Our Board

Playgroup Victoria is governed by a board of directors, each bringing unique skills that assist with our strategic focus and purpose. Our board is made up of a diverse array of professionals, here to aid the drive of our organisation. 

Sarah Cummings

Chair – Playgroup Victoria Board

Chair – Nomination and Remuneration Committee

Member – Audit and Risk Committee

Sarah has over twelve years of executive and board level experience across the public, commercial & not for profit sectors with particular experience in the wealth management, superannuation, insurance, childhood education, health, business consulting, financial services and community service industries. In addition to sitting on the Playgroup Victoria Board, Sarah runs a healthtech startup, Teach Ted, and consults to the financial services industry. She holds a B Business (Business Management), Certificate in Governance Practice and COBIT5 Foundation, IT Governance. Sarah brings strong product, marketing, commercialisation and technology perspectives to the Playgroup Victoria Board and also sits on the Fundraising Committee.

Felicity Dunn

Elected Member – Playgroup Victoria Board

Playgroup Victoria Representative and Chair – Playgroup Australia Board

Felicity was appointed to the board in 2015. Based in Ballarat, Felicity runs eQIPd, a service providing quality improvement support and parent and staff surveys on behalf of early childhood education & care providers across Australia. She also works for a peak body for the education and care sector, providing research and policy analysis advice. She served as President of her community kindergarten for several years and, prior to children, worked in state government, focusing on education regulation, qualifications policy, IT systems, stakeholder engagement and regulation. She has two adorable children, who, like Felicity and her husband, thoroughly enjoyed the fun and friendships of playgroup.

Unal Haribhai

Elected Member – Playgroup Victoria Board

Member – Audit and Risk Committee

Unal was appointed to the board in 2022. He is an experienced corporate finance professional with a demonstrated history of working with organisations to drive growth and achieve their goals. Skilled in strategic finance, mergers and acquisitions, capital raisings, business operations and corporate development. He has strong people skills and is highly motivated to deliver outstanding results for organisations. Unal is a qualified Chartered Accountant and a Master of Applied Finance graduate. As a new dad to his newborn son, he brings both relevant corporate experience and a perspective on how playgroups provide necessary support for children, families, and communities.

Matt Ralston

Elected Member – Playgroup Victoria Board

Matt Ralston is the Chief Operating Officer for the Nossal Institute for Global Health at the University of Melbourne. Matt has experience in commercial, NGO and University sectors and has worked abroad in Europe and Asia-Pacific. Matt has an undergraduate Arts degree with a focus on SE Asian politics and development, Indonesian and English literature. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds a Master of Marketing, a Graduate Certificate in Management, and currently sits on the Advisory Board for the Australian Global Health Alliance. Matt has a strong track record leading and managing large-scale, multi-disciplinary programs and operations targeted to the poor and disadvantaged with health being a focus since 2011. He has a depth of experience building effective relationships with complex clients and stakeholders, including government and major funding agencies including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Matt’s career has been focused on creating positive impact for communities in each of his roles to date. In recent years this has included assisting early-years and school organsisations here in Melbourne where his two daughters, now 8 and 11, have attended.

Antony Elliott

Elected Member – Playgroup Victoria Board

Chair – Audit and Risk Committee

Antony has 40 years of financial experience, having worked across many industries in various corporate finance roles. Antony’s experience covers Financial Planning and Analysis, strategic planning, Mergers and Acquisitions, Treasury (including cash flow, foreign exchange, interest rate derivative and commodity management), and debt and equity capital markets. Antony was Managing Director of a High Net Worth family office and has broad commercial experience domestically and internationally. Antony is a Graduate Member of the Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Australian Corporate Treasury Association and a member of CPA Australia. His undergraduate degree was in Econometrics and Operations Research and he has a postgraduate accounting qualification. Antony has a small farm on which he has taught himself the basics of animal and land management. He skis, owns an underutilised sailing boat and indulges his young daughter.

Anne Mallia

Expert Member – Playgroup Victoria Board

Anne brings 30 years of experience in Family and Children services for the not-for-profit and government sectors. Anne currently holds the position of Manager – Family Youth and Children’s services at one of Melbourne’s largest growth municipalities – Hume City Council. Anne is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Diploma of Education (Early Childhood), Masters (Special Education, Inclusion and Early Intervention), Diploma Of Management, Graduate Certificate in Applied Business. Anne has been an advocate for Family Centred Practice and believes in the importance of working with families as they navigate their way through a very complex service system. To support this work the significance of sustained, quality linkages with stakeholders is critical. Anne brings expertise in the areas of family and early years’ service systems together with skills in governance, corporate leadership and strategic planning.

Kate Wilson

Member – Nomination and Remuneration Committee

Kate is an experienced local government and early childhood professional with skills in corporate leadership, leading change and strategic planning. Kate is passionate about systems thinking and supporting teams to navigate uncertainty through co-creation affecting individual and system change. Kate holds a Bachelor of Applied Business Management, a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Certificate in Organisation coaching. As a parent of young children, Kate is a deep believer in the benefits of playgroup for children, families and community.

Want to make a difference?

Join the Playgroup Victoria Board