Karen Tighe

Award-winning sports broadcaster Karen Tighe is one of Australia’s most experienced and respected voices in sports media, with a career spanning more than three decades across television and radio. Known for her warm interviewing style and sharp sporting insight, she became a familiar presence to audiences nationwide through her work with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation across both TV and radio platforms.

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Award-winning sports broadcaster Karen Tighe is one of Australia’s most experienced and respected voices in sports media, with a career spanning more than three decades across television and radio. Known for her warm interviewing style and sharp sporting insight, she became a familiar presence to audiences nationwide through her work with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation across both TV and radio platforms.

For many years, Karen was a regular host of national sport programming, including the weekend show Summer Grandstand, where she spoke with some of the biggest names in Australian and international sport. Her broadcasting career also included live coverage and hosting roles across multiple major global events, including several Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, where she contributed to coverage that brought elite sport into homes across Australia.

Beyond live sport coverage, she was a well-known presenter on programs such as Live & Sweaty and held long-term roles across ABC television sport and major tennis broadcasting events, including extensive coverage of the Hopman Cup. Her versatility across radio, television, and live event hosting has made her a trusted and enduring figure in Australian sports journalism.

In recognition of her outstanding contribution to sports media, Karen was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sports Australia Media Awards in 2020. Alongside her broadcasting work, she is also an ambassador for Encephalitis International, where she actively supports awareness and education around encephalitis in Australia. Today, she continues to be in demand as a master of ceremonies for major corporate, sporting, and industry events across the country.

  • "Excellent MC. Karen is very professional and kept the evening moving extremely well which was vital as there were 31 awards to present. Based on her excellent performance at the W.A. Awards we subsequently booked Karen to host the Australian Tourism Awards."

    Pat Strahan. Strahan Consultants. W.A. Tourism Awards.

  • "Karen's natural warmth and ease brings a wonderful tone at the C2030 Conference. She is interested in what's going on and chats easily to everyone. On top of that, she was so helpful and offered herself up to support others during the conference. We LOVE Karen and would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone who is interested in securing the best MC they would ever hope to find. Her ability to read the room and be smart enough to capture the moment takers her performance to another level and best of all, her time management is a real strength. She was able to pull people back as required."

    Sue Smith, Communications Manager, Landcorp.

  • "Karen's considerable experience as an MC for this type of work was invaluable – she offered opinions when there were quick changes and was able to adapt very easily. She has a very warm approach and her excellent speaking voice was much appreciated by the audience. Excellent performance."

    Roseanne Humphreys Statewide Speech & Lanaguage Service Conference 2009.

  • “Karen was an outstanding MC for the Best on Earth in Perth’ launch. We received many comments on her polished performance.”

    Paula Wallace. PR Manager, Eventscorp.

  • “We have received many unsolicited compliments from delegates, some of whom described it as the best conference they had attended, and ‘whose wonderful idea was Karen Tighe’. Karen’s amazing stage presence, audience control and professional approach to the four day event made my life a dream.”

    Judy Carr. Executive Director. UDIA National Congress.

  • “Karen is very professional and her approachable style makes it a pleasure to work with her. She was well organised and many of our conference delegates commented on the great job Karen did on the day. Excellent performance.”.

    Jim Hodges. Manager, Risk Management Services. Riskcover, Government Risk Management Conference

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