Our story
The story behind Legacy, Love & Learning
Legacy, Love & Learning is a family learning program: weekly, expert-designed activities delivered through your Legacy portal, built to grow with your child from toddlerhood through their first years of school.
Built side by side
Every week carries both of our fingerprints
Mariana
A background in education, writing and resource development, alongside her everyday perspective as a mum.
Renae
36 years in primary education and her experience as a deputy principal.
Together
Written with a real understanding of what families need, and refined through years in the classroom.
The people behind Legacy
Meet our team
Three people who care about children and families, building Legacy together from Queensland to New South Wales.
Founder
Kia ora, kia orana, I'm Mariana
Learning has always been a big part of who I am, and working in education gave that passion a deeper purpose. There's something incredibly special about watching a child discover what they're capable of: seeing uncertainty become confidence, the excitement when something finally clicks, and knowing you've played a small part in their growth. Those moments shaped my love for education, creative writing and resource development.
My mum was born in Gisborne, and my Cook Islander dad grew up in Taranaki. My Māori and Cook Islands heritage shapes how I understand belonging, and what we pass on to the next generation.
Then I became a mum.
I began recognising those same beautiful moments of discovery at home: the questions, the copying, the little hands helping in the kitchen. Legacy, Love & Learning brings my experience in education and my perspective as a mother together, so parents can recognise the learning already happening around them and feel confident nurturing it.
Read Mariana's story →
Photo supplied by Renae.
Program co-creatorHi, I'm Renae
Education has never just been my career. It has been my life's purpose.
I have 36 years in primary education and am currently a deputy principal. I've had the privilege of watching children grow into capable, confident young people. One of the greatest joys of my career has been welcoming some of those same children back years later as parents, a reminder that the impact of education reaches far beyond the classroom.
My passion for education began long before I stepped into a classroom. My father was a deputy principal, and my maternal great-grandfather was a principal, so I was fortunate to grow up surrounded by a legacy of learning, service and an unwavering belief in the potential of every child. Those values have shaped who I am as an educator, a mother and now a grandmother.
Throughout my career, I've learned that meaningful learning begins with meaningful relationships. The trust I've built with children and their families has shaped me just as much as any qualification ever could.
Above all else, my first love is my family. They remind me every day that our greatest legacy is the love, values and opportunities we pass on to the next generation.
People & Engagement
Kia ora, I'm Moana
I'm a passionate, driven individual with a big heart for people, family and community. My mum is from New Zealand, and I'm proud of my Māori roots and the importance of family and connection in my life.
I'm a devoted aunty and godmother, and the relationships I share with my nieces, nephews and godchild mean the world to me. Watching children grow, explore and discover who they are has shown me just how powerful love, encouragement and everyday moments can be.
My background is in Human Resources, where I've developed a passion for supporting people, building meaningful relationships and helping others feel genuinely valued.
At Legacy, I bring that same passion to my role as People & Engagement Coordinator. From welcoming families to nurturing our community, I want every parent to feel supported, connected and celebrated as they help their children flourish.
With gratitude
The people behind the moments
We're grateful to Deanna Walker of Birdie Content Studio for capturing the professional brand photography that helps tell our story.
Professional brand photography by Birdie Content Studio — birdiestudio.com.au
One team, one belief
Legacy was built together, from the ground up, by Mariana and Renae, two people who shared the same belief long before they became colleagues: that every child deserves the best chance at success, whatever that may look like for them.
That belief shapes everything about how Legacy works. Mariana brings her background in education and resource development, and an understanding of what families need week to week. Renae brings 36 years of watching, in real classrooms, what genuinely helps a child grow. Neither piece works without the other. Every activity in every tier is shaped by both of them together, not handed off from one to the other.
We don't just want to teach children. We want to empower parents to empower their children.
This belief has already been tested, not just talked about. Before ever asking families to trust us, we ran Leap into Legacy as a full trial week with real Australian and New Zealand families. What came back told us we were on the right track: parents found the activities clear, achievable and genuinely worth the time.
What we believe
Every child deserves a strong start
At every age and stage
Every child deserves a strong start, at every age and stage. That start shouldn't depend on a parent's income, education level or cultural background.
Families come first
Families, and the wider whānau around them, are a child's first and lifelong educators. Research shows that family engagement in the early years makes a real difference to how children learn and grow. Legacy puts that power in parents' hands.
A note from us
We're glad you're here
We know you have a lot of choices for how you spend this season with your child. Thank you for considering us.
You might have found us through The Natural Parent Magazine. Legacy appears in their Spring 2026 issue, and we'll be in each issue over the next year, in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. It's a magazine we've long admired, and we're glad to be part of it.
Legacy, Love & Learning now walks beside families from 18 months to 9 years, and it's still only the beginning of what we're building, together, for every stage of childhood. Wherever you and your family are right now, on either side of the Tasman, we're genuinely glad you're here.
With love, Mariana, Renae & Moana
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