Alan Saunders

Alan Saunders was born and educated in London. He studied philosophy at the University of Leicester where he was also president of the students' union, and Logic and Scientific Method at the London School of Economics. He came to Australia in 1981 to pursue research in the History of Ideas Unit at the Australian National University and was subsequently awarded a PhD.

Having joined the Science Unit of ABC Radio National in 1987, Alan Saunders founded The Food Program which was broadcast weekly until 1991 and then from 1992 to 1997. During 1991 he was co-presenter of Screen, a weekly programme about film and television. Since 1997 he has been presenter of The Comfort Zone, a weekly review of architecture and design, gardens and food.

Alan has written about food and other topics for various publications including the ABC's Delicious magazine. He is the author of A is for Apple (Random House) and he had his first novel, Alanna, published by Penguin in 2002.

In 1992 Alan Saunders was awarded the Pascall Prize for critical writing and broadcasting.

The Producers

Kerry Stewart

Kerry Stewart has worked as a producer for ABC radio for over 20 years on a variety of programs: Practicalities, Green & Practical, and Meridian.

She has a Graduate Diploma in Social Ecology and wrote her thesis on how people from different cultural backgrounds (Vietnamese, Lebanese, Turkish and Anglo-Australians) make a western Sydney suburb feel like home. How Australians build their houses, make gardens and prepare meals is a long-term fascination for Kerry. She is studying Landscape Design at TAFE and has spent a lifetime cooking for a large family.

Mark Wakely

Mark Wakely is a journalist and writer with a life-long interest in architecture. His first book, Dream Home (Allen and Unwin 2003) looks at how we shelter ourselves in life, from womb through to tomb. As a member of the NSW Architects' Registration Board, he represents public interest and consumer views about architecture.

Mark became The Comfort Zone's founding executive producer in 1997. Before that he was executive producer of Radio National's Arts Today program. He has worked as a journalist in radio, television and print media since completing his Honours degree in English Literature.

Radio National is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's specialist journalism and arts network, broadcasting across Australia.

Back to The Comfort Zone homepage