Kay has been a member of HEIA, specifically the Queensland division, for 12 years. During that time, she served initially as a member of the Committee of Management and then as President.

Kay joined the HEIA National Council in 2016 as the incoming President. During her five-year term she guided the organisation through a significant review and restructure of its divisions and was instrumental in building and launching HEIA’s new website and its online professional-development programs. She was also a member of the Steering Committee for the HEIA 2021 national conference. As a member of that committee, and as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, she helped steer the conference in the direction of its first-ever hybrid format, which offered the conference as both an online and face-to-face event.

Kay is strong advocate for Home Economics and has steered HEIA and the national conversation in the areas of curriculum, teacher professional development, and refocusing the position of Home Economics and its role as part of developing 21st-century skills.

As noted by HEIA’s national treasurer, Robert Ford, when making the presentation, Kay’s outstanding contribution at both divisional and national levels makes her a very worthy recipient of the institute’s highest recognition—being made a Fellow of HEIA.

Congratulations Kay from all your Queensland colleagues and friends.