Chief Executive Officer
Sue Thorne

Sue was born, raised and educated in Hamilton, leaving school to complete an initial business qualification and working for the Inland Revenue Department for 12 years, where she developed her organisational and administrative skills.

Sue's involvement in early childhood began when her own daughters were preschoolers. Firstly as a part-time administrator for a community-based centre and then in the establishment of a sessional centre for 2 - 5 year olds in Manukau City in 1991, which she still owns.

Sue became involved with the ECC in the way most other new centre managers do, by seeking advice, attending seminars and conferences, and realising how important it was for independent centres to have the support of a national organisation. Prior to taking up an Executive position with the ECC, Sue was the joint Area Contact for South Auckland and an active member of the Early Childhood Industry Training Organisation (ECTO).

Sue was President of the ECC from April 1996 - September 1999. During the term of her presidency Sue concentrated her efforts on raising the profile of the ECC, and increasing membership by providing ever improving services to the members. Sue has held the position of Chief Executive Officer for the Council since September 1999.

Sue was invited to be the first early childhood representative on the Education Forum in 2002, and has been the ECC's representative on the Early Childhood Advisory Committee since 1996.

Office Administrator
Rose Morrow

Rose grew up on a farm in Canterbury. She trained and worked as a nurse until she and her husband moved to Wellington 12 years ago and started a family. They have three children.

Rose is responsible for the smooth running of the ECC National Office, which is based in Wellington, and the associated administration functions of the organisation. Rose provides administrative support to the CEO.

All membership queries, accounts receivable and payable, event registration, orders for publications and general enquiries are handled through the National Office. Rose refers enquiries for advice and support made by members on to the most experienced person in the organisation for a full reply.

Rose can be contacted on 0800 742 742 or by fax on 04 499 8473 or by email at admin@ecc.org.nz

Professional Development Manager
Les Pearson

Les worked in the New Zealand Police for approximately 25 years. From 1980 to 2001, he worked with the New Zealand Police Youth Education Service in Whangarei, Auckland and Counties/Manukau. In 2001, Les co-founded the charitable trust The Young New Zealanders' Foundation in Wellington, and was General Manager until his appointment at the ECC at the end of 2007.

In his role as Regional Coordinator for the Police Youth Education Service, Les was involved in the marketing of many educational programmes including Amazing Me - a safety programme for two- to six- year-olds. Les also developed the All About Me programme, now run successfully in early childhood centres by the New Zealand Police.

Les's role is to provide advice and support to our members via our phone and email support lines, and through seminars and workshops throughout the year. He also develops new resources for our members.

Publications Manager
Sarah Ellich

Sarah brings a background of research and writing to her role as Publications Manager. She has a Master's degree in English from the University of Auckland, where she completed a thesis on the works of Oscar Wilde.

Sarah has a strong interest in education and has worked in the tertiary education sector as the Research Manager of an academic recruitment firm, and in the secondary sector as the Development Officer for Auckland Grammar School.

Sarah is responsible for the majority of the ECC's publications, including the weekly HypertECC news, the Executive Diary, and the Swings & Roundabouts magazine.

Sarah can be contacted by email at sarah@ecc.org.nz, or by telephone on 0800 742 742.

Communications Manager
Anthony Keesing

Anthony comes to the ECC with a background in public relations, journalism and teaching. He has held public relations/communication management positions with a Cabinet Minister, a Mayor, a government department, a hospital group, Television New Zealand and a theatre venue. He designed courses and taught public relations at Deakin University in Melbourne. He has university qualifications in psychology, teaching and journalism, has edited a book on the Fourth Labour Government, and won a Qantas Press Award for travel writing.

Anthony is currently writing communication and sponsorship plans for ECC, and is looking forward to running public relations/communications seminars at the 2006 ECC conference.

He most enjoys running, reading, classical music and playing with children. He can be contacted at anthonyk@clear.net.nz.

ECC Executive Committee

The ECC Constitution provides that the organisation be run by elected officers and an executive committee. This group provides the 'governance' for the organisation, sets policies, strategic direction, approves expenditure and initiates services to be provided. Elected members act in the interests of the organisation and its members, not their own centre (although normally there is no conflict of interest).

The ECC Constitution provides that there is a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer and a Secretary. These four positions are the 'Officers' of the organisation and have some specified constitutional duties as well as being on Executive.

Executive Committee Members for 2008-2009

President Margie Blackwood, Auckland

Vice-President and Treasurer Lonnie Parker, Auckland

Secretary Dave Guerin, Wellington

Executive Members
Tanya Harvey, Auckland
Maria Johnson, Auckland
Pam Maclean, Queenstown
Jill Oliver, Auckland
Miffy Welsh, Thames


Patrons
Allan Wendelborn
Brian Elliott


CEO  Sue Thorne, Wellington