About Us
Our Purpose
We’re a vibrant, inclusive arts and cultural organisation that uses storytelling to inspire cohesion and understanding through rich and diverse programs.
Open Monday to Thursday.
Founded in 2015 by John and Caroline Wood, Centre for Stories is a vibrant, inclusive literary arts and cultural organisation.
The Centre uses storytelling to grow skills and confidence, inspire understanding and promote community cohesion.
Our work is about more than words. We are led by and empower storytellers and writers whose experiences and perspectives may have been historically disempowered and disenfranchised.
With a focus on cultural diversity, we create opportunities for storytellers and writers who are underrepresented in Western Australia’s creative sector. In sharing their stories with arts and community audiences, we drive social change.
Centre for Stories regularly contributes to national conversations around arts and cultural policy. Read our submissions to learn more about our vision for storytelling and Australia’s cultural future.
Reforming Literature – National Cultural Policy Submission
Notes towards an Arts Accord – National Cultural Policy Submission
Youth Cultural Pass Proposal – National Cultural Policy Submission
What we do
Our services are aimed at helping individuals and organisations tell stories that engage, inform, and influence. The Centre provides a variety of services and amenities to people, community groups, government agencies, and the corporate sector. These include:
- Storytelling training and services
- Writing Programs for emerging, mid-career and established writers
- Producing writing and storytelling workshops, panel conversations and other events
- Print, online, audio, and video-storytelling production services
- Professional development training for teachers, writers, and oral storytellers
- Mentoring for emerging practitioners
Past clients
We have worked with the Department of Health, Youth Link, North Metropolitan Adult Migrant Education Program, City of Wanneroo, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, Curtin University, and others.
Reports & Governance
Visit our Reports & Governance page to access our annual reports and financial statements.
Opportunities
Click here to discover current opportunities to work, collaborate and get involved with Centre for Stories.
Help us do more
We’re on a mission to create a diverse, inclusive, and cohesive society through the art of storytelling. Join us in supporting emerging artists and sharing powerful stories from across our community.
Our Founders
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Caroline Wood
Co-Founder
Caroline is a member of the Australia Council Board of Creative Australia and Encounter Theatre. In 2023, she was appointed as a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for significant service to literature as a publisher, and to the community through a range of roles.
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John Wood
Co-Founder
John is a co-founder of Centre for Stories and a long-time leader across education, publishing, government and business in Australia. He remains deeply committed to strengthening culture through stories.
Our Team
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Robert Wood
CEO and Creative Director
Robert is responsible for developing partnerships with artists and social change organisations; planning writing, publishing and mentoring programs and implementing best-practice models that improve wellbeing. His concepts include Backstories and Portside Review.
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Cheryl Centen
General Manager (On Leave)
Cheryl brings over a decade of international commercial experience, having collaborated with some of the most influential global brands. Her expertise in business strategy, brand management, and marketing allows her to craft compelling narratives that resonate authentically with audiences.
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Mina Mitric
Interim General Manager
Mina is a classical musician, arts administrator and events professional with a background in performing and visual arts. She follows her passion for sharing stories and connecting community.
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Sisonke Msimang
Project Advisor – First Stories
Sisonke is the author of two books and many essays on race, gender and creativity, and she writes, speaks and facilitates conversations about belonging. Formerly Head Story Trainer at the Centre, Sisonke is now consulting on a project focussed on storytelling as a practice of building community between First Nations and CaLD communities.
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Casey Mulder
Director, First Nations Writing & Programs
Originally from Quairading, Casey is a Ballardong Nyungar-Anglo educator, editor and writer. She established the First Nations Write Night in 2023 with Luisa Mitchell, and is now coordinating First Nations programs at the Centre and supporting a project focussed on First Nations storytelling and capacity-building.
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Luisa Mitchell
Project Manager – First Stories
Originally from Broome, Luisa is a Nyungar-Anglo-Australian author with a background in film, podcasts and events. She is managing a project focussed on First Nations storytelling and capacity-building.
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Savannah Travia-Dann
Storytelling and Events Coordinator – First Stories
Savannah is a Nyul Nyul woman from Winawaal Burr (near Broome, WA). She is an independent artist who enjoys weaving the spiritual and physical worlds through her artistic practice. She is supporting the First Stories Project through events and storytelling coordination.
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Isabelle Biondi Saville
Publications and Solid Connections Coordinator
Izzy is a writer of Yamatji and Italian descent whose writing explores themes surrounding belonging and identity. She is supporting the First Stories project as the Publications and Solid Connections Coordinator.
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Ron Bradfield Jnr
First Stories Cultural Advisor
Ron Bradfield Jnr is a Bard, Jawi man of the saltwater peoples around Djarindjin, Western Australia. Born in Mooniemia (Northampton), he grew up in Jambinu (Geraldton), but now calls Walyalup (Fremantle) his home. As a storyteller, Ron tells and makes stories on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar, where he unpicks his own personal experiences, surviving our society and what it is to be ‘Australian’. He is supporting the First Stories project, providing cultural guidance to the team and supporting the Aboriginal Advisory Group (AAG).
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Mariela Espino Zuppa
Storytelling and Events Coordinator – First Stories
Mariela is a writer and community facilitator from México. Her work is especially interested in memory, belonging, and the power of stories to shape and bridge worlds. She is part of the First Stories Project, dedicated to truth-telling, truth-listening, and building connections between First Nations and CaLD communities through storytelling.
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Nadia Heisler
Manager of Stories – Learning and Participation
Nadia is originally from Brazil and has been living in Perth since 2011. A former journalist in her home country, she is an accomplished writer and oral storyteller. She manages the Centre’s youth storytelling and creative writing programs.
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Grasi Lourenço
Program Coordinator – Learning and Participation
Born and raised in Brazil, Grasi has called Perth home since 2020. She is an educator with over 20 years of experience in higher education and student engagement. She is passionate about helping people grow, creating meaningful learning experiences, and bringing creative ideas to life.
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Zhanna Piliushko
Finance Officer
Zhanna has over fifteen years’ experience as an accountant and finance officer for large corporations, small business, and not-for-profit organisations. She is responsible for preparing budgets, financial reports, and processing payments.
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Boris Bosquet
Marketing and Social Media Officer
Originally from Mauritius, Boris is a marketing and communications professional experienced in brand strategy, digital content, social media and audience engagement.
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Steph Syjongtian
Administration and Finance Assistant
Originally from the Philippines, Steph is deeply passionate about storytelling as she is with efficient workflow. At the Centre, Steph works behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly, supporting the team and ensuring each project comes together with care.
Our Board
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Fabian Ross
Chair
Fabian Ross is the CEO of Basketball WA and the former CEO of Hockey WA. He serves on a number of other boards and brings over 20 years of experience in the financial services sector, having held high-profile executive positions including CEO of WA Super and senior roles at BT Financial Group, HBOS Australia, and GESB. In addition to his executive leadership, Mr. Ross is committed to mentoring and consulting, with a focus on supporting small to medium-sized businesses in achieving their strategic objectives and fostering the next generation of talent.
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Neil Fernandes
Deputy Chair
Neil Fernandes has held a number of senior positions in the vocational education and training sector over 30 years. He was the Managing Director of the former Central Institute of Technology between 2005 and 2016, and served as the Deputy Director-General (Training) in the Department of Education and Training.
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Charlotte Solomon
Secretary
Charlotte Solomon is a human rights lawyer working in Elder rights, advocating for older people experiencing all forms of elder abuse to live with dignity and respect. Charlotte worked previously across a wide range of roles in Commonwealth and State government agencies.
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Raj Thethy
Treasurer
Raj Thethy is an independent consultant spealising in providing accounting and financial advisory services to organisations seeking to enhance systems and processes. Raj has had over 27 years experience in the not-for-profit, public, and private education sectors. His responsibilities have covered financial accounting, strategic planning, market and competitor analysis, and business improvement and development.
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Randal Humich
Board Member
Randal Humich is a property investor and developer who runs a family office based in Fremantle. His work has led him to be a supporter of the arts and he believes that arts and culture are the key to reviving the City. Randal also provides advice and support to other non-profit organisations.
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Marina Woodhouse
Board Member
Marina Woodhouse is an accomplished fundraising professional with over 20 years’ experience in marketing and development roles. For the past 15 years she has established a career in the local arts sector with senior roles at West Australian Symphony Orchestra, West Australian Ballet and Perth Festival.
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Kathryn Gledhill-Tucker
Board Member
Kathryn Gledhill-Tucker is a Nyungar technologist, writer, and digital rights activist living on Whadjuk Noongar boodjar. They write poetry, science fiction, and occasionally essays to explore the history of technology and our relationship with machines. Their poetry has appeared in Cordite, Red Room Poetry, Running Dog, Best Australian Poems, and their short stories have been published in various anthologies, including This All Come Back Now and New Australian Fiction 2024.
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Danielle Benda
Board Member
Danielle Benda is a journalist and broadcaster with more than 35 years experience in the media, the arts and communications. In addition to her work in newspapers, magazines and radio, she has worked at the Perth Writers Festival and in the office of Premier Colin Barnett. She is now Manager at ABC Radio Perth.
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Elissa Crowther-Pal
Board Member
Elissa Crowther-Pal joined Westpac in 2010 and is Head of Westpac Private Wealth Global Investment Services. She has over 25 years in global financial services experience. Elissa leads a multi-functional team of experienced investment specialists across sales, product management and development, trading, operations and research with a primary focus to source, select, trade and monitor investments for self-directed HNW wholesale clients. She currently serves on the Westpac Private Wealth Investment Committee and Risk Committee.
Partnerships
Our partnerships are collaborations that fund us, work with us, share expertise, and support us in delivering our objectives. Thank you to each of our partners for their ongoing support and contribution.
If you’re interested in partnering with the Centre for Stories, please Get in touch.
