Leadership

Chris is the CEO of KU Children’s Services and is an experienced early childhood professional who has worked in a variety of services and positions in early childhood education for more than 40 years. During her career, Chris has been actively engaged in promoting the value of early childhood education, the rights of children, and improving the status and standing of early childhood education as a profession. 

Chris is a former National President of Early Childhood Australia (ECA) and is currently a member of the NSW ECA Committee; NSW Department of Education (DoE) Early Childhood Advisory Group; Co-Chair of NSW DoE Child Safe Working Group; Board Member of the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA); Member of the Macquarie University School of Education Advisory Board; and the Australian Government Department of Education Early Childhood Education and Care Reference Group.  

Walter joined KU as Chief Financial Officer in 2023. Walter is a Senior Finance Leader with strong experience in strategic management, finance and leadership.

Walter is accomplished across a broad range of financial and commercial management area including advisory, strategic planning, insights generation, contract negotiations, business partnering and innovation.

Walter holds qualifications in Accounting and has a Master of Business Administration. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Colette is General Manager, Early Childhood Education Support. The Education Support department coordinates the activities to enhance KU’s preschool and long day care programs, including in areas of professional learning, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs, sustainability, inclusion support and educator and teacher development.

Colette has worked in early childhood education for over 20 years in a variety of roles and has a strong focus on initiatives that assist and empower our children, families, and staff. Over the past decade Colette has been working specifically in the area of inclusion for children with additional needs and actively supports the rights of all children to participate in quality early childhood education.

Colette has a Diploma of Community Services (Children’s Services), Bachelor of Teaching, Post Graduate Special Education (High Learning Support Needs), is ESDM certified and has a Certificate IV Training and Assessment.

Natalie is the General Manager, Inclusion Programs. Natalie has a Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood), Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) and Graduate Certificate in Business Administration. She is is responsible for overseeing programs to support Inclusion and Diversity across KU Children’s Services.

Having worked in the sector for over 30 years, Natalie has worked in many roles from direct service delivery as a Centre Director, teaching Child Studies at TAFE, Children’s Services Advisor and Early Childhood Consultant as well as senior executive roles in a number of not for profit Early Childhood organisations. Natalie is Vice President of NSW Early Childhood Australia.

Jane joined KU in 2011 as General Manager, People Services. She has brought extensive senior management experience to the KU executive team particularly in the design, development and delivery of cost-effective and innovative people solutions.

Jane’s experience spans the banking and finance, insurance and professional services sectors in both for profit and not for profit settings. Jane has also managed enterprise based Registered Training Organisations and supported the development of a number of award winning certificate programs.

Jane brings a strong focus on building organisation capability and in 2003 received a national award recognising her contribution to the development of employee professional development systems in Australia from the Australian Institute of Training and Development.

Jane holds a Business degree and qualifications in Modern French and Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL).

Cherylanne is the General Manager, Early Childhood Education and is responsible for the management of the Early Childhood Education team.

Cherylanne has worked in the early childhood profession for a number of years in a variety of roles, including Preschool Assistant, Early Childhood Teacher, Director, Children’s Services Advisor and an Area Manager with KU in the Hunter region.

Cherylanne has a Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood), an Associate Diploma of Social Science (Children’s Services) and a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment. Within her career Cherylanne has worked within the financial and business sector and combines this with her passion for early childhood to provide a balanced view of service provision.