Board of Directors

C&K’s Board of Directors is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of corporate governance and operational processes.

C&K's Board

C&K is committed to the highest standards of integrity and transparency in its decisions and business operations through its corporate governance approach.

C&K's Board oversees the responsibility of delivering on C&K's Strategic Plan and ensuring the organisation's behaviour is consistent with its vision, purpose and values.

The C&K Board has three committees to assist it in overseeing the work of C&K.

  1. Audit, Risk and Finance Committee
  2. Early Years and Innovation Committee
  3. People and Culture Committee

Each committee is comprised of board members. The Early Years and Innovation Committee also includes up to two external early childhood education and care experts.

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Therese Mulherin

Chair (Non-Executive)

Board member since 30 May 2013

Committee Responsibilities
Audit, Risk and Finance
 

Qualifications
BOccThy, GAICD
 

Experience 
Therese has had an extensive career as a non-executive director, executive leader, and strategic advisor to executive teams and Boards. She has a clinical allied health background in Occupational Therapy and is experienced in the effective delivery of human services, including early childhood education and care, health and injury rehabilitation, aged care, disability, and employment services. Therese’s experience spans large national service organisations, outsourced government contracts, strategy development, stakeholder management and change management.

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Charles Strickland

Director (Non-Executive)

Board member since 21 June 2019

Committee Responsibilities
Audit, Risk and Finance (Chair)
 

Qualifications
B. IntBus, B. Com, GAICD, FCA, CPA
 

Experience
Charles is a senior director at the Queensland Audit Office, where he has responsibility for audit methodology, audit and accounting advice, the quality assurance program, and data transformation projects. With broad experience across general government administration and, more recently, the health and local government sectors, he brings a commitment to improving the lives of Queenslanders through his financial and performance audit work. He has a strong background in audit, risk, and governance. Charles is a firm believer in quality education and giving young people every opportunity to succeed: in the past, serving on his local school P&C as treasurer, and coaching junior hockey teams.

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Scott Carpenter

Director (Non-Executive)

Board member since 26 June 2019

Committee Responsibilities

 

Qualifications
M.Business Process Management, Prince 2 Practitioner, GAICD, Cert. IV TAE

Experience
Scott works to bridge the gap between technology and business and improve organisational performance by aligning IT solutions to business needs. He applies appropriate best practice methodologies, frameworks and models coupled with technology solutions to achieve long term business objectives. Scott strongly believes in the ability of education to positively change someone’s life and to support young people to achieve.

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Megan Gibson

Director (Non-Executive)

Board member since 19 May 2016

Committee Responsibilities
Early Years and Innovation (Chair)

Qualifications
PhD, MEd, BEd (EC), DipT (EC)
 

Experience
Dr Gibson is an Associate Professor in the School of Early Childhood at Queensland University of Technology, and is also a respected researcher in her field. Megan's background as an early childhood educator with experience in teaching and leadership positions culminated in her role as Director of an industry-leading childcare centre in Brisbane. Her award-winning doctoral research examined the professional identities of early childhood educators. This work, combined with her extensive professional experience, has laid the foundations for her ongoing interest in the early childhood workforce, leadership, professionalism and sustainability. In her current role at QUT, Megan is responsible for teacher education units on leadership, professionalism and health and wellbeing.

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Geoff Hirst

Director (Non-Executive)

Board member since 14 July 2020

Committee Responsibilities
Audit, Risk and Finance

Qualifications
B. Com (Accounting), B. Bus (Economics), GAICD, CIA, CCSA, PMIIA

Experience
Geoff is a Director of Aurecon, specialising in infrastructure, sustainable design, and ESG. An authentic executive leader with 25 years of professional finance, audit, and risk advisory experience. Geoff also has extensive global experience, particularly in the Education sector and professional services industry, with two Big-4 consulting firms, and more recently as the Managing Director and Market Leader for Protiviti. With expertise in business risk advisory, implementing complex governance programs and change, differentiated value, and business resilience, Geoff has provided assurance and risk advisory outcomes on a variety of risk-based transactions. He's also held executive leadership roles within industries including Queensland Health, major infrastructure development, and transport.

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Christina Turner

Director (Non-Executive)

Board member since 23 June 2021

Committee Responsibilities
People and Culture (Chair)

Qualifications
PhD (HRM), MAppLaw, MBusCoach, GCMgt, GAICD, FGIA, FIML, FAHRI, FAIM

Experience
Dr Turner is a HRM and governance specialist. Her career has included heading up HR functions in national and multi-national, public and private sector organisations, including ABC Learning Centres, the University of the Sunshine Coast, and QSuper Ltd. A past president of the Australian Human Resources Institute, Christina has also held a number of non-executive director roles on public, private and not-for-profit boards, as well as government and Governor-in-Council appointments to panels, commissions of inquiry, and tribunals. Christina also holds governance roles with the Community Services Industry Alliance and the Presbyterian, Methodist Schools Association, and Duchesne College.

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Pauline Elliott

Director (Non-Executive)

Board member since 23 June 2021

Committee Responsibilities
People and Culture

Qualifications
BA, MProfEc
 

Experience
Pauline enjoyed a successful career in the Queensland public sector holding senior executive roles in Queensland Treasury, Department of Energy and Water Supply and Queensland Treasury Corporation. Pauline has extensive experience in financial and commercial matters, a deep understanding of government processes and public policy development, and has worked across multiple industry sectors, including energy, transport and telecommunications. Pauline is now a consultant providing services to organisations seeking support in business strategy, commercial transactions, and complex stakeholder engagement.