Doreen Cunningham is an Irish-British writer born in Wales. After studying engineering, she worked briefly in climate-related research at the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council and in storm modelling at Newcastle University, before turning to journalism. She worked for the BBC World Service for 20 years as an international news presenter, editor, producer and reporter. She won the RSL Giles St Aubyn Award 2020 and was shortlisted for the Eccles Centre and Hay Festival Writers Award 2021 for her first book, Soundings (Virago, 2022).