Fascinated by the good and evil of human behaviour, Walkley Award-winning journalist John Silvester has arguably more stored knowledge about Australia and in particular, Melbourne’s criminal world than can possibly be healthy. 

The ‘go-to’ man for the media on all matters underworld, multi-award-winning journalist, author and investigative reporter John Silvester is the son of a former assistant Police Commissioner and the head of the Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence.  

He has written, edited and published more than 30 crime books - including the best-selling Underbelly series which was used as the basis for the top rating Underbelly television series.

Appointed Sun police reporter in 1980 and elevated to Chief Police Reporter in 1981 he was an investigative reporter from 1986-1993. He then moved to the Age, for which he still writes.  

He is a crime commentator on Radio 3AW as ‘Sly of the Underworld’ Silvester is a regular speaker at police/legal functions and does extensive work as a speaker for corporate groups in the financial sector, major law firms, media companies and sports associations.

Honest, exceptionally erudite and incredibly funny, John Silvester is an intelligent, multi-talented and prolific speaker & has a serious talent for making people laugh which makes him a popular choice at after-dinner speeches across the country.