Colleen is a former Washington correspondent for the Australian Financial Review (1996-1998) and was editor of the newspaper from 1998-2002. After completing a Bachelor of Economics at the University of Sydney, Colleen joined Arthur Andersen as an accountant. However, she was clearly destined for a life in the media and joined the AFR as a business writer just one year later. This marked the beginning of a distinguished media career stretching over three decades that saw her achieve a number of remarkable positions including: Papua New Guinea correspondent of the AFR (1976-1978); assistant editor of 8 Days Magazine, London (1979-1980); editor of the AFR's Weekend Review (1980-1982); business editor of the National Times (1982-1986); and associate editor of the Sydney Morning Herald (1986-1996). Colleen's work has been recognised with numerous industry awards including: Gold Walkley Award for Journalism (2004); Walkley Award for Best Business Report (2004); Centenary Medal for Services to Journalism and Publishing (2003); Australian Journalist of the Year (1992); and the Walkley Award for Best News Report (1992). Colleen has also published one book 'Corporate Cannibals: The Taking of Fairfax' (1992), co-authored with Glenn Burge.

Colleen Ryan has been the China correspondent for Australian Financial Review since March 2004.