As co-owner of Woodlands with my business partner, Hamish Rotstein, I am passionate about Early Learning. My passion for Education has spanned 46 years across all levels of education – birth to adult. I have been Principal of many Prep-12 schools around Australia and have a deep understanding of education across all levels – I understand where children come from in their education and where they will go to.

My absolute passion in education has been the provision of outstanding educational experiences for children aged 0 – 6. I see education not only as a life journey but also as preparation for life. Our vision for Woodlands is “To plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit”. I continue to “plant trees” of education with children knowing that this education will come to fruition in the future through our children.

I have a hands-on approach with all the centres mentoring, hiring and leading early childhood educators to provide the very best care and education for children. I have established the kinder programme in all the centres and feel so proud of the Kinders as they head off to school so well prepared for life.

Hamish is a director and co-founder of Woodlands Long Day Care & Kindergarten

Hamish is the founder and managing principal of Rotstein Commercial Lawyers, a Melbourne based law firm he established in 2000. He has bachelor and post-graduate degrees in law, political science and financial services Hamish and his firm act for some of Australia’s most successful businesses. He has been involved first hand as a lawyer, adviser and strategist in the growth of many of these businesses from early-stage start-ups to national and international market leaders. In particular, he has had a close involvement with the Chemist Warehouse Retail Group, a business started by his family, which he has helped to become Australia’s largest retail pharmacy chain. He has continuously acted as their lawyer and adviser for over 20 years.

Hamish has helped establish a number of other children’s charities including Creative Art Therapies Australia (formerly Art Cabriolet) which uses art and art therapy to help children braving trauma and RCH 1000 which seeks to raise $1M a year to support medical research into paediatric medicine at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Victoria. Since 2016 he has also been a member on the board of the Very Special Kids Foundation, Victoria’s only paediatric palliative care hospice.

Hamish’s passion for early learning education was seeded by his mother, an early learning educator herself of over 45 years. Hamish saw first-hand how quality early learning education profoundly and positively impacts the wellbeing and development of children. He established Woodlands Early Learning with Fay Woodland based on an unwavering belief and commitment to a first-class early learning education and care for all children in their care.