CEO and Board

Her most recent role involves supporting Royal Commissioner the Hon Julia Gillard in her work on early childhood education and care.

Her previous roles include leading the division in the Department for Education overseeing a range of policies, programs and services for the participation, engagement and learning achievement for all children and young people, in particular those experiencing challenges to their inclusion.

She has also been a Project Director of transitioning Year 7 into High School for South Australia; headed corporate services as Group Executive Director, People and Performance at the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR); led climate and energy policy for DEWNR; and held various roles in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (SA). She began her career in international and strategic policy in the Department of Defence in Canberra.

She has worked across a number of elements of public sector governance and served on a range of boards including the State Procurement Board and the Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Management Board.

She holds a PhD in Politics and International Relations and an MA in Defence Studies, both from Lancaster University; a Graduate Certificate in Applied Economics from the University of Adelaide; and a Bachelor of Arts from the ANU.

Caroline is a co-host of The Westminster Tradition, a top-ranking podcast unpacking lessons for the public service, starting with the Robodebt Royal Commission.

“When I first heard about The Front Project and its mission to improve quality and access in Australia’s early childhood education system, I felt it was the perfect fit for me. I have relished the opportunity to bring my corporate and not-for-profit expertise to the early childhood education sector and am proud to have become a business champion for change in this space.” 

Lisa has a diverse background, with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tasmania leading to a successful 30-year career in the legal profession. During this time, she specialised in the area of commercial property, and  a Partner at firms Maddocks and Blake Dawson (now Ashurst).

In 2004, Lisa completed the Advanced Management Program at INSEAD (‘the Business School for the World’) in France. In 2006, she undertook the Australian Institute of Company Directors course, before being made a Fellow of the Institute. She is also a member of Chief Executive Women, an organisation comprising women leaders committed to enabling other women leaders.

In 2020, Lisa became a member of the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to the community through charitable and cultural organisations.

John served as South Australia’s Minister for Education from 2018 to 2022. In this role, he led the development of South Australia’s $50.1m Early Learning Strategy. This was the centre piece of the 2021 State Budget, providing funding to expand the reach, frequency and number of child development checks, seed funding the enormously successful Words Grow Minds campaign, and providing teachers with new resources to build high quality learning and development in every preschool.

He also led a broad reform program across the system. This included the introduction of evidence-based early years literacy initiatives and the Year 1 phonics check, streamlining vocational education pathways in schools and the transition of Year 7 students into high school.

Earlier in his career, John’s roles within and outside Parliament saw him engaged with community sector portfolios including disability services, drug and alcohol prevention, and justice. Central to his values is the ambition for Government support to be high quality, effective and accessible to communities, enabling people to live their best lives.

John's deep experience in government policy, system reform and stakeholder engagement will be integral in guiding the Front Project's mission. He has a long-standing commitment to improving opportunities for children and young people through education.

Anne is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Melbourne, Graduate School of Education. She is a Board member of the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO), and the Victorian Children’s Council, and a Trustee of the Creswick Foundation. In 2021 she was appointed to the Australian government Ministerial Preschool Measure Expert Advisory Group. She is a member of the Victorian government Best Start, Best Life task force advisory group established in 2022.

Anne is Co- Director of Research and Practice for the Parkville Institute, which was established to support the implementation of an intensive, high quality early childhood education and care program in three sites and an additional co-designed model with an Aboriginal controlled and led child and family service. The program achieved remarkable learning and development outcomes for young children living with significant social disadvantage and risk factors in the trial phase of the research. Anne’s involvement in this research project has confirmed her belief in the importance of robust evidence to support policy and practice reforms that can improve equity in children’s outcomes and life trajectories.

Most recently, she was Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Policy to the New South Wales Premier and has worked with organisations such as the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia and the NSW Aboriginal Land Council. Arminé’s previous positions within the NSW Government included Head of Social Policy and Premier's Priorities to the Premier, and Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Adviser to the NSW Treasurer.

Arminé is a US Fulbright Scholar and graduated summa cum laude as a Presidential Scholar from Northeastern University in Boston. She also holds a Master of Science in International Development from the London School of Economics as a Luys Scholar, and a Master of Commerce in Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the University of Sydney as a Business Leaders Scholar.

“A former CFO of an ASX listed national childcare operator, I look forward to contributing to the debate of how funding models can elevate the quality of early learning, promote greater access and support the Australian economic to thrive.

I am honored to be able to contribute to The Front Project, an organisation that plays a pivotal role in advocating for system change and equal access to early childhood education and care for disadvantaged families and their children.”

Jenny has extensive board exposure of ASX Listed, multi-nationals and private equity. Over 20 years’ experience across financial services, education, health care and property.

Jenny holds a Masters in Business Administration from UNSW, a Bachelor of Economics from USYD, is a qualified chartered accountant and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.