Storyfest is a nationally recognised youth literature organisation hosting Australia’s premier writers festival and an annual calendar of events with City of Gold Coast as a major strategic partner.In addition to leading the strategic restructure from Festival to organisation, I provide leadership, strategy and structure to the events program which has helped the festival become recognised as one of Australia’s foremost writers’ festivals. ✦ Manages a team and volunteers and oversees all programming, development, marketing, finances and partnerships to deliver an annual calendar of 180+ literary events/activities.✦ Championed the steady growth of the festival over the past five years, increasing ticket sales by 35% and tripling turnover in 12 months.✦ Proposed, coordinated and owned the immense redevelopment effort of the business and brand over two years to become an entity with DGR and ROCO status.✦ Leads the only arts and culture organisation that partners with corporates to deliver an effective events program aligned to community and corporate strategy and values such as ESG, social license, first nations reconciliation, etc.✦ Developed and mobilised Storyfest ‘On the Road’, which takes authors into schools conducting writers' workshops (originally funded philanthropically but made sustainable through the introduction of corporate stakeholder events).✦ Developed a series of highly successful corporate events such as Business Lunch and Charity Golf Day to maintain the connection with corporate stakeholders and keep the ‘On the Road’ program sustainable.

Manages and coordinates Somerset Celebration of Literature Festival (the largest children’s literature festival within Australia), Somerset Festival for Young Performers and Somerset International Librarian’s Conference.✦ Hosted the annual Indigenous Language and Cultural Festival in collaboration with Yugambeh Mobo Committee.✦ Coordinated corporate sponsorships including the development and negotiation of proposals and agreements.✦ Collaborated with College Management, serving as the event expert on government licensing and regulations, and point of contact for government and private entities.✦ Assisted with the development and extended the involvement of high-profile entrepreneurs to participate in student focussed entrepreneurial festivals.✦ Played an integral role in the development and delivery of a virtual performing arts festival for regional and international participants.✦ Negotiated and managed sponsorships with government and corporate entities.