We’re shifting the story game. Imagine your audience going from passive consumers to active pollinators. Imagine audiences animated by the stories you tell and networks woven together through story sharing. Imagine them carrying your story and their stories out into the world to catalyse engagement with your mission.

Story Pollinators not only transforms good speakers into great speakers, but also fertilises the field of engagement. Your stories continue to live and pollinate hearts and imaginations.

You’ll work with expert storytelling and social ecology facilitators from the Wicked Elephants Co-op to animate the power of your story or your organisation’s story. You’ll deliver more impactful messages to your audience – be they the media, your donors, supporters, volunteers or your colleagues.

This online program is a lively mix of exercises, embodiment, theory, small group and larger group exploration. You’ll gain confidence and delight in eliciting, crafting and telling stories that engage the hearts and minds of your growing audience. You’ll also learn to animate the social ecology and create story webs, so stories live on beyond the event.

A critical aspect of this training is learning how to craft and facilitate a speakers’ event. Participants learn to cultivate a social ecosystem. We shift from the old model of one-way delivery of information, where your audience is a passive consumer, to a pollinator model where your audience is invited to be active in the landscape of change. This enlivens participants, shapes new networks as the audience senses their input is valued.

This first Story Pollinators series aims to highlight the fantastic work of our national environmental advocacy groups and social enterprise groups.

We will explore…

• The neuroscience of stories

• Story frameworks and techniques

• Framing key messages

• Storytelling presence

• Authentic storytelling

• The social ecology of stories

This will generate…

• Powerful speakers

• A dynamic, vital social ecology

• Trust and connection with audiences

• A more engaged donor/supporter base

Dates and Times

9 am - 1 pm (AEST) on 28th April, 12th, 26th May and 2nd June, where the program culminates in an event that brings together a broad audience of supporters, friends and colleagues

Your facilitators

Johanna de Ruyter – Story facilitator

Hello, I have been working with stories for 35 years now. I have a history of storytelling via my extensive theatre experience. Over the last 15 years, I have been translating my story-based theatre skills for organizational communication and delivering storytelling training for leaders worldwide.

Sophia Van Ruth – Story Facilitator

Hello, I have a playful history with stories. I am never happier than when eliciting stories using embodied exploration. Our bodies can be portals to authenticity, unearthing potent experiences and leading us effortlessly to the core of the matter. I am an experienced facilitator, having worked with groups for over 20 years.

The Social Ecology Team

Deb Collins

In Deb, an event producer meets the social ecologist, and a science communicator meets a dynamic facilitator. Deb loves making an online space sing, building community through shared inquiry and experience.

Dr Caresse Cranwell

Caresse lives at the intersection of theory and practice. As an eco -philosopher and experiential therapist, Caresse loves to bring ecology alive in the social field and people’s life approach.