Growing up in South Africa, veteran journalist Robyn Curnow, most-recognised for her work on CNN for over 20 years, covered major global events, including the Obama, Trump, and Biden presidencies, the 2016 and 2020 U.S. elections, and the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. She anchored The International Desk and Newsroom with Robyn Curnow on CNN and reported live on the fall of Mosul, the rise of ISIS, and pivotal moments like President Obama’s historic visit to Cuba and Fidel Castro’s funeral. Robyn was the host of the weekly business programme Marketplace Africa for six years. Building rapport with the leaders of global companies operating in Africa and with African CEO’s across many industries.

Curnow has interviewed global icons such as Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Presidents Bush, Clinton, and Carter, and First Lady Michelle Obama. She anchored exclusive coverage of the Oscar Pistorius trial, Mohammed Ali’s funeral, and CNN’s award-winning reporting on Jamal Khashoggi’s murder and the fall of Robert Mugabe.

As a public speaker and global moderator, she leads discussions on leadership and change, drawing insights from interviews with world leaders like Oprah Winfrey, Bush, and Mandela. She has moderated at the World Economic Forum, the United Nations, and events in Stockholm, London, and beyond. With a global perspective shaped by her South African roots and life in the U.S., Curnow stands out with her ability to connect diverse audiences.

Curnow’s Searching for America podcast explores U.S. polarisation, featuring influential guests and offering strategies for bridging divisions.

She champions dyslexic thinking, collaborating with Richard Branson, Princess Beatrice, and others to highlight the creative strengths of dyslexia. Curnow is an Ambassador for Made By Dyslexia and serves on the board of the Schenck School.

Awards include a Royal Television Society Award and a DuPont Columbia Award, along with multiple Emmy nominations for her coverage of Mosul, Yemen, Xinjiang, and more. From country music to space exploration, her storytelling spans topics that inspire and resonate globally.

She has a Master’s degree in International Relations from Cambridge University. She was a Chevening Scholar, based at Magdalene College, Cambridge.