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.

Gloria is a member of the Steering Committee of the Community-University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth, and Families, as well as a board member for Boyle Street Community Services and co-chair of an early childhood community coalition. Gloria is a retired Director of Programs at Edmonton Public Schools, where her responsibilities included early childhood, Indigenous and multicultural education, as well as alternative programs and community collaboration.

Before joining MacEwan University's Bachelor of Early Childhood Curriculum Studies program as an assistant professor, Dr. Cankaya worked with PolicyWise for Children & Families as a research scientist. Ozlem was part of a research team working on issues, policies and practices affecting Alberta's children. Currently, she serves on the board of the Terra Centre.Ozlem is passionate about contributing to the health and happiness of children through her teaching, research, and community work.

Sandra Hassan Farah is the Program Coordinator for Early Childhood Education at the Centre Collégial de l'Alberta (Campus Saint-Jean, University of Alberta).

She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Sciences, a State Diploma in Specialized Education, and a Level 3 Early Childhood Supervisor certification. She has also been a trainer for the Brain Story Certification with AECEA and ARCQE since April 2023. Additionally, she has been an instructor for the French-language course of the Envol (Flight) pedagogical framework since 2019.

She has extensive experience in the field of early childhood education, having worked as a teacher, course lecturer, course designer, subject matter expert, support officer, and director of early childhood education centers.

Jeff is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychology at the University of Alberta, where the main focus of his research has been on cognitive development in children. Jeff is co-chair of the Steering Committee for the Community-University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth, and Families; is a member of EndPovertyEdmonton’s Stewardship Round Table and Indigenous Circle, and serves on the board of the Muttart Foundation.

As Executive Director of Jasper Place Child and Family Resource Society, Adine… (more to come soon!)