Our Board

Eve Hawkes

Chair

Eve is experienced in a wide range of service delivery models including early intervention itinerant support, long day care, community-based preschools, and campus-based care. She has been the Director at Engadine Preschool Kindergarten since 1994 and is a founding member of the Sutherland Shire Preschool Alliance.

Holding an Advanced Diploma in Community Sector Management and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, she is a strong advocate for early childhood education. Eve regularly meets with local and state ministers to address issues faced by the sector.

Her leadership roles, including her directorship on the board of CELA since June 2022 and her position as CELA Chair since July 2023, demonstrate her ability to drive change and make a significant impact in the early childhood education sector.

Eve is committed to leading the CELA board and implementing exemplary board governance. Her vast experience within the sector supports her work on the board and gives her valuable insight into the day-to-day issues faced by Early Childhood Educators across the sector.

Arthur Wang

Director

Arthur brings over a decade of experience in Management Consulting and Financial Advisory. He has worked with clients across private, public and NFP sectors on business strategy, transformation, financial and risk management. Arthur is passionate about the early childhood and education sector and have led numerous pro-bono engagements and fundraising initiatives for community organisations.

As a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Arthur previously served as a Board Observer for Good Return and was the National Coordinator of Australia’s largest financial literacy competitions, reaching over 300 schools and 10,000 students. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Laws degree from UNSW and has represented Australia as a delegate to international forums, including the OECD in France, the Stanford Summit in the USA, and the Peace Conference of Youth in Japan. Arthur is a strong advocate for youth and education and committed to fostering growth and excellence in the early learning sector.

Fiona Black

Board Member

Beginning her career in private and community-based long day care services, Fiona has journeyed through a variety of roles within council ECEC environments. Her path has included Cert III and diploma positions, teacher roles, and ultimately, her ascension to the position of a director.

As the director of Koala Child Care Centre at Sutherland Hospital, Fiona showcases her expertise across multiple areas. She is directly involved with children aged birth to 6 years, leads as an educational leader, and adeptly handles the comprehensive responsibilities of a director.

Fiona is passionately committed to building a sustainable and fulfilling career centred on the holistic development of children from birth to six years. In her dual role as a director and an early childhood professional, she focuses on fostering children's self-awareness, promoting their growth, and establishing meaningful bonds with families to create a lasting impact.

Louise Murfet

Board Member

Louise’s career as an early childhood educator and director spans more than four decades. Her first role was as the assistant director and room leader in a long day care centre. In 1992, Louise became Director of Jacaranda Preschool in Caringbah NSW, a role she held until her retirement in 2023. Louise is a founding member of the Sutherland Shire Preschool Alliance and sits on the board of Children’s Services Community Management. She has also served as the President of the Community Administered Preschool Association and as Convenor of the Sutherland Directors Group. 

Louise holds a Diploma of Teaching, Bachelor of Education, Advanced Diploma in Community Sector Management, and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. In 2022, Louise received the NSW Government Community Service Award in recognition of her passion in advocating for children, families and the early childhood education and care sector.

Michele Schiller

Board Member

Michele Schiller is a passionate advocate for early childhood education and a seasoned financial expert. An experienced CPA accountant with a diverse background in business ownership and banking, she brings a unique perspective to the ECEC sector. 

Michele is the Founder and Approved Provider of Little Possums Preschool and Early Learning Centre in the NSW far western town of Warren. She established the long day care service over 12 years ago to fill a gap in the community for quality early learning. This included the design of the space, developing the business strategy, and overseeing all aspects of business operations.  

An accomplished finance, risk management and governance professional with a long career in tax accounting, banking and management consulting, Michele has held strategic roles for numerous businesses. She is currently the Head of Country for Conservis, an agriculture-technology company. Her impressive business acumen and understanding of regional early childhood education is an enormous asset to CELA and our member-base. 

Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett

Board Member

Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett is the Academic Director of The Early Years at the University of Wollongong, a member of the National Early Childhood development Council and a member of the Preschool Outcomes Measure expert advisor group.

Cathrine works in cross-disciplinary teams and conducts translational work with community and industry partners to support high-quality early childhood education and care practice that enhances outcomes for children. She has co-led seven large-scale early childhood pedagogical studies valued at more than $15 million, across three Australian states, in over 600 early childhood educational services, and with more than 4,000 children.

Cathrine brings particular expertise in pedagogical reform and her work on children’s self-regulation, child assessment and early childhood pedagogy has impacted educational practice, programs and policy both in Australia and internationally. She has authored and co-authored academic papers and been recognised for her expertise in children’s behaviour, self-regulation, and early childhood pedagogy and assessment through her appointment as an advisor on key projects across Australia and internationally.

Rob Shwetz

Board Member

With over 25 years of experience in marketing communications, sustainability management, and creative leadership, Rob has a proven track record of delivering results that align with the values and vision of purpose-driven organisations. Rob is also a trained B Consultant, certified by B Lab Australia and New Zealand, and a former partner and strategist at The Growth Activists, a consultancy that activates courageous organisations for a sustainable future.

His personal mission is champion positive systemic change and provide a voice to those that are not empowered to speak for themselves. Rob has been a board director across various not-for-profits since 2018. He is Deputy Chair and board member of Results Australia, a non-partisan international aid and development organisation funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and board member of Shaun Parker and Company. He has completed the AICD Company Directors course, Governance for Social Impact through the Centre of Social Impact, and GRI Standards. He has an MBA from the Berlin School of Creative Leadership, Steinbeis University.