A key part of our governance structure is our Board who are made up of industry professionals, they provide support and guidance on our direction as a not-for-profit organisation and share our passion for making outdoor play in nature an every day part of children’s lives.
Phil has been a Board member at Nature Play SA since 2018 and Chair since 2022. Phil has an extensive background in financial services, including over 20 years senior leadership experience in retail banking in both Australia and the UK across sales, distribution, products and marketing. He is currently Senior Leader, Retail and Virtual Banking at People’s Choice Credit Union. His responsibilities include delivering key strategies and banking operations for the People’s Choice retail banking network. Phil is a father of 2 active boys and has a lifelong passion for outdoor education and nature play and the positive impact it has on young people’s lives.
Leanne is a 20 year specialist in strategic planning, facilitation, governance, business development and project management. She has worked across all three tiers of government, in an international design firm and with universities, developers, not for profits and communities to assist with their p[lanning. She believes that sound governance underpins success and is former Chairperson / Deputy of a number of Federal and or State Boards / committees. Leanne is the Managing Director of Strategic Matters Pty Ltd and has qualifications in Social Sciences Honours degree, Sustainability and leadership. Leanne is a strong environmental advocate and understands the importance of nature in helping children and adults become happier, healthier and more creative through their connection to nature and the outdoors.
Adrian has been a Director of Letcher Moroney Chartered Accountants since 2009, where he manages the Business Advisory, Research & Development and Technology areas of the firm. Adrian has over 20 years’ experience in Accounting and Advisory both in Australia and the UK. With two young and incredibly busy boys, Adrian fully understands the value and positive impact for children of being active and connected to the outdoors.
Brenton Grear is the Director of the new organisation, Green Adelaide which will transform our city into a world-leading, sustainable, green and climate-resilient city for the new Green Adelaide Board. Formerly the Regional Director, Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges in the Department for Environment and Water, Brenton has had a long career in public land management, ecological restoration and natural resources management throughout South Australia. In his spare time, Brenton loves spending time with his family and getting into nature – taking long walks in Australia’s high country and making use of his obsession for vintage surfboards.
Kylie is an Entrepreneur and People and Culture expert with 10+ years in Global HR Leader roles in some of the world’s largest companies including GE and BHP Billiton. She co-founded global trampoline business Bounce Inc, was Co-founder and CEO of Educational Consultancy Lean Learning and is currently founder and Director of Edu Cultureworks, an organisation dedicated to transforming culture in Education. Kylie grew up in the Northern Territory and as leaseholder of two small people (who she encourages to run wild) she is a passionate advocate for unstructured play outdoors.
Lucy is the Director of Legal Services for the Department of Education overseeing delivery of strategic legal and policy advice to the Minister, CE, corporate office and all schools, preschools and children’s centres across the state. She has over 25 years’ experience in government and law, working as a criminal defence solicitor for adult and young offenders, as prosecutor with both the state and Commonwealth Director of Prosecutions and in leadership roles with child protection overseeing operation of state- wide services for remote regional communities. Lucy is the mother of 3 adult children, loves gardening, bushwalking and cares passionately about children benefiting from unstructured play in nature.
Luke’s career in education spans more than 20 years, leading some of Australia’s most prominent schools including Canberra Girls Grammar School, Prince Alfred College, Annesley College, and as the current Principal at St Andrew’s School. He holds a Master of Leadership and Management from Deakin University and has completed the Principal’s Leadership Academy through the Harvard Business School. Strategic leadership, active listening, student-focused communication and impressive global networks are hallmarks of Luke’s professional impact. As a leader, Luke is passionate about quality personalised learning, driving progressive experiential learning outcomes and building capacity in his community.
As an avid adventurer Luke, his wife and four children have explored ‘every corner’ of Australia from the tip of Cape York in far-north QLD, to the Oodnadatta Track in outback SA to the top of the Dampier Peninsula in northern WA. Luke’s happy places are hiking in the bush, having a campfire with his kids in the forest, or building sandcastles on one of SA’s majestic beaches with family and friends.
Tim Crowley is a father, innovator, collaborator, Nursing Director, Manager – Acute and Statewide Services, and a Nurse Practitioner; working with children and young people with a focus on mental health and complex trauma. Tim has worked in the mental health field for more than 24 years and was awarded a SA Health South Australian Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Award, in the category Excellence in Leadership in 2022.
