Andrea Lewis is CEO of Somerset Storyfest, a charity based on the Gold Coast that develops and delivers children's literacy programmes.
With more than 20 years’ experience in the literary, arts and cultural sector, Andrea has been instrumental in growing Storyfest into one of Australia’s foremost writers’ festivals. She is a passionate advocate for children’s literature and the power of storytelling to inspire, educate and connect young people. Andrea has recently joined the board of the Australian Children's Laureate Foundation.
Andrea is particularly committed to championing Australian children’s authors and illustrators, creating opportunities for their stories and creative work to reach and inspire new generations of readers. Through collaboration, strong partnerships and innovative programming, she continues to advocate for literacy, Australian stories and meaningful engagement with literature for children and young people throughout Australia.
Kylie is the CFO for Storyfest and current Finance Manager for Somerset College. She has worked for Somerset College, one of Australia’s leading independent Primary and Secondary education providers since 2003. Kylie is a qualified Certified Practising Accountant, and she has over 30 years’ experience working in both public practice and commercial entities on the Gold Coast. Kylie has also held the Treasurer position with local sporting clubs in a voluntary capacity. Kylie’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Commerce and she is a member of the CPA Australia.
Megan, an accomplished educator, librarian, and published author, firmly believes in the transformative power of arts and language for young people. Her accolades include being named the ASLA Australian Teacher Librarian of the Year 2023 and the SLAQ Queensland Teacher Librarian of the Year. Megan’s extensive involvement with local and national literary organisations, including her recent role as the curator of the Children’s and Youth Program for the Brisbane Writers Festival in 2023, showcases her commitment to fostering creativity and literacy. Additionally, she serves as an ambassador for the Pyjama Foundation. We are honored to welcome Megan to the Storyfest Board of Directors, where her guidance will shape the festival’s future.
Narelle brings significant experience to her new role as Business Development Manager at Storyfest. With a background in communication and marketing at Somerset College, and as a print and broadcast journalist, she holds a Master’s in Arts and Media and a Bachelor of Journalism. Narelle’s expertise in strategic communications, media relations, and partnership building positions her to help drive the growth of Storyfest, focusing on fostering community engagement and promoting the power of storytelling and creative expression.
Gabriella joined the Storyfest team 5 years ago as a university intern. In 2025 she is taking on the role as Producer Events and Engagement for Storyfest Regional Events. This will see her bringing our Writers’ Festivals and On the road… programme to life throughout regional Queensland. Gabbi is excited to be taking on this new role, and helping to make authors and books more accessible to students throughout Queensland.
Teraze comes from a diverse background of working in both the arts and education sectors. Bringing a wealth of knowledge in engaging young audiences in exciting and innovative ways. With a passion for storytelling, Teraze is excited to encourage and foster life-long learning in the Storyfest community.
Joining the Storyfest team in 2026, Jared Watt, a recent Bachelor of Communication graduate, holds a strong foundation in building audience engagement and trust through traditional and digital media. Through his experience delivering communication strategies for not-for-profit organisations, Jared has developed a strong capacity to uphold brand integrity across all outward content and copy. With a particular interest in storytelling and community-oriented initiatives, Jared looks forward to furthering literary access and engagement among local and regional children as well as developing content strategies that promote diverse voices and advocate creative expression.
