Rosanna Natoli

Rosanna Natoli
Born	Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia
Occupation(s)	Politician, television presenter, journalism lecturer
Years active	–2024 (media career)
Known for	Mayor of the Sunshine Coast since 2024; presenter for Seven Queensland

Rosanna Natoli is a politician from Australia and a former television host. Since the 2024 local government elections, she has held the position of mayor of the Sunshine Coast.

Early life

Born in Bundaberg and brought up in Brisbane, Natoli attended Aspley State High School, where she distinguished herself as both school captain and dux. Her early employment included positions at the clothing chain Best & Less and the Sheraton Hotel.

She completed a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology at the University of Queensland and later obtained a Graduate Diploma in Communication – Journalism from the Queensland University of Technology.

Journalism

Natoli worked as a presenter for the regional division of the Seven Network, known as Seven Queensland. Her journalism career began in the towns of Bundaberg and Maryborough, before she moved to reside on the Sunshine Coast, where she has lived since.

Although based on the Sunshine Coast, Natoli delivered local Seven News bulletins across Queensland statewide and occasionally substituted for weather presenter Livio Regano during the main 6pm news broadcast.

In addition to her on-screen roles, she served as a journalism lecturer at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Prior to the 2024 local elections, Natoli took leave from both her presenting and academic positions and subsequently resigned following her election as mayor.

Fake or Fortune?

In 2017, Natoli appeared alongside her husband Joe on BBC’s Fake or Fortune?, where they investigated whether a painting by Tom Roberts, titled Rejected, was authentic. The artwork had been purchased via an English auction site in 2013 for an initial estimate of $30,000. Due to uncertainties about its legitimacy, Natoli had stored it away until confirmation was obtained through the program’s inquiry. The painting was authenticated by art historian Mary Eagle, which substantially increased its market value.

Political career

In December 2023, Natoli declared her intention to run for mayor in the upcoming 2024 Queensland local government elections representing the Sunshine Coast Regional Council. She sought to replace incumbent mayor Mark Jamieson, who chose not to contest re-election. Natoli won with 27% of first-preference votes, edging out her nearest competitor Ashley Robinson, who received 24%, becoming the first woman elected mayor of the Sunshine Coast Region.

Personal life

Natoli married Joe Natoli in 1989; together they have three children. Joe serves as a councillor on the Sunshine Coast Regional Council. Despite some concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest due to their respective roles, both have dismissed such allegations. Previously, Joe Natoli was the final mayor of the former Maroochy Shire Council before it merged into the Sunshine Coast Regional Council in 2008. He also ran unsuccessfully for mayor of the newly formed council, losing to Bob Abbot, former mayor of Noosa Shire.

With a background in performing arts, Natoli has played lead parts in school and community theatre productions, including portraying the Wicked Witch in a 2017 staging of The Wizard of Oz. In March 2022, she was listed at number 64 among Sunshine Coast’s top 100 most inspirational women by the Sunshine Coast Daily. In August 2022, prior to hosting the Victory in the Pacific ball on the Sunshine Coast, she suffered a wrist injury that required surgery for a fractured forearm.