Tricia Lirette was a faculty member at MacEwan University in the ELCC/BECCS program for over 25 years. She is co-principal investigator on the research team that researched and wrote Flight: Alberta's Early Learning and Care Framework. Tricia also was the executive director of a non-profit child care centre and worked as an educator in a variety of settings serving preschool and school-age children.

Tricia Lirette was a faculty member at MacEwan University in the ELCC/BECCS program for over 25 years. She is co-principal investigator on the research team that researched and wrote Flight: Alberta's Early Learning and Care Framework. Tricia also was the executive director of a non-profit child care centre and worked as an educator in a variety of settings serving preschool and school-age children.

Manal has spent the last ten years as an Early Childhood Development (ECD) specialist, serving with international organizations including UNICEF and the Aga Khan Development Network. Manal is a global leader in ECD, and has held strategy, policy, management, and advocacy roles. Manal believes that ECD has a very important role in ending poverty for both children and parents. She tackles ECD as an integrated challenge, bringing together the fields of health, education, parenting, job creation, and security within a responsive caregiving approach. ECD is her career, and her passion. As a lifelong learner, Manal is completing her master’s degree at Geneva University in International Education and Research and holds a variety of credentials and advanced certificates in Early Childhood Development, brain development, early education, and education in emergencies. Outside work, Manal is a curious, exploring newcomer from Syria, and a humbled mother of a rambunctious three-year-old child. She enjoys listening to music and is active in voluntary work.

Christopher is Associate Executive Director for the Muttart Foundation, a private charitable foundation based in Edmonton. He has lead responsibility for the Foundation’s work in the area of early childhood education and care. Christopher also serves on the Steering Committee for the Community-University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth, and Families at the University of Alberta. Christopher sits on the National Expert Panel on Early Learning and Child Care Data and Research that reports to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.

Suzanne MacLean is the Executive Director of Adler Academy. She currently serves as a Board member for the Association of Independent Schools & Colleges in Alberta. Suzanne comes to the council as a representative of Edmonton Head Start.

Sara is the Chair of the Child Care Association for Resource to Administrators (CAFRA) and is the Senior Director of a nonprofit early learning and childcare program, called Edmonton Region Child Care Association (ERCCA).  Sara always knew she loved working with children, but found a passion for working alongside families, and communities along the way.  Sara also sits as a board member for a grassroots nonprofit called The Black Bookshelf Project.

Melissa Nollski is a proud member of the Treaty 6 Michel First Nation and holds an Early Childhood Education (ECE Level III) Diploma from Grant MacEwan University. Melissa has over 25+ years’ experience working with children and families in child care. She is an active member the Alberta Aboriginal Head Start Regional Committee and is the chair for the National Aboriginal Head Start for the National Association Head Start Council. Melissa is presently the Executive Director - Aboriginal Head Start Edmonton.

Carolyn is an Instructor in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Curriculum program at MacEwan University and is a member of the research team engaged in ongoing action research investigating and responding to the professional learning needed to support Alberta's early childhood educators in incorporating Flight: Alberta's Early Learning and Care Framework into their everyday practices. Carolyn is Vice-Chair of the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Alberta (AECEA) and comes to the council as a representative of AECEA.

Noah Kenneally is an Assistant Professor in the Early Childhood Curriculum Studies program in the Department of Human Services and Early Learning at MacEwan University in Amiskwacîywâskahikan/Edmonton, Alberta, Treaty 6 Territory, Canada. His research interests include children's perspectives of social life, the politics of childhood and care, creative approaches to data generation and knowledge creation, and children's rights.  Noah has worked with children and families for over three and a half decades, and is delighted to bring that experience and perspective to the Edmonton Council for Early Learning and Care.

Mackenzie Martin is a Public Policy Research and Evaluation Associate at the Community-University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth, and Families at the University of Alberta. She recently completed her PhD in Social Policy and Intervention at the University of Oxford with funding from a Rhodes Scholarship and SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship. In her research, Mackenzie investigates how to enhance child and family health and well-being through social and public health interventions, with a particular focus on supporting parents.

Annalise is Vice President, Child Care for the YMCA of Northern Alberta. She serves on the board of Families First Fort Saskatchewan and on the advisory committees for the Early Learning and Child Care programs at MacEwan University and NorQuest College. Annalise also dedicated nine years on the board of the Alberta Association for the Accreditation of Early Learning and Child Care Services.

Jody Merrick comes to the Council as a representative of Terra Centre for Teen Parents, where she is currently the Manager, Early Childhood Development. She has been supporting children and families in various roles within Terra’s Child and Family Support Centre since 2013. She has also been a Facilitator for MacEwan’s Flight Course – Exploring Early Childhood Curriculum – since 2016. Additionally, Jody has engaged alongside ECEs as a Pedagogical Partner with Alberta Resource Centre for Quality Enhancement (ARCQE) where she continues to support the ELCC sector through various programming and curriculum support services. Jody brings 25+ years as an experienced educator, critical friend, leader and mentor with a passion to see the image of children lifted in our communities!

Jody Merrick comes to the Council as a representative of Terra Centre for Teen Parents, where she is currently the Manager, Early Childhood Development. She has been supporting children and families in various roles within Terra’s Child and Family Support Centre since 2013. She has also been a Facilitator for MacEwan’s Flight Course – Exploring Early Childhood Curriculum – since 2016. Additionally, Jody has engaged alongside ECEs as a Pedagogical Partner with Alberta Resource Centre for Quality Enhancement (ARCQE) where she continues to support the ELCC sector through various programming and curriculum support services. Jody brings 25+ years as an experienced educator, critical friend, leader and mentor with a passion to see the image of children lifted in our communities!

Philip Ney supports individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families to effect social change in his role with Inclusion Alberta as Director of Community Engagement and Public Affairs.

Elaine is Manager of Youth Services at the Edmonton Public Library (EPL) where she provides system-wide leadership in programs and services to children from birth to age 18. She also leads strategic partnerships and collaborative initiatives related to children, including plans to establish an early learning and care centre at the Stanley A. Milner Library. Elaine established the epl2go Literacy Vans service which she managed along with the Shelley Milner Children's Library for many years.

Amber Mack is the new CEO of Kids Included (formerly the GRIT program) and is passionate about building accessible environments for all children, most notably in her Communication Access work. Having a career spanning across health and education sectors, public and private, Amber understands the need to work toward a continuum of supports and a skilled workforce in early learning and care.

Tina Thomas is the Chief Executive Officer at ECF. She spent over a decade at Edmonton Public Library and was the main champion and leader behind their award-winning rebranding project that helped transform the perception and use of EPL. She holds an executive MBA from Queen's University, a CPA-CMA professional accounting designation, a Masters in Library Information Science from the University of Alabama and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta. She is an American Library Association Councilor at Large, member of the Canadian Federation of Library Associations Intellectual Freedom Committee and Board Member of the Edmonton Screen Industries Office. Tina is also easily bribed with good dark chocolate or Californian Cabs.

Zoe has worked in the Early Childhood Education field for over 25 years. Throughout these years she has had the opportunity to work in many different early learning environments, roles and Provinces. As a child advocate, she recognized very early in her career that she was drawn to work with the vulnerable sector. She has been the Program Manager at e4c Head Start and Early Learning Services for the past 8 years, working with children and families. Zoe believes when educators empower families, building their capacity and advocacy skills, we enrich the lives of children.

As Director, Strategic Initiatives with United Way of the Alberta Capital Region, Annette prioritizes the wellbeing , development and equity for children, youth and families. She has been actively engaged with the All in for Youth collaborative since its inception and serves as co-lead of the Strategy for Community Mental Health. She is a member of the Community-University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth, and Families through the University of Alberta.

Nicki is Vice-Chair of the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Alberta. She serves as Executive Director for Child Development Dayhomes, Edmonton and Fort McMurray, and is a member of the Alberta Early Learning and Care Leaders Caucus. Nicki is a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, focusing on early learning and child care policy. She serves on both the Workforce and the Policy and Regulations working groups at the Edmonton Council for Early Learning and Care.