Our team
GERRI CLAY
Chief Executive Officer
Ba Applied Science Occ Therapy; Post Grad Dip Management Studies
Gerri Clay joined EdConnect Australia in February 2018.
She is a qualified occupational therapist who has substantial experience in the not-for-profit sector, in the UK and Australia managing teams and leading organisations. Her expertise includes community care provision across aged care, disability and mental health with specialisation in dementia care, assistive technologies and home modifications to maximise independence.
From 2004 to January 2018, Ms Clay was CEO of Independent Living Centre WA where she grew the organisation from $3M to a $14M turnover overseeing the strategy, governance and financial performance, people and culture. Prior to this she was General Manager of Alzheimer’s Australia WA.
DANIE MCNEIL
General Manager – East Coast
Danie McNeil joined EdConnect in June 2019.
B.A. of Commerce
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.
ANNE FAIRBANKS
Group Accountant
Anne Fairbanks joined EdConnect in 2019.
B Comm (Accounting and Business Law), MIPA
An accounting professional, Anne has more than 25 years of experience across the commercial and not for profit sectors, having worked in Australia and overseas. She is a member of the Institute of Public Accountants, and an affiliate member of The Governance Institute. Anne is also committed to contributing to the community through voluntary roles in community organisations, with a particular focus on supporting public education.
RACHEL CRISP
Communications Advisor
B.A. Commerce: Marketing and Communications
Rachel Crisp joined EdConnect in 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 and, coupled with her own upbringing in regional WA, hopes to assist in providing equal opportunities to regional and metropolitan students.
HELEN JONES
Administration Officer (Volunteers)
Adv Dip Business Administration, Assoc Dip Business
Helen Jones is the Administration Officer for the volunteers of EdConnect. She has extensive experience in administration having worked in the not-for-profit, for-profit and government sector.
ALICJA WARD
Administration Officer
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.
KAREN BARDEN
WA Rural Liaison Officer
BA Community Development
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.
SARAH WHITE
WA North West Metropolitan Liaison Officer
Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Teaching
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.
ROSELYNN LANG
WA South Metropolitan Liaison Officer
Bachelor of Arts, Diploma of Education, Cert in Community Engagement, Cert IV in Training and Assessment
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 SCADDAN
WA North East Metropolitan Liaison Officer
Bachelor of Commerce, Vert IV in Training and Assessment, Grad Cert in Public Health
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.
CAITLIN O’CONNOR
VIC Geelong and Surf Coast Region Liaison Officer
BBus: Commerce / Marketing, Cert IV Community Services
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 SPITERI
VIC South East Liaison Officer
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 VELKOVSKI
VIC Western Liaison Officer
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.