Team

Georgie Dent - CEO

Georgie Dent is the CEO of The Parenthood, Australia’s leading parent advocacy organisation representing over 80,000 parents, carers and supporters. She is a best-selling author, former lawyer and prominent advocate for children, families, gender equity and mental health. The Parenthood champions paid parental leave, access to quality early childhood education and care and family-friendly workplaces. She is a mum of three and lives in Sydney with her husband & co-partner in chaos.

Georgie is based in Sydney.

Maryjean Whyte - Chief of Staff

Maryjean is the Chief of Staff at The Parenthood, where she plays a central role in supporting the organisation’s strategy, operations and overall impact. With a background in executive support, finance, strategy and operations, Maryjean works closely with CEO Georgie Dent to ensure the organisation runs smoothly and efficiently, enabling the team to focus on driving meaningful change for families across Australia.

Her passion for supporting families is deeply personal and reflected in both her professional work and volunteer efforts. As a mother of three young children, Maryjean is committed to helping create a world where all children — and their parents — can thrive, contributing to a brighter and more sustainable future.

Maryjean is based in Queensland.

Contact Maryjean: [email protected]

Tegan Gilchrist - Senior Director, Strategy, Campaigns & Community 

Tegan is the Senior Director of Strategy, Campaigns and Community at The Parenthood, where she leads the organisation's end-to-end campaign strategy, community engagement, and advocacy. 

With more than two decades of experience spanning politics, media, and national program development, Tegan brings a rare combination of policy fluency and audience instinct to the work. She's led nationally significant initiatives, from Australia's first cyber safety program for small businesses to programs designed to get more young women into entrepreneurship. Tegan spent the early part of her career working in politics and publishing, leading digital growth for major organisations.

She's also a mum of three kids spanning toddlers to tweens, which means she's not just advocating for better parental leave, affordable early learning, and family-friendly workplaces — she's living all of it, simultaneously, in real time.

Tegan is based in regional NSW. 

Contact Tegan: [email protected]

Seb Costello - Dadvocate & Campaign Director - Paid Parental Leave

Seb is a Dadvocate and the Campaign Director for Paid Parental Leave
at The Parenthood.

Based in Melbourne, he is a proud primary caregiver and homemaker, he spent two years at home
raising his two children while his wife returned to work, an experience that shapes his commitment to supporting families.

With over 20 years in hospitality, he’s also been a leading voice in the Australian distilling scene for more than a decade. He owned the award-winning bar Bad Frankie, known for championing Australian spirits, and has worked across the industry in development roles — building a strong foundation in storytelling, community and advocacy.

Seb is dedicated to building an Australia that values care and makes space for everyone to be a dad in their own way, through stronger paid parental leave and support for families.

Seb is based in Melbourne.

Contact Seb: [email protected]