Meet Story Factory’s inaugural Ambassadors
03 Sep 2025
Here at Story Factory we are incredibly excited to announce our inaugural Ambassador program. We welcome author and journalist Julia Baird; author, screenwriter and journalist Benjamin Law; actress and musician Zindzi Okenyo; novelist, screenwriter and playwright Debra Oswald; academic and author Dr Amy Thunig-McGregor; and writer and comedian Jennifer Wong.
As an organisation delivering creative writing programs that empower young people from under-resourced communities, these six talented and passionate individuals bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our mission. They also reflect the diversity and life experiences of the young people we work with.
“I am delighted that these six wonderful creatives have agreed to support our work at Story Factory by becoming our inaugural ambassadors. All of them are passionate about the power of young people’s imaginations, and working alongside our Ambassadors is inspiring for all of us at Story Factory – including, most importantly, the thousands of young people we work with every year,” says Dr Catherine Keenan AM, Executive Director and Co-founder of Story Factory.
Read more about these incredible individuals and what being an Ambassador for Story Factory means to them.
Julia Baird
“I am an ambassador because the work Story Factory does in stirring imaginations has helped a generation of kids find their voice; these seeds will grow into mighty trees, and are our future.”
About Julia
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.
Benjamin Law
“For over a decade now, I’ve watched first-hand how Story Factory has changed kids’ and teenagers’ lives, boosting their confidence and literacy through writing. I’ve loved being a volunteer and a board member, and it’s an honour to now be an ambassador too.”
About Benjamin
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
“I am so excited to be an ambassador for Story Factory because creative and imaginative expression is an extremely powerful way for young people to have agency and see themselves as vital in the world.”
About Zindzi
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
“For some years, it’s been my privilege to observe the way Story Factory programs ignite the creativity and confidence in students. What a joy to witness primary school kids discovering the power of story and language and to see astonishing sixteen-year-olds writing their own novellas. Story Factory is precious!”
About Debra
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
“I am proud to be an ambassador for Story Factory and their work supporting young people to develop their creative writing skills. The art and skill of storytelling is one which can help you to better understand yourself, your community, history and family better. It can also provide the platform and worlds needed to be able to dream, plot and plan big for your futures! Who wouldn’t want more of that in our schools and communities!”
About Amy
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
“Despite being an adult, in spirit I am still eight years old: pencil in hand, trying to figure out which word comes next in the story. It’s one reason why I love the work that Story Factory does. They take young people and their voices seriously, and create opportunities for them to express themselves, to build new worlds, to re-tell myths, to imagine pretty much anything on paper. Like Story Factory, I find great joy and meaning in writing stories, and I’m delighted to be an ambassador to support their wonderful work.”
About Jennifer
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.