Get in touch
We’re all about strategically collaborating to flip education inequity on its tail, while empowering educators and leaders to cultivate real outcomes for their students.
Email theconnection@socialventures.com.au
Phone 0447 712 224
Keen to get involved with The Connection? We’d love to learn more about you.
Want to be involved?
If you would like to know more about how your school can work with The Connection and connect with like-minded leaders, please contact Suzanne Cridge – Director of Education, The Connection at scridge@socialventures.com.au
Sue Cridge
Director Education – The Connection
Sue brings deep experience in education and social sectors within schools, systems and global levels of practice. She joined SVA in 2013 as the Director, Education for The Connection.
Acknowledged as an Outstanding Educational Leader by the state of Victoria, Sue was awarded a Sir Winston Churchill Fellowship in Education while working in disadvantaged schools across the government education system. In 2015, Sue was acknowledged with an award from the Australian Council Educational Leaders for this work. In 2018, Sue’s work was recognised with a national Impact25 nomination with Pro Bono Australia.
As Executive Director of Citizen Schools New Mexico, USA, over five years, Sue established a model of engagement and support for underserved public schools. Part of a national US education reform initiative, she worked within highly challenged and Native American communities. Sue has also volunteered as an English teacher in a United Nations refugee camp. Sue is a member of the Board of Directors for the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation and the board of the Vincent Fairfax Ethics in Leadership Fellowship. Sue is also a member of Global education Leaders Partnership, International Congress School Effectiveness and Improvement and an invited Australian delegate to the World Innovation Summit Education.
Sue particularly enjoys creative challenges. She draws on her experiences as an educator with deep practical experience to inform and develop systems design initiatives that respond to real challenges and real opportunities authentically. The power of the collective is her professional mantra.
Sue’s career is dedicated to growing education excellence and equity everywhere she can. After all, great education changes lives.
Contact Sue
Nick Johns
Associate Director – The Connection
Nick has over 25 years of education experience across primary, secondary and post-secondary education, in Australia and the UK. His roles include teaching, education leadership, project management and evaluation/research.
For a decade prior to joining The Connection, Nick managed and consulted to a wide range of education programs for highly vulnerable young people, primarily in the social purpose sector. He helped develop programs focused on reengaging young people not in school. Nick led the Flexible Learning Victoria network in 2016/17, connecting professionals from flexible education settings.
Nick holds a Bachelor of Science, a Graduate Diploma of Education (Primary) and a Master of Adolescent Health & Welfare (by research). His thesis focused on Flexible and Alternative Education: Hearing the Voices of Young People. Nick has also served as the President of the Committee of Management for the Victorian Applied Learning Association (VALA).
Nick joined SVA in 2019 as an Associate Director, The Connection. He is fuelled by his belief that “Every young Australian, regardless of background, should get a great education. Full stop. I want to be part of making that happen. I’m excited by SVA’s work to partner with schools and communities to achieve this.”
Contact Nick
Erin Corbyn
Associate Director – The Connection
Erin’s eight years of expertise as a primary teacher and school leader in the UK and Australia bring extensive on-the-ground experience to The Connection. Most of Erin’s teaching career was in schools where students experience significant social disadvantage, and she specialises in strengthening the teaching of fundamental literacy and numeracy skills for these students.
Prior to joining SVA, Erin worked as a Principal at the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL), leading the Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher (HALT) program. She adopts a policy lens in her thinking and is skilled in developing relationships with stakeholders at a system and teaching level.
Erin has a Bachelor of Arts in Sport, Health and Exercise and a Post Graduate Certificate of Education, both from the University of Durham.
Joining SVA in 2020 as an Associate Director, The Connection, Erin’s vision is clear. “I want to live in a world where all children, regardless of background or circumstance, leave school with the fundamental skills needed to achieve their potential. At SVA, I get to collaborate with partners who are doing the work to make this a reality.”