From Monday March 7, viewers of ABC TV news and current affairs will be able to tune in at the iconic 7.30 time slot for their usual dose of hard-hitting interviews and stories. However, in Kerry O'Brien's place will be a new, but familiar face - Queensland University of Techology (QUT) alumnus Leigh Sales.
"People have been so lovely to me about taking over. I've been really humbled, actually, by so many well-wishers," said Ms Sales, who graduated from QUT in 1993 with a Bachelor of Business (Journalism).
"We'll still be doing all the hard-hitting interviews, hopefully even more than before!
"I'm looking forward to getting to bed before midnight! Hosting Lateline was a killer."
Despite the late nights, Ms Sales said she counted her three years as anchor of Lateline - "one of the nation's most respected current affairs programs" - as one of her career highlights to date.
At Lateline, Ms Sales interviewed major world figures including Tony Blair and Henry Kissinger. However her favourite interview was with Hillary Clinton "because I had read so much about the Clintons for so many years."
Ms Sales said it was intimidating to interview people who were powerful players on the world stage "but I always make sure I'm well prepared."
From 2001 to 2006, Ms Sales was the ABC's Washington Correspondent. She covered world-changing events such as the aftermath of September 11, the Afghanistan and Iraq wars and Hurricane Katrina.
Ms Sales said she also considered writing the book Detainee 002 as a career highlight. She wrote the book after covering Guantanamo Bay and the David Hicks case for the ABC - journalism which won her a prestigious Walkley Award.
The book went on to win the 2007 George Munster award for independent journalism.
"I love writing and I love talking to people. I love the excitement of covering breaking news," she said.
7.30 will be anchored out of Sydney and Canberra by Ms Sales (presenter) and Chris Uhlmann (political editor).
Media contact: Michaela Ryan, QUT media officer, 07 3138 4494 or michaela.ryan@qut.edu.au
