Our Leadership & Team
The Heart of The Akidamy
At The Akidamy, our exceptional early learning experience is built upon the foundation of extraordinary leadership and a team profoundly dedicated to your child’s flourishing future. We know that implementing the right culture and work environment is key to our success, ensuring our progressive educational philosophy, rigorous governance, and unwavering commitment to safety are realities every single day. It’s the deep expertise, genuine relationships, and shared vision of our people that truly differentiate The Akidamy as a leader in early childhood education.
Visionary Leaders Guiding Our Path
Our School Directors are at the forefront of translating The Akidamy’s unique vision and values into thriving learning environments. They lead with dedication, ensuring operational excellence, a nurturing atmosphere, and a consistent commitment to our educational philosophy across both our Perth and Fremantle locations
Mrs. Hannah
School Director - Perth
Mrs Hannah joins The Akidamy family with a heart full of passion for early childhood education and a deep commitment to the children in her care. An experienced Manager in childcare over many years, Hannah also brings distinguished credentials from her time as a Senior Education Advisor and Compliance and Pedagogy Manager across Australia and New Zealand. Yet, it is her genuine love for learning that defines her leadership.
For Hannah, safety and governance are more than just regulations—they are a promise to our families. Her background ensures that The Akidamy remains a safe, secure sanctuary where every child is protected and free to flourish.
Hannah’s philosophy is rooted in warmth and wonder. Deeply inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach and the beauty of nature-based education, she cherishes every child as a “capable, curious scientist.” She is dedicated to nurturing their natural sense of discovery, ensuring they feel confident to explore the world around them.
Leading with what she describes as “human-centred leadership,” Hannah guides our school with empathy, integrity, and a motherly warmth. She is devoted to creating an inclusive, family-focused environment where every child is celebrated, and every family feels truly at home.
Mrs. Lindsay
School Director - Fremantle
Mrs Lindsay leads The Akidamy Fremantle with more than 17 years of significant leadership experience in early childhood education — a seasoned professional and recognised leader in her field, whose career has been shaped by a genuine love for children, families and the art of great early learning.
Before The Akidamy, she spent a decade as Centre Director at Subicare Early Learning Centre in Subiaco — one of Perth’s most beloved early learning communities, trusted by families for over 30 years. Families chose Subicare, stayed, and returned year after year — because they felt their children were truly known, loved and in exceptional hands.
She believes, wholeheartedly, that every child is a curious, capable individual with something extraordinary to offer the world. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach and guided by RIE and Pikler principles, she creates environments where children feel safe to explore, to question and to be entirely themselves — where their relationships, their creativity and their sense of wonder are cherished every single day. For her, early learning is not simply preparation for school. It is a precious, joyful chapter in its own right.
She is equally passionate about the families she serves. She understands that leaving your child in someone else’s care requires an enormous act of trust — and she takes that seriously. Families in her care find her warm, accessible and genuinely invested in their child as an individual. She leads with empathy and an open door, and she is committed to keeping families truly connected to their child’s learning journey — not just through documentation, but through real, meaningful relationships built over time.
She leads The Akidamy Fremantle with a deep sense of purpose and excitement — building alongside a dedicated, passionate team a thriving, reflective and inspiring community where every child is celebrated, every family feels at home, and every educator is proud of the work they do.
Our Educational Leaders: Elevating Pedagogy & Practice
Our Pedagogistas (Educational Leaders) are the driving force behind our responsive curriculum. They provide invaluable guidance and mentorship to our educators, ensuring our curriculum consistently aligns with evidence-based international benchmarks and our core philosophies. Their expertise is crucial in shaping profound learning experiences within every studio.
Mrs. Katelyn
Pedagogista - Perth
With over seven years of dedicated service to The Akidamy, Katelyn’s journey into her role as Education Leader since 2023 is a testament to our culture of professional growth. A calm and purposeful leader, she is the guiding force behind our pedagogical approach, passionately mentoring our educators to foster a culture of deep reflective practice and collaboration.
Steeped in the principles of the Reggio Emilia philosophy, Katelyn champions a play-based and inquiry-driven curriculum. She holds an unwavering belief in the child as a competent and capable protagonist in their own learning journey, ensuring our environments are rich spaces of wonder where curiosity flourishes.
Katelyn passionately advocates for a transparent partnership with families, believing that education is a shared journey. She excels at making our pedagogy visible and accessible, empowering parents with a deeper understanding of their child’s development and inviting them to be active contributors to our learning community.
Mrs. Erin
Pedagogista - Perth
Mrs Erin is a cherished face within The Akidamy community. Her journey with us began as our Atelierista, where she spent her days deeply immersed in the world of the children, listening to their “hundred languages” and helping their ideas take flight. This intimate understanding of how our children think, wonder, and create now sits at the heart of her work as our Pedagogista.
In this new chapter, Erin’s role is to be a steady, guiding hand for our entire teaching team. She moves through our studios not just as a leader, but as a researcher and a mentor. Erin is a specialist in the art of making children’s thinking visible; she partners with our educators to ensure that every moment of discovery is captured with beauty and intentionality. By weaving together the threads of Reggio Emilia, Pikler, and RIE, she ensures our philosophy is lived out with heart and integrity in every studio, every day.
Because Erin has already built such deep, authentic connections with our children and families, there is a beautiful sense of safety and continuity in her presence. As she finalises her Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) status, her vision becomes a vital part of the next layer of our story—a story of reaching upward to provide a world-class foundation where every child is seen, heard, and truly understood.
Ms. Ashlee
Head of Studios - Fremantle
Appointed from our sister school in Perth in 2025, Ms. Ashlee brings a deep understanding of our organisational ethos to her role as head of studios at Fremantle School. Her transition is a celebration of internal talent, ensuring seamless continuity within The Akidamy family.
With a rich background in early childhood education, Ashlee is driven by a genuine passion for children and their unique learning journeys. Deeply versed in ‘Our Akidamy Way’ – she is a pivotal force in driving operational excellence and quality practice. As a leader, she supports the daily rhythm of our school with a focus on precision and care, managing the vital pathways of enrolments and resource management.
Ashlee is dedicated to mentoring our team and upholding the high standards that define our community, ensuring that every operational detail supports a thriving educational environment where every child can flourish.
Mrs. Nina
Head of Studios - Perth
With over 15 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, Nina has been a cornerstone of The Akidamy since 2018. She brings a wealth of international expertise from the UK, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Following a successful three-year tenure as School Director, Nina returned from maternity leave in 2025 to lead as Head of Studios. She is a passionate advocate for the Reggio Emilia approach, viewing every child as a capable, “powerful communicator” and ensuring our studios remain rich environments where curiosity and the child’s voice take center stage.
In her current role, Nina drives our school’s operational excellence and brings her educational heart to the forefront. As a Quality Assessor, she meticulously oversees safety compliance and the professional development of our team. She is dedicated to mentoring our staff, ensuring our educators remain at the forefront of early childhood best practices while staying deeply rooted in The Akidamy’s Core Values and ethos.
Beyond management, Nina is committed to the holistic wellbeing of our community. As a certified children and adult yoga teacher, she integrates mindfulness and physical awareness into our daily rhythms. Her unique blend of analytical oversight and Reggio-inspired care ensures The Akidamy remains a safe, high-quality, and nurturing space where both children and educators can truly thrive.
Our Dedicated Educators & Team: The Akidamy Difference
Beyond our leadership team, the heart of The Akidamy lies in our dedicated educators and support staff. We are immensely proud of what truly sets our team apart and ensures an exceptional experience for every child and family.
Studio Model
Our innovative studios are led by Studio Teachers and Studio Leaders, not typically found in traditional childcare centres. This structured approach ensures meticulous attention to both education, safety and well-being within each studio.
- Studio Teachers are deeply focused on the delivery of our educational program and responsive learning experiences, guiding children through purposeful learning.
- Studio Leaders are primarily responsible for the operational oversight and ensuring the utmost safety and well-being of the children, as well as providing support and guidance to the team of educators within their studio.
Specialist Expertise for Enriched Development
We integrate a dedicated Atelierista (Art Teacher) and an Italian Language Teacher, who bring specialist expertise directly into our curriculum. Furthermore, we collaborate with external experts such as Signing Hands to support children’s communication. As part of our school readiness programme, our Kindergarten Four hosts an on-site fortnightly Occupational Therapy (OT) session.
Experienced & Committed Professionals
Our staff generally have many years of experience in early childhood education, and we are proud of our low staff turnover, meaning children benefit from consistent, familiar faces who have been a part of The Akidamy family for years. We exclusively employ full-time and part-time staff, avoiding third-party agencies or casual employees, ensuring genuine relationships. Our educators are deeply committed to their professional development requirements, upholding child safety, and meticulously implementing The Akidamy Way educational philosophy and the progressive educational practices.
A Culture of Care & Support
We believe that implementing the right culture and work environment is key to our success. Our service-oriented approach ensures that our team feels valued, supported, and empowered, directly translating into exceptional care and education for your child.
Studio Leadership Team
Powered By Our People
What makes
our team special
Our team is united by a shared passion for early learning and a profound understanding of each child’s unique potential. They are not just caregivers but co-learners, facilitators, and mentors who embody our core values. This collective dedication to excellence, combined with their genuine care and expertise, creates an inspiring and nurturing environment where every child flourishes.
