Jae has been in the early learning and education sector for over 20 years. Jae is a university-qualified teacher. Academic credentials include a Bachelor of Education, Advanced Diploma of Early Childhood Education, and several business management qualifications spanning the many aspects of the childcare and education sectors. To complement these achievements, Jae has worked in many roles in the profession, from a teacher at the hands-on level through to service management and executive positions across Australia and Singapore.

Jae has also been an active committee member of Australian Childcare Alliance Queensland (ACA Qld) for more than a decade - he has worked as a committee member, treasurer, vice president and most recently president and he also sits on the National Executive for ACA National.

Jae is passionate about teaching and guiding ECEC teachers, leaders and managers to manage a healthy business while ensuring that the highest quality of care and education is being provided. Jae is extremely proud to have founded Little Scholars School of Early Learning, a premium education and care provider with 14 premium campuses across South East Queensland.

Kat Orchard is a seasoned communications specialist, as co-founder and director of public relations and communications company JAG, a leading creative communications agency on the Gold Coast. She has 15 years’ experience in the media and communications industry. Kat has worked at some of Australia's leading companies such as Southern Cross Austereo, Dreamworld and McCann Worldgroup.

Creating thought-provoking campaigns that inspire action and lead to change are what drives Kat.

As a proud board member of The Fraser Foundation, and mum to a daughter in early childhood education, Kat has made it her mission to make an impact and will continue to make meaningful conversations with human connection at the forefront of her work.

Conny’s educational experience spans over 30 years with roles ranging from room educator, centre manager in learning centres and operations along with general management roles for one of Australia’s largest childcare operators.

Conny was also the founder and sole operator of Maximise Childcare Consultancy and still manages early learning centres in Brisbane and New South Wales. She holds a Master of Education and Counselling, Bachelor of Teaching Early Childhood, Graduate Diploma in Education and Counselling, as well as a Diploma in Early Childhood Education.

Her passion and commitment to early intervention and support programs has also seen her work alongside highly-trained psychologists, developing social and emotional harm minimisation programs for teens.

Her favourite area of interest is researching early childhood interventions into social and emotional intelligence and mindfulness.

Jeremy Wicht, associate director at ShineWing Australia, has spent the best part of 20 years assisting individuals and businesses in the early learning sector to succeed.

Jeremy also says being married to an early learning professional means he has seen the impact that early education and early educators have on little lives.

Jeremy holds a Master of Business Administration as well as Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) and an Advanced Diploma in Advance Accounting, making him well-versed in his field and immensely proud to be helping the Fraser Foundation to take a leading role in lifting early learning education through scholarships and research.

Andrew Heslehurst is an award-winning marketing professional with over 25 years’ experience, having led marketing for a range of organisations, including a multi-million-dollar travel company. Before co-founding Little Scholars and The Scholars Group, Andrew worked for RCI for more than a decade and held positions including marketing manager and director of RCI Pacific.

Andrew holds a Master of Marketing, a Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Hotel Management. He is highly respected in the various industries for his knowledge and innovative ideas, he is passionate, astute, and commercially driven to ensuring business targets are met.

Andrew is also part owner and founder of Little Scholars School of Early Learning and The Scholars Group. His focus is on social media management and marketing for the Little Scholars group of campuses across Queensland.

Andrew is passionate about early learning and loves hearing and sharing stories of educators achieving incredible outcomes for children to succeed in future years.