Queensland Kids Partnership
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Melodie Potts Rosevear OAM

CEO

Simon Factor

Executive Convenor - Investment Dialogue for Australia's Children

Michael Hogan

Executive convenor - queensland kids partnership

Megan Enders

Executive Convenor - WA Children's Funders Alliance
Barbara_Barker - ARACY Research Manager

Barbara Barker

Research Manager
Harriet Daly - ARACY Executive Assistant

Harriet Daly

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Diana Harris

Lead, Strategy and Operations

Sarah lake

Policy & Engagement Officer
Lauren Renshaw - ARACY Senior Research & Policy Officer

Lauren Renshaw

Senior Research & POlicy Officer
Kirrin Sampson - ARACY Senior Project Officer

Kirrin Sampson

Senior Project officer
Annmarie Thomas - ARACY Program Officer

Annmarie Thomas

Program Officer
Melissa Toms - ARACY Communications Officer

Melissa Toms

Communications Officer

Adam Valvasori

Lead, advocacy

ABOUT US

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More about us

Who We Are

ARACY’s purpose is to champion all Australian children and young people to thrive. Find out more about our mission.

Our Board

ARACY is a not-for-profit company, governed by a Board of Directors. Meet our Board Members.

Our Partners

Partnering with ARACY means joining a vibrant network of people and organisations committed to making a tangible difference. Meet our Partners.

Annual Reports

The ARACY Annual Report provides an overview of the organisation’s financial and operational activities. FInd them here.

ARACY's The Nest

What's in The Nest?

With six connected areas, The Nest ensures young Australians have everything they need for the best start in life, helping them reach their highest potential.

Our Nest projects

Using The Nest, has helped ARACY to be at the forefront of disease prevention and the promotion of holistic health for young Australians.

The Nest initiatives

Here you’ll see some examples of how The Nest has been used in organisations outside of ARACY across Australia.

Melodie Potts Rosevear OAM

Chief Executive Officer

Melodie is a respected social impact leader with more than 25 years working across government, philanthropy, communities and the non-profit sector, improving outcomes for children and young people.  

As the founding CEO of Teach For Australia, she took the organisation from startup to national scale and impact, shifting teacher education system policies and practices and enabling nearly 2,000 individuals to become teachers and future educational leaders. Over 85% of TFA alumni remain working in the education system. Previously, Melodie worked on the founding team at the Cape York Institute, helping drive its early work in community-led reforms to welfare and education policy. In her time at the Boston Consulting Group, she supported community-led design consultations and built an evidence base to inform major reforms to an urban Atlanta school district. 

Melodie holds a Master of Public Policy with distinction from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where she was a Kennedy Scholar and received a Rising Star alumni award, and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of North Carolina, where she was a Morehead Scholar. Melodie was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her contribution to education and is passionate about ensuring every child has the chance to thrive.  

Megan Enders

Strategic Convenor  WA Children’s Funders Alliance

Megan is committed to creating positive societal change by fostering greater collaboration between philanthropy, government, and for-purpose organisations. In her current role as Strategic Convenor of the WA Children’s Funders Alliance, convened by ARACY, she brings together key stakeholders to align efforts and investment around better outcomes for children and families in Western Australia.

Her interest in this work has grown over many years in leadership roles across the for-purpose sector, including more than a decade with the WA-based Fogarty Foundation. There, she served as the Founding Director of the innovative Fogarty EDvance school improvement program and later as CEO, following years as a Trustee on the Foundation’s Board.

Megan brings strong leadership and change management expertise to her work, developed through executive roles in both the for-purpose and corporate sectors and experience as a management consultant. Her early career began in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and led to a role with a Federal Minister.

Outside work, Megan enjoys spending time with her family, exploring local parks and bushland, reading, practising French and German, and travelling.

Barbara_Barker - ARACY Research Manager

Barbara Barker

Social Researcher

Barbara is an experienced social researcher with a strong background in sociology and demography. She elevates the voices and lived experiences of children, families, and communities to inform and influence systems change in policy and practice.

Starting her career at the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Barb has significant skills in mixed methods data collection which are utilised extensively in ARACY’s Knowledge Translation projects.
She has been recognised in particular for her work in Parent and Family Engagement, now utilised in schools across Australia to improve student outcomes.

Barb is a crazy plant lady who enjoys volunteering at the National Arboretum’s bonsai collection. She is a proud Mum to a strapping teenager and cheeky beagle.

Harriet Daly - ARACY Executive Assistant

Harriet Daly

CHIEF DIARY WRANGLER & LOGISTICS EXPERT

Harriet works from ARACY’s Canberra HQ and is the go-to person for diary-wrangling, meeting coordination, proofreading / editing, travel booking, event planning and many other duties requiring requiring a steel hand in a velvet glove. (or: requiring accuracy, calm and grace).

After graduating from the University of Sydney with Honours in French and English, Harriet worked in the music industry in the UK.  She is a fully credited Homeopath and experienced school administrator. 

In her free time, Harriet enjoys yoga, singing, spoon carving, reading and, with both her children in successful bands, she can still be found in mosh pits around the country on a regular basis.

Diane Harris - ARACY Lead, Operations

Diana Harris

Lead, Strategy and Operations

Diana Harris is ARACY’s Lead for Operations. Her responsibilities include oversight of internal operations, delivery of ARACY’s Strategic Plan, governance and reporting, and managing delivery and risk.
Diana’s career has encompassed local and federal government, community engagement, policy development, program delivery and management consultancy.

She is a well-regarded program leader and performance professional with international experience in children’s and community policy, including the implementation of Getting it Right For Every Child in the Scottish Borders and Neighbourhood Partnerships for City of Edinburgh Council.

Diana is raising two amazing neurodivergent kids, loves reading fantasy and YA, and is the sole cat person at ARACY.

Sarah Lake

People, Policy, Participation Connector

Sarah is an experienced community engagement specialist and advocate, rooted in frontline youth support and justice sector experience alongside mental health, digital governance, and engagement. She has led national and international initiatives that elevate lived experience and community voices, with previous roles at Beyond Blue, the Internet Society, and Amplify Australia, ensuring the wellbeing of children and young people are at the centre.

At ARACY, Sarah supports the Young and Wise program and contributes to policy development, webinar delivery, and stakeholder engagement. She believes the best policy starts with listening and that real change happens when people, evidence, and participation come together.

Based on Wurundjeri Country in Melbourne, Sarah is a proud member of the LGBTQAI+ community, a peer mentor, and a known flat white enthusiast.
Lauren Renshaw - ARACY Senior Research & Policy Officer

Lauren Renshaw

Middle Years Policy Expert & Researcher

Since joining ARACY in 2017, Lauren has worked on projects like a review of children’s identity and an evidence review for the National Early Language and Literacy Strategy.

Before ARACY, she spent over eight years at the Australian Institute of Criminology, focusing on human trafficking, slavery, and crime research. Lauren co-authored a key report on young people’s bail and remand and led studies on workplace exploitation and justice issues.

She’s passionate about using research to inform policy and has experience in both qualitative and quantitative methods.

Kirrin Sampson - ARACY Senior Project Officer

Kirrin Sampson

Purveyor of Programming and Partnerships

Kirrin is most at home making connections – between people, projects, and ideas. She advocates professionally and personally for the crucial importance of the early years in human development.

She has many years’ experience in education, professional community development, advocacy, and program and product management in both for profit and not for profit sectors. She is currently working on developing programs and partnerships across the ARACY enterprise.

She divides her time between Canberra and her small farm and thinks most of the answers to life can be found in children’s picture books.

Annmarie Thomas - ARACY Program Officer

Annmarie Thomas

Common Approach Training Techie

Annmarie is passionate about wellbeing and advocacy for young people. She feels strongly about injustices and systemic failures that discriminate against those who are not privileged. With a background in education and disability, Annmarie has had the opportunity to work closely with professionals from various sectors.

She has taught across all age groups and in a wide range of settings. Annmarie values helping other professionals improve their practice and systems.

A feisty Scottish woman who loves living in Australia, she enjoys building Lego to relax and displaying her creations at Lego exhibitions.

Melissa Toms - ARACY Communications Officer

Melissa Toms

Communications Wizard

Melissa is a champion for children’s wellbeing, a strategic communicator, and a creative problem solver at ARACY. With a foundation in graphic design and business administration, she expanded her expertise by earning a Graduate Certificate in Early Years Education in 2023, reinforcing her passion for education. Melissa excels in developing research-backed marketing strategies, data-driven analysis, and crafting impactful content for both digital and print platforms.

She is motivated by connecting with diverse audiences, creating learning experiences, and collaborating with teams to drive positive, tangible results that make a difference in children’s lives.

Fun fact: Melissa is also an avid photographer and loves capturing the beauty of nature in her free time!

Adam Valvasori - ARACY Lead, Advocacy, Communications and Engagement

Adam Valvasori

Champion of Change

Adam is an experienced advocacy and communications expert with a strong focus on innovative and collaborative social and environmental justice campaigns. With a diverse background spanning Australian business, government, national and international NGOs, Adam has successfully led major coalition initiatives, including the Campaign for Australian Aid, Kids Off Nauru, and Know Your Country.

Adam represents ARACY in various advocacy campaigns including Victoria’s Smart Justice for Young People coalition and the Raise The Age campaign.

He can eat his own body weight in pasta and rolls the best gnocchi in town – which is Melbourne!