Renee Merrill-Maxwell
Owner, Publisher and Editor
If something’s happening in Lane Cove, chances are Renee has already heard about it, usually from three different people before she’s finished her morning coffee.
She bought In the Cove in March 2026, after more than eight years working across its content, social media and community engagement, because she believes Lane Cove deserves its own independent news. Before that she spent years in anthropology and social research, which is a polite way of saying she’s professionally curious about people. Turns out that’s excellent training for local news.
Between two kids and a newsroom, life is pure chaos. She’s not sure she’d know how to live any other way, and her “take time for yourself” appointment has been rescheduled more times than she’d like to admit.
Liz McPherson
Journalist and Editor
Liz is Renee’s right hand and a quiet powerhouse behind In the Cove. She covers the people, groups and happenings that keep Lane Cove connected, working closely with local not-for-profits, schools and sporting clubs to get their stories out. Her calm, considered approach shows in her writing, and she has a soft spot for stories about sustainability, mindful living and community.
Behind the scenes she does a big share of the editing and has a natural way of bringing order to chaos while also managing life as a mum of three and a serial volunteer.
Jacky Barker
Founder and Contributing Journalist
Jacky founded In the Cove in 2012 to help locals stay informed, connected and involved in what’s happening around them. A former lawyer and long-time community advocate, she was a driving force behind the Lane Cove Toy Library and sits on the board of the Local and Independent News Association (LINA). She was named Lane Cove Woman of the Year in 2017 and again in 2023. She retired in 2026 after 14 years at the helm, but still writes the occasional article for us. Also, she’s the one you want on your trivia table.
Jack Kelly
Journalist and Video Producer
Jack is a journalist and video producer with a nose for stories that matter. In 2025 he was named a finalist in the Walkley Mid-Year Media Prizes for Public Service Journalism for an investigation he reported for In the Cove, which is a very big deal for a small local newsroom. He covers local investigations and community news across the Lower North Shore and makes most of our videos. He’s studying a Bachelor of Environmental Science, has a soft spot for environmental stories (and fairy penguins), and does a truly terrible American accent.
Anthony El-Khoury
Volunteer Journalist
Anthony is a Lane Cove local who turns census tables, health figures and official statistics into stories residents can actually use. He’s asked whether our schools are really emptying out, why bulk-billing GPs are so hard to find and how the suburb has changed over 50 years. What drives him is the question behind the numbers: what does this mean for the people who live here?
Margie McCullough
Advertising and Partnerships Manager
Margie looks after our local business partners and helps them reach the community. She brings nearly 20 years in partnerships, sponsorship and community programs across the corporate, membership and not-for-profit sectors. Along the way she’s built lasting partnerships with businesses, charities and community groups, and picked up awards for her community programs. A Greenwich local of 17 years, she joined In the Cove to work closer to home and closer to community.
Sara Horan
Cadet Journalist
Sara covers what’s on and what’s coming up across Lane Cove and the Lower North Shore. A UTS Media Arts and Production graduate and filmmaker, she has written, directed, shot and edited her own short films. Her family has a long connection to Lane Cove, and when she isn’t writing or editing, she’s almost certainly reading.
Stella Hong
Cadet Journalist
Stella covers local news and the people and places that make Lane Cove and the Lower North Shore tick. She’s studying Finance and Media at UNSW, has written and edited for two university mastheads and works across audio and video as well as writing. Away from the newsroom, she’s an accomplished violinist and pianist.
Want to join us?
We’re always keen to hear from locals who want to write, photograph or volunteer. Email [email protected] with a little about you.