ABOUT CEL
MEET THE TEAM
A dedicated team, determined to make a difference
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Abby Revill is the Executive Officer of Christian Early Learning and an executive early childhood leader with more than 26 years’ experience across early learning, OSHC, sector advocacy, compliance, operations and strategic leadership. Her career has included senior leadership of large multi-site portfolios as well as sector-level work with Community Early Learning Australia (CELA), where she managed a $2.5 million sector support program helping early learning services strengthen quality, leadership and accreditation outcomes.
Abby has led portfolios of more than 30 OSHC and Long Day Care services, overseen workforces of more than 200 educators, developed organisation-wide compliance and quality systems, and worked extensively with government, regulatory authorities, schools and sector stakeholders. Today, through CEL, she provides executive leadership, strategic support, consultancy and advocacy to strengthen the capability and sustainability of Christian early learning services across Australia.
RELATIONSHIPS OFFICER
Christina Lane is the Relationships Officer at Christian Early Learning, where she has served for the past (almost) three years supporting services, leaders and educators across the CEL community. She brings extensive frontline experience in early childhood education, having worked as an Educator, Room Leader, Educational Leader, Nominated Supervisor, 2IC and Director, with responsibility spanning team leadership, compliance, quality improvement, staff wellbeing, curriculum and service culture.
Christina also has a background in Christian ministry and community services, including several years as a Ministry Coordinator with Youth for Christ Australia, where she led teams, managed events and delivered biblical programs in schools and community settings. She holds a Diploma of Children’s Services and a Certificate IV in Christian Ministry and Theology, bringing together practical sector knowledge, relational leadership and a deep commitment to seeing faith, mission and practice genuinely integrated in Christian early learning.
SUPPORT SERVICES
Karen Petrie brings more than 35 years’ experience in early childhood education and care, with a career spanning roles as an Approved Provider, Director and educator. Her experience across service leadership and daily practice gives her a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to deliver quality education and care while building strong teams and sustainable organisations.
Karen has led teams, developed curriculum, and established organisation-wide compliance and quality systems. Her work combines educational leadership with a practical understanding of governance, regulatory responsibilities and service operations. She has also provided strategic support, consultancy and advocacy across the sector, helping services navigate change, strengthen quality and address operational challenges. Through this work, Karen supports leaders and educators to build their capability, meet their responsibilities with confidence and create environments where children, families and teams can thrive.
MARKETING, EVENTS & KINGDOM PARTNERSHIPS
Janelle Knox is CEL’s Marketing, Events & Kingdom Partnership Officer, bringing close to 30 years’ experience across communications, media, marketing, events and the not-for-profit sector. For nearly two years, she has led CEL’s marketing, brand development, event delivery and partnership engagement, helping strengthen the organisation’s visibility, messaging and sector connection.
Prior to CEL, Janelle founded and led MICI Magazine & MICI Girls, growing the Christian not-for-profit publication internationally and overseeing editorial, brand, events, partnerships, sponsorship and audience engagement. Her earlier career included national communications work with Compassion Australia, as well as experience across advertising, print and Christian radio.
Janelle brings to CEL a particular ability to find the story at the heart of an organisation and translate its purpose into communications, experiences and partnerships that build trust, engagement and momentum.
CHRISTIAN EARLY LEARNING
Distinctly Christian
Christian Early Learning (CEL) is a non-denominational Christian organisation established in 2022.
As a national peak body, we connect, support and advocate for church boards, leaders, teachers and educators across Australia’s Christian early learning community. Our work serves a sector encompassing more than 450 Christian early learning centres, strengthening the people and organisations entrusted with this vital ministry.
We help services navigate change, sustain their Christian distinctiveness and build a strong future for Christian early learning in Australia.
Our Purpose and Impact
Christian early childhood education and care (OSHC) services help shape each child’s emerging identity through a Christ-centred foundation.
Grounded in faith, collaboration and celebration, CEL equips boards, leaders and educators to deliver quality education and care that nurtures the whole child – heart, mind and soul.
We connect services across Australia through partnerships, shared practice and professional community, building unity and mutual encouragement.
Through mentoring, professional development and ongoing support, we strengthen the people and structures that help services thrive.
We champion Christian distinctiveness and represent the sector’s voice with key stakeholders, shaping a strong future for Christian early learning and OSHC.
HOLDING THE VISION
Meet The Board
BOARD CHAIR
ANNA PHAN
DIRECTOR
CRAIG MURISON
DIRECTOR
KAREN PETRIE
DIRECTOR
BRENDA JONES
CHRISTIAN EARLY LEARNING
Join the movement
At its core, CEL believes that high-quality Christian early childhood and OSHC services hold a unique opportunity to shape each child’s emerging identity through a Christ-centred foundation. Grounded in values of faith, collaboration, and celebration, CEL empowers church boards, leaders, and educators to deliver excellent, purposeful early and middle learning that nurtures the whole child, heart, mind, and soul.
CEL works to grow its national impact by building strong, sustainable structures and deeply engaging with services across every state and service type. It fosters collaboration through partnerships, shared practice, and sector-wide connection, creating a sense of unity and mutual encouragement. CEL also champions both internal and external advocacy, supporting organisations to embrace their Christian distinctiveness while amplifying the voice of the sector through engagement with key stakeholders. Through mentoring, professional development, community-building, and ongoing support, CEL continues to shape a thriving, faith-aligned future for Christian early/middle learning in Australia