About

Christy O’Brien is a former print journalist and senior writer with The Splendid Word. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Creative and Professional Writing and is an aspiring creative writer. Christy has been crafting words for more than 30 years and is passionate about storytelling and sharing the joy of writing with others.

Her passion for community and connection runs through projects such as Spreading the Good Stuff (live series and podcast), Echuca Moama Slow City Movement and the Committee for Echuca Moama Tourism Working Group. As a longtime writers’ festival fan – travelling the country and overseas in the name of research, Christy has envisioned something similar on the banks of the Murray (Dhungala) River in Echuca Moama for many years. The Festival of Stories will be a dream realised.

Leonie Canham has built a stellar career spanning more than 25 years across print journalism, radio, politics and communications – working with Fairfax Media, the ABC, and in government, before founding her own agency, The Splendid Word. Today, she leads a team of storytellers and editors, helping individuals, organisations and communities across Australia share their stories with clarity, purpose and heart. Alongside her professional work, Leonie is deeply embedded in her riverside community – championing initiatives that celebrate connection, creativity and wellbeing.

From co-hosting Spreading The Good Stuff, a podcast and live event series supporting regional women, to her involvement in a range of community and leadership initiatives such as Girls Night Out (oncology supportive care charity), Echuca Moama Slow City Movement and Committee for Echuca Moama, her work is grounded in a simple belief: stories have the power to bring people together and change lives. The Festival of Stories is a natural extension of that belief.

Suz Shearer is a natural-born storyteller (tall and true!). Known for her infectious and energetic optimism, Suz is a magnetic leader and a creative visionary in our community with strengths in strategy and marketing. Suz has enjoyed a lifelong love affair with both the written and spoken word and has an innate passion for people and our natural world. A former journalist, Suz never takes for granted the privileged role of storytelling to listen, to share and to celebrate people’s unique journeys through life. Her career spans print media, public relations,community and corporate events, marketing and business.

Jenny Turner is an admired and passionate member of our EM community who moved to the region for a ‘tree change’ in 1983 and never left. Jenny owned the beloved Tangled Garden Book Shop, which was home to a vibrant book loving community for an incredible 32 years, while also holding down a career as a secondary teacher. Post Tangled Garden, Jenny worked in local government, community planning, engagement and development before retiring to focus on her passions, which include the environment and the arts. After many years volunteering with Landcare and on the Winter Blues Committee, Jenny has turned her attention to the arts and creative outlets. She gives her time to her community at the Foundry Arts Space.

Nina O’Brien brings 25 years of national experience in regional development, community projects, and community-centred governance, helping initiatives come to life and make a real impact. Also a local visual and public artist, she understands firsthand the challenges and joys of creative work in regional communities. Community stories and wisdom, both formally written and held within local people, are central to her professional and creative life.

Troy O’Brien is passionate about Echuca Moama and as director of Charles L King and Co First National Real Estate in Echuca, where he has sold real estate for more 30 years, he understands the importance of a thriving community. The head of finance at FoS, Troy is happy to be the most unpopular person at the boardroom table and believes in the benefits of tourism and events for our riverside communities.

Jessica Waters has spent 25 years helping leaders bring their vision and ambitions to life. Her role is to meet Founders, Boards and CEOs where their dream is, and then do the deep strategic work to build the path to help them get there. Jess brings creativity, humour, heart and an unshakeable belief that with the right strategy and the right people, anything is possible.

Jess spent half her career in sports marketing agencies, managing sponsorships, athletes and major events. But it was what sport could do beyond the commercial — raising awareness for charities, causes and underrepresented communities — that captured her imagination, and over time that became her focus and her niche.

As Movember’s first management hire, Jess secured the Foundation’s earliest corporate sponsorships, established some of Australia’s first corporate dollar-matching programs, and helped put rural men’s health on the national map. Other major events and projects include the Deniliquin Ute Muster, Australian Football’s 150th anniversary and Melbourne Football Club’s Debt Demolition campaign.

Since moving to Perth, Jess has been instrumental in launching the WA Police Force’s largest-ever recruitment campaign and the Fremantle Dockers’ Thank A First Responder Round on the AFL fixture, created the state Child Safety Awards program, and conceptualised Western Australia’s first interactive Child Safety School.

Now it’s a dream come true to be part of the team building a new major event for the place she will always call home — Echuca Moama.