ECE market pulse: how services are strengthening occupancy and quality in 2026
Mana
59:13
If you're thinking hard about your 2026 strategy, this one's for you. The sector is feeling the pressure. With occupancy concerns rising and competition intensifying, early childhood services are asking: how do we demonstrate our value and keep families choosing us?
Join Ash Sachdev, CEO of Care for Kids, and Karen Mills, Head of Operations at AMIGA Montessori, for an honest conversation about what's working right now. Ash will share the macro trends his team are seeing across the sector around occupancy, plus what top-performing services are doing differently. Karen will bring it to ground level with the operational strategies that help centres communicate the real value children derive from quality early education, and the importance of sharing why we do what we do to help families connect with your service on a deeper level.
When families are weighing their options more carefully than ever, the centres that thrive are the ones who can elevate the conversation beyond cost to what quality ECE actually means for children's development, wellbeing and future. This isn't about adding more to your plate. It's about focusing on what actually moves the needle when budgets are tight and parents are asking harder questions about where their children spend their days.
What we'll cover
• The occupancy trends shaping 2026
• What high-performing centres are doing well right now
• How to clearly show families the real value of quality ECE
• Simple ways to boost tour bookings and tour impact
• How to create genuine connection on every tour
• Why quality practice is your strongest business lever
• The marketing approaches families actually respond to today
Walk away with actionable strategies from operators who are navigating this environment right now, not theoretical advice from the sidelines.
Speakers
Ash Sachdev
CEO of Care for Kids
I’m passionate about growing businesses the right way - through clear strategy, strong culture, and courageous leadership. With expertise spanning digital platforms, real estate, government, and corporate sectors, I bring a unique ability to turn complexity into clarity, and strategy into measurable momentum.
My leadership is grounded in a deep belief that culture drives performance. I’ve led cross-functional teams across sales, operations, product, and customer success, working closely with boards, investors, and enterprise partners to align vision with execution. I build high-trust, high-performance teams where accountability, agility, and ownership are embedded in the culture.
At my core, I’m passionate about building businesses that grow with purpose. I bring energy, focus, and a collaborative mindset to every challenge, always looking for smarter ways to create impact, scale success, and deliver lasting value.
Karen Mills
Head of Operations, Amiga Montessori
At Amiga Montessori, our operational strategies have been instrumental in enhancing key metrics and refining indirect purchasing processes, fostering a robust environment for growth and efficiency. My role as Head of Operations allowed me to leverage my in-depth understanding of labour relations and a commitment to excellence in childcare management.
Throughout my tenure, the team and I have successfully implemented innovative operational frameworks that have contributed to the organization's thriving culture and service quality. My leadership philosophy revolves around mentorship and empowering teams, ensuring that each member's potential is fully realized in delivering outstanding childcare services.
Himal Randeniya
CEO & Founder, Mana
I'm an early years tragic! I was born into ECE, with Mum starting a home-based service and then purchasing a 28-place preschool in Ermington, NSW, Australia. Being a 4th-generation teacher, our dinner conversations centred around pedagogy, psychology, and the impact of stencils on learning! After completing my Science/Law undergrad at University of Sydney, nearly finished my Masters in Education (Leadership & Management) (although I never finished my dissertation), and a period of time in education tech startups and consulting, it was my great privilege to be the CEO of Being for six years where we created one of Australia’s highest-quality early education organisations. With Mana, I continue my mission to transform early education on this planet - creating extraordinary outcomes for children, their families, and their communities.
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ECE market pulse: how services are strengthening occupancy and quality in 2026
59:13