CARLY LADEN (WA) – ORDINARY COMMITTEE MEMBER

Hey everyone! I’m Carly, based in Perth, and I’m so excited to be part of the OGAE Australia committee.

I fell headfirst into the Eurovision rabbit hole in 2015 — fittingly the same year Australia made its debut. I still vividly remember setting my alarm for 2am to watch the Grand Final, a tradition I’ve proudly (and stubbornly) upheld ever since. Much to the ongoing amusement — and mild suffering — of my friends and family, I haven’t stopped talking about Eurovision since.

The 2015 contest gave me unforgettable moments, from actual goosebumps during Il Volo’s performance of Grande Amore to watching Guy Sebastian help put Australia on the Eurovision map. Since then, Eurovision has also brought incredible real-life experiences: making lifelong friends through preview parties and very early-morning Grand Final viewings, and even interviewing Voyager in the lead‑up to and during the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest — easily the peak of my former life as a journalist.

When I’m not immersed in all things Eurovision, you’ll usually find me posting about hockey on social media or dancing up a storm to burn off that pent‑up office energy.