The Early Childhood Education Summit 2026

Dr Red Ruby Scarlet is an early childhood consultant, artist, activist and academic. She holds numerous degrees in early childhood education and performing arts. Red is devoted to creative, imaginative, inclusive practices that promote dignity and integrity in early childhood. Over her 30 year career, Red has published widely including the development of curriculum and learning frameworks nationally and internationally. She has won numerous awards for her teaching and advocacy. She is a highly sought leader and mentor in the early childhood profession. Red is the co-writer and performer of wildly popular “The National Quality Framework – The Musical!”.  

Professor Marianne Fenech is Director of the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) program at the University of Sydney. She has published extensively on the governing of early childhood services, initial teacher education, and teachers, and the impact this governance has on quality, accessible, and inclusive early childhood education. Marianne is a strong advocate for quality early childhood education and the early childhood teaching profession. She is currently leading a national longitudinal study aimed at attracting, developing, retaining, and sustaining a quality early childhood teacher workforce in Australia. 

Anthony Semann is an early childhood educator, author, and co-founder of Semann & Slattery, a national consultancy supporting early years practice and leadership across Australia. With over 35 years’ experience, Anthony is recognised for his work in pedagogical leadership, curriculum, and building equitable, relationship-focused education environments. He regularly collaborates with educators, government agencies, and communities to translate research into practical change. Anthony is passionate about the power of education as a driving force in social transformation .

Cara Nightingale spent most of her teaching career in the South Eastern suburbs of Melbourne working predominantly with vulnerable and newly arrived children and families. Teaching in this community highlighted the importance of advocating for social justice and social equity.  

Activism, advocacy, and leadership play a strong part in Cara’s vision for early childhood teachers and educators. She sees these elements as an integral part of the educator role, but believes more members need to recognise how they can exercise them broadly, as part of everyday practice. 

Cara has been actively involved in the AEU VIC Branch and is currently Vice President of Early Childhood. At a national level, Cara is the chair of the AEU National Early Childhood Committee and is also the AEU Federal Executive Early Childhood representative. 

Deb is professor of social policy at UNSW and was Associate Commissioner on the Productivity Commission inquiry into Early Childhood Education and Care.   She has been an advocate for affordable, high quality and inclusive ECEC since the 1970s. She has worked closely with community groups including ACOSS, the Women’s Trade Union Commission and Community Child Care.  Deb was the inaugural convenor of the National Association of Community Based Children’s Services and is on the board of Goodstart Early Learning.  

Beginning as a Trainee in 2005, Emma has over 20 years in the early childhood education sector. Holding a Masters of Child Play Therapy, Emma is a strong advocate for inclusion that is practical, evidence-informed and grounded in children’s lived experience. As an AuDHD mum in a neurodivergent household, Emma is passionate about broadening the way the early childhood sector understands development, advocating for strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming approaches that honour the individual child. 

Emma believes inclusive practice is only possible when it is underpinned by meaningful structural support including strong leadership, highly trained and supported educators and funding and policy settings that match the realities of today’s early childhood classrooms. Through her continued work within the sector, Emma supports teams to build authentic, inclusive environments where all children, families and educators can thrive. 

Evan (they/them) is an early childhood educator, worksite delegate with the United Services Union (USU), freelance writer, and a long term activist for queer rights, disability justice, and better pay. 

Gabrielle has been researching how social services, such as early learning, aged care and child welfare, are organised and delivered for more than 25 years. Through research-based advocacy, she has contributed to national and international debates on reforming social service systems to better serve the public interest. Gabrielle has been an expert witness in several equal remuneration cases for social service workers. She is a member of the Work + Family Policy Roundtable. 

Jodie Cox has been the Director of East Maitland Preschools for nearly 15 years. Over the last 30 years she has worked in Not for Profit organisations in nearly every type of Early Childhood Service, and was also on the Board for a large NDIS Inclusion Support Provider for over 5 years. 

Jodie is one of the Ambassadors for the IEU NSW Preschool Unite for Change Campaign including the Start Strong, Pay Fair Campaign, which aims to secure better pay and conditions for Early Childhood Teachers and Educators. This campaign saw thousands of Teachers and Educators in NSW Community Preschools join in a Day of Action, including over 1500 of them, in a sea of pink, descending on Martin Place to rally outside of NSW Parliament.   

Jodie is committed to raising the voices of educators and children to ensure every single Early Childhood Education and Care Service is a safe, nurturing and empowering space for everyone. “We can no longer wait quietly for the sector to be fixed, we need to come together and stand up for the things we know make a real difference”. 

Dr Kathy Cologon is Associate Director of the Children’s Voices Research Centre at Charles Sturt University and an honorary academic at the University of Sydney and Macquarie University. Drawing on extensive early childhood practice and research, she is a committed advocate for inclusive education systems for all – teachers, educators, children, and families – that uphold all children’s rights, safety, belonging, and meaningful participation. 

Lisa Bryant is an early education and care advocate, researcher, consultant and writer. She is a regular opinion writer for The Guardian, Sydney Morning Herald and the ABC. With deep knowledge of early education policy, she champions children’s and educators’ rights and a future where every child can access free, high-quality early learning. 

Lisa James has a Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood) and a Master of Early Childhood from Macquarie University. She worked in preschool, long day care and out of school hours care services for fourteen years. Lisa has been an Early Childhood Organiser at the Independent Education Union – NSW/ ACT Branch since 2007. She is a committed advocate for the early childhood education sector. Lisa is part of the NESA Early Childhood Teacher Accreditation Reference Group and gave evidence in two NSW Parliamentary Inquiries on Child Safety in 2025.  

Natalie Cordukes is the Director at The Northern Nursery School; a community preschool located in Mosman. Natalie has over 25 years’ experience in the early childhood profession, working across long day care and preschool settings, as well as with TAFE NSW. In addition to her role at The Northern Nursery School, Natalie also volunteers as the Coordinator of the Aboriginal Children’s Service community programs in Redfern. Natalie is passionate about leadership, community engagement, and building strong professional partnerships. She strives to foster inclusive communities where social justice and equity are deeply valued. 

Sene Gide is an early childhood education leader, researcher, and advocate for inclusive practice with over 26 years of experience in the sector. She has worked as an educator, teacher, and centre director, and currently leads a high-quality, multicultural early learning service in Australia. 

Sene is a PhD candidate exploring the experiences of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) leaders in Australian ECE services, with a focus on recognition, equity, and workforce diversity. She recently submitted her thesis for examination and is waiting for the result.  Her research has been presented at national conferences and submitted to peer-reviewed journals. 

Drawing from her own migrant background, Sene is passionate about supporting children, families, and educators from diverse communities. Her leadership style is consultative and transformational, rooted in trust, shared responsibility, and cultural understanding. She believes that leadership is not about holding authority, but about connections, empowering others, and guiding a shared vision forward. 

Tia is a Certificate 3 educator at Explore & Develop Annandale. She is studying for her Diploma while working with 2–year-olds. She has been in the Early Childhood sector for two years. Prior to being an educator, Tia was a pastry chef and retains a passion for baking.    

Valentina Olivares is a Union Organiser with the United Services Union and a committed advocate for Early Childhood Education and Care. With a strong background in education, community organising, and advocacy, she works with educators in Local Government services to empower the early education workforce and drive reform toward free, highquality early education in NSW. 

Cartographer of broken systems. Commander of inconvenient questions. Architect of mutiny. Did not seek command. Command found her. Navigator. Strategist. Keeper of charts, questions, and uncomfortable truths.  शिक्षक (educator) by trade, troublemaker by necessity. Doesn’t negotiate with dysfunction. The storm is rarely accidental.

Part infamous pirate. Part childhood icon. Part teacher. Teacher. Scholar. Unionist. Pirate.  A fierce advocate for children, educators, and collective power. Awilda believed deeply in professional solidarity and the necessity of organised resistance in unjust systems. She challenged the myth of objectivity, exposed the politics of “quality,” and refused to sanitise the realities of early childhood education.  A proud union member, a relentless thinker, and a generous mentor.  A breast cancer warrior.  A mother. 

Awilda is no longer earthside, but her ideas continue to unsettle, provoke, and guide. Her work reminds us that neutrality is never innocent, that care is political, and that courage often looks like asking the questions others are afraid to voice.  She sails with us still. 

She was a biter. You were a bleeder. In memorium. 

Witness. Archivist. Survivor. Carries what the sea has taken and what it has taught. Writes from the wreckage, not the lookout. Refuses tidy narratives and easy forgiveness. Believes harm must be named before healing can begin. Understands that systems wound quietly and repeatedly. Keeps records. Keeps receipts. Does not forget. Teacher of truth. Pirate of memory. The hook is not a symbol of loss. It is a tool.