Meet our Board
Nature Play WA is governed by a Board of dedicated professionals who bring a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to our mission. Their leadership and support ensure we continue on the best path to inspiring outdoor play and a connection to nature in WA communities.
Nick Sloan
Chief Executive Officer, Western Australian Local Government Association
Nick Sloan has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) since 2019.
Prior to joining WALGA Nick was the Executive Director, Planning and Service Delivery at the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.
Nick has worked in Ministerial offices at State Government levels as Chief of Staff to the Minister for Local Government; and Principal Policy Advisor to the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Racing, Gaming and Liquor. Nick has extensive experience in the Senior Executive in State Government, including roles in regional Western Australia. During this time, Nick managed complex policy agendas at both State and Local Government level.
Nick is a Director on a number of Boards including LGIS, an industry based Mutual Indemnity Scheme for Local Government in WA and Auspire (the Australian Day Council WA).
Nick is father to three boys, and actively participates in their structured and non-structured recreation activities.
Nick Sloan
Chairperson
Danielle Ayres
Visitor Communications and Marketing for Parks and Wildlife, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Danielle manages the Visitor Communication and Marketing branch within Parks and Wildlife at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
With more than fifteen years’ state government experience across the Health, Emergency Services, Regional Development and Tourism portfolios, she is a communications all-rounder with skills and experience across corporate communication, media and marketing.
As a nature lover herself, Danielle is passionate about building the next generation of advocates for Western Australia's incredible natural assets.
Danielle Ayres
![A photo of Andrew Haak smiling at the camera.](https://www.natureplaywa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Andrew-Circle-Bio-transparent.png")
Andrew Haak
Paediatrician
Andrew is a Paediatrician working across in-hospital Paediatrics and with children and young people in community-based settings. He has a special interest in child development and works in public, private and ACCHO locations with a focus on fostering improved wellbeing in children and young people.
Growing up in country Western Australia, Andrew has an intuitive understanding of nature’s positive impact on creativity and mental wellbeing. Professionally this understanding has only grown as the tidal wave of evidence demonstrating benefits to our communities continues to flow.
Andrew is the proud dad of four wonderful nature-lovers and when not working can be found in the ocean, the bush or the garden.
Andrew Haak
Kate Inglis-Hodge
Program Officer, Stephen Michael Foundation
Kate has previous leadership experience in sporting and education pursuits through the Sir Charles Court Young Leaders Program, Women in Leadership Australia, Australian Olympic Committee (Pierre De Coubertin Award Recipient), State Representative AFL Women’s, League Vice-Captain East Fremantle Women’s Football Club and in her current employment with the Stephen Michael Foundation.
Enjoying a mentor-type role, Kate is experienced in facilitating community engagement and participation through a range of state-wide sporting and outdoor programs. Kate has a background in volunteering within many school and sporting communities and is passionate about recreation and the benefits of outdoor play, culminating in studying Health & Physical Education at Curtin University. Kate enjoys a rural lifestyle close to the city, where nature is at her doorstep with many outdoor opportunities to explore.
Kate Inglis-Hodge
Tamar Jordan
General Manager, Strategy - Iron Ore, Rio Tinto
Tamar is the General Manager of Strategy and Productivity for Rio Tinto Iron Ore. Prior to this role Tamar lead the establishment of the Rio Tinto’s internal consulting division (PACE) in Perth. In addition to her experience as a senior mining executive Tamar also has 16 years’ experience in Tier 1 consulting. Tamar has proven strengths in strategic thinking, building high performing teams, complex stakeholder management and delivering results.
Tamar Jordan
Jane McEvoy
Senior Manager Operations & Finance, Rio Tinto
Jane has over 20 years of experience in finance, accounting and governance and is currently at Rio Tinto as a Senior Manager in Finance. Jane has held several roles in her six years at Rio Tinto including Finance & Compliance Manager in Iron Ore, Senior Manager Operations & Finance and now as IS&T Finance Business Partner.
Prior to joining Rio Tinto Jane was an Executive Director at EY working with a number of ASX200 and large private companies focussing on audit, SOX reporting, SEC compliance, IPO reporting (ASX and TSX), dual listing requirements, due diligence and capital raising.
Jane is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and graduated from Curtin University with a degree in Accounting and Corporate Administration. Jane grew up in Helena Valley and fondly remembers a childhood of playing in the bush catching tadpoles, building cubbies and climbing trees.
Jane McEvoy
Niel Smith
President, Western Australian Primary Principals' Association
Niel is the current President of the WA Primary Principals’ Association, representing over 1100 primary school leaders across the state. Previous to this role Niel was a Principal Advisor at the Leadership Institute and Principal at West Greenwood PS for 4 years. Niel has been a school leader for the past 23 years, having worked in multiple educational regions, central office and regional office.
Niel is passionate about creating school environments and cultures that allow children to succeed in all areas of interest, not purely the academic domain. In his role at West Greenwood PS, Niel was a strong advocate for this approach and his school initiated a Loose Parts play area for the school’s senior students, that featured on Channel 9’s A Current Affair, nationally and was subject to a Nature Play WA Case Study. Niel hopes to bring this enthusiasm to the Nature Play WA Board, in order to advocate for improved academic, social, physical and mental health outcomes for school students across the state.
Niel Smith
Tim Swart
Director Recreational Camps and Trails, Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries
Tim has over 15 years’ experience in Sport and Recreation management, is a Director at Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries working with recreation camps, trails and participation initiatives with a focus on getting people moving. He leads large mobile work teams and possesses strong event management skills from previous roles in venue and hospitality project management.
Growing up at school adjacent to the Ku-ring gai National Park, surviving all the misadventure that comes with those experiences and wanting children to have the same opportunity to engage with the outdoors. Tim participates with his kids at surf club, enjoys sailing, paddling and being out there with community activity.
Tim Swart
Meet our team
Nature Play WA is proud of our small but dedicated team. Our backgrounds, skill sets and expertise vary greatly, but we are united by our passion for promoting nature play for children.
Kelsie Prabawa-Sear
Chief Executive Officer
Kelsie has had the joy of a varied and rich working and academic experience in both Australia and Indonesia prior to joining Nature Play WA, having worked in State government, consulting roles and conservation work with not-for-profit organisations.
Along the way she has entwined her work with post graduate research degrees, completed a Master’s in Environmental Education for Sustainability and a PhD on The Impact of Culture in Environmental Education in Java, Indonesia. When reflecting on this work, Kelsie's focus and passion has always been for nature, kids, and communities. It’s therefore no surprise that she was drawn to the work of Nature Play WA.
As a parent of three wonderful growing humans, Kelsie also understands the challenges of parenthood and the important role that we have as advocates for our kids’ childhoods. She personally adds “advocate for nature” to her list of responsibilities, as it is her view that we all have a responsibility to ensure that our kids not only get time in nature as little ones, but also get a future with nature. The health of the environment cannot be separated from our own health.
Kelsie Prabawa-Sear
Chief Executive Officer
Fiona Bow
Accounting and Finance Manager
Fiona is a qualified accountant and a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). She has worked in finance for over 25 years in both tax and management accounting. Her experience has been garnered from a variety of industries, including corporate, not for profit and accounting practices.
She has an honours degree in Business, Sport and Recreation and enjoys athletics, walking/hiking, the beach, boating and camping.
Fiona Bow
Accounting and Finance Manager
Loren Cassidy
Digital Content Producer
Loren graduated with degrees in Creative Writing and Professional Writing and Publishing from Curtin University. She has since immersed herself in all things creative and felt at home in the world of marketing and communications.
Loren’s childhood memories of exploring the outdoors with her mum have instilled in her a love of the natural world, and the importance of time in nature for children’s – and adults’ – wellbeing.
She is thrilled that she gets to share this message with families every day through Nature Play WA’s social media, website and projects.
Loren Cassidy
Digital Content Producer
Vanessa Dow
Projects Executive
Vanessa is a highly experienced environmental educator and behaviour change specialist with over 20 years experience across government and professional consultancy. With formal qualifications in environmental science, conservation biology, education and behaviour change, Vanessa is able to combine all her passions into her current role at Nature Play WA. Vanessa is currently managing the next phases of the Talk N Walk program to reach schools and community.
Vanessa is a passionate advocate for protecting our natural environment and for consulting and engaging with young people to support them to make positive changes in our communities.
Vanessa is delighted to be a part of the Nature Play WA team to design and deliver effective behaviour change programs across WA.
Vanessa Dow
Projects Executive
Kellie Hill
Projects and Co-Design Consultant
Kellie is a project manager, digital communications specialist and was the co-founder and Director of Nature Play WA’s original consultancy service Green Code Creative (now offered as part of Nature Play WA).
Kellie is skilled in co-designing digital projects with children and young people and, most recently, led the development of Nature Play WA’s Talk N Walk app which was awarded ‘Best Practice in Consultation of Children and Young People’ at the 2022 IPAA Awards.
Prior to joining the Nature Play WA team Kellie worked for the Be Active WA Physical Activity Taskforce and several not-for-profits. Her fondest childhood memories are of ‘mucking about outdoors’ and she is keen to ensure WA kids today don’t miss out on this experience.
Kellie Hill
Projects and Co-Design Consultant
Jane Leow
Digital Design Specialist
Jane has worked in the digital media and marketing industry since graduating from UWA with a degree in design.
Her passion for hiking and the outdoors has led her to join the team at Nature Play WA, where she is responsible for managing multimedia assets, creating app content and designing marketing material.
Jane Leow
Digital Design Specialist
Sarah McGowan
Strategic Business Manager
Sarah brings a wealth of experience and strategic insight to our team, as our dedicated business consultant. With a background in education and business, Sarah is passionate about leveraging her expertise to drive positive change in the not-for-profit sector.
Prior to joining Nature Play WA, Sarah worked as an educator, specialising in literacy as the Ambassador for the Never Stop Reading Initiative. Her passion for early years education and play based learning developed in her roles promoting the Triple P program.
After completing a Master of Business Administration Sarah worked as a Strategic Consultant specialising in government and business relations.
Committed to fostering collaborative partnerships and fostering organisational excellence, Sarah plays a vital role in steering our organisation towards achieving its goals and maximising its potential for the betterment of communities and the environment.
Sarah McGowan
Strategic Business Manager
Liz Mendelawitz
Health and Wellbeing Strategist
As a dedicated nutritionist with a Bachelor of Health Science in Nutrition Bioscience, Liz Mendelawitz is passionate about helping people optimize their health and longevity through lifestyle adjustments. Liz firmly believes that it’s never too late to start changing habits for the better, and it’s never too early to establish good routines and healthy relationships with food.
Liz’s enthusiasm for promoting wellbeing extends to her work with Nature Play WA, where she supports the mission to connect kids with nature. Through this role, she advocates for the benefits of healthy, active play outdoors, fostering a love for nature and a foundation for lifelong wellness. Liz also emphasizes the importance of fueling kids with nutritious food, ensuring they have the energy to play, think and sleep better.
As a mum of two teenage girls and two crazy dogs, Liz understands the demands on parents. She brings this personal insight into her work, offering practical advice and support to help families lead healthier, happier lives.
Liz Mendelawitz
Health and Wellbeing Strategist
Erin Pedretti
Learning and Engagement Consultant
Erin is passionate about children learning through play, especially playing outdoors in nature. She’s an experienced teacher who studied at Murdoch University and Algoma University in Ontario and with experience teaching Early Years Education in London and Perth.
Erin has developed a strong understanding of early childhood development and the benefits to children who have unstructured time outside where they are able to climb trees, run at great speeds and connect with their natural environment. Erin volunteers at City Farm and is passionate about spending time connecting with people from different communities.
Erin has fond memories of letting her imagination run wild in her back yard and playing roller-hockey in the street with the neighbourhood kids. As a parent to two young children, Erin now spends weekends at the beach, rivers and parks.
As the Learning and Engagement Consultant at Nature Play WA, Erin is committed to encouraging families to spend time creating, playing and moving in the outdoor environment.
Erin Pedretti
Learning and Engagement Consultant