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. 

Matt Ralston

Chair – Playgroup Victoria Board

Member – Audit and Risk Committee

Elected Member

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.

Anne Mallia

Deputy Chairperson

Elected 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.

Unal Haribhai

Chairperson – Risk & Aduit Committee

Elected Member – Playgroup Victoria Board

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.

Felicity Dunn

Expert 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.

Antony Elliott

Expert Member – Playgroup Victoria Board

Member – 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.

Jessica Luu

Elected Member – Playgroup Victoria Board

Dr Despina Ganella

Expert Member – Playgroup Victoria Board

Despina was appointed to the board in 2024. She currently works on mental health policy and programs for the state government. Despina holds a PhD in neuroscience and has worked as a postdoctoral research scientist in early life brain development. Despina is a subject matter expert in child and adolescent mental health, with a passion for evidence-based research translation into public policy to improve health and wellbeing outcomes, particularly for young people. She has served as a researcher in residence in a Parliamentarians office, and also holds a Bachelor of Biomedical Science with Honours and a Graduate Certificate in Commercialisation. As a developmental neuroscientist and mother of two young boys, she understands the importance of play early in life, and social connectedness for carers and children. Despina and her sons regularly attend her local playgroup.