We’re education professionals and wise tech heads here to transform early childhood education. Our people include educators, innovators, and advocates: each bringing particular expertise to create a platform that empowers centres, supports teachers, and helps children thrive.
We share a belief in the extraordinary potential within every child. We’re here to see every child in ECE, regardless of background, has an extraordinary start. From developing intuitive tools to providing personalised support, each of us is here to help you focus on what matters: delivering exceptional care and learning experiences.
I'm an early years tragic! I was born into ECE, with Mum starting a home-based service and then purchasing a 28-place preschool in Ermington, NSW, Australia. Being a 4th-generation teacher, our dinner conversations centred around pedagogy, psychology, and the impact of stencils on learning! After completing my Science/Law undergrad at University of Sydney, nearly finished my Masters in Education (Leadership & Management) (although I never finished my dissertation), and a period of time in education tech startups and consulting, it was my great privilege to be the CEO of Being for six years where we created one of Australia’s highest-quality early education organisations. With Mana, I continue my mission to transform early education on this planet - creating extraordinary outcomes for children, their families, and their communities.
I was lucky to have an incredibly rich childhood. One of my favourite early memories was running barefoot through the creek with friends and setting up "campsites" along the way. Whenever we did this, it was such an adventure! We would spend the day imagining where to go next, what we were going to build, and the resources we would need. Our feet squished in mud and were cleaned up in the running water of the creek - which led to an early connection to nature that stays with me today.
For seven years I worked at the intersection of technology, people and process, leading transformation in consulting and higher education. While I loved driving big organisational shifts, I knew I wanted to bring my skills into a space with direct human impact: early education. At Mana my focus is on turning ambitious ideas into reality: clearing roadblocks, connecting the dots and giving bold visions the momentum they need to succeed. What drives me most is building teams, both at Mana and with our customers, where people feel supported and empowered to see their own potential.
Growing up in Melbourne, I could usually be found in the library’s fiction section, lost in stories of dragons, fairies and magical worlds. Those tales taught me how imagination, learning and curiosity open new possibilities: a belief that inspires me every day at Mana.
My journey into education began with my first career as an OSHC Educator, where I discovered a passion for mentoring children. I then went on to study a Bachelor of Business Leadership and Commerce at Macquarie University, before joining Deloitte's strategy consulting team, with a focus on the education sector. A key highlight was leading the implementation planning for the Mental Health in Primary Schools Program across Victoria. Following this, I completed my Master's in Applied Positive Psychology at the University of Melbourne, where my research centred on positive education for children. This journey ultimately led me to Mana, inspired by the opportunity to give every child an extraordinary start to life.
I have fond memories of the first time my mum gave me a toy microphone—belting out gibberish to Daft Punk's "One More Time." It definitely got plenty of use, though I suspect she may have regretted the purchase!
Over the past 20 years, I have led engineering teams and built complex, scalable platforms across industries including IoT, retail technology, media, telecommunications and enterprise software. In CTO and Director roles, I’ve driven architectural transformation, elevated engineering practices, and integrated AI capabilities to unlock new product value and accelerate innovation.In joining Mana, I aim to bring this experience to help shape a clear technical vision, build and empower a world-class engineering team, and deliver product foundations that scale with ambition. I’m excited to contribute strategic leadership, hands-on technical depth, and a passion for innovation to help the company move fast, learn fast, and grow into its full potential.
I have an extensive background in all aspects of digital design, with a focus on creating intuitive and delightful experiences that not only look great but truly make a difference. At Mana, I’m excited to bring my experience, creativity, and passion for meaningful design to support educators with tools that simplify their work, help them spend more time doing what they love, and empower the next generation to grow into the best versions of themselves.
Some of my happiest childhood memories are long summers at the beach in Aotearoa, New Zealand with all my cousins, playing pirates, exploring the rock pools and competing for the best sandcastle designs.
I’m Sithmi, an early childhood teacher who began working in the sector at 19 alongside my sisters, first inspired by a shared love of bringing joy to children. This grew into a deep understanding of the importance of the early years and the powerful impact high-quality early learning has on children’s development. With a background in science and early childhood education, my teaching has always embraced curiosity, hands-on learning, and playful exploration to foster a love of learning. At Mana, I support services to strengthen quality practice and documentation through thoughtfully designed tools that empower educators and support the best possible outcomes for children.
I grew up travelling, surrounded by family, and naturally drawn to mentoring and teaching through school or play- a passion that continues to shape my work today.
