Our Board of Governance

Quan Nguyen – President

Quan is a father of two children who attend Hawthorn Early Years full-time. As such, he is deeply committed to ensuring that HEY’s exceptional standards of care are maintained.

With over 16 years of experience, Quan is currently the Head of Equities at Zenith Investment Partners, a leading financial services firm. He focuses on delivering robust client outcomes and leads a high-performing team. In addition, he has demonstrated leadership, decision-making, and relationship-management skills.

Quan holds a Master of Applied Finance from Macquarie University, a Bachelor of Commerce from The University of Melbourne, and is a CFA® Charterholder.

Catherine Woo – Vice President

Catherine is an experienced leader in economic development, public policy and social enterprise, specialising in building strategic partnerships across the business, government, and for-purpose sectors to drive meaningful systems change.

Currently Director of Partnerships and Engagement at Monash University, Catherine has previously held roles as CEO of the Australia-UK Chamber of Commerce, Head of Government Affairs at Australia Post, and Investment Director for the Victorian Government in London. She holds a double degree in Arts and Law from the University of Melbourne.

As the mother of two children, Catherine has been an active member of the HEY community since 2022. Through her roles as both HEY Board and community member, she is committed to advancing HEY’s mission of creating an enriching environment where children and their families can truly thrive.

Johnny Xu – Secretary

Johnny Xu is head of Legal at Sunkin Property Group and brings with him advocacy and legal skills to the board.

Johnny’s motivation for joining our board was to contribute to the HEY community and offer his legal expertise.

Chris Daly- Treasurer

Chris is a local real estate agent and auctioneer and has been working in real estate both in Hawthorn and London for 14 years, prior to which he was an accountant for 8 years and general manager of a not for profit society for 5 years.

Chris holds a Real Estate Licence and has a Bachelor of Commerce degree majoring in Accounting and Finance.

Working in London for nine years and moving back to Melbourne with his wife in 2015, Chris has been ensconced in the Hawthorn community ever since and can often be seen walking with streets with his wife, two children and their Cavoodle, Audrey.

Being part of the HEY community since 2020, Chris is passionate about impacting the level of care and education not only for his children but that of all families whilst championing diversification and reconciliation across the board.

Ben Clarebrough

Ben is a lawyer with over 17 years’ experience across a diverse range of areas including mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, corporate governance, finance and taxation.  Ben has been working at a large Australian superannuation fund for the last 7+ years and is currently the Head of Legal – Investments.  Before this, Ben worked at Deloitte before joining the partnership of a private practice law firm.

Ben is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne.

Ben’s daughter commenced at HEY 2024 and he is keen to use his skills and experience to contribute to the HEY community.

Stacey Nicolaou

Stacey Nicolaou is a seasoned legal and governance professional, currently serving as Director of Workplace Relations, Governance & Policy at Swinburne University. Stacey provides high-level strategic advice on a range of operational matters, case management and university-wide projects. Her position requires a blend of leadership, strategic acumen, financial stewardship, and strong stakeholder management, as she works to ensure legal compliance, manage budgets, optimise resource and provide policy oversight.

With a robust background as an employment and workplace relations lawyer, Stacey has advised clients across both public and private sectors in industries such as education, healthcare, construction, finance, and retail. Her legal expertise spans all stages of the employment relationship, from contract negotiations and employee classification to managing complex employment disputes, redundancy processes, and compliance with regulatory frameworks.

Stacey is deeply committed to early childhood education and fostering an environment where children can thrive. As a parent and member of the local community, she is passionate about contributing to the success of Hawthorn Early Years and shaping policies that enhance the educational experience for children and the working environment for staff. Through her extensive experience in governance, policy, compliance, and strategic leadership, Stacey will provide valuable insights to support the childcare’s mission and values.

Excited to give back to her community, she is eager to help ensure that Hawthorn Early Years continues to be a pillar of support for families.

Melita St Just

Melitta is a senior customer relations specialist with over 15 years’ experience in this field 8 years of which were in not-for-profit organisation Oxford University Press. Melitta is skilled in driving customer-centric strategies and implementing innovative solutions. She excels at leading diverse teams, fostering a positive culture, and integrating customer experience into organisational strategy. With strong communication, persuasion, and negotiation skills, Melitta effectively manages complex business and political environments, providing strategic advice and overseeing business plans, including budget and financial management.

Melitta is a solo parent by choice and her daughter joined HEY in 2024.

Selvin Sharma

Maggie Neelands

Maggie moved from London to Melbourne in 2018, from which time she has lived in or near Hawthorn and worked at Scotch College. As a mother of a child attending Hawthorn Early years and as an English teacher with over ten years’ experience in both the state and independent sector, she is excited about the opportunity to give something back to HEY’s wonderful community. Maggie holds a First-Class Honours Degree in English Literature and a Master’s in Education (Distinction). She has a particular interest in the development of thought and expression (in its many forms) from an early age through to secondary school. Having her own child and being involved with his learning journey at HEY has only increased her fascination in this process.

Teresa Chen

Seasoned Finance Manager with over a decade of experience in financial analysis, reporting, and project management. Passionate about delivering outcomes that enhance workplace efficiency and effectiveness, empowering informed decision-making. Strong people skills with a proven ability to create a positive team culture and enjoyable work environment. Demonstrated success in collaborating and influencing stakeholders across various teams and functions, fostering a cooperative environment to achieve shared goals. In my latest role in BI, Data & Analytics, I excelled in navigating ambiguity, identifying improvement opportunities, and implementing effective solutions.