About Story Lab New Zealand
Kia ora, I'm Penny - the person behind Story Lab New Zealand.
I'm a freelance communications specialist hailing from little old Aotearoa New Zealand, currently living in India's third-largest city, Bengaluru, with my husband, William - an international school teacher.
With experience across the charitable, health, sponsorship and tertiary education sectors, I'm a comms jack-of-all-trades, fascinated by people, the life sciences and our natural world.
My skills range the full communications spectrum - from writing for web, eDM and social to media relations, storytelling, speechwriting, content creation, plain language and strategy. You name it, I've probably done it.
I'm also a dab hand at transforming complex information (think health, science and charity jargon) into clear, compelling messaging and content.
I specialise in supporting charitable, health and science sector organisations simplify their messaging, cut through the noise and connect with the people who matter. If you're struggling to get out of the weeds, need help articulating your work in a way that connects, or developing a strategy that doesn't sit on a shelf, I can help with that.
I can offer competitive and flexible pricing packages, calculated hourly, per project or per day. If you're a small charity with a small budget, I'm happy to chat about finding a solution that works for you.
The Backstory
Growing up with an anthropologist and museum curator for a mum and an inorganic chemist for a dad, science has always fascinated me.
I have childhood memories of conducting my own experiments -burying teddies in the garden and digging them up days later to see what had happened and being given a toy microscope as a birthday present.
I was also a kid who loved reading and writing stories.
I struggled with maths - and like a lot of little girls, was told that numbers and the sciences weren't for me. For a long time, this won out. I completed a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International Relations and History, going on to obtain a Master of Arts in the politics of economic development in India.
I loved what I studied and it uncovered a deep desire to 'do good' for people, communities and the environment.
But, that inner science nerd and curiosity about our world never went away. Fast forward a few years and I discovered that it was possible to marry my interests.
Since then, I've...
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Worked as the sole communications and engagement advisor at Aotearoa New Zealand's largest Māori-led primary health organisation,
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Worked alongside corporate sponsors at the Starship Foundation (the charity which supports Aotearoa's national children's hospital), crafting stories about the impact corporate philanthropy makes for Kiwi kids,
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Helped a mobile physiotherapy and rehabilitation start-up get clear on their messaging,
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Supported a range of incredible small charities and community organisations in a voluntary capacity through the Community Comms Collective (a wonderful group of people doing wonderful things - check them out here!) and;
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Volunteered at a wildlife rehabilitation centre and hospital in Bengaluru, where I'm currently based, helping with animal enrichment and content creation.
When I'm not working, I can often be found drinking copious amounts of coffee, in the great outdoors - hiking, trail running or scuba diving - traveling with my husband or swooning over animals.
