Our experienced leadership team is driven by their passion to see all children and young people thrive.
Sparkways is led by our CEO Jo Moloney and a five-person Executive team who are responsible for over 350 employees. Their strong governance, continued focus on child safety, and commitment to Victorian children and young people ensure the delivery of high-quality services throughout all our programmes.
Jo Moloney
CEO
Jo is a highly experienced executive with a demonstrated track record of successfully leading business improvement, integration, change and transformation initiatives. She is a financial management specialist with advanced analytical skills and strong commercial acumen. Jo is adept in building and maintaining internal and external stakeholder relationships and is highly proficient in providing customer service.
Jo has a strategic mindset and is an effective planner and implementation leader, along with being a leader of business cultural change and productivity improvement initiatives. She has worked across many different corporate, not-for-profit, government and regulated environments over a wide range of industry sectors and business functions. Jo is highly skilled in communication and interpersonal relationships and is passionate about people engagement, empowerment and building positive team cultures.
Jo has a strategic mindset and is an effective planner and implementation leader, along with being a leader of business cultural change and productivity improvement initiatives. She has worked across many different corporate, not-for-profit, government and regulated environments over a wide range of industry sectors and business functions. Jo is highly skilled in communication and interpersonal relationships and is passionate about people engagement, empowerment and building positive team cultures.
Kim Davis
Executive Director – Early Learning
With over 30+ years’ experience in the early childhood education and care sector, and in having held Executive, Senior and consultancy leadership roles in the NFP sector across a number of State and Territories, University & TAFE, Kim shares a deep understanding of the central relationship between optimal operational environments and pedagogical excellence to positive impact in child, family/community and workforce outcomes and experiences.
Kim has extensive experience in working with governments at Commonwealth, State and LGA levels, as well as other partners and stakeholders across the early years. She has worked with Universities and major NGO’s in facilitating and actioning funded (govt and philanthropic) programs along with research geared towards workforce, program quality, social justice and wellbeing.
Kath Mackay
Executive Director – Quality, Practice & Youth
Kath has worked in the Community Sector for over 25 years, including in the Disability; Child Youth and Family; and Early Learning areas. Kath has held a range of strategic leadership and senior management roles, including within Quality & Compliance; Service Operations; Sector Partnerships & Alliances; National Contract Management; and Project Management. Kath has tertiary qualifications in both Disability and Management. Outside of work Kath is kept busy by her three children, whose sporting involvement have led to her also holding the Secretary, Child Safe Officer and Covid Officer roles at a community sports club.
Joanne Watson
Executive Director Brand & Infrastructure
Jo has more than 25 years’ experience working in senior leadership and executive roles in industries as diverse as transport and logistics, veteran family support, local government and recruitment. Jo’s has extensive experience in a range of disciplines including finance; marketing; fundraising; business development; project management; continuous business improvement; IT systems development and support; and customer and client engagement. With a passion for helping people and working to grow and expand the businesses she is a part, Jo is committed to ensuring high quality and best practice outcomes in all that she does.
Lauren McCartney
Executive Director People
Lauren has over 25 years of experience in human resource management across the healthcare, telecommunications, and early childhood sectors, both in senior leadership roles and in learning and development. She is passionate about HR management and enjoys the challenge of balancing organisational goals with employee needs. Her motivation comes from seeing the positive impact her team's initiatives have on employee well-being and company performance.
Lauren is genuinely thrilled to be a member of Sparkways, an organisation that embraces cultural diversity. She looks forward to engaging with colleagues and staff from various backgrounds, learning from their unique perspectives, and contributing to an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and heard.
