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.

Alicja joined EdConnect in August 2022. Alicja is local to the Maylands area and has extensive experience in Customer Service and Administration. Most recent to joining the EdConnect team, she provided Administrative Support to a political party during the Federal election campaign.

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.

Chloe joined the EdConnect team in August 2024.

Chloe is a registered primary school teacher, and has spent the last seventeen years teaching in rural Western Australia. After a recent move from Derby to Port Hedland, Chloe is currently a relief teacher at St. Cecilia’s Primary School. Chloe has previously held roles in Youth Work and for Local Government.

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.

Roselynn joined EdConnect in 2022.

She comes to us with over twenty years’ experience working in the Secondary and Tertiary Education and the Not for Profit sectors. Ros has worked in roles at Notre Dame, UWA, Curtin University, Challenges Abroad Australia and more recently Australian Red Cross.

Her skills in education, project management, stakeholder relationships, consultation and volunteer management will be an ongoing asset to the EdConnect Australia team. Ros also has an interest in the performing arts and is a former Board Member for Autism Association of WA and a Disability Support Advocate.

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.

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.

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.

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.

EdConnect Australia welcomed Caitlin to the team in August 2022.

Caitlin has a Bachelor of Business (Commerce / Marketing) and a Certificate IV in Community Services. She brings a diverse skill set with her professional background in Human Resources, Operations and Account and Relationship Management. Caitlin first moved into the For Purpose sector as a Support Worker in an all abilities day program and discovered her passion for empowering youth through assisted learning and development to achieve personal goals. Caitlin continued her career as a Volunteer Coordinator in the Animal Welfare sector.

Caitlin is extremely passionate about her local Geelong and Surf Coast Community and the significant contribution achieved through Volunteering, from a social, personal and community perspective. She is committed to supporting young people through education, human connection and the power of meaningful support networks.

Melinda joined EdConnect in July 2021.

Melinda has a Post Grad Dip of Pysch. and Bachelor of Business (Psych) and has 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. For the past couple of years she has been focusing on her family and is excited to join the EdConnect team and building the program in the South East.

Rhonda joined  EdConnect  in March 2018.

She brings extensive experience in a broad range of marketing and communications activities including community development, community engagement, volunteer management, and sponsorship acquisition and management.  She has worked in a variety of sectors including the not-for-profit and government sectors.

Rhonda is passionate about helping and supporting the not-for-profit sector, particularly future generations.  Rhonda believes in a holistic approach to education and learning.  She believes that with positive reinforcement and encouraging self-belief all children have the opportunity to grow into caring, respectful and passionate adults.