Professor Kate Williams
Board Chair
Kate is a leading international expert on playgroups, child development and parenting. Kate brings strong strategic planning, leadership, and governance skills, having been the President, Vice-President, and Treasurer of multiple school boards, Vice President of the Australian Music Therapy Association, Chair of the QUT Equity Education Committee, Founding Director of the QUT Centre for Child & Family Studies, prior Research and Policy Manager for Playgroup Queensland, and Executive Manager of Operations for Play Matters Australia.
Kate holds five university degrees and has completed the Australian Institute for Company Directors Governance for Not for Profits course, along with executive media training.
Kate brings integrity, evidence-based decision-making, and ethical governance principles to her work. She enjoys building capability in others, and working alongside colleagues, families, and communities to enhance education and health outcomes.
Adam
Carr
Board Director
Adam graduated from Bond University and was admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2016. Adam is also admitted to the High Court of Australia and holds a current Queensland practising certificate issued by the Queensland Law Society.
Adam has dedicated his practice to corporate and commercial law with an emphasis on insolvency and litigation. As such, Adam has a strong understanding of corporate financial decision making and is well versed on the legal and financial aspects involved.
Adam is currently employed as a lawyer at the Australian Securities Investments Commission (ASIC). He brings a wealth of knowledge on regulatory compliance issues including director’s duties and has developed a keen eye in the management of risk.
In a somewhat eclectic career, Adam has held various management roles in the hospitality industry, he has been appointed as the chairman of an owner’s corporation committee, and also studied a partial degree in primary school education.
Adam is a father who is strongly passionate about play based learning and is a witness to the beneficial impacts it has had on his family and the community.
Christine Chew
Board Director
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.
Dr Mia
Christensen
Board Director
Mia is a registered teacher, early childhood researcher and professional facilitating and leading innovations and partnerships in the early childhood education and care sector. Mia has been a teacher for nearly 30 years working in early childhood, primary, secondary, and tertiary contexts in remote, regional, and urban settings in Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia.
For the past fifteen years Mia has worked as an academic at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Mia’s teaching and research focus has been and continues to explore early childhood education for sustainability, STEAM interdisciplinary capability build, and accessing and elevating young children’s voices. As an academic Mia has led the initial development and ongoing redevelopment of initial teacher education units and courses across the Bachelor and Master of Teaching Early Childhood degrees. Mia’s collaborations and advisory roles have intersected with the Department of Education Queensland, Queensland College of Teachers, C&K Queensland, and Lady Gowrie Queensland. Mia’s research for her Doctoral thesis made a significant contribution to the field of early childhood education and care because it enabled the voices of young children, specifically in relation to the complex concept of sustainability, to be heard. The next challenge is to ensure these voices are acted upon.
In 2020 Mia was the recipient of the prestigious Jean Ferguson Memorial Award in Early Childhood Education recognizing the significant contribution my Doctoral studies have made in building the capacity of teachers and educators to support young children’s access and engagement in early childhood sustainability education. In 2021 Mia joined G8 Education, the second largest provider of early childhood education and care centres in Australia. At G8 Education Mia has acted as the Head of Early Learning and Education responsible for the early education of 45 000 children and supporting 11 000 team members. In 2022 I moved into the permanent role of Education Innovations and Partnerships Manager, working cross-functionally with internal and external stakeholders. Mia brings strong governance knowledge in particular in relation to early childhood policy.
Cecilia
Cobb
Board Director
Cecilia is a senior corporate lawyer with 10 years’ experience. Cecilia is currently Senior Legal Counsel at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, specialising in strategic transactions and head office advisory matters. Cecilia’s prior experience was gained at top tier firm Minter Ellison and international development organisation Adara Development (as a pro-bono secondee and subsequently as volunteer).
Cecilia has a Bachelor of Laws and Commerce (Hons) and is a member of the Law Society of New South Wales.
Cecilia is a mother, an active member of her local Play Matters affiliated playgroup and is passionate about supporting families of young children.
Caroline
Macaulay
Board Director
Caroline is a highly accomplished professional with a diverse background in healthcare, strategy, and service design. Her early career as a paediatric speech pathologist specialising in early childhood, gave her extensive experience with diverse and vulnerable groups of children, families and communities, particularly in First Nations communities, and children with a range of physical and developmental disabilities.
With a deep commitment to improving the well-being of children and youth and their communities, using a strengths-based approach, Caroline has experience in leading large-scale strategy and service design projects in the social and health care sectors. Some examples included the redesign of child development, child health, paediatric cardiac services and child and youth mental health service at Children's Health Queensland Health and Hospital Services.
She recently led the development of Health and Wellbeing Queensland’s strategic plan 2023- 2025 with a strong emphasis on prevention through early intervention, systems change and equity in her role as the Director of strategy, policy and impact. Most recently, Caroline has established Macaulay Consulting where she continues to deliver strategy and service design services to the child, youth and family sectors across Australia.
Caroline is an Industry Fellow with the Menzie's Health Institute Qld at Griffith University, and a member of the Australian Institute of Intergenerational Practice. She has also contributed to significant publications in the areas of child development.
James
Markwell
Board Director
James is a father of 2 Children 12 years & 18 Months. He is a proud descendant of the Mununjali / Wangerriburra clan from the Yugambeh language group.
James has worked within the Child, Youth and Family space for over 7 years and have a background in program/project/contract Management, commissioning, and facilitation in this space.
James has led many initiatives (Government & NGO) in this sector ranging from the reduction of Public Intoxication, Indigenous Mens Support (Mental Health), Youth Domestic and Family violence & Mental Health education through robust partnerships, School Disengagement & Early Years Welcome Baby and Child to Country project in partnership with Education.
James leads and facilitates multiple family support interagency and project groups collectives throughout the whole of the Brisbane region to collaborate and alleviate stressors with partner services/agencies relating to complex child, youth, and family needs.
James has previously serviced in the Australia Defence Force as an Infantrymen and Radio Operator for 7 years and deployed once. James has done extensive work with the protection and preservation of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage in practice and policies on Country and through the Oil and Gas industry.
Emma
McCudden
Board Director
Emma is a corporate executive with more than 20 years of experience in innovation, customer experience, brand, marketing and corporate affairs.
Currently the Head of Innovation at Suncorp Group, Emma has worked across industries including insurance, government, consultancy, tourism, and construction.
Emma holds a Bachelor of International Business (Marketing) and a Masters of Education, is a Lego Serious Play Facilitator, and has holds a Leading Innovation & Change Licence with Berkley.
Emma has a passion for education and childhood development.
Emma built her own Innovation Academy at Suncorp, teaching others how to ideate and solve customer problems, volunteered with the Smith Family to Mentor young people, has been a Guest Lecturer at the University of Sunshine Coast and is a registered teacher.
Emma is committed to providing young people the opportunities and education to enable them to see their potential, and empower them with the resources and networks to achieve it.
Simon Moore
Company Secretary
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.
Penny Creamer
Chief Executive Officer
Penny Creamer was appointed CEO of Play Matters Australia in September 2023.
Penny is passionate about the power of play and brings with her a wealth of knowledge having worked in child and youth services and the education sector for more than two decades.
Penny has an impressive professional background, having previously served as Executive Director - First Nations and Child Rights Advocacy at the Queensland Family and Child Commission. She has extensive experience working in Indigenous education, setting up early childhood programs in remote areas of Queensland including Cape York, Torres Strait Islands and the Gulf of Carpentaria. Further to this work, Penny led the implementation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child and family centres across 10 Queensland communities.
Working both internationally and here in Queensland, Penny has led a variety of policy and programs, including her work setting up the partnership agreement between child safety and education departments to improve educational outcomes for children in out-of-home care and the Bullying. No Way! campaign which provides information and ideas for students, parents and teachers to combat bullying.
Dan Marais
Executive Manager - Brand and Strategy
Dan is Executive Manager – Brand and Strategy at Play Matters Australia. He leads the Brand and Experience team which oversees brand, communications, events, content development and technology. In a volunteer capacity Dan is President of Children’s Rights Queensland. He is currently studying a Master of Innovation and Leadership at the University of Queensland. Dan is an advocate for children’s rights, play, capacity building and early intervention programs.
Julia Oreopoulos
Executive Manager - National Programs
Julia Oreopoulos is Executive Manager - National Programs at Play Matters Australia. She is a Registered Music Therapist with 12 years clinical experience in aged care, palliative care, children’s bereavement, trauma/ adolescent refugees, and in early intervention. Julia leads inclusive and therapeutic programs at Play Matters Australia. Her role covers all national programs delivered by the organisation.
Shele
Liddle
Executive Manager - Community and Place-based Programs
Shele is Executive Manager – Community and Place Based Programs at Play Matters Australia. Shele is an Occupational Therapist with 20 years’ experience in the health and human services sectors and holds a Master of Counselling and post graduate qualifications in Management.
Shele is passionate about the powerful role of play in supporting wellbeing, development and quality of life for people of all ages.
Anita McGonigle
Manager - People and Culture
Anita is the Manager of People & Culture at Play Matters. Anita has a passion for empowering individuals to be the best version of themselves. Anita is a big believer in ongoing learning and is currently completing the AHRI Practicing Certification Program. Before joining the Play Matters team, Anita worked in the health and engineering industries and now feels like she has found her home working in the early childhood/not-for-profit space. In her leisure time, Anita volunteers for Inclusee, enjoys time with her family and her slogan for life is to ‘keep laughing’.
Corrine Fry
Executive and Projects Officer
Corrine Fry is Executive and Projects Officer.
Our Patron
Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young PSM, Governor of Queensland
The Governor was born in Sydney in 1963. After graduating from Medicine at Sydney University in 1986, she commenced her medical career at Westmead Hospital. In 1999, she relocated to Brisbane to take up the role of Executive Director of Medical Services at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, and served on various workforce committees, including as Chair of AMWAC (Australian Medical Workforce Advisory Committee).
In August 2005, the Governor was appointed to the role of Chief Health Officer for Queensland, with responsibility for leading the State’s preventative health and public health agendas, including response to public health emergencies. In January 2020, when the COVID-19 virus outbreak was declared a pandemic, the Governor became the State Health Incident Controller.
Her Excellency was sworn-in as the 27th Governor of Queensland on 1 November 2021. The Governor is a strong advocate for play and the work that Play Matters Australia does for families.
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Why Play Matters
Play truly matters in developing resilient children and families to ensure health and wellbeing for their whole life. Play is how children learn and grow and is a key element of early childhood development. It provides a foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing.