Playgroup NSW is run by our members for our members. The Playgroup NSW Board is made up of Directors who are elected from and by our membership under our constitution.
The responsibilities of the Board include setting and reviewing our strategic direction, monitoring organisational performance, establishing policy, the appointment of the CEO and enhancing the organisation’s public image.
The Board bring extensive expertise in governance, business operations, accounting, law, project management, marketing, not-for-profit management and human resources. They have experienced the benefits of playgroup first-hand and are passionate about supporting the delivery of playgroup to families in NSW.
Download a copy of our 2019 AGM minutes here. Download our year end 2020 Financials and Auditors report here.
Role of the Board
The role of the Board is to maintain a high level of corporate governance across the organisation. The Board is responsible for:
- Overall governance of Playgroup NSW
- Determining the association’s policies
- Approving the association’s annual budget
- Receiving, considering and acting upon advice from the organisation
- Entering into agreements with government or authorities
- Investing the association’s funds in trustee investments
Members are elected at the Association’s Annual General Meeting. To find out more about the roles and responsibilities of the Board, read the Playgroup NSW Charter and the Playgroup NSW Constitution
Playgroup NSW Board
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Ben Ramsey
Chairperson and Board and Leadership Effectiveness (BALE) Committee Chairperson
Ben is a dad to three boys and became an active member of Oatley West Playgroup when taking parental leave with his second son in 2017. It was here that he formed strong social bonds with local families and experienced first-hand the benefits of structured play and the support that Playgroup brings. Ben is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and was on the CIMA Membership Assessor panel for over 10 years. He has more than 20 years’ experience in corporate finance, strategic planning and governance which was gained through various finance leadership roles in the UK and Australia.
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Tamera Lang
Vice-Chairperson and Finance, Audit & Risk Committee (FARC) Member
Tamera is a co-ordinator and session leader of Clovelly Playgroup in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. The group has operated for more than 40 years, with a membership in excess of 100 families and more than 30 families regularly attending 3 weekly sessions. Tamera joined the Playgroup NSW Board in late 2018, and brings the perspective of an active volunteer and current playgroup member. Professionally, Tamera has a background in taxation consulting and financial policy, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Laws and Master of Taxation.
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Tracey Watts
Board Treasurer and Finance, Audit & Risk Committee (FARC) Chairperson
Tracey joined the board of Playgroup in 2016 and is also a current member of the Audit, Compliance and Finance Committee. She has attended playgroup with her son for the last two years and has also volunteered as the day leader during this time. Being a single mum with a very active little boy, she relies on her local playgroup not only for her child’s benefit, but also for the support and friendship she has received from the other parents/grandparents/carers. She believes strongly in the value of playgroup in bringing families together. Tracey is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants ANZ with over 20 years' experience in tax, accounting, management and business advice including 12 years running her own firm.
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Janine Ferris
Board Secretary and Board and Leadership Effectiveness (BALE) Member
Janine and her daughter started attending both her local Playgroup and J-Kids Japanese Playgroup in southern Sydney when her daughter was just 8 weeks old. Playgroup was the highlight of their week, and they both made lifelong friends. When they moved to a small farming town in outback NSW which had no activities for young children and their families, Janine started up a new Playgroup in 2016. With lots of community support, families with young children from all over the district now have a wonderful place to meet and play each week. Janine was elected as a volunteer Board member in 2018. Janine is a Masters qualified educator, an advocate for neurodivergent children, speaks Japanese, and has been a volunteer with the NSW State Emergency Service since 2011.
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Annette Ruhotas Morgan
Board Member and Board and Leadership Effectiveness (BALE) Committee Member
Annette Ruhotas is an unconventional Civil Engineer with a passion for social justice. Her career spans more than two decades of Board, executive and leadership roles in the corporate, government, voluntary and not-for-profit sectors in Australia, UK and South Pacific. Annette is Founder and Principal Consultant of Be The Change Consulting Group, a trusted Environment, Social, Governance (ESG) advisory practice. She helps businesses understand and improve their social impact, in areas such as corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy, employee engagement, community investment, Reconciliation and Modern Slavery reporting.
Annette is also an established Board director, serving on 4 boards and a range of advisory committees. Her directorships include Australian Red Cross (NSW), Playgroup Australia Limited, and One Door Mental Health Limited. Annette attended Oatley West Playgroup in southern Sydney between 2012 and 2019 with her two children. She has been the overall Coordinator of the playgroup since 2013 and was also the Coordinator of the Management Committee of St George Zone of Playgroups until 2021.
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Jessica Gibson
Board Member and Board and Leadership Effectiveness (BALE) Committee Member
Jessica is a marketing, digital, and media professional who has experience in finance, publications such as The Australian Women’s Weekly, and content client management of national organisations. She specialises in the development and implementation of marketing strategies, social media policies, and manages both external and internal partnerships. Jessica is proud to have been recently named the co-chair of her organisation’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Committee, which is taking steps toward reconciling with our First People.When not working her day job as a Senior Content Manager or playing with her two-year-old daughter, Jessica spends her time baking cakes and reading non-fiction (mostly)
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Angela Burrill
Board Member and Board and Leadership Effectiveness (BALE) Committee Member
Angela is the overall Coordinator of the Bondi Beach Playgroups. Her son loves attending Playgroup and since taking the reins she has successfully transformed the Playgroup facilities with a new outdoor area, play equipment and the community is growing.Elected to Waverley Council in 2012, Angela is a Local Government Councillor. Her career has encompassed General Management, Product Design & Development and she is currently a Business Consultant. Angela is a Graduate Member of the Institute of Company Directors, has an MBA (Executive) from AGSM/UNSW and a Bachelor of Fine Art – Design.
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Sara Bold
Board Member and Board and Leadership Effectiveness (BALE) Committee Member
Sara is an early childhood education professional and a graduate of Macquarie University’s Institute of Early Childhood. She has a deep interest in global pedagogies that translate into meaningful, respectful, child-centred learning and teaching. She believes that families flourish in communities of support and children flourish in environments where play, creativity and security abound.Sara is a member of the managing committee at Bondi and Vaucluse playgroups. Attending a playgroup with her own child increased her appreciation for safe, fun settings for play and the meaningful connections with others that arise from this.
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Helen Dreyfus-Schmidt
Board Member and Finance, Audit & Risk Committee (FARC) Member
Helen Dreyfus-Schmidt is a senior finance executive who has over 20 years of corporate and commercial finance experience. Helen has worked for publicly listed, private and not for profit organisations, and specialises in managing business through periods of growth and change. Helen is currently Chief Financial Officer of InnoFoods International where she is focused on strategic planning and process improvement. Previous experience includes the Performing Arts, Telecommunications, Advertising, Aged Care, Digital Media, publishing, and online travel. Helen is a member of CPA. Helen became a member of playgroup NSW in 2019 and has attended playgroup in Randwick with her boy/girl twins since.
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