Our People
The Leadership Team
Hannah Colbourn -Owner/AP
Hannah is passionate about nature-based learning, inquiry-led curriculum and creating environments where children are active participants in their own learning. She believes intentional teaching and meaningful relationships are the foundation for developing strong literacy and numeracy skills through play.
Hannah enjoys working alongside educators to build reflective teaching teams and create rich learning environments where children, families and educators continue to grow together.
Leah Ryan- Director
Leah is passionate about fostering a warm and welcoming environment, where children feel included, cared for and encouraged to forever be curious about the world around them.
Kristy Sumpton- Assistant Director
Having worked with other educational frameworks, Kristy is an advocate for and passionate about the Reggio Emilia Educational Project.
She is enthusiastic about co-researching alongside staff and children. She is passionate about developing relationships with the children and families to enable a collaborative and nurturing learning environment.
Kristy enjoys exploring new places with her husband and two children and spending time with family and friends.
Meredith Geeves- Educational Leader
The Reggio Emilia Educational Project has inspired Meredith to work alongside children as citizens of the present and active protagonists of their learning. She is committed to empowering children to engage in learning through inquiry-based pedagogies, learning on country and reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
In her spare time, Meredith enjoys spending time in nature, yoga and being with family and friends.
The Syndessi Team
Jessica Lang- Class Leader
Coming from a family background of horticulturists Jess has a strong interest for plants and is keen to share this love of nature with the children, particularly with the use of our Tasmanian native flora as an educational tool. As a painter Jess is passionate about creating experiences that engage the children’s imagination and allow them to express themselves through the language of visual art. She aims to create strong relationships with the children that she works alongside and build a safe and comfortable environment for the children whilst meeting their individual needs.
Kayla Wolfe- Class Leader
Kayla is passionate about inquiry-based learning and enjoys working alongside children as they explore ideas that are meaningful to them. She loves supporting children to develop their independence, resilience and creativity, believing that every child should feel confident to express themselves and embrace new challenges.
Outside of preschool, Kayla enjoys bushwalking, running, dancing and spending time exploring Tasmania’s natural environment. She loves sharing her appreciation for the outdoors with children and is excited to continue growing as a Reggio-inspired educator at New Horizons Preschool.
Charlotte Williams
Charlotte is passionate about supporting children to feel safe, capable and valued while nurturing their curiosity and love of learning. She particularly enjoys fostering children’s literacy and creativity and values opportunities to extend learning beyond the classroom through excursions and community walks, where children can connect with the world around them through meaningful, real-life experiences.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Charlotte moved to Tasmania in 2023 with her partner. She has loved exploring everything Tasmania has to offer and now feels incredibly fortunate to call it home.
Imogen Atwell
Evie Amos
The Paizo Team
Kym Donaldson – Class Leader
Kym is passionate about social and emotional development in children and inspired by the way the Reggio Emilia approach fosters connection through collaboration, creativity, curiosity and questioning. Kym also draws on her experience with the Montessori philosophy and how it fosters confidence in children through age appropriate independence.
Aryani (Rini) Sulistyorini -Class Leader
Rini’s passion for early childhood education grew from the strong sense of community she experienced while raising her children within Melbourne’s Indonesian community. She believes every child has the right to high-quality learning experiences where they feel a genuine sense of belonging and are valued for who they are. She is particularly passionate about inquiry, creativity, social and emotional development, and building strong partnerships with families.
Outside of preschool, Rini enjoys spending time with her two children, reading and cooking for family and friends. English is her third language, and she values the opportunity to connect with families from a range of cultural backgrounds.
Annie Newman
Growing up in rural Tasmania, Annie has developed an eager desire to lead a creative and thoughtful life. Through respect, listening and support, Annie believes that children can be given the environment needed to gain further understanding of their true selves and their capabilities.
The Erevna Team
Theresa Fiotakis -Class Leader
Passionate about inquiry-based learning, Theresa enjoys creating opportunities for children to explore, question and investigate the world around them. She values building strong relationships with children, families and the wider community, and has a particular interest in educational documentation as a way of making children’s thinking and learning visible.
Proud of her Greek heritage, Theresa enjoys staying active through running, going to the gym and spending time outdoors. She also loves travelling, watching soccer and spending time with family and friends.
Blair Zhang- Class Leader
Blair believes children are capable and competent learners who thrive when they feel safe, valued and engaged in meaningful experiences. She is passionate about nature play, outdoor learning and music, creating opportunities for children to explore, collaborate and develop their curiosity through play and inquiry.
Originally from China, Blair studied vocal music and performance for seven years before beginning her career in early childhood education. She speaks both English and Mandarin and enjoys hiking, running and sharing her love of music with children.
Ellie Ferguson
Ellie is passionate about building meaningful relationships with children and their families and creating warm, nurturing environments where every child feels safe, valued and confident to explore. She enjoys supporting children’s wellbeing through play-based learning, creativity and opportunities to connect with nature and the outdoors.
Outside of preschool, Ellie enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. Whether it’s relaxing on Bruny Island, spending time at the beach, catching up with friends or enjoying good food together, family is at the heart of what she loves most.
Rabin Karki
The Omilea Team
Sarah Brumby- Class Leader/ Kinder Teacher
Sarah is passionate about recognising and building on each child’s unique strengths, interests and ways of expressing themselves. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia Educational Project, she enjoys creating environments where children can explore ideas, communicate in many different ways and take an active role in their own learning.
Outside of preschool, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family on their small farm, caring for their miniature goats and exploring Tasmania with her husband and two children.
Olivia Legge- Class Leader
Olivia has a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and is currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education with the University of Tasmania. She is embracing learning more about the Reggio Emilia Educational Approach alongside the New Horizons Team.
Olivia is passionate about the pedagogy of listening and values strongly children’s voices, opinions and theories. She regards children as capable and competent learners, with reciprocal rights as active and participatory citizens.
Olivia enjoys working alongside the staff, families and children to build resilience, independence and positive relationships. She values the Hundred Languages and is adept at using multi-media platforms to support children’s interest in digital technologies.
Emily Frouws
Maggie Li
Maggie has more than 10 years working experience as an Early Childhood educator . She is now undertaking Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood).
Maggie is excited to build respectful relationships with the children, believing in children’s capacity. She believes children are competent, capable and curious. Maggie is passionate about Reggio Emilia approach.
Maggie is excited about the next stage of her educational journey and future in teaching and working alongside with children.
The Cover Team
Tahlia Codyre
Pearl Lark
Passionate about creating warm, nurturing learning environments, Pearl enjoys supporting children’s curiosity through outdoor experiences, creativity and play. She values building genuine relationships with children and families and believes every child deserves to feel respected, heard and supported to learn at their own pace.
Outside of preschool, Pearl enjoys breeding backyard chickens and hatching chicks, often sharing this interest with children to inspire conversations about caring for animals and the natural world. She also speaks English, Malay, Indonesian, Mandarin, Cantonese and Hokkien, allowing her to connect with families from a range of cultural backgrounds.
Rahel Purnama
Lhamu Sherpa
Chelsea Ryan
Chelsea has been inspired and provoked by the many challenges that the Reggio Emilia Educational Project offers to educators. She is passionate about fostering children’s abilities to become active and participatory citizens, both now and for the future. Chelsea places great significance on the theory of The Hundred Languages and is committed to providing a range of experiences and opportunities for children to express their voices and theories in a multiplicity of ways.