Jenny Mays
Founder
Jenny & Stephen Mays co-founded Explore & Develop alongside Alan Grant in 2004, with a vision to establish and support a group of high-quality, individually owned and operated early childhood education
and care services across NSW.
Explore & Develop was built on a shared belief that children thrive best in services led by passionate owner-operators who are deeply connected to their local communities, while supported by strong
operational systems, research-backed practices and sector-leading expertise.
The first Explore & Develop service opened in 2005 in Frenchs Forest. In 2008, following collaboration with families, educators and the broader community, the organisation rebranded to Explore & Develop to
better reflect the group’s values and commitment to excellence in early childhood education and care.
Today, Explore & Develop is recognised for its dedicated owners, high-quality programs and practices, locally tailored curriculums and positive workplace culture. Over the past 20+ years, the group has
collectively supported more than 25,000 children and families across NSW and the ACT. This is an achievement Jenny remains incredibly proud of.
Jenny’s journey in the early childhood sector began in 2000, when she and her husband Stephen purchased an established preschool in the Sydney suburb of North Manly. Through her experience as a preschool owner,
Jenny developed a deep understanding of the essential elements required to deliver high-quality early childhood education and care — engaged onsite leadership, strong policies and systems, collaboration with sector experts
and services tailored to the unique needs of local children and families.
Prior to this, Jenny enjoyed a successful 15-year career in human resources and people management. That experience has shaped her leadership approach and commitment to building strong workplace cultures across Explore
& Develop.
