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 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 Macquarie University School of Education Advisory Board; and the Australian Government Dept 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.

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.

BA, LLB, FAICD, MICDA, Member of Chief Executive Women

• Director since 2024
• Member of Audit and Risk Management Committee
• Member of People and remuneration Committee

B.Comm, MBA, GAICD, CPA (Fellow)

• Director since 2023
• Chair of Audit and Risk Management Committee
• Member of People and Remuneration Committee

B.A.Sc (Speech Pathology), GradDip Adult Education, PhD (Philosophy), Fellow of Speech Pathology Australia
Professor, Early Childhood Education, The University of Melbourne

• Director since 2021
• Member of Education Committee

BComm (Accounting), RG146 Graduate Diploma
Senior Researcher, Jumbunna Institute, University of Technology Sydney

• Director since 2020
• Chair of KU Marcia Burgess Foundation Committee

BSc (Hons), MSc, DipT (EC), MEd, PhD (Developmental Psychology)
Professorial Research Fellow in Early Childhood, Macquarie University

• Director since 2019
• Chair of Education Committee

LLB (Hons), BA, BCL, MPhil, GAICD
Barrister, Eleven Wentworth

• Director since 2023
• Member of KU Marcia Burgess Foundation Committee

MA, MBA, GAICD
Chief Executive Officer, The SWOT Shop

• Director since 2024
• Member of Education Committee
• Member of KU Marcia Burgess Foundation Committee

BA, MBA, MAICD
Group Executive, Business & Private Banking, National Australia Bank

• Director since 2023
• Member of Audit and Risk Management Committee

BBus (Accounting and Finance), CA, GAICD
Group Executive, Chief People Officer, Bank of Queensland

• Director since 2024
• Chair of People and Remuneration Committee