Apiary Fellows 2023

Ranu James

Ranu James

Director, Weaving Cultural Stories  

Ranu is a Papuan Australian with lived experience and a deep belief around inclusion and the right of all people to connect with their culture.

Nicki Walsh

Nicki Walsh

Statewide Consumer Carer Coordinator, Perinatal and Infant Mental Health, Queensland Centre for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health  

 Nicki holds a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood and a Bachelor of Business (Human Resources) and in her early career worked in Early Learning Centres and schools as an Educator, Teacher’s Aide and Outside School Hours Care Coordinator.

Mat Rowell

Mat Rowell

CEO, Lady Gowrie Tasmania  

Mat has a background in the social services sector and policy, where he became aware of the Early Childhood sector and the role it plays in Children’s early development.

Nakeisha Walker

Nakeisha Walker

Aboriginal learning and support officer, Ballina Coast High School, NSW  

Nakeisha is a First Nations woman living on the Bundjalung Nation on the Far North Coast of New South Wales.

Karthika Viknarasah

Karthika Viknarasah

Director and Educational Leader, Choice Childcare, NSW  

Karthika is an experienced Early Childhood specialist with a history of working in the education management industry.

Rachelle Tucker

Rachelle Tucker

CEO, Australian Childcare Alliance, WA  

Rachelle has been part of the Early Childhood sector for the past 14 years and has held various roles over the course of her career.

Merle Cashman

Merle Cashman

Senior Project Officer, Early Childhood Education and Care, QLD  

Aunty Merle is an Aboriginal Nguigi women from Quandamooka Nation and Kunju from the Thipan people.

Megan O'Connell

Megan O'Connell

Interim CEO, Early Learning Association Australia

Megan has over 20 years of experience in the Early Childhood sector as an education systems leader, evaluator, researcher, policy consultant, public servant and academic.

Sarah Rogers

Sarah Rogers

Evidence and Implementation Lead, Orange Compass

Sarah holds a clinical and project background, beginning her journey into the Early Childhood space as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist.

Nicole Baker

Nicole Baker

Executive Manager Quality Assurance, St Nicolas

During her time as a lecturer, tutor and research assistant, Nicole worked with pre-service teachers to develop their pedagogical understandings in child development, play, creative arts, and educational theory.

Alistair Gibbs

Alistair Gibbs

Early Learning Manager, Gowrie Victoria  

Alistair dates his passion and interest in early learning when he became enamoured by its theory and practice whilst completing a Master of Teaching in Early Childhood, and then spending several years as an ECT teacher.

Dan Leach-McGill

Dan Leach-McGill

Research and Evaluation Manager, The Front Project

Dan has worked in early childhood and community services for more than twenty years. Dan has extensive experience in service innovation, policy and practice development, and advocacy with an emphasis on improving outcomes for children and families.

Jo Mavrigiannakis 

Jo Mavrigiannakis 

Centre Performance Coach, Goodstart Early Learning 

Jo is a committed and respectful professional with strong leadership experience, both within the sector as well as in other business arenas, having supported both not for profit and commercial entities.

Jamie Hodgson

Jamie Hodgson

Chrysalis Key Assets Transformation Hub, Key Assets Australia, NSW  

Jamie is a senior executive, with qualifications in social impact and social work and has worked within State and Federal government departments and non-for-profit organisations in his 25-year career in the human services sector.

Stuart Braganza-Travis

Stuart Braganza-Travis

Director, People and Strategy, Early Childhood Management Services (ECMS), VIC

Stuart has worked in the international development and education non-profit sectors for the last 12 years and has dedicated his career to working towards social justice.

Angela Ngavaine

Angela Ngavaine

Head of Education and Quality, Only About Children

Angela started her journey in Early Childhood 27 years ago as an assistant educator and has since worked in varied roles across the sector, ranging from assessment and training, to long day care and home-based care roles which have given Angela the opportunity to design and deliver training across both settings. 

Rebecca Hand

Rebecca Hand

Executive Director, Early Childhood Management Services (ECMS), VIC

Rebecca has been a leader in early childhood education and care for 30 years. She began her leadership journey in South Australia as a teacher in both prior to and school settings.

Bella Rose Gordon

Bella Rose Gordon

Early Childhood Education Officer, Aboriginal Education Consultative Group NSW

Bella has been in the Early Childhood sector for 12 years, starting as a preschool educator at Awabakal Preschool, a leading Aboriginal organisation in Newcastle, New South Wales.