Tessa is a non-executive director with professional experience in governance, compliance, legal and regulatory issues. Her industry experience includes banking, financial services, commodities, property and investment funds. Tessa has had leadership roles as a law firm partner (now retired) and in relation to diversity, gender equity pay and mental health initiatives.

Tessa joined the Gowrie NSW Board in November 2015 and became Chairperson in April 2017. She is a member of the Audit, Risk and Investment Committee, Business Opportunities Committee and the Performance, Remuneration and Nomination Committee.

Rodney brings over 30 years’ experience in construction and real estate including development, valuation and portfolio, property and facilities management. His sector specific property knowledge includes commercial offices, business parks, retail and shopping malls, affordable housing, student and key-worker accommodation, retirement villages, assisted living, life-style projects, community complexes and child care and education facilities.

He is the Chairperson of the Business Opportunities Committee and a member of the Performance Remuneration and Nominations Committee.

Melly joined Gowrie NSW Board in August 2013. Melly has a broad background and a strong foundation in strategy, commercial, investment and financial planning.  A professional transformation executives in project and change management. Melly has more than 20 years’ experience in delivering business and financial transformation projects and has consulted extensively in this area for ASX 50 companies. Melly has worked in Australia, USA and Indonesia. Melly is a member of the Audit, Risk and Investment Committee.

Johan Palsson joined the Gowrie NSW Board in November 2017. He currently works as the Lead in the Global Category Growth team at ebay. Prior to this he was as the Head of E-Commerce and Head of Digital at Dan Murphys, within the Woolworth Group. Johan has a strong digital focus and vast experience across marketing for brands, and products as well as services. He has led a number of Transformation and change initiatives as well as overseen major system integrations and deployments in IT. 

Nicole Jones has over 20 years experience in the Early Childhood Education sector. Her wealth of experience ranges from her early years as an Early Childhood teacher to working in executive management for both local and state government.
Ms Jones is a passionate advocate for children and their rights and will build on the strong foundations of Gowrie NSW’s legacy to give children and educators opportunities to reach their full potential, in a creative and nurturing environment.

Kristie joined Gowrie NSW in 2018. In her role as Executive Director of Programs, Kristie oversees Gowrie NSW’s Early and Middle Education and Care Centre programs, spanning, Early Education and Care Centres, Outside Hours School Care, Inclusion Service programs and the Adult Migrant English Program.

Kristie has strong educational leadership experience in organisational strategy, operations, curriculum, pedagogy and practice across the education sector. Kristie’s passion is to enhance education outcomes for children and their families.

Fiona Erhardt is an experienced senior manager who has primarily worked in a number of top 50 ASX listed companies within financial services, property, transport and logistics and more recently a start-up company. She is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance & Investment.

Michelle Richardson is an early childhood teacher and graduate of Macquarie University. More recently Michelle has worked in senior leadership roles, supporting teams and individual educators in the crucial role they enact each day with children and their families.

Michelle oversees the Education Hub, Gowrie NSW’s professional learning program and provides pedagogical leadership across the programs of the organisation. Michelle is driven to ensure spaces for children and their families are deeply respectful, meaningful and connected places for children to uniquely be themselves and thrive.