Our team

Danie joined EdConnect Australia in June 2019.

Danie has worked within the ‘For Purpose’ sector for the past 15 years in senior management. She is passionate about making a difference and focusing on the “why” of the organisation. Danie prides herself on building relationships and driving engagement from those she works with, be it  volunteers, schools, supporters of the organisation, media and staff. Danie firmly believes that  through sharing stories, highlighting the wins, explaining the challenges, there is greater understanding, compassion and a willingness to stand up and make a difference.

Carol joined EdConnect Australia in August 2023.

After a career in merchant banking in London, Carol returned to Australia and took up a finance role with Challenge Bank. Studying for an MBA, she diversified into human resource management before accepting senior state government roles with the Rottnest Island Authority, Perth Zoo and Conservation Commission of Western Australia.

Outside her career, Carol volunteered on the tall ship STS Leeuwin II, satisfying her keen interest in youth learning and development. Starting as a voyage volunteer in 1990, she ultimately joined the board and was chair of Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation for the best part of a decade before becoming CEO in 2016. Satisfying another keen interest, conservation and the environment, Carol maintains voluntary roles on Painted Dog Conservation Inc and For the Animals Inc alongside two other volunteer board positions.

She believes success in all of these roles has been built on a fundamental interest in building relationships through meeting the needs of diverse stakeholders, including staff and volunteers, customers and community, sponsors and donors. Carol believes that being deeply committed to a cause and knowing each day you can make a difference is what is important to a rewarding career.

Tony joined Ed Connect Australia in June 2024.

Tony has been a chartered accountant since 1990, holding managerial and partner roles in a Big 4 and private practice firms in New Zealand. He has also worked in Group Controlling with a Swiss Bank, responsible for board reporting. Since moving to Perth in 2005, Tony has resumed private practice as a Chartered Accountant and devotes a portion of his time to not-for-profit organisations that contribute directly to the wellbeing of others.

Rachel Crisp joined EdConnect in January 2021. Rachel has 10 years’ marketing and communications experience across the not-for-profit, creative and real estate industries.  Having previously held roles within both disability and youth development organisations, Rachel holds a passion for assisting youth to reach their full potential.

Agatha has over 17 years’ marketing, communications and PR experience across a wide range of industries including CCIWA, IKEA, Crown Perth, and as a Marketing Consultant in her own small marketing consultancy.  She has expertise in strategic marketing, brand management, sponsorships, customer acquisition and retention and is a strong believer in the power of marketing to build meaningful connections and deliver measurable impact.

Lundi joined Edconnect in June 2024.

Lundi started her career with one of the Big 4 firms in South Africa.  Since then she has worked in various accounting roles in the Cayman Islands, London and Sydney before settling in Perth.

She has extensive experience in financial and management accounting gained across the for-profit, not-for-profit and public practice sectors.

Karen is the Liaison Office for rural WA covering the Southwest and Peel Region and is based in Mandurah. Karen has a background working with children of all abilities and has extensive experience in the community sector cross all regions of WA.  Karen is committed to supporting communities to increase their resilience, wellbeing and connectedness.

Jane joined the EdConnect team in January 2025 and is based in Bunbury. With a background as a teacher and Education Administrator across regional and remote WA, Jane has worked extensively in Learning Support, Literacy, and Student Support roles, teaching students from primary through to secondary levels. Jane is passionate about education and ensuring students have access to positive support, Jane believes in the power of role models and the impact volunteers can have on a child’s school experience. Jane believes in the importance of connections between generations and the benefits of feeling part of a community and the opportunity to give back at any point in your life.

Sarah joined EdConnect in 2017.

She comes to us with over twenty years experience working with youth in a variety of settings including owning and operating a Long Day Care Centre and as an ECE/Primary Teacher.  Sarah is passionate about each and every child’s right to be empowered and successful within the education system and believes that this is possible through the EdConnect program.  She believes that creating intergenerational connections benefits not only the student and volunteers, but the community as a whole.

Leonie joined EdConnect in 2024. Leonie has a wide range of experience, including business development, primary teaching, creating and managing her own small business, and, most recently, supporting Pre-service teachers, academics and schools through the professional experience program at Murdoch University.

Leonie’s commitment to community service is evident through her long-standing volunteer work with schools, netball clubs, and the Red Cross. Her hands-on involvement has deepened her understanding of the unique needs of students, teachers, and local communities.

She is passionate about connecting volunteers to schools and aims to create a network of support that enriches the educational experience for students and provides teachers and school leaders with valuable resources and assistance.

Tamara is the Area Manager for EdConnect’s South Metro region and has worked in education for over 15 years. Her experience includes teaching in metro and remote schools, international schools, the School of the Air, and TAFE. She has worked with children and adults from a range of backgrounds, including students at educational risk.

She has a strong interest in literacy and has seen how learning success can shift how a young person sees themselves. Tamara values the everyday impact volunteers can have and believes connection and consistency make all the difference.

Sahara was welcome to the EdConnect team in 2022.

Sahara has worked in roles at WANSLEA, 366 Solutions, Volunteering WA and City of Joondalup. Her skills in Volunteer Management, Administration and Recruitment are evident and a welcome addition to the EdConnect Australia team.

She is the previous Club President at her daughters netball club and has held volunteer roles as Board Member of Joondalup Primary School and a Consultant for Volunteering Australia.

Melinda joined EdConnect in July 2021 as the South East Area Manager before moving into the State Manager role in April 2025.

Melinda has a Post Grad Dip of Pysch. and Bachelor of Business (Psych) and previously worked for an extensive period with RACV. She commenced in a research and policy role and then progressed to managing the team that provided community education on road safety to seniors and students with strong stakeholder engagement. She is passionate about building relationships and connections that benefit the community and supporting young people to reach their full potential.

Mairead joined EdConnect Australia in September 2025. She is a qualified teacher with extensive experience across education, health, local government, not-for-profit organisations, and community development. Since relocating to the Geelong region in 2015, Mairead has held leadership roles in public health before returning to the education sector, motivated by a deep belief in its transformative potential. She is passionate about equity and committed to strengthening communities through resilience-building, wellbeing initiatives, and meaningful social connection.

Claire (they/them) joined EdConnect Australia in January 2025.

Claire holds a Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) and Bachelor of Arts (Gender Studies), and is passionate about using data-led insight to create the most positive change. Claire worked in the tertiary sector for seven years with various roles including student and academic support, and coordinating programs for international and exchange students.

They then moved to educational not-for-profit, and for the last four years have been managing corporate volunteering programs across Australia. They are passionate about ensuring that all young people are afforded the same opportunities through education, and have volunteered for over a decade in various academic support programs aiming to bridge the education gap.

I have over 20 years’ experience working as a Youth Worker with at-risk young people, both in a school setting and in the crisis and homelessness sector. I am also passionate about volunteering, having been a volunteer myself for over 25 years and continue to volunteer today with the St Vincent de Paul Society. I have worked in Volunteer Coordination during my time with Melbourne City Mission and more recently The Salvation Army. I am a big advocate for early intervention programs and am therefore excited to be part of the team at EdConnect who are working tirelessly to support young people reach their greatest potential in life.

Qualifications:
Diploma of Leadership and Management;
Cert IV in Workplace and Business Coaching;
Bachelor Social Science (Youth Studies),
Bachelor Engineering (Mechanical & Manufacturing); Honours

Janelle has spent the past nine years working in the not-for-profit sector, leading community initiatives and educational programs with a strong focus on creating positive outcomes for young people. Passionate about giving back to the community, she brings both experience and dedication to her work. Janelle holds qualifications in Early Childhood Education and is currently completing a Certificate IV in Community Services. She is committed to building strong community partnerships that support children’s learning and nurture their overall wellbeing.

Joining EdConnect in June 2025, Jess comes to us with a bachelor’s degree from Monash University in Social and Community Welfare. She has spent the last decade in a variety of roles, from Local Government, to NFPs and Social Enterprises. She has a strong focus on program management and working with those from a vulnerable cohort. She brings solid stakeholder management experience and a passion for ensuring those around her are heard and advocated for.  

Rosalie is thankful to be part of the team bringing EdConnect to the North and Northwest of Tasmania.

Rosalie has had first-hand experience in seeing the positive impact that additional support can make within the school community. This was initially as a High School Chaplain for 4.5 years, then transitioned into overseeing Chaplaincy across the North and Northwest of Tasmania in State Primary, High, and College Schools.

Most recently, Rosalie worked as a Therapeutic Residential Care Youth Worker, supporting youth who, due to crisis and trauma, have been placed in group homes under the protection of Child Safety Services. This gave insight into the struggles that children today face.

Rosalie has seen that education provides hope, understanding and choices for the future.

Maria (she/her) joined EdConnect in June 2025. She has a background in Nutrition and Food Science, along with an MBA, and brings a wide range of experience from working in big companies, non-profit, and small business.

Maria’s strengths lie in building strong relationships, managing projects and teams, and helping organisations navigate change. She’s especially passionate about creating equal opportunities for all young people. Drawing on both her personal and professional journey, she’s committed to building a strong network of schools and volunteers across Western Sydney to help students thrive.