Jenn Reed is passionate about play.

Her motivation is rooted in 20 years experience in Childhood Education where she developed a deep appreciation for the impact of the environment on children's learning, behaviour and wellbeing.

Inspired by her experiences with high needs children, Jenn completed a Diploma in Landscape Design and founded Urban Discovery (previously Jenn Reed Design) in 2012.

Jenn’s unique approach to landscape design incorporates a deep respect for the Indigenous condition of land. Her designs seek to restore biodiversity and natural function to each landscape whilst also creating immersive, rich environments where children are free to learn.

Jenn's commitment to creative design and best practice education has seen Urban Discovery grow to be one of the most sought after landscape design firms in the educator sector.

Jenn lives by the bay with her beautiful family. She acknowledges the Bunurong / Boonwurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the traditional custodians of the land on which she lives, works and plays. She invites collaboration with all First Nations people in developing solutions for land and connection to Country.

Rorie Clare is a skilled designer and urban farmer. With a background in horticulture and landscaping and with a history of award winning domestic and international designs, Rorie’s experience and creative sensibility guide our design team to excellence.

Rorie joined Urban Discovery in 2017 and has co-navigated the growth of the company with commitment, optimism and palpable calm. His gentle approach and creative nature allow complexity and simplicity to co-exist within his designs.

As the facilitator of our Urban Farm school projects, Rorie empowers students with the skills and knowledge required to grow food for sharing with their local community. His enthusiasm is contagious, students quickly come to embrace seed sprouting and compost magic.

Motivated by issues of social and ecological importance, Rorie is currently undertaking study in Nature Based Therapy. He weaves this learning into his designs which invite children to engage with restorative experiences and robust, harmonious play.

Rorie lives with his loving family on the lands of the Wurundjeri People. You might find him cycling, swimming or running through urban parklands with a small boy on his shoulders.

Casey joined Urban Discovery in 2023 and immediately become part of our team. Casey is a skilled and proficient designer whose attention to detail, ability to think creatively and desire to ‘give back’ to the landscapes she creates, ensures spaces are rich and restorative environments for all users.

Casey has an innate desire to learn and grow. She is inspired by the other members of our Collective and is especially interested in the knowledge shared from our Indigenous Consultants and Occupational Therapists. These insights influence her design and expand her capacity to meet the needs of all children within her designs.

Knowing the beneficial impact that the natural world has on her own health and wellbeing, Casey feels a responsibility to Care for Country in return.

She found an immediate alignment with the values and goals of Urban Discovery and appreciates the opportunities to further her commitment to land restoration through Indigenous planting and other methods within each project.

As the daughter and granddaughter of skilled painters, Casey’s artistry runs deep in her bones. She finds great joy in the life of a garden and the journey it takes from concept, through design, to construction and growth. Her canvas is indeed, the soil beneath her feet. Inspired by the diverse Australian landscape, Casey’s dream is to create gardens that benefit the natural environment, foster play and connection and nourish the soul.

Casey lives and plays on Wurundjeri Country. You might find her immersed in nature, music or the company of friends.

Anna Malin is an artist and primary school teacher who brings her boundless enthusiasm for creative education to the UD Collective.

Anna has inspired learning in children across the primary school years, including 4 years in her role as classroom teacher and 8 years as Visual Art Teacher. Motivated to bring choice and autonomy to her students learning, Anna developed ‘Tinker Alley’; an outdoor loose parts play environment where children were able to experiment, create and problem solve.

Anna honed her intuitive teaching lens within the Visual Arts learning environment and through Project Based and Conceptual Learning initiatives, she supported students to investigate and explore their own ideas, thereby enhancing their learning journey. Anna prioritises the importance of relationships with students and advocates for all children to be able to engage in creative, collaborative and limitless learning opportunities, where they can truely wonder and explore.

Anna lives on Wurundjeri Country, nestled in a tree house with her partner, children, their loved pets & ever-growing collection of art and house plants. 
She is nourished by the beauty which surrounds her and finds inspiration in layered connection with other people. Her curiosity and warm hearted nature are captivating to children and adults alike.

Hope Ryan has been immersed in the realm of Early Childhood for 25 years. She has worked with diverse families, communities and philosophies throughout her career and been inspired, above all else, by the children with whom she worked. Her journey has grown within her a deep respect for the life phase of Childhood and an urgency to protect it.

As an educator, mother and systems thinker, Hope understands the potency of childhood. Her personal values prioritise play, nature connection and social capacity coaching as essential for all children. And many grown ups. Hope is passionate about guiding educators to reawaken their own inner knowing and to embolden them to advocate for children's rights to unhurried, unstructured play within the natural world.

Hope’s role at Urban Discovery is multi-faceted and she appreciates the variety and adaptability required of her. As an ever growing and cycling Woman, Hope understands the nature of such things. She brings a sense of humour and also an inquisitive depth to the Urban Discover team, always striving to develop our systems, practices and thinking to deliver outcomes for services that are in the best interests of Earth, plant, animal and human.

Hope was born and grown on the land of the BoonWurrung People, she now lives and plays on Gumbaynggirr Country, tucked in to the mossy folds of the deep valley. Her cup is filled with the sounds of her family laughing and the soil on her skin.

Steph is an inspired and connected woman who values open minded and open hearted thinking, creative solutions and connection to nature. 

Steph’s life long journey of investigation, learning and restorative practice has developed in her a strong sense of purpose and place. As a Child Psychologist, Landscape Designer,  and Project Manager, Steph brings a unique perspective and wealth of knowledge to the Urban Discovery Collective. 

Inspired by the change making nature of the work that we do with children, educators and landscapes, Steph joined the Urban Discovery Collective in 2024. She infuses her passion for connecting people with nature into her work and our projects. 

With eagle awareness of the macro and the micro, Steph guides our projects through pre-construction and construction phases. Comprehensively managing all aspects of the build, in order to achieve optimal results in the creation of children’s environments. She also tends the gardens and the students in our School Farm projects and celebrates as both thrive. 

Steph finds joy in the simple and profound delights of nature and friendship. She lives with her beloved family on the lands of the Wurundjeri people, deep in the forest and close to the rivers and streams that nourish her. Here she prioritises restorative care for the land, her children and her self. 

Kylie Mack is a seeker of information and purpose, with a strong belief in the life long journey of learning.

Kylie has been immersed in the Early Childhood Sector for the past 34 years. She has a sincere and passionate interest in achieving positive outcomes for children, educators and families. With a focus on inclusive practice, Kylie’s rewarding career path has allowed her to consider Early Childhood Education through multiple lenses. Firstly as a Kindergarten Teacher, then Preschool Field Officer, where her advocacy for children, families and educators fortified positive developments across the sector. More recently, during her time as a Regional Manager of Kindergartens and Early Learning, Kylie has deepened her appreciation for the value of unified Education Teams and the influence teams have on children within each service.

With her thorough knowledge of regulatory compliance, quality assessment, reporting and grant writing Kylie brings a wealth of skill and experience to the Urban Discovery Collective.

Kylie lives on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. She is nourished by the warmth of friendship and her love of the ocean. The salty sea bouys and enlivens her as she continues her journey of advocacy for children, families and educators.

Tara joined our team in 2017. She has supported the growth of Urban Discovery throughout that time, from a very small team of three to the diverse group we are now.

Tara’s attention to detail and extensive experience in office management and business support ensure that all aspects of our business tick along smoothly.

As well as organising the business, Tara is also our Grants Coordinator. She is the one who will ensure all requirements are met and all applications are submitted on time.

Tara finds a deep satisfaction in the completion of each project. To see children engaged in play within a space that our team created, is one of the most rewarding parts of of her role.

Tara lives and plays with her partner on the land and waters of the BoonWurrung and Gunaikurnai people. She is nourished by the beauty of the landscape that surrounds her. Daily walks, chicken talks and time spent in her garden nourish her senses.