Cheng Lei is an Australian-Chinese journalist recently freed from over three years’ detention in China on bogus espionage charges.

Following her release in 2023 Lei joined Sky News Australia as a columnist and presenter. In recognition of her resilience and bravery, she was awarded the 2023 The Australian’s Australian of the Year award.

She has worked in Asia for twenty years in business journalism and prior to that was an accountant in Melbourne.