Meet The Eat Speak Learn Team
Our team is our biggest asset. They embody our values as well as bringing fun, creativity and meaning to your experience. Our team pride themselves on being lifelong learners as well as being compassionate, empathetic and playful. Our team are respectful and will be candid with you on all fronts.
We believe that rapport is a key ingredient to any good relationship. In addition to aligning our practitioners’ clinical skills, interests and experience with your needs, we will do our utmost to provide you with a practitioner that can create a bond with your child.
Are you a practitioner interested in joining the Eat Speak Learn team? View our current opportunities below!
Meet The Eat Speak Learn Client Support Team
Chris MacDonald
Chris is the Director and Co-Owner of Eat Speak Learn, where he proudly describes his role as “keeping the lights on.” With a career spanning senior roles in the Australian Parliament and the ACT Government’s Community Services Directorate, Chris brings sharp strategy, steady leadership, and a whole lot of heart to the world of allied health.
At Eat Speak Learn, Chris is the driving force behind innovation, systems thinking, and the constant quest to make things work just a little bit better—for clients, families, and the team he supports. Whether it’s refining waitlist processes or building new models of care, he thrives on turning good ideas into real-world impact.
Beyond the clinic, Chris has served as a board member for several charitable organisations and provides consulting to allied health clinics, helping them navigate the NDIS and implement practical systems that improve client care and sustainability.
Married to a speech pathologist and a hands-on dad to three busy boys, Chris knows firsthand the juggle of school drop-offs, family mealtimes, and life in a clinic filled with OT swings and speech bubbles. He is also an award-winning volunteer in schools, sporting clubs, and community organisations.
Chris is passionate about cricket and was named Volunteer of the Year in 2025 for his work with the local children’s cricket club. He believes allied health doesn’t always have to be serious to be effective—a bit of fun, a dash of creativity, and a strong sense of purpose go a long way, and that’s exactly how he shows up every day.
Qualifications & Training:
- Bachelor of Arts – 2002
- Master of International Relations – 2007
- Diploma of Government – 2010
- Certificate IV in Government (Procurement and Contracting) – 2011
- Prince2 Project Management – 2012
Louise Dent
Louise has been supporting children to achieve their goals for most of her life. With more than 30 years of experience in the education system, she has been publicly recognised on several occasions for her contributions. But it is as a mother and grandmother that Louise treasures her most important roles.
After moving south from the Central Coast, Louise gradually shifted her rugby league allegiance from the Newcastle Knights to the Canberra Raiders. She takes great pride in watching her grandchildren participate in a variety of sports and finds joy in seeing children across her community grow and thrive. Her consistent praise and encouragement never go unnoticed, and she believes that being greeted with a beautiful smile is reward enough.
Louise’s favourite local place is the National Arboretum—especially the Eat Speak Learn Forest.
Qualifications & Training:
- 30 years’ experience in the education system
Sallyanne Lee
Sally is originally from Shellharbour on the South Coast, but after 18 years in Canberra with her husband Pete, she now proudly calls herself a local. She has more than 20 years of experience working with children across a variety of settings, including early childhood centres, ACT Government preschools, and even a stint as a cook within a childcare centre.
Passionate about connecting with children and families, Sally thrives on building genuine relationships and is always up for a chat. You can be guaranteed she’ll greet you with a warm smile. Since joining Eat Speak Learn in 2024, she has embraced the challenge of learning the Client Support Team role under the guidance of Louise and has loved every minute of it. With her own daughter a client at Eat Speak Learn for more than three years, Sally feels privileged to work alongside such a dedicated and supportive team of professionals.
Outside of work, Sally is a proud mum to Ruby and Jack, who she considers her greatest joy and success. She is also dog mum to Maggie, a Toy Cavoodle. Weekends are filled with soccer and hockey, where she has taken on the role of team manager for Jack’s soccer team. Sally also enjoys cooking, going for walks, building Lego, and spending time with family and friends.
Qualifications & Training:
- Diploma in Community Services (Children’s Services) 2004
- Certificate in Office Administration 2020
Niamh Bidwell
Archie Selmes
