Story Factory

Julia Baird is an award-winning author, columnist, broadcaster and journalist, and co-host of the ABC’s Not Stupid podcast with Jeremy Fernandez. Her first book, Media Tarts, which was re-released in 2021, was based on her history PhD about the portrayal of female politicians. She spent several years living in the United States, where she was a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, then senior editor at Newsweek, and later, an oped contributor at the New York Times. Her biography of Queen Victoria was one of the New York Times’ top ten books of the year. and her book Phosphorescence won several awards including the ABIA Book of the Year. Her most recent best-selling book is Bright Shining: How Grace Changes Everything. She was co-host of the Drum on ABC TV for a decade.

Ben is a journalist, columnist, TV screenwriter and author of two books – The Family Law (2010) and Gaysia: Adventures in the Queer East (2012) – both of which have been nominated for Australian Book Industry Awards. The Family Law is now a major SBS TV series, translated into a number of languages.

Zindzi Okenyo is a television and theatre actress who has worked extensively throughout the industry. A graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art, she is a presenter on Play School and performs music under the stage name OKENYO. She is best known for the song “Woman’s World”. Zindzi also works as a theatre director, most recently for state theatre companies Melbourne Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company. She is passionate about cultural leadership and creating and facilitating spaces for people of the African diaspora to thrive.

Debra Oswald is a novelist, screenwriter, playwright, creator of the TV series Offspring and two-time winner of a NSW Premier’s Literary Award. Debra has published nine children’s books and four adult novels, including The Family Doctor, and most recently One Hundred Years of Betty. Her stageplays include Gary’s House, Dags, and Stories in the Dark. Television credits include Police Rescue and Bananas in Pyjamas. Debra performed her one-woman show, Is There Something Wrong With That Lady? at Griffin Theatre and the Ensemble.

Dr Amy Thunig-McGregor (B.Arts; M.Teach; PhD) is a Gomeroi/Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay academic who parents and partners on beautiful Awabakal Country. A full-time Research Fellow within the field of education at the University of Technology Sydney, Amy is also a Director on several education-focused boards, sits on various councils and committees, and in 2019 delivered their TEDx talk ‘Disruption is not a dirty word’. A freelance public speaker and occasional curator, Amy had the pleasure of co-curating the 2023 All About Women Festival at the Sydney Opera House, and the 2024 Sydney Writer’s Festival. Amy’s best selling first book ‘Tell Me Again: A Memoir’ was released via UQP in 2022 and has been shortlisted for numerous State and National awards.

Jennifer Wong is a writer and comedian. She is the co-author of Chopsticks or Fork?: Recipes and Stories from Australia’s Regional Chinese Restaurants (Hardie Grant), and a contributor to Admissions: Voices within Mental Health (Upswell).

Jennifer is the presenter of Chopsticks or Fork? (ABC iview), and reported on arts and books as the presenter of Bookish (ABC iview). In 2022 and 2023, she was the curator of In Other Words, a writing and ideas program at OzAsia Festival.

She combines her love of food, culture, and comedy as the creator and host of FEAST: live storytelling events for people who love food, stories, and stories about food.