Executive Team
Ben Mercer - Interim Chief Executive Officer
Ben is an experienced leader of impact-driven organisations who focuses on achieving growth, transformation or performance improvements for key stakeholders. He has significant experience delivering services across Australia’s largest corporates to smaller for-purpose organisations, working for Deloitte Australia in Strategy and Operations Consulting as well as his own consulting business. Specialising in strategy, operating models, management system improvement, program management and change management, Ben is known for his strategic and systems thinking, stakeholder engagement, and pragmatic approach to addressing complex challenges.
Ben brings to Meerilinga an extensive breadth of experience in high performance environments, with over 30 years as an athlete, coach, high performance manager and consultant. He is passionate about safe and inclusive environments that positively impact the development of children and youth.
Ben holds a Master of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Science, a Diploma of Project Management and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Jennie Laccohee-Duffield - Executive Manager, Finance
Jennie is a Chartered Accountant with experience working in not-for-profit organisations as well as external auditing. She began her career in Practice in the UK and moved over to Perth in 2013 to work for Grant Thornton, specialising in the not-for-profit sector.
Jennie has worked as a leader in Finance for over a decade, focusing on internal controls and processes as well as internal and external reporting and compliance. Jennie is passionate about developing teams the positive impacts it can have on a community focused organisation and brings this experience to Meerilinga.
Jennie holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and is also a qualified Project Manager with the Australian Institute of Management.
Leanne Lee - Executive Manager, Services
Leanne, has over two decades of experience, specialising in community development, early childhood education and leadership, with a focus on driving inclusive, culturally responsive programs that strengthen communities and support vulnerable families. This experience and insight ensures quality service delivery and compliance across Meerilinga’s Centres.
She is passionate about Meerilinga’s focus on building strong, connected communities through equity-focused and strengths-based approaches and is one of a number of long-term staff members, having been a significant part of our operations since 2016.
Leanne enjoys connecting with similar minded people to collaborate on initiatives that drive lasting social impact and empower children, families and communities.
Caroline Heeris - Executive Manager, Meerilinga Training College
Caroline is the proud leader of Meerilinga Training College (RTO 6000), a values-based and collaborative role grounded in a commitment to excellence. She actively models best practice for the trainers of the College, fostering meaningful engagement with stakeholders while exploring opportunities for innovation across the Training College programs.
With a background as an Early Childhood teacher, Caroline joined the Meerilinga family in 2009 to coordinate Children’s Week WA, a role that ignited a commitment for children’s rights and the promotion of Early Childhood Education as vital to community wellbeing. She joined the Meerilinga Training College as a Trainer and Assessor in 2015 and gained further skills in designing impactful learning experiences when completing a Diploma of Training Design and Development.
Caroline is passionate about sharing her extensive industry knowledge to inspire new educators and elevate Early Childhood Education and Care as a fulfilling career path, while equipping graduates with a best practice mindset, enabling them to create better outcomes for children.