The Team
Storyfest is managed by a dedicated team of volunteers with a wealth of experience and bucket full of passion to ensure we deliver on our mission - harnessing the power of storytelling to inspire positive outcomes for our people, our local writers, businesses and our community.
StoryFest wouldn’t exist without the vision and hard work of founding members - including Monique Carson, Meredith Jaffé, Alison McLeod and Michelle Barraclough, who launched StoryFest in July 2018, and ran the inaugural festival in 2019. To them, we say a massive thank you.
Scroll down to learn more about our current team members!
Adam Jeffrey
After the huge success of 2023 we welcome back Adam as our President. Adam is a marketing strategist and has held key leadership roles in large and small organisations. Adam initially worked as a casual volunteer during the 2019 and 2021 StoryFest events, before taking up the role of President and Program Director for the 2023 festival. He can’t wait to see what magic will happen during the 2025 event.
When he’s not working from his home in Milton, or tending the veggies, Adam is also a keen bodysurfer and a poor golfer.
President
Annie Markey
Annie fell in love with the South Coast years ago and made Milton her home after a career spanning journalism, public relations and corporate communications. She's worked in events, entertainment and film, and most recently in education. She believes open minds, curiosity and great stories can change the way we see the world.
Fun facts: she's been known to recite The Man From Snowy River at dinner parties and, inexplicably, cry mid-verse.
Vice President
Jan Rasborsek
When Jan moved from the city to the south coast, Storyfest was one of the first community organisations that caught her eye. She loves reading, nature and connecting with people and found volunteering for 2023 Storyfest was a fabulous way to meet new people and contribute to a wonderful event. After many years in education, particularly environmental education, Jan is passionate about caring for and improving our local environment.
With family nearby, the relaxed lifestyle, with the beach and bush so close by, and a friendly and inclusive community she is so happy to have left the city behind.
Secretary and Public Officer
Kim Mcelhinney
Kim recently retired to Mollymook Beach from a Chartered accounting career in Canberra that involved working with Chartered accounting firms, small businesses and State and Federal Governments in a number of varied and challenging roles. While in Canberra Kim supported and was Treasurer with a number of not-for-profit organisations.
Since retiring Kim has furthered her interest in Bridge at the MollyMook Bridge Club, and has undertaken a Certificate 111 in Horticulture.
Treasurer
Anneka Manning
Anneka is the owner and founder of BakeClub, an online and face-to-face baking school, which she has successfully run since 2013. Before BakeClub she spent almost 30 years as an author, food editor, consultant, teacher, and publisher on magazines, newspapers and books. Her books include BakeClass and Mastering the Art of Baking.
She admires the authors, writers and storytellers who inspire our home cooking and baking. Anneka and her husband, Paul, moved to the local area in 2022 and she is looking forward to being part of the StoryFest team that will bring the 2025 program to life.
Committee Member
Donna Loon
Donna is a retired change/program management professional with 30 years experience, leading business transformation initiatives across large organisations.
The family has held a presence on the South Coast for 20 years, then moved permanently to the peaceful village of Fishermans Paradise in the Conjola precinct 4 years ago; transitioning to a country life.
Committee Member