OUR STAFF
STORYTELLER-IN-CHIEF
Richard Short taught English at Cabramatta High School for five years, before joining the Sydney Story Factory. He brings to the role a wealth of experience with students from non-English speaking backgrounds, a love of writing, and great teaching skills. A colleague said that in his classes, he’s “like the Pied Piper – the students hang on his every word.”
DEPUTY STORYTELLERS
Richard is supported in his role by two deputies, both of whom were volunteers before they joined our staff.
Matt Roden was our very first volunteer. He helped set up The Ministry of Stories in London, and is studying teaching at the University of Sydney. He is a wonderful graphic designer (he did the excellent illustrations on this website) and has a fantastic way with young people.
Helen Coolican has over 20 years’ experience as a teacher, and is passionate about putting creativity back at the heart of education. She has proved herself a dynamo of a volunteer, helping with everything from tutoring to painting, catering, administration and enrolling students. She has a wonderful warm manner with kids and grown ups, and is a fantastic organiser.
OUR VOLUNTEERS
The majority of our volunteers tutor students. Others help out with evaluation and administration (to see the full list click HERE – link through to the section about types of volunteers). The people below really stand out, and work tirelessly for us. We could not keep going without them.
Meg Madden – Retail Manager
Meg has an Honours Degree in English, a Diploma in Editing and a new-found interest in Martians. When she isn’t working with the Sydney Story Factory, she spends her days writing education policy, postcards, and very messy grocery lists on the back of old envelopes.
Sue Morton - Administrator
Sue has been in love with the written word for as long as she can remember – so much so that she became a primary school teacher-librarian. There she could also be The Wicked Witch of the West, Aslan from Narnia, Charlotte spinning her web or even Hermione with Harry Potter. Who knows who or where she’ll be next.
Suzanne Mealing – Volunteer Trainer
Suzanne Mealing is a secondary teacher of English and French who believes in the magical power of language to transform, challenge and uplift. She wishes she could write like Tim Winton or Arundhati Roy and thinks an extended holiday in a French garret would facilitate this. Suzanne hopes never to have to sit a NAPLAN test.
Fiona Paul – Business Advisor
Fiona Paul has 12 years deep commercial experience in the information and technology industry and 20 years in the arts as a practitioner and facilitator. Fiona’s diverse background includes a successful television acting career, and five years with the Australia Council for the Arts. Fiona’s business planning role with the Sydney Story Factory is supported by the Australia Business Arts Foundation under the AdviceBank program.
OUR DONORS AND SPONSORS
The Sydney Story Factory was able to open its doors thanks to the generous financial support of the following organisations. We would like to thank them sincerely.
PRINCIPAL AND FOUNDING PARTNER
UBS Bank
MAJOR FOUNDING PARTNERS
Lord Mayor’s Salary Trust
McLean Foundation
SIGNIFICANT DONORS
Turnbull Foundation
Baly Douglass Foundation
Flora, Cosmo and Lola MacKenzie
PARTNERS IN THE FIT-OUT OF OUR PREMISES
DESIGN AND CONCEPT
BUILDING
Berents Project Management
SIGNIFICANT PARTNERS
FOUNDING MEDIA PARTNER
PRO-BONO LEGAL ADVICE
PRO-BONO PR
PRO-BONO AUDITORS
DONORS BOARD
Warren Mundine
Kerry Costanzo
Amy Denmeade
Kitty and Noah
Peter FitzSimons
Margie Sullivan
Maggie Newlyn
Deborah Fullwood
David Gonski
Deborah Fullwood, in memory of Frances Blaskett
Michael Lavarch and Larissa Behrendt
Hachette Australia Pty Ltd
