Michelle Barry is Team Leader Child Health Promotion at Healthy Cities Australia. Educated at University College Dublin, Michelle’s love of working with children has taken her around the world. After developing her experience working with children in statutory care in Australia’s Northern Territory, Michelle developed a focus on the power of outdoor play in roles in Hong Kong and the New South Wales South Coast. At Healthy Cities, she leads the Active In Betweens program, a drop-in space that promotes active play and healthy eating for primary-school aged children, and Play Illawarra, an initiative that aims to active play spaces in the Illawarra Shoalhaven through online marketing and in-person play-based events. She is furthering her understanding of play through Play Australia’s Playwork training program and recently completed the Foundation Practitioner Course. With her diverse experience, Michelle is an adaptable and creative child health professional whose work focuses on building relationships with children and with other professionals.

Kun Liang (he/him) leads communications and advocacy at Playeum, an independent charity in Singapore dedicated to championing every child’s right to play and participate. With formal training in early childhood education, communications, and journalism, Kun Liang brings together pedagogical insight and creative curiosity to shape Playeum’s voice and vision. At the heart of Kun Liang’s work is a belief that stories can shift perspectives. He weaves narratives, sparks conversations, and cultivates cross-sector partnerships that drive awareness and inspire change. Playeum recently launched “Are We Brave Enough to Let Our Children Play?” —a white paper co-published with the Singapore University of Social Sciences and Samantha Tan, calling for a bold reimagining of how society views children’s learning and development. Beyond Playeum, Kun Liang founded Project Five Fingers, a creative collective that empowers and gives voice to children through puppetry and play, while nurturing an appreciation for the Chinese language and culture. For over a decade, he was also a contributing writer at Lianhe Zaobao, Singapore’s largest Chinese-language newspaper, where he covered youth, community, and the arts. Through his journey, Kun Liang strives to build a world where play, the arts, and creativity are woven into the everyday — not just for children, but as essentials for a thriving society.

Michelle Poole began her journey with playgroup in 2004, quickly recognising its value for her family and community. She volunteered as the Contact Person, later taking on roles such as Treasurer and Zone Coordinator. Michelle hosted events, initiated new playgroups, and presented talks for new parents, while developing a range of skills. In 2010, Michelle joined Playgroup Queensland as a casual employee, eventually becoming the Regional Manager for the Sunshine Coast Hub. In this role, she manages the Hub grounds, playgroup and play experience offerings, along with the many additional programs that operate from this central location. Michelle is a strong advocate for play in the region and works closely within the community to support the importance of play for child development. Some of Michelle’s notable accomplishments include organising Messy Play days and community events, delivering online playgroup sessions during COVID lockdowns, and adapting Play Matters programs to meet changing family needs. Her dedication has significantly fostered connections within the community and among families and provided many innovative play experiences to support children’s development.