Emily Jade O'Keeffe

You could say Emily Jade’s media career started way back in 1986 when she won “The Chatter Champ Award” after her first school camp at Camp Wambangalang in Year 4.  After such a prestigious accolade from a memorably named camp site (which still exists today) how could she not follow a career which harnessed her ability to never shut up.  Inspired by that Year 4 win Emily Jade went on to become a radio announcer, television presenter, writer, blogger,  MC, theatre performer and now social media influencer.

Her voice was first heard at her high school Don College in Tasmania playing CD’s at lunchtime for the School radio station (Which was essentially two CD players, a speaker and a microphone). From rudimentary school yard beginnings, she has now worked for 9 radio stations around the country, from Tasmania to Townsville and everywhere in between. The only woman in Australia to be part of the launch teams for 4 brand new radio station launches. One of them being 102.9 Hot Tomato as the first female breakfast host 20 years ago. Not long after launching Hot Tomato, the big city beckoned and she once again was apart of a founding team, for Nova 106.9 Brisbane. She was the No 1 Day announcer for 4 years and then moved to MMM breakfast- The Cage for 3 years before having her daughter and moving back to the Gold Coast.  Hot Tomato invited the Chatter Champ back to the breakfast gig where she has remained the Number 1 breakfast announcer for 10 years and won 2 Australian Commercial Radio awards for Best Breakfast Team. 

Her TV career started when she won Miss Launceston Cup in 1999 in a dress made out of curtain material. That sash win prize pool included filing stories for Southern Cross Tasmania on Cup day which led her to become the auto cue girl for weekend news, and when the weather presenter was sick she stepped in, in an outfit not made out of curtain material. It wasn’t long before she was snapped up by Channel 9 to host the children’s show Download. She then matured to being the Brisbane reporter for Mornings with Kerri-Anne on Channel 9 for 5 years and filed stories for The Footy Show.  Most recently Emily has contributed as a social commentator for Channel 9 and filled in as a Weather Presenter for Channel 7. 

A passionate writer Emily Jade has written regular columns for the Courier Mail, Sunday Mail, independent magazines and websites like Mamamia and hosted the popular blog Emily Everywhere for many years. Her popularity grew when shared the tricky journey to motherhood after an Endometriosis diagnosis. 

Emily Jade loves social media and is prolific on Instagram and Facebook and attempts the odd Tik Tok trend, much to the embarrassment of her 12- year-old daughter. With a combined social following of 70k her focus is Family, Food, Fashion and Fun. Sharing her life and humour including all the ups and downs that come with it with her social followers.

 After a 20 years hiatus from musical theatre and 25 years since she completed her theatre degree at the University of Tasmania, Emily Jade performed as Tanya for the hugely successful 2021 season of Mamma Mia and in 2022 Starred in Priscilla Queen of the Desert as Ivanka and Marion, both at The Star Gold Coast. It doesn’t take much to convince Emily Jade to bust out a song and dance and is often first in the Kareoke line up. 

A sneaky side hustle, Emily Jade’s passion is weddings, she loves love and is a Marriage Celebrant. This decision was made when her husband refused to marry her for the fourth time such was her addiction to weddings.  She has now married over 250 couples. 

But all of the above pales into insignificance because becoming a Mum is by far the most rewarding and wonderful thing she has ever achieved. Her two children Millie and Teddy are miracles after many years of infertility and sharing her difficult story through writing, social media, radio and television has given her career choice meaning.  

Emily Jade is an authentic, bright, bubbly, fun and humorous host and speaker and her passion is ensuring everyone has a wonderful time