After joining Nine Brisbane in 2001, Downes reported on the road and acted as fill-in weekend presenter before assuming that role full-time in 2006.
She has also worked as a reporter for local magazine show Saturday Extra and a presenter of QTQ-9's Nine Gold Coast News bulletin.
In November 2008, Downes replaced Heather Foord as presenter of Nine News Queensland weeknight bulletin alongside Bruce Paige (and later Andrew Lofthouse from June 2009 onwards).
[6] She moved to Sydney to model for two years before returning to Brisbane to complete an Arts Journalism degree at the University of Queensland.
[citation needed] Downes is married to DJ Wendt, owner of music group The Ten Tenors.