KindyNews Team: Writers and Contributors

Sue Ward

SUE writes a regular swimming tips column for KindyNews.

She has been teaching kids to swim for almost 2O years and owns the Get Set & Go Swim School in Brisbane. She also holds degrees in Human Movement Studies and Teaching Physical Education and Primary Classroom. Contact her at (07) 3300 0444.

Kenna McHugh

KENNA writes about the ever-changing social media industry.

She loves discovering new technology that helps the business and culture. Writing for one of the first screenwriting websites, Screenwriting Utopia led her to her first published book, Breaking into Film. Some of her past clients have been Consumers Electronics Daily News, Lucent Technology, AVID, McCann Communications, LivingStrong and MGM Grand Hotel.

KJ Dell’Antonia

KJ is a writer, lawyer, a former and someday once again New Yorker. She covers the intersection of women, family, work and culture for Slate‘s DoubleX and its XX Factor blog.

She's a contributing editor with a column in every issue for Kiwi magazine (on the intersection of real life and aspirational organic parenting). Her work has also appeared in the New York Times (online edition), Parents, Parenting, on Babble, and in other outlets, including the lost and still regretted Wondertime. Her first book, Reading with Babies, Toddlers and Twos (co-written with Susan Straub) came out in May ’06. She also has another in the works.

Pinky McKay

CELEBRITY parenting expert, public speaker and best-selling author Pinky engaging and informative columns regularly appear in KindyNews.

Pinky is a sought-after keynote speaker and author with 4 titles published by Penguin, including Parenting By Heart, Sleeping Like a Baby, 100 Ways to Calm the Crying and Toddler Tactics, She also regularly appears on Australia's major network TV stations.

Jess Ratty

JESS is a contributor for the Guardian Newspaper in the United Kingdom.

Dr Sue Taji

DR Sue Taji is a specialist paedodontist based in Brisbane.

Having completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Adelaide, she was awarded membership to the prestigious Golden Key Honours Society for excellence during her studies. Dr Taji has been based in private practice in Brisbane over the past decade, subsequently completing a Clinical Doctorate in Paediatric Dentistry at the University of Queensland. Completing numerous research projects during this time, she has widely published in national and international journals and publications, having authored and co-authored book chapters on paediatric dental aspects. Holding surgical accreditation at the Wesley & St Andrews hospitals, she remains clinically orientated and restricts her specialty practice to the management of paediatric patients from infancy to adolescence. Contact her at (07) 3839 8000

David Macknish

DAVID is the Head of Junior School at Ipswich Grammar.

Elise Ellerman

Elise Ellerman, is mum to three children, teacher and the founder of Creative Play Central in Brisbane.

Throughout Elise’s 10 year teaching career she was passionate about designing creative and innovative lessons that challenged her students thinking and inspired them. Elise was appointed a Deputy Principal for the last three years of her career. Elise witnessed firsthand the difference a creative approach can make to the wellbeing of a child and their academic success. As a mum to three children aged five and under , Elise is driven to create original and creative opportunities for her children to play, create and learn.

Christie Burnett

CHRISTIE is an Early Childhood Teacher with (too) many years experience teaching in primary schools, starting up and directing a child care centre, and working as a presenter and consultant educating other educators.

She also works as a freelance writer with recent articles appearing in Practical Parenting, My Child and Childcare Australasia magazines and online at Kleenex Mums, Huggies Australia and Coles Online.

Freya Petersen

FREYA was born in New York City and raised in Australia, and has worked as a journalist in Asia, Europe and the United States.

Before joining GlobalPost, she lived for four years in Paris, working as a reporter and editor for the broadcaster France 24 and the International Herald Tribune (New York Times Co.). Times, International Herald Tribune, London Telegraph, South China Morning Post and Sydney Morning Herald. She now lives in Brisbane, Australia. She began her career in Sydney, as a reporter and chief of staff at country's biggest selling metropolitan broadsheet, the Sydney Morning Herald.

An avid traveler, whether on assignment or vacation, she has most recently spent time in Iran, Lebanon, Myanmar, South America, the Balkans and Russia. She has written and produced Web video reports for the New York.

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