Peter Ryan OAM
A highly regarded ABC business journalist, has passed away at the age of 64, following a distinguished 45-year career in public broadcasting. He had only recently stepped away from his role in June to concentrate on his long-running battle with metastatic thyroid cancer, first diagnosed in 2014.
Renowned for his integrity and tenacity, Ryan was praised as “fair, dogged and loyal” in a tribute penned by Sarah Patterson on Radio Today. His career highlights included serving as ABC’s Washington bureau chief, senior business correspondent since 2016, and earning the prestigious Walkley Award in 2017 for exposing a major money-laundering scandal linked to the Commonwealth Bank.
In 2022, he was honored with the Order of Australia Medal for his outstanding contributions to journalism.
Colleagues remembered him fondly—Michael Rowland described him as a “generous mentor and boss” who made a significant impact on ABC careers, while his warmth and professional excellence were highlighted in numerous tributes.
A personal tribute on LinkedIn noted:
He never – and I mean never – had a bad word to say about anyone.
Peter Ryan is survived by his wife, Mary, and daughter, Charlotte, leaving behind a legacy marked by courageous journalism, mentorship, and unwavering professionalism.