Laura Sparkes - Today Tonight Reporter

Laura Sparkes began her love affair with current affairs in 1996.

She's an all-rounder, covering everything from serious investigative stories, to Federal elections, medical breakthroughs, and the birth of sporting heroes - from human interest stories, to the devastation of natural disasters, like the Queensland floods.

She's uncovered scandal: insurance companies putting dangerously repaired cars back on the road, and the shonky maintenance practices of overseas repairers used by Qantas (including the revelation household staples were used to fix broken emergency lighting wiring).

Today Tonight stories from Laura Sparkes

She's met some interesting folk: sporting heroes Ian Thorpe and Cathy Freeman, US pop star Kelly Clarkson, actress Cate Blanchett and politician Pauline Hanson.

And reported from all corners of the globe: the Mozambique floods in Africa, the war on terrorism from Pakistan, and the refugee crisis in Indonesia.

She recently covered the Royal Wedding in London, appearing on both Today Tonight in the lead-up, and reporting live for the Seven Network's Wedding Day coverage.

Her career began at Launceston's The Examiner newspaper. She's been working at the Seven Network since 1994, first as a researcher for a weekly current affairs show called The Times, and then briefly as a junior reporter on Seven News, before joining Today Tonight.

Laura balances her reporting with a second equally important job: mother to her two school children.