A Voice for a Generation: Hannah Ferguson at Sancta

For Sancta students and guests, Formal Dinners are a highlight of the week. Offering the opportunity for the entire community to come together to share a meal, listen to College news, and to connect in Sancta Spirit – these dinners also serve as an opportunity to hear from those beyond the community to motivate, inspire, and engage one another.

Monday 1 September 2025 saw Sancta host a young, influential guest speaker, Hannah Ferguson. As one of Australia’s most influential young journalists, Ferguson is known for her fresh perspectives. Her work in the media has enabled young people to engage with news and politics in a meaningful way – from defying taboos, to building a platform to help Gen Z develop political and media literacy. Ferguson’s successes in the landscape of Australian media developed rapidly, cementing herself as an inspiration to young Aussies.

Originally from Orange, in Central-West New South Wales, Ferguson’s career blossomed through her fervent stride to overcome the critics and continue her mission to bring political education in a digestible way to people across Australia.

Recently, Hannah gave the address at the National Press Club in Canberra. Both during and after her breakthrough speech, she dealt with backlash.

She reflected on how the attacks were “…undermining my character, my intellect, what I set out to do…”, a struggle shared with women globally. But it was her poignant message following this, that spoke to every one of us, “I want to show everyday people that they don’t have to be a career politician to have a voice.”

Ferguson gave those at High Table an insight into her own university days and how she, just like us, spent her time residing at a residential college. She fondly remembered the friendships that blossomed and gave her a diverse look into the world – beyond that of the demographic and scope of her degree. Her journey to where she is today – a CEO, an author, an entrepreneur, a driver for change – resonated within the Sancta community and showcased how important connecting with the younger generation is, to continue to foster a sense of empowerment when it comes to being politically and socially aware.

Third-year Sancta student and Guest Speaker Secretary, Siena Fagan, interviewed Hannah following Formal Dinner (pictured). The interview spanned from discussions of her own journey, to advice on how young people can understand the current political climate.

When asked about what advice she would give to people who struggle with the current landscape of news, Hannah spoke as both a journalist, and a consumer of media. She explained the concept of ‘news fatigue,’ something that is becoming more prevalent as social media increases the impact of news stories, particularly negative ones, on our own lives.

Her advice encompasses two main actions:

1. Recognise when keeping track of things becomes debilitating. Ask yourself:
   1. Is this affecting my mood?
   2. Is this affecting my everyday life?
   3. Is reading this, doing more harm to my mental health than good?
2. Step away and work on yourself. You can advocate for change if it is affecting your day-to-day life.

Hannah’s advice reminded us that it is okay to feel overwhelmed by current affairs and what is happening in the world. To make a difference and help others understand different views of the world, you must understand that it is okay to not be okay, and to recognise your own mental health needs.

We thank Hannah for her wisdom and for sharing her own experiences, and are excited as a community to see her growth, so that we too can learn from her courage and perseverance both personally and professionally.