The Front Project is an independent national enterprise with strong governance and a board who are bold champions for children.

CEO and Board

Jane Hunt

Jane Hunt

(She/Her)

Founding CEO

Jane Hunt is an innovative and results driven social change leader who has dedicated her career to empowering people to improve the world.

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Lisa Chung AM

Lisa Chung AM

Chair

Lisa is an experienced Non-Executive Director and sits on the Boards of various commercial and for-purpose organisations, spanning a wide range of sectors. She was previously Chair of Australia’s oldest charity, The Benevolent Society.

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Wendy McCarthy, AO

Wendy McCarthy, AO

Board Advisor

Wendy is an experienced manager and company director who began her career as a secondary school teacher. Since moving into public life she has been working for change across the public, private and community sectors, in education, family planning, human rights, public health, overseas aid and development, conservation, heritage, and media.

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Simon Kent

Simon Kent

Director

Simon Kent has extensive experience in leadership, strategy and social reform with expertise across a range of policy areas including health, human services, justice and the entire education continuum.

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Verity Firth

Verity Firth

Director

Verity has more than twenty years of experience working at the highest levels of government, and the university and not-for-profit sectors in Australia. Previously Minister for Education and Training in NSW, Verity was heavily focussed on equity in education, and how to best address educational disadvantage amongst low socio-economic groups, including rural and remote Indigenous communities.

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Anne Kennedy Ed D

Anne Kennedy Ed D

Director

Anne Kennedy is a highly respected and experienced consultant in the early childhood sector. Her consultancy work follows extensive experience as an early childhood teacher and academic working in university based teacher education programs in Australia, Sweden, Singapore and the USA.

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Arminé Nalbandian

Arminé Nalbandian

Director

Arminé Nalbandian is the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Social Impact. She is a public policy leader who has spent her career advising governments and for-purpose organisations on social policy and economic development strategies.

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Team

Sally Trudgen

Sally Trudgen

(She/Her)

Lead - Workforce Initiatives

Sally combines a background in educational psychology and teaching practice with expertise in the often-complex workings of the Higher Education space.

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Chris Mason

Chris Mason

(He/Him)

Lead - Impact Foundry

With a background in organisation and policy studies, Chris has worked with governments and agencies, university, philanthropy, not-for-profits, and corporate partners.

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Anna Camilleri

Anna Camilleri

(She/Her)

Executive Administrator

Anna comes to the Front Project with 20+ years of experience in for profit and not for profit organisations across a variety of sectors and industries. At the Front Project Anna is responsible for supporting the Chief Executive Officer, the Front Project’s board and providing guidance and advice in her role.

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Holly Wighton

Holly Wighton

(She/Her)

Operations Manager

Holly is a dedicated Operations Manager with over 15 years of professional experience. Working in the private sector in small to medium businesses, Holly began her professional career in Finance and Payroll teams in the Arts Sector.

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Penny Yewers

Penny Yewers

(She/Her)

Philanthropy Manager

Penny has a background in philanthropy and social policy having worked on Youth Policy and large-scale service redesign for the Victorian Government before moving to the UK in 2013.

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Trina Hinkley (PhD)

Trina Hinkley (PhD)

(She/Her)

Manager, Evidence and Evaluation

Trina Hinkley has more than 17 years’ experience in research, evaluation and knowledge translation, focused on the early childhood period.

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Rachael Wilken

Rachael Wilken

(She/Her)

Manager, the Apiary Fellowship

Rachael has more than 10 years’ experience in the child and youth sector, working with leadership teams, implementing project and quality processes, managing collaborative initiatives with stakeholders and colleagues.

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Kate Oubridge-Egan

Kate Oubridge-Egan

(She/Her)

Innovation Hub Transition Manager

Kate Oubridge-Egan is our new Innovation Hub Transition Manager with a passion for early childhood education and care (ECEC) and systems learning. 

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Sophie Bament

Sophie Bament

(She/Her)

Apiary Coordinator

Sophie comes to The Front Project with experience in project delivery having worked at Parkinson’s UK for a number of years delivering an information and support programme for people newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s and their families.

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Catherine Gayed

Catherine Gayed

(She/Her)

Partnership Manager

Catherine is the Partnership Manager for The Upskill Program and Online Community to build relationships with ECEC partners in providing tailored support, resources, networking and professional development opportunities that upskill childhood educators take the next steps in their career.

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John Molden

John Molden

Senior Program Manager

John Molden is a seasoned higher education professional with over 10 years of experience in the field, and holds a Masters' degree in Communications. John has worked with multiple national and international educational institutions, including colleges and universities, to develop and implement effective online education programs.

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Jane Atkin

Jane Atkin

(She/Her)

Online Community Manager

Jane is creating positive change in early childhood education by supporting practitioners to create an online community of practice where peers can inspire, learn and grow together.

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Raffi Jones

Raffi Jones

(She/Her)

Mentoring Program Manager

Raffi believes that all children and young people should have equitable access to high quality learning experiences, starting with early childhood education, for the best chance to achieve positive outcomes in all facets of their lives.
 
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Charlotte (Charli) English

Charlotte (Charli) English

(She/Her)

Program Manager

As the Program Manager for the Upskill Provider Tier, Charli support students realise their potential to become ECT's and drive systemic change to the ECEC workforce.

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Ashlea Hogg

Ashlea Hogg

(She/Her)

Communications Manager

Ashlea is an experienced communications professional with a specialisation in e-marketing and CRM programs. As the Acting Strategic Communications Manager, Ashlea helps to develop the Front Project’s marketing goals and drive transformative change to the early childhood education and care sector. 

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Stephanie Fitzpatrick

Stephanie Fitzpatrick

(She/Her)

Senior Communications Officer

As the Senior Communications Officer, Stephanie helps implement the Front Project’s strategic communications plan to raise its profile of an independent, national enterprise improving the quality of Australia’s early childhood education system for all.

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Rajdeep Singh Puri

Rajdeep Singh Puri

(He/Him)

Digital Communications Officer

As the Digital Communications Officer, Raj will deliver a broad range of communications activities aimed at building awareness of and engagement with the Front Project’s work. It involves collaborating with all TFP teams and some external stakeholders and service providers.

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