Story Room Global October 13th 2026

Theme for this month

Owning Your Story

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About: Story Room Global at Bucketty’s Brewery

The ancient art of storytelling comes to life as six storytellers from diverse walks of life take the stage to share true, deeply personal stories. Set in the warm and friendly atmosphere of Bucketty’s Brewing Co. Brookvale, this unique event invites you to relax with a beer, enjoy a meal, and connect with your community. Expect laughter, drama, and maybe even a few tears as you experience an evening of real stories that entertain, inspire, and bring people together here on the Northern Beaches.

Check out the Bucketty's and the menu   

 https://www.buckettys.com.au/p... 
Please Note:  Venue will be open from 5.15pm allowing time for you to order a meal and have a drink before the entertainment commences at 7pm sharp. 

About Furry Friends

While Bucketty’s is proudly dog-friendly, we kindly ask that you leave your furry friends at home for The Story Room nights. As this is a private event, the space can get quite full, and in respect to our storytellers and the intimate nature of the evening, we appreciate your understanding. Thanks so much for helping us create the best possible environment for everyone involved.

Meet the Storytellers (in no particular order)

Abang Othow

Story Title - Buckets of Hope: From Survival to Thriving

Abang Anade Othow is an internationally recognised educator, speaker, writer, and leader. She is the visionary founder of Buckets of Hope, a visualisation, wellbeing framework that uses storytelling, colour, and mindfulness to help individuals and communities rise from survival to thriving. A former child refugee who rebuilt her life through education and resilience, Abang now works with communities, corporations, schools and organisations to cultivate emotional literacy, courage, and collective wellbeing. Her story has been featured on SBS Insight, 7News and Canberra Times and her writing has been published in Pearls & Irritations, and The New York Times. Her hybrid memoir, Buckets of Hope, is published by HarperCollins Publishers. Abang holds a Master of Teaching, a Bachelor of Arts, and a Diploma in Business. Blending lived experience with academic insight, she delivers transformative learning experiences that inspire empathy, strengthen leadership, foster meaningful teamwork, and cultivate hope across cultures and generations. Visit: https://www.bucketsofhope.com.au Represented by literary agent Jane Novak and Celebrity Speakers, Abang captivates audiences with her warmth, authenticity, clarity, and engaging presence. She serves as Deputy Chair of the board of the Asylum Seekers Centre, amplifying marginalised voices. Abang volunteers for social enterprise Glow Up Careers, offering coaching for meaningful employment. Her humanitarian initiatives span continents, including Bring the Teachers Home, which recruits educators to remote villages in South Sudan, and supporting displaced women in refugee camps with small business projects. Abang dedicates her life to creating hope, nurturing wellbeing, and empowering people and communities to move from survival to thriving

Paul Dolby

Paul describes himselfr as a very average, 55 year old. He has somehow made it this far, on a very wobbly metaphorical bike...

Kari Harris

Story Title- The Stories We Leave Behind

Kari Harris is a keynote mentor, presentation coach and founder of Speak to Lead, helping people transform their expertise, experiences and ideas into compelling stories that connect, influence and lead. Originally from Canada and now calling Australia home for more than 30 years, Kari spent over two decades as a casting director across film, television and advertising. Her career was built around recognising what makes people compelling, uncovering authentic performance and understanding the power of story to create connection. Today, Kari brings that experience to her work with speakers, professionals and people with something meaningful to say — helping them uncover the story beneath their experience and communicate it in a way that is unmistakably them. At the heart of Kari’s work is a belief that our stories are more than a way to communicate. They are how we connect, how we make sense of where we’ve been and, ultimately, part of the legacy we leave behind.

Alan Riva

Story Title- Finding the courage to make your dreams your life's story

Alan Riva. Author of The Jar of Dreams By day, Alan is a consultant who helps businesses driving positive social and environmental impact to grow. He's also a speaker and facilitator on wellbeing and the power of becoming more present in life. By night (or very early each morning), Alan is following his dream of becoming a fantasy author. Twenty-four years ago, while living in the Himalayas, he had a dream halfway up a mountain, and it never let him go. Now, after 24 years of writing every day, his debut novel, The Jar of Dreams, is ready to make its way out into the world. Alan has already sold over 800 pre-release copies, is currently submitting to publishers, and spends his time having fun inspiring teenagers through creative writing workshops in schools. Tonight, Alan will be speaking on the power of dreams to transform and enrich our lives.

Luan Lawrenson-Woods

Story Title - To Be Advised

Luan Lawrenson-Woods’ life was completely undone by a shock diagnosis of a rare and aggressive breast cancer. As she tried to make sense of all the uncertainty and bamboozling medical language that came with it, she discovered that, despite the dire Google prognosis, she could still have a say in what happened next. That realisation not only reshaped her own life, but also became the foundation of her life’s work. Today, Luan is an award-winning patient advocate and host of the Regarding Me podcast. She helps women become confident self-health advocates, because healthcare should happen with women, not to them.

Barnaby Howarth

Barnaby Howarth is a speaker, storyteller, podcast host and advocate for a more human definition of success. Through honest conversations and lived experience, Barnaby helps people recognise that greatness is not always found in being bigger, louder or more successful—it is often found in courage, character, connection and continuing to show up.

Because Everyone has a story! 

Don't miss out - secure your tickets now.