Our Staff
Our staff are highly trained and experienced to provide you and your child with an outstanding learning experience. For us, the best element of our job is that we get to play a special part in your child’s development and watch them learn, grow and create.

Vanessa Lynch
Hive Founder & Director
Bach. Education (hons) Major in Music
Vanessa has a B.Ed (hons) – Bachelor of Education with a major in Music and has spent several years teaching classroom music in high schools and primary schools in London. Vanessa is an accomplished pianist and flute player and has achieved an ATCL level in performance.
While studying an honours degree in Music Education, with a focus on neural research on children’s intellect and cognitive function, she discovered that music is especially powerful in shaping a child’s interests and abilities in the preschool years. Opening Hive, a creative learning studio for local families, was a natural step in her desire to give children the opportunity to develop the cognitive and musical skills that early childhood music training offers.
When she’s not buzzing at Hive, Vanessa spends her spare time being creative with cooking, baking, sewing and playing music with her kids Zara, Jayden and Brianna – they even have their own little family band!

Jessica Gavin
Customer Care
Jess is the friendly voice of Hive and answers your calls. She is available to chat with on reception Monday, Thursday and Friday. A mother to two beautiful boys, she has been a long-term client before joining the Hive team and her sons still love coming to Hive each week.
Attending the Hunter School of Performing Arts, Jess completed 6th grade level AMEB (Australian Music Examinations Board) in Trumpet and played in concert, marching and stage bands. From there she has achieved a Bachelor of Sience (Biotechnology) (Hons) and a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration from the University of Newcastle. After working as a Research Scientist and Laboratory Manager at Westmead Hospital, she relocated back to Newcastle and is now enjoying a child-friendly position, being surrounded by Creative People.

Lauren Turner
Customer Care
Lauren is the fresh new voice at Hive on the phone and happy to have a chat at reception on Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays.
A mum of a two beautiful young sons, Lauren’s passion for all things creative and imagination in little minds has come to life. Lauren has always loved being creative with dancing from a young age until she was 24. Her background is in hairdressing- hence loving to have a chat- and since having her son in 2020 decided a career change was in order.
Working at Hive is the perfect fit and loves being surrounded by such talented and creative people. She is currently studying her certificate III in business and looks forward to furthering her skills at The Hive.

Beth Aubrey
Drama Teacher
Bach. Acting, NIDA
Beth graduated from NIDA’s Acting course in 2006 and has worked extensively in all areas of the professional industry. Some of her television credits include Rake, Home and Away, Janet King and East west 101.

Beth Peach-Steer
Musical Theatre Program Manager
Bach. Music
Beth is a singer and actress with a passion for Creative Education. Originally from the UK, Beth began her training at Cardiff University, obtaining a Degree in Music. She then went on to study Musical Theatre at the Royal Academy of Music in London. After graduating she went on to tour the UK and Internationally with multiple musicals.
She has previously taught Musical Theatre for the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts, where she realised the joy in sharing her skills and love for music and performing with children.
Since moving to Australia Beth has fronted a local function band performing at weddings and music venues across the Hunter.
Beth has two beautiful children who are her inspiration, and further sparked her love for music education. Beth feels so lucky to be a part of the Hive team, getting to do what she loves everyday with such a wonderful community of families.

Francesco Bertoni
Musical Theatre
Francesco started performing at the age of 12 in Italy. He studied throughout the years singing, acting, dancing, piano and drums.
He successfully graduated in musical theatre at the Bernstein School of Musical Theatre (Bologna, Italy). He then performed in a range of shows on national tours for 2 years before moving to Paris to become a parade character performer in Disneyland Paris for 4 years.
In local theatre he appeared as Tyler in “Merrily we roll along”, Paul in “Company” and Lewis in “Pippin”. He is also a member of the Newcastle Chamber Choir since June 2022.

Shuna Mackay
Drama Teacher & Program Manager
Bach. Community Drama (hons)

Bridget Ponman
Musical Theatre Teacher
Bridget is a graduate of Hunter School of Performing Arts and is studying towards a Bachelor of Teaching in High School Drama. She has spent 10 years developing talent in drama, musical theatre, and classical singing and is a frequent performer in many local productions as well as a CONDA youth ambassador. Bridget has earned multiple nominations and won the CONDA “Excellence by a Performer 18 and Under in a Musical” award. Her notable roles include Elle Woods in ‘Legally Blonde The Musical’, SpongeBob in ‘The SpongeBob Musical’, The Baroness in ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’, and Ursula in ‘The Little Mermaid Jr.’ A talented visual artist, Bridget ranked in the Top 100 for the Young Archie’s 2021. At Hive, she passionately shares her arts expertise with young enthusiasts.

Olivia Harrington
Musical Theatre Asssitant
Olivia loves working with the Hive team and to see the creativity from young performers blossom through music, drama and dance.

Lucy Wallace
Voice Teacher

Amelia Accardi
Piano

Renee Edmonds
Voice
Bach. Music
Renee’s deep-seated passion for music led her to pursue a Bachelor of Music (BMus.), which she completed in 2021 with a major in classical voice. Renee’s research during her music studies focused on children’s singing pedagogy, specifically examining how music positively influences mood and mental health.

Grace Lickley
Art
Bach. Natural History Illustration
Grace is a passionate writer and artist and is a recent graduate of a Bachelor of Natural History Illustration. Grace specialises in both digital and traditional drawing methods and has a profound love for watercolour. She also works with acrylic, polymer clay and fine liner. She has been recognised by the National Art School in Sydney where she was accepted into their Intensive Studio Program specialising in Life Drawing and has participated in multiple exhibitions.
For 8 years Grace attended a Steiner school and grew up surrounded by eclectic and colourful people. From age 6 her creative endeavours included painting, needle felting, knitting and candle making all of which she still enjoys and works at today.
Grace has extensive experience working with children and has taught at both primary and high school levels. She is incredibly passionate about encouraging kids to discover their creativity and develop their artistic skills.

Charli Walker
Art
Charli is a singer and practicing artist. Having grown up in a musical and artistic family, it was a natural progression for her to study music and fine art. Specialising in drawing and watercolour painting, Charli enjoys being part of our art program planning team alongside teaching in our art classes for preschoolers and school age children.
Charli has a natural affinity for working with children and enjoys connecting with each child in her classes and helping them to develop their interest, skill and passion in art.

Rosie Wilkie
Art Teacher

Lee Seaman
Bee-School
Diploma in Graphic Design
Hello! My name is Lee and you could say I wear many pants. Wife, mum, Artist, Graphic Designer / Art Director and published Children’s interior stylist.
I find inspiration for my art/design from all facets of life but mostly from the sheer beauty of kids and my fondness for all things that are colourful, fresh and fun. I am beyond passionate in helping the next generation of little humans find their creative spark by providing them the tools to create projects that push their capabilities so they are continually growing and developing.
Professionally, I have worked as an art director for over 9 years, and hold qualifications in graphic design and fashion design.

Rebecca Hrobat
Bee-School
Diploma in Performing Arts Major in Acting

Eloise Sheean
Bee-School, Baby & Toddler Music
Bach. Music

Summer Visocchi
Bee-School Teacher & Play Room
Summer teaches in our Bee-school program, co-teaches in our Play Room program, and is the organizational expert behind our incredible Play Room program. Working at Hive since 2019 “I was gifted with the chance to make my dream come true with an amazing opportunity to do what I have always loved to do, which is working with kids”.
Summer has always loved building and forming relationships with children and her work is always rewarded by getting to watch them thrive, grow and develop their creativity. She has always had a passion for both dance and art, and to be able to combine her interests she believes, is the best combination ever!

Melissa Saunders
Program Director for 0-5 Yrs
Baby & Toddler Music
Diploma of Early Education & Care
Melissa has a background and qualifications in early childhood teaching and music education – giving you and your child a complete educational and creative experience. Before joining the Hive, Melissa worked as an Early Childhood Teacher and Director and also as a Voice Teacher and Choir Director. Melissa’s skills extend to the stage as well, where she has many years of experience in writing, directing and producing musicals and dramatic theatre productions.
She’s also a singer and songwriter – you might just see her wowing audiences at live performances in local venues around Newcastle.
Melissa is a proud mum to Natasha and Daniel, who share her passion for beautiful music and performance.

Emily Kingsmill
Baby & Toddler Music
Bach. Psychology in Education
Emily is a pianist, singer and teacher. She grew up playing the piano then completed her Psychology in Education degree back in England. She qualified as a Primary School teacher, then as an Early Childhood educator here in Australia. She is passionate about children learning through the joy of music and is delighted to be putting both her love of music and education together at Hive.
Her two little boys share her love of music, and together they like to spend time exploring and adventuring outdoors, going to the beach, sailing, crafting, baking, plus singing, dancing and making music!

Kirsty Venables
Play Room
Bach. Education (Primary)
Kirsty completed her primary teaching degree in 2009 and has been teaching for 12 years. Nurturing young little minds is her life goal. Working with children has been a dream of mine since I was one myself. There was never any other career path for me. It truly is my ‘dream job’ to have recently joined The Hive team; as it allows me to combine my passion for engaging with children as well as my love for The Arts.
The Blog
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