I'm an early years tragic! I was born into ECE, with Mum starting a home-based service and then purchasing a 28-place preschool in Ermington, NSW, Australia. Being a 4th-generation teacher, our dinner conversations centred around pedagogy, psychology, and the impact of stencils on learning! After completing my Science/Law undergrad at University of Sydney, nearly finished my Masters in Education (Leadership & Management) (although I never finished my dissertation), and a period of time in education tech startups and consulting, it was my great privilege to be the CEO of Being for six years where we created one of Australia’s highest-quality early education organisations. With Mana, I continue my mission to transform early education on this planet - creating extraordinary outcomes for children, their families, and their communities.

As a child: I was lucky to have an incredibly rich childhood. One of my favourite early memories was running barefoot through the creek with friends and setting up "campsites" along the way. Whenever we did this, it was such an adventure! We would spend the day imagining where to go next, what we were going to build, and the resources we would need. Our feet squished in mud and were cleaned up in the running water of the creek - which led to an early connection to nature that stays with me today.

Kia ora, I'm Jen. I am an Early Childhood Teacher originally from Aotearoa, New Zealand. My journey into early childhood education began in 2015 when I studied for my Bachelor of Early Childhood Education. I have taught in both New Zealand and Australia and was introduced to Mana by one of my Centre Directors.

Mana supported me in my teaching practice and helped me continue to create better outcomes for children. I am passionate about empowering our sector and dedicated to supporting teachers, educators, and families to give every child an extraordinary start to life

As a child: I feel very privileged to have been brought up with two cultures, Māori and Filipino. My earliest memories are of spending time with my cousins, aunties, uncles, and grandparents during holidays. Whether it was going to the beach, climbing trees, or singing karaoke with my family, these moments were full of whanaungatanga (relationships), joy, and laughter.

My journey into education began with my first career as an OSHC Educator, where I discovered a passion for mentoring children. I then went on to study a Bachelor of Business Leadership and Commerce at Macquarie University, before joining Deloitte's strategy consulting team, with a focus on the education sector. A key highlight was leading the implementation planning for the Mental Health in Primary Schools Program across Victoria. Following this, I completed my Master's in Applied Positive Psychology at the University of Melbourne, where my research centred on positive education for children. This journey ultimately led me to Mana, inspired by the opportunity to give every child an extraordinary start to life.

As a child: I have fond memories of the first time my mum gave me a toy microphone—belting out gibberish to Daft Punk's "One More Time." It definitely got plenty of use, though I suspect she may have regretted the purchase!

With extensive experience working in both big tech companies and startups, I’ve been a software developer throughout my career, focusing recently on mobile platform development and enhancing user experiences.

At Mana, I’m excited to create an platform for parents and educators, to transform early education on this planet - creating extraordinary outcomes for children, their families, and their communities.

As a child: One of my earliest and favorite memories is learning to ride a bike at the age of 4 or 5. I vividly recall rushing down a hill, teetering on the exhilarating edge between balance and imbalance. It was a thrilling mix of control and freedom, as I discovered the joy of managing speed and direction for the first time, embracing the flow of the ride.

I have an extensive background in all aspects of digital design, with a focus on creating intuitive and delightful experiences that not only look great but truly make a difference. At Mana, I’m excited to bring my experience, creativity, and passion for meaningful design to support educators with tools that simplify their work, help them spend more time doing what they love, and empower the next generation to grow into the best versions of themselves.

As a child: Some of my happiest childhood memories are long summers at the beach in Aotearoa, New Zealand with all my cousins, playing pirates, exploring the rock pools and competing for the best sandcastle designs.