Catharine Hydon is the Director and Principal Consultant at Hydon Consulting. She has a master’s degree in early childhood education and extensive experience in the sector. She began her career as a kindergarten teacher and went on to lead a range of services and projects for children and their families. Her focus is on early childhood practice, pedagogy, leadership coaching and mentorship; quality improvement, policy and governance; and delivery of integrated services to vulnerable children and families.

Catharine’s involvement in the education sector is an important part of her commitment to quality outcomes for children. She is a long-time member of ECA and regularly contributes to ECA publications, webinars and online learning opportunities. In 2022 she completed a Diploma of Governance strengthening her commitment to effective policy and governance. Catharine is also a Board Member of the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority and a second-tier reviewer for ACECQA.

Dr Sandra Cheeseman is Chief Executive Officer at the Creche and Kindergarten Association, Queensland (C&K) an organisation providing early learning to over 12,000 Queensland children each year. Over her 40+-year career in the early childhood sector, Sandra’s professional and academic roles have included early childhood teacher, director, senior lecturer in early childhood and more recently as a senior executive.

Sandra has been a key collaborator on projects and consultancies for Government and other education agencies. Her expertise spans early years curriculum, assessment, program quality and organisational leadership. Her research and professional work has focused on the translation of theory to practice – particularly in relation to early childhood curriculum. She is co-author of the book ‘Leadership -Contexts and Complexities in Early Childhood Education’ and co-editor of ‘Pedagogies for Leading Practice’ and ‘Conceptualising and Re-conceptualising Children’s Rights in Infant-Toddler Early Childhood Education and Care’.