Adam Shand started his career in journalism as a cadet on The Australian newspaper in the 1980s covering the rise and fall of entrepreneurs.
In the 1990s Shand worked for three years in Africa as a freelance journalist based in Zimbabwe for media organizations, covering historic events as the rise to power of Nelson Mandela in South Africa, the aftermath of the genocide in Rwanda and the corruption of Zimbabwe's democracy.
Shand also continued to work in the print media, including stints on the Australian Financial Review newspaper in Sydney and Melbourne.
In 2003, Shand proposed a unique role writing for The Bulletin magazine while also filing stories for the Nine Network's Sunday program.
He also produced exclusive stories on Australia's outlaw biker clubs, Lebanese and Islander gangs in Sydney.