2013 Host

Chen Lei is an influential Chinese journalist. She is the leading presenter of China’s International Channel Shanghai (ICS). She serves as the News Anchor of Prime News and the presenter of Talk to Lei, a 30-minute talk show in which Lei interviews well-known Chinese and international guests. Chen Lei is also the presenter of My Dream, a bilingual charity program co-created by ICS and Shanghai Red Cross.

Lei began her career as an anchor and journalist for On the Town, Hell! Shanghai, Entertainment Now On the Road for STV, Around China for CCTV, and Shanghai Bund. She has also been the bilingual presenter for many international events and live shows including the Shanghai International Arts Festival, Shanghai International Film Festival, Shanghai International Tourism Festival, APEC, L’OREAL-LYRCA Media in Style Awards Ceremony and Shanghai Creative Industry Week. Chen Leihas conducted many exclusive interviews with her most notable to date including Giorgio Armani, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Placido Domingo, ABBA, Claudia Schiffer, Victoria Beckham, Vivenne Westwood, Zhang Yimou, Peter Buffett and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Sofie Formica began her television career at the age of 14 and hasn’t looked back since. Her resumé boasts appearances on Australian favourites Wombat, Saturday Disney, Now You See It (as Australia’s first female game show host), Just Kidding, Home and Away, and as an original member of The Great Outdoors.

In 1995, Formica moved to Los Angeles where she worked as a reporter on Extra, a national entertainment magazine show. During this time, Formica interviewed many Hollywood celebrities including Bruce Willis, Meg Ryan, Nicole Kidman and the cast of Friends. With her profile rising, in 1999 she was hand-picked by Oprah Winfrey to appear in a 13-part series, Oprah Goes Online.

After returning to Australia, Formica became the host of The Great South East, where you can catch her each Sunday afternoon exploring South-East Queensland’s treasures.