major news events such as the Black Summer bushfires, COVID-19, and the 2023 NSW election.

She has also reported for Foreign Correspondent and has been a casual NSW 7PM News presenter since 2022.

Lydia brings over a decade experience to the role, having previously worked at the Seven Network and at SBS World News as a cross-platform reporter in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. She has also spent time at Caixin Media in Beijing.

Nakari Thorpe is a proud Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Gooreng Gooreng woman.

She joined the ABC in 2021 as the Indigenous Communities Reporter in the NSW newsroom. In addition to providing coverage across Indigenous communities, Nakari has covered major news stories including the COVID-19 pandemic, NSW floods and the NSW state election.

She previously worked as a multi-platform reporter with SBS and NITV covering federal politics and national Indigenous affairs in the Canberra Press Gallery, including the 2019 federal election.