Louise Buckens – An International Judge Bringing a Storytelling Perspective to Young Writers at the “Thánh Gióng and the Dream of Aspiration” Competition
As part of the English creative writing competition “Thánh Gióng and the Dream Beyond,” the Organising Committee is pleased to introduce Louise Buckens, an international judge from Denmark with professional expertise in storytelling and the development of creative content for children.
Louise Buckens is a co-founder of Storytailors, a creative content studio focused on developing stories for young audiences, with the aim of nurturing imagination, creativity, and an early love of reading and writing. With more than fifteen years of professional experience, she has contributed to the editing and development of numerous storytelling projects designed to support children’s language development, emotional growth, and creative thinking within contemporary educational contexts.
Beyond narrative form, Buckens places particular emphasis on the role of storytelling as a gentle educational tool – one that encourages children to express emotions, explore the world around them, and develop an individual voice through language. This approach positions creativity at the centre of writing, viewing it not merely as a technical skill, but as a process of experience and personal growth.
Her participation on the judging panel of “Thánh Gióng and the Dream Beyond” is regarded as closely aligned with the spirit of a competition that encourages learners to approach creative writing with openness, imagination, and a strong humanistic perspective. The competition not only aims to develop English-language proficiency, but also places emphasis on storytelling ability, creative thinking, and the ways in which writers convey emotions and ideas.
According to the Organising Committee, Louise Buckens’s professional perspective is expected to enrich the evaluation process, particularly in assessing entries through the lenses of creativity, emotional depth, and the developmental potential of young writers. Her involvement also contributes to the competition’s broader educational and international dimension, offering a space in which stories shaped by Vietnamese cultural identity can be engaged with through an international storytelling framework.
Jessica Hanak joins judging panel of “Thánh Gióng and the Dream of Aspiration” creative writing competition
As part of the English-language creative writing competition “Thánh Gióng and the Dream Beyond,” the Organising Committee has announced the participation of Jessica Hanak as one of its international judges, bringing professional insight from the global publishing sector at a time of rapid digital transformation.
Jessica Hanak is currently Director of Innovation and Digital Transformation at Simon & Schuster UK, one of the world’s most established publishing houses, with a long-standing presence in international cultural and academic publishing.
She has more than fifteen years of experience working across editorial leadership, content strategy, and international partnerships, having previously held senior roles at organisations including Apple and Penguin Random House. More recently, she was involved with Curio, an audio journalism start-up focused on new forms of digital storytelling.
Professional focus on publishing innovation
Hanak’s work centres on content strategy, editorial curation, and audience engagement, with particular attention to innovation at the intersection of storytelling and technology. Her professional approach reflects an interest in balancing the traditions of reading culture with the evolving ways in which content is produced, distributed, and consumed in a digital environment.
Her areas of professional interest include:
- The relationship between traditional storytelling and emerging technologies
- The role of individual creativity within a globalised cultural landscape
- Ways of supporting and amplifying local voices through international languages, particularly English
Relevance to the competition’s objectives
Hanak’s appointment to the judging panel is seen as aligning closely with the aims of “Thánh Gióng and the Dream Beyond,” which encourages students to use English as a creative medium while engaging with themes rooted in Vietnamese cultural heritage.
The competition offers participants an opportunity not only to demonstrate language proficiency, but also to develop storytelling ability, critical thinking, and creative expression – skills that are increasingly relevant in international academic and cultural contexts.
According to the Organising Committee, Hanak’s international experience is expected to contribute to a judging process that places emphasis on originality of ideas, narrative coherence, and creative intent, while encouraging young writers to articulate personal aspirations and cultural perspectives in English.
Culture, education, and international exchange
The involvement of international judges reflects the organisers’ broader aim of situating the competition within a framework of cultural and educational exchange. By combining Vietnamese cultural narratives with an international working language, the initiative seeks to create a platform for dialogue between local traditions and global creative practice.
In this context, “Thánh Gióng and the Dream Beyond” is positioned not only as a creative writing contest, but as part of a wider effort to support young people in Viet Nam as they engage with international audiences through language, culture, and creative thinking.
by ED14 Plus
