Members of the Board
Leanne Gordon - President
Leanne Gordon joined the Board in 2007 and took over as President in July 2009. Leanne believes being on the Board of Playgroup WA (Inc) is an ideal match of her skills and experience with the keen interest she has in child development, being the mum of 2 young children. Leanne has found this experience both rewarding and a fantastic learning experience.
Having attended various playgroups over the years with both of her boys, Leanne has always recognised the benefits of playgroups for young children and their parents. Leanne's work on the Board has allowed her to see the wonderful work undertaken by the dedicated team of Playgroup WA employees and the breadth of involvement in the early child development area.
Leanne brings to the role her experience gained from many years in senior management roles in human resources and organization development, and her current experience of running a boutique consulting company. Leanne has previous experience as the chair and member of a range of industry Boards and committees. Leanne has a Commerce degree, majoring in Human Resources Management and Strategic Management, and has completed a number of management development programs from the Australian Graduate School of Management.
Robyn O'Neill - Vice President
Robyn O’Neill is the mother of three beautiful girls and has attended playgroup for a number of years. She has found playgroup invaluable in meeting others with children the same ages for both herself and her girls.
Meeting once a week over coffee and watching the children develop relationships with other children and the associated learning that accompanies such relationships warms her heart. In addition, growing in knowledge from other women and men and sharing the joys and trials of the week shows you are not alone in the honour which is parenting.
Robyn works in the training arena for children’s services and believes strongly in the opportunities playgroup offers society in the form of early education and care. Involving children and their families in play is the true form of ‘action learning’.
Charlie Kempson - Treasurer
Charlie has been involved in playgroups since moving to Perth from the UK in 2002. For his first two years in Australia, he attended a local Cottesloe playgroup on a regular basis where he enjoyed the learning through play ethic as well as the support network provided by other parents.
In 2004 he joined the Board of Playgroup WA (Inc) and was president from 2005 to 2009. Charlie considers his involvement with Playgroup WA (Inc) to be a spirited counterbalance to his work with the boutique merchant bank Azure Capital, where he is an Associate Director.
He says that working on governance and strategic issues with Playgroup WA (Inc) has been incredibly valuable and rewarding, and has allowed him to experience organisations from ‘the other side of the fence’.
Charlie holds an MBA from the University of Western Australia, specialising in strategy and corporate finance, and an MEng in Engineering Science, gained at Oxford in 1993.
Charlie has three boys and says that outside of professional and volunteer work, family interests take up most of his leisure time
Nicole Kerr
As a new mum, Nicole found being involved in playgroups an invaluable experience. Following the birth of her daughter Nieve, Nicole was introduced to playgroups through her Child Health Nurse in 2005.
Her mother’s group quickly formed the Kookaburra Playgroup. After about a year, the Kookaburra Playgroup joined up with North Perth Playgroup, and Nicole and Nieve are regular attendees of this Playgroup.
Nicole joined the Board of Playgroup WA in April 2006 as she was keen to contribute to an organisation that plays such an important role for young children and their parents. Stepping out of the workforce to look after her daughter gave Nicole the opportunity to undertake volunteer work, and what better an organisation to be involved with - one that Nieve and many other children will directly benefit from!
Nicole has completed a MBA from Curtin University and also has a degree in Agricultural Science. Nicole has experience in management, project management, communication, and research and development. Nicole has lived in regional Western Australia for many years, and so brings a regional perspective to the Board. Being involved with Playgroup WA has been immensely rewarding for Nicole, and she hopes that she has made, and will continue to make, a valuable contribution to the organisation.
Jodie Dunstan
Jodie joined the Board in 2007, bringing diverse skills and experience which complement the existing members. Jodie has worked across a variety of industries both in Australia and overseas, including roles specialising in accounting, marketing, business development, software implementation and strategic planning.
Supporting her practical experience, Jodie holds qualifications including an MBA; is CPA qualified and is a member of the Australian Institute of Management.
Kirsten Rose
When Kirsten moved to Perth from London in 2005 with her husband and one-year-old son, she was missing her mothers' group - badly! A friend recommended she join a playgroup and it proved to be a great way for both she and her son to make lots of new friends. Five years later, Kirsten is President of her local playgroup and attends regularly with her second child.
In 2008 Kirsten joined the Board of Playgroup WA (Inc) because she is passionate about the value of learning through play for children, parents, and carers. Kirsten enjoys contributing to Playgroup at both a local and Board level, and finds the experience extremely rewarding.
Kirsten has over 15 years' experience in strategy consulting, marketing, and commercial management and served as the head of a specialist advertising agency in London. She has worked extensively in the US and the UK.
Estelle Buzzard
The newest addition to the Board, Estelle Buzzard is the proud mother of two beautiful young children. She joined Playgroup WA with her mothers' group in 2009 when it became apparent that there was not enough room at their respective houses to accommodate the ever-expanding group. According to Estelle, the Hackett Playgroup saved her sanity throughout the winter months.
When she is not knee-deep in nappies, Estelle runs a boutique consultancy specialising in corporate communications, media relations, event management and promotions. Her clients vary from independent film producers to major mining companies.
The eldest of five, Estelle has always found herself surrounded by young children - from the entrepreneurial childcare service she established at the age of 12, to the dance and performance academy she co-founded in the Pilbara eight years later.
After completing her Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) degree, Estelle was employed by a leading US company to manage its media, corporate and consumer relations throughout the Asia Pacific region. During her four-year tenure, she promoted a diverse portfolio of children's brands including Disney/Pixar, Nickelodeon, World Wrestling Entertainment and Britney Brands Inc. She has also had articles published in various magazines including K-zone, Australia's number one kids' magazine.
Estelle is an associate member of the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA), a professional member of the Australian Institute of Management WA (AIMWA), and has served on AIMWA's Emerging Leaders Committee.
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