President

Charlie Kempson

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 Cottosloe 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 became its President during 2005. 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 two boys under six, and says that outside of professional and volunteer work, family interests take up most of his leisure time.

Members of the Board

Robyn O'Neill

Robyn O’Neill is the mother of three beautiful girls who has been attending playgroup for four 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’.

Nicole Kerr

As a new mum, Nicole has 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 the North Perth Playgroup, and Nicole and Nieve are regular attendees of this Playgroup. Nicole is also on the North Perth Playgroup Committee.

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. 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 Cooper

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.

She is a director of Sanctuary Systems Pty Ltd, Beanstalk Strategies Pty Ltd and is Company Secretary for Unleashed Technology (Aust) Ltd.

Karen Willis

Karen Willis joined the Board in April 2008 and is an active member of the Billabong Playgroup in Canning Vale.  Both Karen and her two young boys enjoy the many benefits that playgroup provides, such as the opportunity to socialise and exchange views with other local mums and the chance to get messy with glitter and glue!

Born in Fremantle, Karen has spent eighteen years in the UK and now enjoys a fantastic work/life balance working for the Water Corporation 3-4 days a week as the Marketing Communications Manager. 

With nearly twenty years' experience in the fields of marketing, sponsorship and stakeholder relations, Karen is looking forward to bringing a corporate perspective to a member based organisation and the implementation of the Strategic Marketing Plan.