G8 Education Limited provides developmental and educational child care services. The Company's principal activities include the operation of early education centers owned by the Company and its subsidiaries, and the ownership of early education center franchises. It provides quality care and education facilities across Australia and Singapore through a range of brands. The Company's portfolio consists of approximately 490 in Australia and over 20 in Singapore. These centers provide a total combined licensed capacity of approximately 38, 710 places. It offers brands, such as First Grammar, reative Garden, Kindy Patch Kids, buggles, Sandcastles, World of Learning, jellybeans, Kinder Haven, Pelican Childcare, Nurture One and Penguin Childcare. The Company's subsidiaries include Sydney Cove Children's Centre B Pty Ltd, Sydney Cove Property Holdings Pty Ltd, World Of Learning Licences Pty Ltd, Kindy Kids Operations Pty Ltd, Alfoom Investments Pty Ltd and Cherie Hearts Corporate Pte Ltd.

Education

G8 Education

Ali joined G8 Education in February 2022 as the Head of Early Learning and Education. She has worked in education for more than 30 years in roles that have focused on quality teaching and learning, leadership and mentoring, curriculum development, community partnerships, research, inclusion, and wellbeing. Starting her career as a Kindergarten Teacher in Central Queensland, she has held senior roles across large early learning providers as well as roles in the TAFE and university sectors.

Ali is currently completing a Master of Educational Leadership and Policy and holds a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. She is the President of Early Childhood Australia (Qld).

Ali Evans

Professor Julie Cogin has worked in the Australian education sector for more than 30 years. In addition to her non-executive director responsibilities, Professor Cogin is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Business and Law) and Vice-President at RMIT University, Australia’s largest multi-sector university.

Professor Cogin also Chairs the board of RMIT Training Pty Limited, is a non-executive director for the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre and has held a number of senior academic leadership positions over the last two decades, including Dean and Head of UQ Business School at the University of Queensland and Director of the Australian Graduate School of Management and Deputy Dean, University of New South Wales.

Professor Cogin has made numerous leadership contributions while achieving substantial research and education outcomes. She is a recognized thought leader in strategy implementation, high performing workplaces and corporate culture, having authored books and world-leading academic articles. Professor Cogin has received prestigious education awards at University, National and International levels and delivered education or consulting engagements for many leading companies throughout Australia, Asia and in the USA.

Professor Cogin has been engaged as an expert witness in a number of tribunals and courts of Australia. In 2016, she was named as one of Australia’s Women of Influence for her work to address gender imbalance in leadership.

Professor Cogin is the Chair of the People & Culture Committee and a member of the Nomination Committee.

Julie Cogin

Peter is an experienced senior management and finance executive of publicly listed companies having held roles at CSR Limited, Rinker Limited, ABC Learning Limited and Sugar Terminals Limited. These roles have crossed a diverse range of industries comprising education, construction materials, manufacturing, infrastructure and agriculture and includes 12 years of experience in the USA. He is also an experienced Non-Executive Director of a number of private companies and is currently the interim Chair of Mulgowie Farming Company and Deputy Chair of Somerset College.

Peter comes with an extensive background in child care operations, having joined ABC Learning as Chief Financial Officer immediately prior to the group going into administration and being a critical part of the team that managed, restructured and prepared the child care business for sale. Peter also has a background in governance, risk management, strategy and planning, merger and acquisitions and business restructuring and improvement.

Peter Trimble is the Chair of the Audit & Risk Management Committee.

Peter Trimble

Toni Thornton has worked in corporate finance agencies for more than 15 years. She brings a strategic commercial focus to the G8 Board, having previously held senior positions with JBWere, Goldman Sachs JBWere and NAB.

Current directorships include CS Energy (including Chair of the Finance Risk and Assurance Committee), Millovate Pty Ltd and Triathlon Queensland as well as being a founding director of the private childcare enterprise Habitat Early Learning. Toni was previously a Board member of South Bank Corporation, boutique developer Devcorp and the Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation.

Toni has more than 10 years’ experience in audit at Board level, is a licensed real estate agent and during her time at Goldman Sachs JBWere, was a responsible executive with the ASX holding both derivative and RG146 accreditation. She has also completed an Accelerated Executive Management program through AGSM (The Australian School of Business), the Goldman Sachs JBWere Non-Profit Leadership Program and the Goldman Sachs Executive Director Leadership Program. Toni is currently a candidate for a Master of Law in Enterprise Governance through Bond University.

During her time with a leading global investment bank, Toni gained significant strategic advisory experience with prominent Queensland listed companies, large private companies and Profit for Purpose Groups including a number of Queensland’s major hospital groups.

Toni is a member of the Audit & Risk Management and People & Culture Committees.

Toni Thornton

Mr. Foster has had a successful career in financial services spanning over 25 years, with his last executive role being Chief Executive Officer of Suncorp Bank, Australia’s 5th largest bank. Since leaving Suncorp, Mr. Foster has further developed his career as an experienced Non-Executive Director with a portfolio of Board roles across a diverse range of industries including financial services, retailing, local government, education and professional services. Mr. David Foster currently serves as Chairman of MotorCycle Holdings Limited and as Director of Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia Limited and Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited.

David is a member of the Audit & Risk Management, Nomination, People & Culture and Property Committees.

David Foster

Peter joined G8 Education in 2016 bringing with him a 20 year IT career in Local and State Governments, consulting, airports and aviation. He holds degrees in both Information Technology and Business Administration, as well as industry certifications in business intelligence and IT service delivery.

With diverse knowledge of technology and its ability to energize and enable people, he believes that mentoring the IT Team into customer-orientated service providers, he can leverage technology to enhance the education and care of the children within their G8 centers.

Peter Nelson

Tracey joined G8 Education in May 2018 and has extensive legal, risk management, corporate governance and executive leadership experience, with a proven record of managing significant legal portfolios. Tracey’s experience covers international mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and capital markets transactions, management of significant litigation matters, compliance, enterprise risk management and insurance, including 10 years with ASX listed Billabong International Limited where she held the position of General Counsel & Company Secretary. She holds a Master of Laws (with High Distinction), Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) (Hons) degrees and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance.

Tracey Wood

Malcolm joined G8 Education in March 2021 in the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO). Malcolm has broad experience in senior executive roles and transformation environments, with diverse leadership experience spanning a range of sectors, including health care, construction, mining, property, infrastructure and financial services. His career experience includes being a Senior Partner with KPMG, Acting CEO of an ASX 100 and a number of executive roles focused on driving organizational change.

With a track record of building high-performance teams and developing step-change strategies to deliver positive outcomes, Malcolm is excited to have joined an organization such as G8 which makes such an important contribution to the development of their children and their communities.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and is a Chartered Accountant.

Malcolm Ashcroft

Sharyn Williams joined G8 Education in February 2017 in the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Sharyn has broad experience in finance and leadership roles with over a decade of ASX-listed experience as CFO and Company Secretary across a number of industry sectors including automotive, education, electrical, wholesale and manufacturing.

Sharyn holds an MBA, Bachelor degrees in Business and Education and is a Fellow CPA and a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia.

Sharyn Williams

Andrea joined G8 Education in October 2021 as Managing Director of the newly established Specialized Care Division. Andrea is also the Founder and Managing Director of Leor, a specialized in home education and care and disability support business that delivers tailored supports to children in their own home, which was acquired by G8 Education in October 2021. Andrea has continued to oversee the Leor business whilst also expanding G8’s ability to support children with complex needs within the G8 network.

Andrea is the President of the peak body for In Home Care, the Australian Home Childcare Association, and is an Apiary Fellow, a fellowship that focuses on creating systemic change for all stakeholders in the early childhood sector. Andrea is a Director of Relationships Australia (NSW) and is a member of the Law Society of NSW Children’s Legal Issues Committee.

Andrea holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws, Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, a Master of International Law and a Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies. Andrea is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, has taught law at various Australian Universities and was nominated in the Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards in 2019.

Andrea Christie-David

Tabitha joined G8 in October 2020 as Chief People and Transformation Officer. She has over 25 years experience in People and Culture leadership roles in ASX listed companies, across a number of industries (including Finance, Hospitality and Retail). She is passionate about culture, engagement, capability and transformation.

Tabitha holds a Bachelor Arts majoring in Psychology and Post Graduate Qualification in Human Resources, Industrial Relations and Training. More recently she has completed the AICD Company Directors course.

Tabitha Pearson

Margaret is a specialist in customer-centred business transformation, brand strategy, innovation, digital communications, customer experience and change leadership. She has 20 years senior executive experience working across major companies and brands in FMCG, food, technology and communications industries including multinationals, ASX 100 and not-for-profits.

Her previous roles include National Marketing Director Lion Nathan, VP Marketing for McDonald’s Australia and CEO and Board Director of The Communications Council. Margaret has also served as a non-executive board director for the mental health charity R U OK? for 5 years, and is currently a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Collective Wellness Group and Fairtrade AUNZ.

Margaret is the Chair of the Property Committee and a member of the Nomination and People & Culture Committees.

Margaret Zabel

Debra has over 30 years retail experience in C-suite roles across Business Transformation, General Management, Retail Operations, Change Management and Human Resources. Debra was the first woman to run a trading division at Woolworths where she spent 11 years working across supermarkets, operations and consumer electronics. Over the past 8 years, Debra was CEO of Fantastic Furniture and Group CEO Household Goods Greenlit Brands. Debra is also a Non-Executive Director on the Shaver Shop and The Kids Cancer Project boards.

Debra is Chair of the Nomination Committee and a member of the People & Culture Committee.

Debra Singh

Gary joined the Group as CFO in July 2016 and became CEO and Managing Director in January 2017. He has extensive senior leadership experience in both financial and operational roles covering various industries.

He holds Bachelor of Commerce (Honors) and Bachelor of Law (Honors) degrees and is a Certified Practicing Accountant.

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