Nature Play WA is proud of its small but dedicated team. Their backgrounds, skill sets and expertise vary greatly, but they are united by their passion for promoting outdoor play for children.
Dr 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.
Katherine Healy
Strategic Communications & Campaigns Manager
Katherine is a successful strategic communicator, marketer, and campaigns specialist with over 25 years’ experience delivering creativity, innovation, and change for not-for-profit, government, media, and technology industries.
Katherine has worked in print, radio and online media, in journalistic, on-air, editorial, marketing and promotional roles and as Strategic Communications & Campaigns Manager for Nature Play WA, she tells the “nature play story” in many ways and through many different platforms, including as the National Campaign Manager for Outdoor Classroom Day Australia.
Katherine is a strong advocate for outdoor play and learning opportunities for children and is thrilled to work for such a dynamic organisation as Nature Play WA.
Kellie Hill
Projects Administration Executive
Kellie is a project manager, digital communications specialist and the co-founder and Director of Nature Play WA’s consultancy business Green Code Creative.
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.
Fiona Bow
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 a honours degree in Business, Sport and Recreation and enjoys athletics, walking/hiking, the beach, boating and camping.
Nicole McNamara
Project and Events Manager
Nicole is a qualified Event Manager with over seven years' experience in delivering community events and activations to families throughout Western Australia's regions including the Southwest, Wheatbelt, Peel and Perth.
Nicole is passionate about bringing nature play opportunities to families of all abilities through partnerships with local governments, community groups and businesses to deliver events such as Cubby Town, Muddy Hands, Muddy Buddies and many more.
Nicole is proud to be leading the Every Kid in a Park project, combining her skills of project and event management to deliver accessible and inclusive trails, events, and resources to families of all abilities.
Jane Leow
Multimedia Officer
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.
Loren Hillier
Communications Officer
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 - namely, Every Kid in a Park.
Photo credit: Matt Biocich
Sarah McGowan
Learning and Engagement Manager
Sarah is a highly experienced and passionate educator with over 20 years of experience in the field. Prior to joining Nature Play Sarah worked as a teacher, 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.
Sarah is dedicated to creating positive and engaging learning environments that foster growth and development, utilizing unstructured play activities to promote creativity, exploration, and imagination in young children.
Sarah is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of children and the community as a whole through her role as Learning and Engagement Manager at Nature Play WA.
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.
