Our Childcare Alliance Management Team

Gordon Petterson – Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary

Gordon is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years experience in accounting and financial management. He has held a number of positions with a global accounting firm, in both the United Kingdom and the Republic of South Africa, and a number of financial executive positions in private and public companies in the United Kingdom, the Republic of South Africa and Australia.

Gordon joined Guardian Childcare Alliance in April 2011 as Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary, and is responsible for the performance of the Group’s financial accounting and reporting activities.

Sue Klanke – Operations Manager | Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia & Western Australia

Sue Klanke has successfully held senior positions within the Child Care Sector throughout Australia and New Zealand for almost 20 years, working in both private and corporate Child Care environments.

Sue started her career as a Child Care Assistant and progressed into roles of higher responsibility such as Group Leader, Centre Director, Development Manager and Senior Operations Manager for several leading child care groups.

Progression through roles has allowed Sue to gain a greater understanding, knowledge and extensive hands on experience of quality early childhood learning and care practices. This has enabled Sue to develop and train professional teams and implement best practice on a day to day basis in long day care environments.

Sue has worked in a variety of early childhood settings, specialising in growth management and quality assurance monitoring systems, including developing strong policies and procedures to ensure regulatory requirements are exceeded, while education and care remain top of mind at all times.

Sue has a philosophy based on respect and dignity for all key stakeholders in the Child Care environment including children and their families, staff and the wider community.

Helen Baker – Operations Manager | Queensland

Helen commenced her Early Childhood career in 1995 with a large National Child Care company as an Assistant and then as a Group Leader, Assistant Director and Director.

During the company’s period of growth Helen held many positions; Assistant Regional Manager, Regional Manager and Staffing Officer before transferring to South Australia to implement the companies Quality Assurance and Accreditation systems.

During this time the company acquired and merged with other companies and Helen assisted with the acquisition process Australia wide. This included all aspects of centre operations, staffing and professional development for all staff in the areas of administration, centre policies and procedures, programming and quality systems.

In 2006 Helen transferred to the National Office in Queensland to undertake a senior managerial role. Helen’s role encompassed every aspect of delivering a high quality service from developing polices and procedures, administering the company’s quality assurance program, assisting centres with Accreditation, implementing a company curriculum and implementing Professional Development nationally.

More recently Helen held the role of National Quality and Compliance Manager. This role encompassed a holistic approach to compliance, from state licensing and regulations to federal compliance with the delivery of Quality Child Care.

Helen’s philosophy is very simple; happy staff, happy children and happy parents. Her belief and passion are the children, and everyday Helen strives to make a difference to each and every Childs life through her role as Guardian’s Quality Manager.

Zoe Adams-Jones – Project Manager

Zoe started her career working in the airline industry in various operational roles. After relocating to Queensland, she made her way into the childcare sector. Zoe has experienced many company mergers in various industries and has spent much of the last 8 years working with various child care groups and businesses in Acquisitions, Settlements and Operations.

Zoe was one of the early team members of Guardian and after a few years working in business with her partner, has returned to Guardian to manage our Acquisitions & Transitions.

Linda Bailey – Accountant

Linda has responsibility for maintaining Guardian’s accounting records and producing monthly client reports. Prior to joining Guardian, Linda was a client reporting supervisor with Peppercorn Management Group, where she supervised the production of accounts and reports for private investors.

Linda also spent several years previously working for a large chartered accounting firm, where she was primarily involved in the preparation of client accounts and taxation reports.

Jerry He – Financial Accountant

A member of our accounts team, Jerry looks after month end reports, superannuation, DEEWR requests for information, separation certificates and parent refunds.

Rafiqa Tareiq – Accounts Payable Officer

Rafiqa looks after our accounts payable function.

Tiffany Wallis – Accounts Payable

Prior to joining Guardian, Tiffany spent four years within different Queensland Government Departments in accounts payable/receivable roles for 4 years.
Tiffany works alongside Rafiqa in the Accounts Department.

Kaylene Harper – Regional Manager, Queensland

Kaylene has worked in the Early Childhood Industry for 27 years, majority of these as Director of an Early Education Centre. Kaylene has worked for National Childcare Accreditation Council for a 3 year period as a Validator, as she endeavoured to ensure every child had access to a quality childcare environment.
For a 2 year period Kaylene lectured at TAFE specialising in “Expressive Arts” and “Cultural Diversity”. Majority of Kaylene’s experience and training in based on the foundation learning under an emergent curriculum. This is to ensure every child learns at their own pace with interests and abilities the children possess.
Every child is a precious trust and by respecting the child they develop their own personality, in which I feel an immense pleasure and privilege to be part of each special journey the children and staff undertaken. Kaylene has the passion to train staff to ensure they too, develop the understanding of providing children with an environment of love and learning. By having a hands on role in developing and implementing at centre levels an Emergent Curriculum that is of the highest standard for every child attending our specialised centres.

Michelle – Regional Manager Queensland

Michelle has had over 14 years experience in the Childcare Profession and is still just as passionate as the day she began! Having had experience with children aged from birth to thirteen years Michelle has had a wide range of roles from Group Leader through to Director.

During her time as Director, Michelle found training and developing her staff to enhance their knowledge in all areas related to children’s learning was an area she excelled in and wanted to pursue.

Her current role as Regional Manager – QLD allows her to use her expertise and knowledge to assist others in creating ‘happiness centred workplaces’ with positive outcomes for all staff, children and families.

Having based her beliefs of children’s learning on ‘Reggio Emilia’ principles and Gardner’s theory of ‘Multiple Intelligences’ Michelle’s believes that “every child has a unique way of learning; so by taking on a holistic view of children’s learning we gain clearer insights into the world of each child – a world we are so lucky to be part of! Allowing children to express themselves and become active participants in their learning gives them the confidence to develop and grow.”

In 2005 Michelle made the journey to Malaysia to be part of the ‘World Forum of Early Care & Education’ which included representatives from over 90 nations. “Being part of a global network who shares the common goal of increasing the standard of education and care worldwide is something I cherish and feel very lucky to have experienced.”

Michelle holds her Advanced Diploma and Certificate IV in Workplace Training & Assessment. She will begin her Bachelor of Education in the 2012.

Sonia Palmer – Regional Manager, Queensland

Sonia Palmer has been working in the Early Childhood Profession for 12 years. During this time she has undertaken various roles from Assistant through to Director and currently in the role of Regional Manager providing support to long day care centres within the Gold Coast region.

Sonia holds an Advanced Diploma in Children’s Services and is currently enrolled in Bachelor of Education, Early Childhood.

Her belief is every child needs to be given an environment which is safe and one where families and staff work together to ensure every child’s needs and interests are met and extended. As a Regional Manager, it is her responsibility to mentor and coach staff to ensure all children are educated in a happy, safe and stimulating environment.

Sarah Tullberg – Regional Manager, Victoria

Sarah Tullberg is one of the regional managers for Melbourne and joined the team in 2008. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Education and been in the child care industry for the past 7 years. Previously to the early childhood industry Sarah worked as a Secondary Teacher in a Private School and changed careers upon having a family.

Sarah has experience in working on the floor in rooms, Assistant Manager, Centre Manager, Area Manager and now Regional Manager within this field.

Sarah has previously held management experience with another company for 2 years before joining the Guardian Childcare Alliance team. Sarah has a genuine passion for the education of all ages of children.

Sarah spends time in each service under her management, developing, supporting and training our staff. She constantly evaluates and looks at new ways and ideas to improve our centres, our practises and our programs, whilst also supporting families.

Jarrod MacDonald – Regional Manager, Victoria

Jarrod Macdonald is an enthusiastic and dedicated early childhood professional who commenced his work with children in 2003 through a variety of childhood educational experiences. Jarrod has a diverse background in Children Services in which he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Guardian Childcare Alliance.

In 2006 Jarrod was selected to work closely with the physical educational and sports Coordination unit of a large private school in Melbourne’s North, working with secondary school students.

In 2007 Jarrod joined a private organisation where he was responsible for the management of three Outside School Hours Care Programs and over the next three years Jarrod held this senior management position and supported the business growth to over sixty services Australia wide. Jarrod was the Programs Manager for all sixty services and was responsible for more than 250 staff Australia wide.

In 2010 Jarrod joined a private long day care provider as Victorian Regional Manager where he was responsible for the operations of Victoria.

Jarrod has completed a Diploma of Children’s Services, Diploma of Outside School Hours Care, Advanced Diploma of Children’s Services and is studying his certificate four in training and assessment and Bachelor of Teaching.

Jarrod values learning through play, open communication and commits himself to providing high quality early childhood education.

Belinda McKibbin – Regional Manager, Victoria

Belinda started her Early Childhood career as an assistant in 1995 working in the rooms and gaining an understanding of the profession before completing her Diploma in Community Services (Children’s Services) and Certificate in Special Needs Education; implementing exciting and challenging programs for the children in her care. She moved through various roles to become a second in charge gaining management experience, Centre Manager and an Area Manager for another childcare company and most recently her role as Operations Support. This solid background provides her with a depth of knowledge she now shares with our centres.

Belinda has a genuine passion and interest in providing high quality care for all children. She believes that all children who use our services should be provided with a safe, clean, happy, nurturing and exciting environment. The programs are fun and play based, whilst still providing the best in Early Childhood Learning. The staff and managers in our centres are the backbone of a centre and by providing training and support; we provide the highest level of care in our communities.

Amanda Reberger – Operations Assistant

Amanda assists the Operations Manager’s & Regional Manager’s with their daily duties. She also maintains all compliance, insurance and workers compensation claims.
Previously to joining Guardian Childcare Alliance, Amanda was employed within the Aged Care Industry for 5 years as the Executive Assistant & Human Resource Coordinator with one of Australia’s largest management companies of rental accommodation for seniors.

Andrew Williams – Operations Assistant

Andrew started his Career in early childhood in 2001 co-ordinating an OSHC Program. This then developed into a Career with a national long day care provider where he worked in roles ranging from SNSS Worker; Vacation Care Co-Ordinator and Kindergarten Group Leader.
After 6 years in hands on operations, Andrew moved to the National Office where he undertook an Administration/Finance Role. In this role Andrew assisted the management of government funded accounts, coordinating the funding and invoicing as well as overseeing direct debit and parent refunds. Working closely with the Finance and Debt Recovery teams, Andrew ensured centre needs were met.
Andrew has spent the last two years as a Centre Manager whilst he completed his Diploma of Children’s Services and is currently studying and is near to completion of his Bachelor of Education.

Vicki Zacharko – Receptionist | Administration Assistant

Vicki makes sure that the central support office runs efficiently. She greets visitors to the office and takes and directs all incoming calls. She works with Sharnel on the EziDebit forms, and also assists the Spring Hill office team with administration tasks when necessary. Vicki will be the friendly voice on the end of the line whenever you contact the Central Support Office.

Kay Smith – Qikkids Administrator

Kay has been working in the childcare industry for the past 15 years. During this time she has undertaken various roles from Group Leader through to Centre Director, Field Manager, Liaison, Staff & Training Manager, Centre Support and providing data base management of administration software. Kay maintains the QikKids databases and makes any changes the services require. She also deals with QikKids account issues, and looks after EziDebit.