Board & Management

Board & Management

The EarlyEd board and management are responsible for the legal, financial and industrial management of EarlyEd. The Board oversees the work and activities of the organisation.

The EarlyEd Board consists of members with a wide range of expertise – legal, business, strategy, accounting, communications and IT, marketing, property management, early childhood intervention and research. Most members are part of families who currently receive or previously received services from EarlyEd.

New members are invited to join the Board each year at the AGM. If you are interested please call 9923 2727 and speak to our CEO.

The EarlyEd board & management are made up of the senior executive team and the board; detail of both are below.

Senior Executive Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Kerry Dominish oversees the management of EarlyEd, is responsible for EarlyEd complying with all funding guidelines and for achieving our purpose which is to provide quality services to children and families. The CEO reports to the EarlyEd Board.

TEAM LEADERS

Team Leaders in each area are responsible for the daily management of each area and providing responsive and quality early intervention services and supports for children, families & community.

FINANCE and ADMINISTRATION MANAGER

Laura Soledad is EarlyEd’s Finance and Administration Manager, responsible for

financial and budget management, operations and supporting EarlyEd to meet its statutory requirements.

CEO and Board Member Profiles

CEO: Kerry Dominish (BAppSci[SP])

Kerry has worked extensively in the early childhood intervention, disability and health sectors. Using her qualification as a Speech Pathologist, Kerry has worked across the full range of service settings, primarily in NSW but also interstate and overseas and then later in management and as well as training.   

During her early years as a speech pathologist Kerry realised that to support a child to reach their full communication potential family members needed to work together with anyone that supports their child (in particularly at preschool, childcare and school). We need to create a team around each child, and all work together collaboratively.  

This has led to a career focused on building and sustaining intervention teams around each individual child, with parents at their centre. Through providing training and information, all members of a team learn how to work together to maintain a child’s ongoing development. 

As the Chief Executive Officer, Kerry is committed to making sure all the children and their families we support, at EarlyEd, have access to a highly qualified early childhood intervention team delivering evidence-based practices and innovative services.  

More importantly Kerry is committed to making sure these services reach children as early in their life as possible and in a way that meets each family’s needs.  This is why Kerry is always active in advocacy in the early childhood intervention sector. Currently she is on the Board for the Professional and Researchers in Early Childhood (PRECI) organisation and is the NSW Representative for Toy Libraries Association for Australia

Current publications

For NDIS Review:

Early Childhood Intervention and Therapeutic Supports for Children and Young People under Age 16 March 2023

Early Childhood Intervention Best Practice Network – NDIS REVIEW QUESTIONS RESPONSE September 2023

Chair: Simon Abela (BCom, MBA)

Board member since 2016

Simon has been interested in technology since primary school and today manages the Australian practice of CS Technology that develops and implements IT strategies for enterprises, higher education institutions and government agencies. His responsibilities are broad and include sales, marketing, client advice, account management, engagement oversight, people management and administration.

“EarlyEd came into my life after my son Julian was born with Down Syndrome in 2011. Not knowing much about helping children with special needs and early intervention, EarlyEd became our family’s one-stop shop for advice and therapy on how to help Julian develop his potential across physical, speech, emotional and social skill sets. When the opportunity arose to join the EarlyEd Board to provide strategic direction and governance on technology and other aspects, I was grateful to be able to give back to an organisation that has, and continues to support children with special needs and their families.”

Board Member: Christine Johnston (B.A. (Hons)/PhD)

Board member since 2013

Associate Professor Christine Johnston is Director, Engagement and International in the School of Education, Western Sydney University where a focus of her work is establishing partnerships with schools, early childhood and community settings both in NSW and internationally. She researches and teaches primarily in the areas of early childhood intervention, working with families and evidence-based practice. Christine maintains a strong involvement in the early childhood intervention field both nationally and internationally through her teaching, her work with professional groups and her research.

“I have long been involved in early childhood intervention as a practitioner, researcher, and educator and this has made me passionate about ensuring that young children and their families receive the best services possible. My knowledge of EarlyEd over the last 10 years has confirmed for me that the staff is equally committed to providing services that conform to best practice in the field. I was therefore delighted to be invited to join the Board to support them in continuing to be leaders in the field.”

Treasurer: Malcolm Grimmond

Board member since: 2018

Mal has over twenty years in senior leadership roles in the transport & logistics sector, with a background in Finance, and IT & operational experience. His interest in EarlyEd is through a family experience of intellectual disability and as a result he is a strong supporter of early intervention services.

Board Member: Poppy Brown

Board member since 2020

Poppy came to Australia after a career as a management consultant for private, government and not for profit projects in the UK and Europe. She has spent the last 17 years working in the Australian not-for-profit sector primarily in the child and family space, managing large scale national programs supporting children with disabilities, migrant and refugee families and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Programs and is currently the NSW & ACT Director for Australian Red Cross providing a wide range of support to communities,

“I am really passionate about supporting children with additional needs and their families to ensure that every child has the opportunity to actively participate in education and community life and reach their full potential. I am excited to join the Board of EarlyEd and help the organisation continue to deliver improved outcomes for children and families”

Board Member: Aaron Neate

Board member since 2020

Aaron is a highly motivated, well regarded and experienced business professional with over 10 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry. During his career at Optus, Aaron has held a number of senior leadership positions across branded and non-branded retail sales, marketing and operations functions. In addition he holds a Masters of Business Administration, multiple commerce and finance qualifications and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company directors.

Aaron has a young family including two children and appreciates the importance of childhood development, believing all children, families and the wider community should have access to high quality support and educational services to ensure children reach their full potential, one of the key reasons he wanted to contribute to EarlyEd.

Board member: Dr Stephan Brennan (PhD)

Board member since 2020

Stephan is currently a Senior Executive with the global biopharmaceutical company Sanofi. After completing his PhD in biomedical research, Stephan began his career in the health care industry with Pfizer in Switzerland. Since then he has held various roles with increasing responsibilities across marketing, sales, strategic planning and business development.

“Growing up, I have witnessed the challenges and hardships my parents faced raising and educating my sister who lives with a mental disability. EarlyEd provides a vital service to children and their families who need our support. I’m excited about joining the board and look forward to helping achieve the organisation’s vision of ensuring children with disabilities reach their full potential.”

Board member: Joan Warner (B.Ed, M.Ed, B. Special Ed, MBA)

Board member since 2022

Joan has worked in C-suite and senior executive roles across in public and private sectors across a range of industries including Ministers’ Offices, Commercial Radio Australia, George Weston Foods, Phillips Fox Lawyers, Australian Centre for Global Financial Services, Telstra, WA Catholic Education Office, NSW Ministry of Education, Training, Youth Affairs and Women.

“I am delighted to be coming back to my education roots, especially in special education, in joining the EarlyEd Board. I worked specifically in the education and special education areas for many years in both NSW and WA, establishing special education facilities across a range of schools, integrating children with special needs into regular classrooms, establishing programs to support families and developing policy at Federal and State levels to enhance opportunities for children with special needs and their families. I am delighted now be part of the Board of EarlyEd and hope I can support and make meaningful contribution to the work of the organisaton.”

Board Member: Louisa Blackwood

Board member since 2022.

Louisa is a highly experienced legal and compliance executive, with a particular interest in corporate governance. During her career, Louisa has held several senior positions including Head of Legal & Compliance at a financial services company and Senior Associate at an international law firm. Louisa has a Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Laws (Hons).

Louisa is a strong supporter of early intervention and the role it plays in ensuring that children with disabilities and their families are supported and given the opportunity to reach their full potential.

“As a parent of a child with a disability, the support that EarlyEd has provided to me, and my family has been invaluable. It is a privilege to be on the Board of EarlyEd and give back to an organisation that has given so much to my family.”