Meet the Establishment Team
The institute’s establishment team brings together a multidisciplinary team with deep expertise across early childhood education, workforce development and community services. Their core strengths include extensive experience in adult education and early childhood education and care and early years programs. Their leadership in workforce development is built on a track record of designing and delivering large-scale professional learning programs, capability-building initiatives and state-wide strategies.
The team, led by Julie Price, combines strategic planning capability with hands-on project management, stakeholder engagement, and human-centred design approaches. Their collective experience bridges philanthropic partnerships, social policy, adult learning and culturally responsive service delivery. Collectively they are positioning the institute to drive meaningful, evidence-informed workforce outcomes for Queensland’s early years sector.
Julie Price
Project Director
Julie brings 35 years of experience translating best practice adult learning into high-quality workforce development initiatives. Her deep knowledge of the education and care sector, group process, and organisational development enables her to understand organisational needs and formulate responses that improve service delivery quality.
Gayle Evans
Head of Engagement and Partnerships (The Bryan Foundation)
Gayle led the philanthropic partnership that undertook the institute’s initial ideation and co-design phase. She gathered broad sector perspectives to define the institute’s purpose and scope and co-developed the planning and establishment team structure. Her involvement brought independence and convening support to this innovative workforce initiative.
Lisa Walker
First Nations Cultural Consultant
Lisa is a proud First Nations saltwater and freshwater woman from the Bundjalung, Gubbi Gubbi, Yaegl and Yuin Nations. With 20 years in early childhood education and care, she holds multiple cultural advisory roles. Lisa is an authentic connector focused on systemic change for an equitable future where First Nations People’s jarjums can thrive.
Angela Murphy
Data and Evaluation Specialist
Angela brings over 20 years’ experience turning complex data into practical insights and community stories. She is designing the institute’s data and evaluation strategy and creating tools that empower the workforce to make informed decisions. A published researcher, Angela holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Research Psychology.
Alisa Hall
Principal Workforce Capability Lead
Alisa is a social worker, service leader and executive working across early years, health, and community services. She has extensive experience leading workforce development programs to build capability and influence service systems. Previous roles include Executive Director at the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse and Deputy Executive Director at the Health and Community Services Workforce Council.
Kirsty Sharman
Senior Project Officer
Kirsty has enjoyed a diverse career spanning 27 years in the Early Childhood Sector in NSW and Queensland. From lead educator, kindergarten mentor, director and most recently as a Kindy Uplift Advisor. She holds a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) and a Post Graduate Certificate in Business (Philanthropy and Non-Profit). Kirsty is deeply committed to celebrating the invaluable contribution of its workforce.
Tara Lee Franks
Senior Project Officer
Tara brings over 35 years’ experience in health and community services across Australia and Canada, primarily in early years contexts. Her career spans occasional care, long day care, OSHC, kindergartens and intensive programs. Tara has led large-scale research, quality improvement and cultural capability initiatives, including state-wide strategies and professional learning.
Jane Petersen
Senior Project Officer
Jane is a values-driven education leader of 30 years with deep experience across early years, music performance and adult education. She leads supportive, human-centred workplace learning environments, working at the intersection of strategic initiative and practice architecture. Jane is a committed advocate for building a resilient, empowered and future-focused early years workforce.
Luke Baker
Senior Project Officer
Luke has worked in social policy, planning and community capacity building for over 25 years with organisations including The Bryan Foundation, QCOSS, Logan Together and Queensland Health. He has led initiatives including the FamilyLinQ integrated schools’ partnership and the Logan City of Choice initiative. Luke is passionate about systems change that supports real community impact.
Sue Allcroft
Operations and Events Manager
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit.
Julie Price
Project Director
Julie brings 35 years of experience translating best practice adult learning into high-quality workforce development initiatives. Her deep knowledge of the education and care sector, group process, and organisational development enables her to understand organisational needs and formulate responses that improve service delivery quality.
Gayle Evans
Head of Engagement and Partnerships (The Bryan Foundation)
Gayle led the philanthropic partnership that undertook the institute’s initial ideation and co-design phase. She gathered broad sector perspectives to define the institute’s purpose and scope and co-developed the planning and establishment team structure. Her involvement brought independence and convening support to this innovative workforce initiative.
Lisa Walker
First Nations Cultural Consultant
Lisa is a proud First Nations saltwater and freshwater woman from the Bundjalung, Gubbi Gubbi, Yaegl and Yuin Nations. With 20 years in early childhood education and care, she holds multiple cultural advisory roles. Lisa is an authentic connector focused on systemic change for an equitable future where First Nations People’s jarjums can thrive.
Angela Murphy
Data and Evaluation Specialist
Angela brings over 20 years’ experience turning complex data into practical insights and community stories. She is designing the institute’s data and evaluation strategy and creating tools that empower the workforce to make informed decisions. A published researcher, Angela holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Research Psychology.
Alisa Hall
Principal Workforce Capability Lead
Alisa is a social worker, service leader and executive working across early years, health, and community services. She has extensive experience leading workforce development programs to build capability and influence service systems. Previous roles include Executive Director at the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse and Deputy Executive Director at the Health and Community Services Workforce Council.
Kirsty Sharman
Senior Project Officer
Kirsty has enjoyed a diverse career spanning 27 years in the Early Childhood Sector in NSW and Queensland. From lead educator, kindergarten mentor, director and most recently as a Kindy Uplift Advisor. She holds a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) and a Post Graduate Certificate in Business (Philanthropy and Non-Profit). Kirsty is deeply committed to celebrating the invaluable contribution of its workforce.
Tara Lee Franks
Senior Project Officer
Tara brings over 35 years’ experience in health and community services across Australia and Canada, primarily in early years contexts. Her career spans occasional care, long day care, OSHC, kindergartens and intensive programs. Tara has led large-scale research, quality improvement and cultural capability initiatives, including state-wide strategies and professional learning.
Jane Petersen
Senior Project Officer
Jane is a values-driven education leader of 30 years with deep experience across early years, music performance and adult education. She leads supportive, human-centred workplace learning environments, working at the intersection of strategic initiative and practice architecture. Jane is a committed advocate for building a resilient, empowered and future-focused early years workforce.
Luke Baker
Senior Project Officer
Luke has worked in social policy, planning and community capacity building for over 25 years with organisations including The Bryan Foundation, QCOSS, Logan Together and Queensland Health. He has led initiatives including the FamilyLinQ integrated schools’ partnership and the Logan City of Choice initiative. Luke is passionate about systems change that supports real community impact.
Sue Allcroft
Operations and Events Manager
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit.
Sector Representation
We have also set up a Stakeholder Advisory Council to ensure that the interests of the entire sector are represented during the establishment phase of the institute. The Stakeholder Advisory Council meets every month and helps shape how the institute will work and how they can support the establishment of the institute.