Dr Chris Wallace joined the 50/50 By 2030 Foundation from ANU last year, and works on structural solutions for gender equity in public sector leadership roles and political representation. She is the author of several books including How To Win An Election (NewSouth, 2020). Some of you will know Chris through her political and economic journalism during her 'first life' in the Canberra Press Gallery working for print and electronic media including the Australian Financial Review, the Australian and ABC-TV. Did you know that Chris was on the first episode of Insiders hosted by Barrie Cassidy 20 years ago?
Where do we find you this weekend?
Guerilla Bay on the beautiful NSW South Coast. We're so lucky Canberra is two hours from some of the best beaches in Australia and not much further from the largest expanse of snow in the southern hemisphere. Living here is paradise, locally and regionally.
What’s the ideal start to a Sunday? Gentle start or a jolt?
In bed with a black coffee and #Magnificat nestling into me, followed by another black coffee, early enough to read the entire Weekend FT and still catch Insiders.
What’s the best thing you’ve watched on TV recently?
The Tokyo Olympics women's cycling road race. Anna Kiesenhofer, a Swiss-based Austrian maths post-doc, took the lead at the zero kilometre mark and went on to win so decisively it had to be explained to the Dutch rider who came second that she'd only won silver, not gold. A completely unconventional way to win a road race and wonderful demonstration of 'first mover advantage'.
A glass of something you'd recommend?
I grew up in South Australia so red wine is a first love, with Cooper's Stout a sentimental second. Right now, though, I'm drinking Heaps Normal, a fantastic non-alcoholic IPA made in Canberra by a bunch of guys into 'mindful drinking'. Like the terrific German non-alcoholic beers familiar to athletes in Europe as a post-competition isotonic, it's actually 0.5% alcohol, kidding your brain that you're having a standard beer. Unlike zero alcohol beers, which mostly taste rubbish and contain dodgy ingredients, Heaps Normal is just Canberra water, malted barley, wheat, hops and yeast, and tastes great.
Soundtrack of your choice?
Early, mid and late Courtney Barnett.
Best vacation you’ve been to?
The Seachange cottages at Barwon Heads Caravan Park, outside Geelong, where the Barwon River runs into Bass Strait. Wild, beautiful seas, great golf, excellent fish and chips.
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us.
I love reading about the history of London punk. A bunch of blokes would decide to start a band, go to the local pawn shop, buy secondhand instruments, learn three chords and start gigging. Women would get an instrument, get lessons, practice a lot in private and edge their way into a band. I love the chutzpah of the first method. I'm hoping my future band mates and I don't take too much more time to find each other.
The ideal dinner menu?
An Italian sausage from Griffith Butchery, burnt over a camp fire, with a dab of tomato sauce, on a slice of buttered Dojo rye and caraway bread, and glass of good pinot. Ripe pears, blueberries and Tilba cream for dessert.
Ideal dinner venue?
Home. It's where the hearth is, as well as the heart.
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