CEO Annie Bryce steps down from leading Edge Early Learning

After eight and a half years at the helm of Edge Early Learning, Annie Bryce has stepped down from her role as Chief Operating Officer (CEO), reflecting on what she described as “one of the most rewarding experiences” of her career.

Alongside her executive leadership, Ms Bryce has played an active role in community-focused initiatives that extend beyond organisational boundaries. She has been a visible advocate for child wellbeing and positive workplace culture, including leading fundraising efforts that raised more than $11,000 in support of a national bullying prevention initiative. The campaign highlighted the importance of safe, respectful environments for children and adults alike, and reinforced the sector’s shared responsibility in addressing harm early.

Her broader contribution to the early childhood education and care sector has also been formally recognised. In 2023, Ms Bryce was named Most Influential Child Development CEO at the APAC Awards, acknowledging her impact on sector leadership, community engagement and advocacy for improved outcomes for children and families. The recognition reflected a leadership approach grounded in collaboration, purpose and social responsibility.

Ms Bryce said she made the decision “last year” to step away, thanking Edge teams, centre directors, support office staff, the Board, partners and families for their “trust, collaboration and friendship.”

“Edge is strong, has an amazing leadership team and will always have a very important place in my heart,” she wrote. 

Edge Early Learning is a privately owned provider established in 2017, with services across Queensland, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. The organisation’s website describes a network of 70 childcare, kindergarten and preschool centres across those jurisdictions. 

While Ms Bryce did not outline her next move or detail the leadership transition in her LinkedIn statement, her comments emphasised continuity and confidence in the leadership team she leaves behind. 

Edge has recently signalled an ongoing focus on wellbeing and safety capability-building, announcing a statewide partnership with Life Ed Queensland that will embed a year-long wellbeing, safety and school-readiness program across its Queensland centres from January 2026. 

The program includes incursions, educator training and family engagement tools, with themes spanning emotional literacy, boundaries and protective behaviours, healthy routines and early digital safety, and transition-to-school readiness. 

Leadership transitions in large, multi-site providers are closely watched across the early childhood education and care sector, particularly as services continue to strengthen quality systems, educator capability and family trust in a complex operating environment.

For Edge Early Learning, Ms Bryce’s departure marks the end of a significant chapter, one that coincided with the organisation’s expansion across multiple states and the continued evolution of its education and wellbeing offering, while placing the spotlight firmly on the leadership team now guiding the next phase.