Our Team

Gloria’s professional career spans over 25 years in a variety of roles including Accountant, Business Analyst, e-Risk Consultant and Regional Administration Manager. Gloria leads a national team for a large multinational company and works with others with respect and empathy as she empowers others in her journey.

Gloria holds a Bachelor of Electronic Commerce graduating as Valedictorian, Certificate in Governance and Risk, MAICD and Member of Women on Boards and is actively involved in supporting the Community. Gloria has been the Contact Person for two local Playgroups and remains in contact with many of the families who formed part of these very special communities. Gloria is also a Director on the Council of Ageing Qld (COTA). Gloria’s greatest achievement is being the mother to her three beautiful boys.

Gloria feels privileged to be part of such a dynamic, charitable organisation that connects children, families and communities through play and is proud to be an Ambassador for Children’s Rights Queensland.

Kirsty Dixon was appointed CEO of Playgroup Queensland in March 2020.

Born and raised in regional Queensland, she is passionate about social justice, education, and health equity for all Australians. Before joining Playgroup Queensland Kirsty held executive roles in local government, community services and healthcare. As an advocate for knowledge-seeking to support her community work, she has completed executive education with the Harvard Business School, London School of Economics, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and the Governance Institute of Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Business and is currently completing completing post-graduate studies in Health Science.

Kirsty is a strong supporter of the effectiveness of collective impact, community capacity-building and early intervention programs and feels privileged to be leading Play Matters Australia to grow its positive influence across Australian communities.

Christine is a Certified Practising Accountant with experience in fast-moving consumer goods, hospitality and services industry, small-to-medium enterprises, and in the not-for-profit sector. She is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia, and Member of Australian Institute of Company Directors, CPA Australia and Queensland College of Teachers. Christine is a mother of four and passionately believes in play-based learning and the beneficial developmental outcomes of playgroups for children, their families and communities.

James is General Manager, Advocacy at Cancer Council Queensland, where he leads the organisation’s advocacy and policy reform, to enable its vision of a cancer-free future. James has significant not-for-profit leadership experience and previously worked as a lawyer in community services and corporate practice. James is an adjunct Associate Professor at UNE’s School of Law, and is a member of the AHPRA community advisory council, Brisbane South PHN’s community advisory council, the QUT Law Advisory Board and the Service Union’s branch council. In 2014, James received a Churchill Fellowship and a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the community, particularly social welfare and legal access programs.

Jane Bourne is a highly regarded expert in Early Childhood Education and Care, with more than four decades of experience to her name. She has held a variety of senior management and executive positions in both profit and not-for-profit organisations. Jane is a former Chief Executive Officer of C&K Childcare and Kindergarten and Lady Gowrie Queensland. In 2020 Jane was the winner of the Queensland University of Technology Faculty of Education Outstanding Alumni Award. She is a Director on the National Board of Directors of Early Childhood Australia (ECA) and a member of AICD. Jane continues her work career as a strong advocate for the early years sector.

Jane Won is highly qualified marketing and communications strategist with over 20 years’ experience in corporate brand and marketing, corporate communications, stakeholder and community engagement, and media relations. She has held senior leadership roles with the State Government, the engineering and construction industry, as well as national media. Jane has significant stakeholder management experience working with a range of external stakeholders including industry, community and not-for-profit organisations, having worked on the community engagement and communications aspects of many major infrastructure projects across Australia and overseas. She holds a Graduate Diploma Company Directors from the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), and is a member of the International Association of Public Practitioners (IPA2). As a parent, Jane is a strong advocate for child play support for all types of traditional and non-traditional carers such as working mothers, stay-at-home fathers, grandparents, nannies and other family members.

Janice is a certified human resources practitioner and a current member of the Australian Human Resources Institute. With qualifications in psychology, human resources and law, and more recently neuroscience and leadership, she is an accomplished organisational change manager, project manager and transformational leader focused on achieving successful project delivery and sustainable transformation that creates business value. As a mother of two, Janice encourages all organisations working in the early childhood space to research, evaluate and deliver programs where the importance of play is prioritised.

Simon is a not-for-profit specialist with experience in the primary health care, mental health, disability, aged care, and early childhood sectors. He has significant stakeholder management experience coupled with proficiency in quality and risk management. Simon is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia, is a member of the AICD, and has completed the Company Director’s Course. He is a Director and company secretary for other large charities in the mental health and aged care sectors.