Team
Owners and Managers of
Beyond The Beanstalk
Jennie
Owner
“I hope to encourage STEM in children in early childhood so they can develop STEM skills to solve problems in a variety of contexts.”
Jennie has been a science teacher for 30 years, achieved national and international recognition, awarded a Churchill Fellowship and Caltex Rotary Award for innovation in teaching and also holds a Master of Science.
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She has travelled to the US and Europe to observe best practice in the teaching of science, engineering and mathematics.
Jennie is also the author of The STEAM Book. A book of STEM activities for late primary and early high school students and the accompanying
Elizabeth
Owner
“I was often referred to as “Mary Poppins”, in many of my previous roles. I like to think that meant I thought outside the box and encouraged this skill in all children I had the pleasure of working with."
Elizabeth has been working with children in both Australia and the United States for over 12 years.
She has worked as a nanny and in home educator. She has also worked in both long day care (LDC) and outside school hours care (OSHC) as an educator, educational leader, nominated supervisor and centre director.
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Having received qualifications in early childhood, Elizabeth has also pursued qualifications in business and marketing.
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Liz has 2 little girls who love helping and trialling new activities from Beyond the Beanstalk.
Renee
Operations Manager
Renee started as our booking specialist and through dedication and excellent operational skills, became our Operations Manager.
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When she's not orchestrating office operations, you can find her rocking the role of the unofficial office DJ or tearing up the dance floor as an award-winning country line dancer.
With over a decade of experience in the childcare industry under her belt, Renee brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her role.
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Fun facts about Renee? She's a proud mother to two adorable children, Jack and Mia, and she shares a preschool connection with Liz and Holly – talk about lifelong friendships!
Oh, and did we mention she also attended high school with Bernie?
Small world indeed!
The Team
Bernie
Stem Presenter
Bernie has joined the Beyond the Beanstalk team and brings years of primary school teaching with her.
Bernie has taught Kindergarten to Year 6.
Bernie was a gymnastics coach for 10 years and taught babies right through to adults.
She has 2 monster puppers at home, a beautiful little human and a husband with many 3D printers.
If you meet Bernie at one of our workshops, make sure to check out her earrings and/or hat. She has a vast collection of them and matches her accessories to the theme of the workshop!
Ruby
STEM Presenter
Meet Ruby, the dynamic STEM presenter who infuses fun and enthusiasm into every lesson. As the office social media queen, she effortlessly bridges the digital and real-world spaces, captivating audiences of all ages.
With two little girls of her own, Ruby understands the importance of sparking curiosity and fostering a love for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics from a young age. Through her engaging presentations, she ignites imaginations and empowers the next generation of innovators to explore the wonders of the STEM world.
Sky
STEM Presenter
Meet Sky, our youngest STEM presenter. Currently studying Nursing through TAFE NSW, Sky brings a fresh perspective and boundless enthusiasm to the world of science and technology.
Sky has workshed with children through afterschool groups and clubs, and she inspires young minds to explore the limitless possibilities of STEM, fostering a nurturing environment where curiosity thrives.
Join Sky on an exciting journey of discovery and learning, where every question sparks a new adventure.
Philip
Office Wizard
Philip comes to us with experience across a range of industries. He has been teaching for 16 years, was in the IT industry for 19 years and even spent a 7 year period as a musician… he even sported an afro for some of that time!
Philip is a keen coffee fanatic, loves Dungeons and Dragons, cats, his many grandchildren and of course the weird and wacky shenanigans we get up to here at The Beanstalk.
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Watch out around the end of November as Philip tends to go through a little transformation. His beard and hair grow longer, his belt needs to be let out a few notches and for some reason, he starts wearing a lot of red, black and white.
Nathan
Office Engineer
Nathan, the engineering extraordinaire at Beyond the Beanstalk! all things tech and tinkering! When he's not busy fixing drones or cracking jokes, you can find him building aquaponics units, installing security cameras (he's got your back!), and maybe even dusting off some ancient dinosaur bones. Just make sure to keep an eye out for his witty sense of humour - it's been known to catch people off guard (in the best way possible). Get ready for engineering expertise with a side of hilarity! Nathan also steps into the role of Stem Presenter when needed. If you see him at a workshop, ask him to tell you a joke!
Gary
Graphic Designer
Gary, the wickedly talented graphic designer behind GF Creative.
Gary runs his own business GF Creative in Sydney but works remotely for a range of businesses including ours!
His impressive portfolio is a must-see! Irish born and raised, Gary has lived in Sydney for the past 13 years and has a young family, a love of James Bond films and an impressive portfolio where no job is too big or too small.
Visit his website gfcreative.com.au to explore some of his wonderfully creative works and be inspired. Be sure to give him a follow, because great things come to those who create! #gfcreative.sydney