2026 judges biographies

Natasha Vernon

Tash has dedicated 30 years to education, working as an educator committed to making a meaningful difference in young lives.

She has been in diverse roles from teaching, managing early learning centres and outside school hours care services, working with the regulatory authority and most recently as an early years advisor.

She is deeply passionate about play-based learning, championing children’s agency and ensuring every child is provided the opportunity to thrive and experience the best possible start in life.

Maggie Maguire

Maggie is the regional manager of childcare services for One Tree Community Services and holds a Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education.

She has worked within the education sector across a variety of roles, including:

• teaching
• inclusion professional work
• leadership
• management.

She is passionate about inclusive practices and has a particular interest in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life and the significant impact that nurturing, high-quality early learning environments can have on lifelong wellbeing and development.

Her professional approach is grounded in relationship-based practice, advocacy, and supporting educators and families to create safe, inclusive, and responsive learning spaces where children can thrive.

Cathy Mulhull

Cathy is a long-term territory resident and has worked in the field of early childhood education and care for over 25 years in the Big Rivers and Arnhem land regions.

She was awarded the Good Beginnings national award, in the category of child focussed work, in 2012. She has worked as an inclusion professional and as a lecturer for Batchelor Institute and Charles Darwin University, delivering to students in the Big Rivers and Arnhem regions.

She presented at the ECA National Conference while also working as the co-ordinator of the Guluman Childcare Centre regarding the challenges and rewards of working with, and training, remote students.

In 2021, she was a finalist, in the category VET Teacher or Trainer, at the Northern Territory Training Awards.

These days Cathy devotes her time to advocating for children through her work with the Early Childhood Australia NT Committee.

Louise Cooke

Louise has over 20 years of experience working alongside Indigenous families and communities to deliver early childhood education and care programs in remote regions of the NT.

With deep intergenerational connections to Bininj families in Western Arnhem Land and extensive work with Yolŋgu communities in East Arnhem Land, she has dedicated much of her career to leading and supporting the Families as First Teachers (FaFT) program.

Louise holds a Master of Education from the University of Melbourne.In her current role as child development program leader FaFT, she provides training and coaching to remote educators with a strong focus on 3a and ASQ‑TRAK.

Angela Ross

Angela has held senior leadership roles including:

• co-principal and assistant principal at Yipirinya School
• senior teacher roles in schools and corporate with the NT Department of Education and across the tri-states
• executive director within VACCHO
• director of learning, health and wellbeing with Children’s Ground.

Her work has consistently focused on improving outcomes for Aboriginal children and families through culturally responsive, community-led approaches. She is a Highly Accomplished Teacher (HALT) and has contributed to national and NT education advisory groups.

Alongside her education work, Angela is an artist and designer through Pwerle Studio, creating wearable art that reflects identity, storytelling and connection to country.

Bev O’Connell

Bev knows the NT education and care context well, with 45 years working in various education and care roles in urban, rural and remote settings. She holds a Diploma of Teaching, a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Education.

Over the course of her long career, Bev’s experience includes:

• preschool teacher in long day care settings and preschools
• teacher training and development
• trainer or assessor
• lecturer and placement supervisor in early childhood education
• corporate governance and policy roles, including as a director on the ECA Board.

Having a child with a disability, and teaching in rural and remote NT, focused her attention on the challenges for children and families in the bush, the importance of a voice for all young people, and the importance of inclusion.

Bev is currently working as a Civics Educator with the NT Electoral Commission.

Kaylee Kent

Kaylee is an experienced educator and educational leader with more than 30 years’ experience across:

• early childhood
• primary
• secondary
• community education settings in the NT, SA, NSW and internationally.

She currently serves as FaFT regional program leader for the Central Australia and Barkly regions, supporting program delivery and mentoring educators across remote and very remote sites.

Kaylee’s professional interests include:

• play-based learning
• trauma-informed practice
• inclusive education and culturally responsive early years pedagogy.

She has undertaken extensive professional learning in the:

• Australian Abecedarian Approach
• ASQ-Trak developmental screening
• Reggio Emilia philosophy
• Playful Literacy
• Science of Reading.

Sara Barker

Sara is the director of Smile-A-Mile Fun Bus and Toy Library Inc. NT community organisation delivering mobile playgroup and toy library services to children and families across rural and remote communities.

With a background in early childhood education and community services, Sara is passionate about creating inclusive, low-barrier opportunities for children and families to connect through play.

Her work focuses on supporting vulnerable and geographically isolated families, with a strong emphasis on community engagement, early intervention and access to developmental play resources.

Sarah Rheinberger

Sarah is a senior lecturer in occupational therapy at Charles Darwin University and a registered occupational therapist with extensive experience across health and education systems.

Her work focuses on:

• the intersection of child development
• early intervention
• disability
• inclusive education.

With a strong commitment to improving outcomes for children and families through evidence-informed practice and policy.

She is currently undertaking a PhD focused on inclusive transitions to school and has contributed to published research in early childhood and inclusion. Together, her research and practice reflect a commitment to creating equitable pathways for all children as they move into formal education.

In addition to her professional roles, Sarah is a mother of 2, which continues to shape her commitment to practical, inclusive and family-centred approaches in early childhood.

Anna Latz

Anna is a passionate early childhood educator, with many years' experience as a preschool teacher and now working as an early childhood advisor.

Anna is an advocate for play-based education, coaching others to implement play-based learning in their classrooms.

Anna believes that relationships are not only vital to quality early education and care but one of the great pleasures in teaching and learning.

Anna leads educators to:

• deliver high-quality learning programs in safe and engaging environments
• collaboratively plan with all stakeholders
• listen attentively
• consider alternative opinions and suggestions and communicate openly through appropriate channels.

Anna has completed courses in coaching and leadership and was a finalist in the Outstanding Early Childhood Teacher category in the Early Childhood Awards in 2022.

Lucy Stephens

Lucy is a highly experienced and passionate early childhood professional with more than 18 years of leadership and expertise across the education and care sector.

Throughout her career, she has worked in a diverse range of roles, building a strong reputation for championing inclusive practice, empowering educators, and advocating for equitable outcomes for all children and families.

Working across the NT in a wide variety of communities and contexts.

Lucy has the privilege of supporting:

• early childhood education and care
• outside school hours care
• family day care

Through this work, she has observed fantastic educator practices and inspiring care environments.

Amy Norman

With over 12 years of experience as an early childhood teacher in the NT, Amy has built a career grounded in:

• early childhood educational leadership
• advocacy
• a commitment to improving outcomes for young children.

Recognised nationally as a Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher (HALT), Amy has contributed extensively to early childhood education through classroom practice, mentoring and professional collaboration.

Across her career, Amy has worked closely with research, early career educators, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander educators in remote settings, families and communities in diverse contexts throughout the NT.

Her work is informed by a strong belief in the importance of inclusive, relationship-based learning environments that recognise children as active participants in their own learning.

Meg Hewett

Meg has worked across early childhood education and integrated services in the NT for more than 16 years, including as a FaFT family educator, preschool educator in Connected Beginnings and integrated services leadership roles.

She is currently director of early childhood programs and partnerships with the Department of Education and Training.

Having lived and worked in remote Northern Territory communities for 14 years, Meg is passionate about equity and access in education, supporting strong pathways for children and families and growing a strong local Territory workforce.

She is particularly committed to recognising and valuing the deep cultural knowledge, strengths and diversity of languages held across the NT. Supporting pathways into education, training and employment for local parents and educators.

Her work is grounded in the belief that strong relationships, community-led approaches and culturally responsive early childhood systems create the foundation for children and communities to thrive.

Chami Jayasinghe

With nearly 17 years of experience in the early childhood education and care sector, Chami is a dedicated leader driven by a commitment to quality practice and continuous improvement.

Chami’s professional journey is backed by formal qualifications from Charles Darwin University and Rowe Training, providing a solid foundation for her extensive expertise in both community-based and private long day care settings.

Chami is deeply passionate about fostering safe, nurturing environments where children can thrive.

Beyond the classroom, Chami is committed to mentoring the next generation of educators, guiding them to uphold service policies and national standards with integrity.

Chami’s dedication to excellence and sustainable practices was notably recognized when she was shortlisted for the Northern Territory Education and Care Awards in the Sustainability category.

Lare Stanton

Lare is a highly experienced early childhood education and care professional with more than 26 years’ experience across the NT.

She has held diverse leadership and education roles, including:

• educator
• team leader
• educational leader
• service director
• lecturer
• trainer
• assessor.

With over a decade of experience as a service director and 15 years working in the Kakadu Arnhem Land region, Lare has led services and supported educators in remote communities such as Jabiru, Minjilang and Warruwi.

Her work is driven by a strong commitment to child development, culturally responsive practice and creating culturally safe learning environments that empower children, families and communities.

As a lecturer with Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education and a Trainer and Assessor with One Tree Community Services, Lare has supported Indigenous educators to gain qualifications and develop sustainable careers.

Over the past 7 years, she has delivered Certificate III and Diploma programs in Early Childhood Education and Care across remote communities in the Northern Territory and Western Australia, providing mentoring, training and workplace support to strengthen local workforce capability.

Lare believes educators are at the heart of strong communities, connecting children, families and culture while fostering positive outcomes for future generations.