Giving Voice: Moderating an International Women’s Day Panel on Art, Storytelling & Advocacy
March 2026
I was honoured to moderate the panel discussion “Giving Voice – Art, Storytelling & Advocacy” at The Art of Giving, presented by the Australian Alumni Association (Thailand) at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre as part of the International Women’s Day 2026 celebrations.
Joining me on the panel were Wanassanan Krainara, founder of the Living Art Festival & Gallery; Carolyne Thornton, educator and neurodiversity advocate; and Dr Naputsamohn (Ib) Junpiban, wellbeing designer and creator of the Pause Space Project. Together, we explored how art, storytelling and advocacy can amplify underrepresented voices and create more inclusive communities.
Giving Voice Through Creative Practice
Our discussion centred on several important questions:
- What does it truly mean to give voice, and what responsibility comes with having a platform?
- How can we intentionally design festivals, classrooms and wellbeing systems where underrepresented voices are respected and amplified?
- How do we ensure representation, inclusion and lived experience remain central to decision-making as Thailand’s creative and educational sectors continue to grow?
Drawing on their diverse experiences in festival curation, inclusive education and wellbeing system design, the panellists demonstrated that advocacy is not simply an idea – it is intentionally designed and embedded within creative and educational practice.
Art, Storytelling and Social Impact
Our conversation explored how creative platforms can increase visibility, challenge existing systems and create opportunities for emerging artists and marginalised communities to share their stories. Although each panellist approached advocacy from a different perspective, we shared a common belief that creativity has the power to foster empathy, strengthen communities and inspire meaningful social change.
Moderating this discussion was a privilege and a reminder that giving voice is about more than speaking – it is about creating spaces where others feel heard, valued and empowered.
