Ali Aljneibi is Strategy Success Director at the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, with 20 years of experience in strategy and business excellence across digital transformation, health, and the social sector. He previously served as Strategic Planning Director at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, and as Organization Pioneering Director at Abu Dhabi Digital Authority. He has chaired multiple internal and external transformational committees in Abu Dhabi, supporting government alignment and institutional performance. Ali is pursuing a doctorate in strategy translation for government sector, and holds a Master’s in Quality Management and a Bachelor’s in in Health & Food Science Technology.

Samar Zananiri, Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Certified Master Trainer Coach (CMTC), and a Certified Emotional Intelligence Coach (EIC), supporting mothers and special needs parents in overcoming parenting challenges and reclaiming a harmonized healthy communication, through a deeper understanding of the self and others.

Specializing in Early Intervention and Emotional Intelligence, she brings deep insight into human behaviour, social dynamics, and emotional patterns, enabling parents to better understand themselves and their children. Her personal journey – sparked by her first son’s diagnosis with a rare genetic disease – led her to change careers, immerse herself in research, and develop a specialized coaching approach grounded in emotional intelligence, developmental psychology, and lived experience.

Samar holds a Master’s Degree in Political Psychology, and is passionate about creating transformational impact for families and equipping parents with practical, compassionate tools for everyday life; she now focuses on developing and delivering coaching programs that empower mothers and special needs parents to build resilient, connected, and emotionally healthy homes.

Dr. Suha Al Hassan serves as an Early Childhood Development Advisor at the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) and brings over two decades of experience spanning academia, research, and policy. Prior to joining ECA, she held senior leadership roles as Academic Dean and Professor at the Emirates College for Advanced Education and as Dean of the Queen Rania Faculty for Childhood at the Hashemite University in Jordan. Dr. Al Hassan has consulted extensively for international organizations, including UNICEF, contributing to major national and international initiatives on school readiness, parenting programs, and early childhood reform. She is an internationally active researcher and has published more than 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. Dr. Al Hassan received her Ph.D. in Early Childhood Special Education-ABA in 2003 from the Ohio State University, USA.

Dr Kay Gallagher, BEd, MEd, PhD, SFHEA is a Professor in Language Education at Emirates College for Advanced Education, Abu Dhabi, where she teaches and conducts research in language and literacy education and teacher education. Kay has taught and led in the UAE, Hong Kong, and in her home country, Ireland, where she was a school principal. Her latest edited book is World Englishes in the Arab Gulf States (Routledge, 2025). She co-leads the Fathers and Reading research project, funded by the Early Childhood Authority, which supports emergent literacy and wellbeing through father-child reading at home.

Zara Mirza is an experienced educator with a Master’s degree in Inclusion and Special Education from the University of Birmingham. With over 20 years of experience across the UK and UAE, she specializes in supporting children with diverse learning needs.

Zara holds advanced certifications in Orton-Gillingham, the Science of Reading, and other evidence-based approaches. She is passionate about helping families and educators create inclusive environments where every child can learn, grow, and thrive.

Dr Kayleigh Sumner is an Educational Psychologist with over 16 years of experience working with children and young people in the UK and UAE. She holds a Doctorate in Applied Educational Psychology and specialises in Positive Psychology and wellbeing, focusing on social, emotional, and academic development. As an international keynote speaker, she has presented in the UK, Dubai, France, Miami, and Bahrain. Dr Kayleigh collaborates with schools to implement mental health awareness programs and conducts community workshops. Committed to nurturing emotional intelligence, she aims to build resilient learners prepared for future success.

She is the Co-Owner, Managing Director, and lead educator of Kiddie Care Management Consultancy L.L.C. and Co-founder of Global Babysitters Hub F.Z.C­­. Ilona leads evidence-based training and assessment programs for child caregivers and early years practitioners and has contributed to initiatives with UAE early childhood authorities, including ECA and NACD Abu Dhabi, as well as educational institutions and NGOs. She holds a Master of Education, IPC Level 5 Diploma, and specializes in child development, caregiver competence, adult education and training methodology, and international best practice in early years care and safeguarding.

Zara Harrington is an experienced educational leader with over 15 years as a Principal in the UK and Middle East. She is recognised for her strategic vision, commitment to excellence, and focus on inclusive, high-performing school environments. In Dubai, she led a school’s expansion from primary to all-through, including the development of a new campus, earning ‘Principal of the UAE’ in 2022. Previously, she held senior leadership roles and served as an Ofsted HMI Associate Inspector. With a background in hospitality, she brings a strong focus on service, innovation, and community engagement to education.

Dina O. Nasr is an early years educator consultant, children’s author, and speaker with over 14 years of experience working across Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. She is also a mum of three, which deeply informs her practical and empathetic approach to early childhood. Her work focuses on early literacy, emotional well-being, and meaningful parent-child connection through play and storytelling. Trained in child psychology and in understanding children’s drawings and mark-making as forms of expression, Ms. Dina supports adults in listening more deeply to children. She is the author of Spark the Sparkly Dragon and Billy Bear’s Brown Hair and regularly delivers author visits, workshops, and professional development sessions for nurseries, educators, and families.

Melonie Karriem is the Founder and Host of Let’s Talk Early Years, a leading platform shaping meaningful dialogue in early childhood education through its podcast and conferences. With nearly 30 years of experience, she is a respected early years consultant, trainer, mentor, and education strategist. Melonie is known for bridging research, policy, and practice with clarity, purpose, and impact. Alongside her professional work, she is deeply committed to philanthropic initiatives that support educators, children, and underserved communities. Her influence spans Southern Africa and the Middle East, where she continues to champion quality, inclusion, leadership, and sustainable early years practice.

Dr. Mona Youssri is a senior licensed psychologist and family counselor based in Dubai. Currently Health Clinical Psychologist at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai. She is the Founder and CEO of MY OsraCare Ltd, an online platform dedicated to family support and well-being. Dr. Mona is a certified PCIT (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy) therapist and a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Middle East Psychological Association (MEPA), and the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH).

Julie Haydn-Higgins is a highly accomplished and compassionate midwife with over 20 years of experience in midwifery, nursing, education, and healthcare leadership. Holding a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Midwifery and credentials as a Nurse Prescriber (NPF), she has dedicated her career to providing exceptional maternal care, clinical excellence, and patient advocacy.

As the CEO of British Care Dubai, Julie leads with a vision of delivering high-quality, patient-centred healthcare services. Her dedication to holistic and empathetic care extends beyond clinical practice, as she is also a lecturer and counsellor, mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals and supporting families through their healthcare journeys.

Dr. Samia Kazi is a global early childhood systems leader and CEO of Global Childhood Academy. She holds a doctorate in Early Childhood Systems and Policy and has led large-scale workforce and quality initiatives across the Middle East and internationally. She co-founded Arabian Child, establishing one of the region’s leading early childhood entities, supporting over 480 preschools and graduating more than 33,000 professionals. Recognized by The Huffington Post as one of the most influential women in early childhood, she has also served as consultant and advisor to Childhood Education International, an organization with UN collaborative status.

Asmahan Saleh Khalil, PhD, BCBA-D is a researcher, an adjunct professor and a licensed child psychologist with over 14 years of experience supporting children and families. She is the founder of Amana, an initiative focused on child safeguarding and preventative education across the Arab world.

Dr. Khalil’s work bridges clinical expertise with cultural values, equipping parents, educators, and professionals with practical tools to recognize risks, strengthen communication, and promote children’s safety and wellbeing. She is a founding board member of the Association for Behavior Analysis in Lebanon (ABAL), and co-author of the children’s book The Day the World Went Boom. Her approach focuses on fostering emotional resilience and ensuring that every child, regardless of their needs, grows up in a world where they are safe, valued, and protected.

Aya Ayoubi is an ADEK-approved Early Years Director and Nursery Manager with over 12 years of experience in the UAE. She is passionate about early childhood education and is known for creating nurturing, child-centred learning environments that support holistic development, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning. Aya has extensive experience in designing structured, inspection-ready settings that balance strong educational outcomes with children’s emotional and social well-being. She holds a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) and a CACHE Level 5 Diploma in Leadership. An experienced speaker, she is dedicated to empowering educators and advancing quality practices in early years education.

Dr Faranak Berenjan is the Founder and Managing Director of Enaya Education, a leading provider of inclusive education, early intervention, and school readiness programmes in the UAE. Originally from the UK, she brings over 20 years of experience in Early Years Education, Special Educational Needs, and Inclusion. Throughout her career, she has worked as a teacher, lecturer, trainer, and senior leader, supporting children, families, and educational settings. Passionate about creating opportunities for every child to thrive, Faranak advocates for a holistic, child-centred approach that combines education, wellbeing, and therapeutic support. Inspired by the principles of lifelong learning and continuous growth, she is currently pursuing a PhD in Inclusive Education.

Dr Khadija Abdelbary is a Pediatrician and Neurodevelopmental specialist based in Dubai, with experience spanning general pediatrics, neonatal care, and child development, alongside expertise in early nutritional support, particularly for preterm infants and young children. Her clinical practice focuses on understanding the whole child, integrating developmental, behavioral, medical, sensory, nutritional, sleep, and environmental factors that influence a child’s health, functioning, and participation. Alongside clinical practice, Dr Khadija is actively involved in research, professional education, and multidisciplinary collaboration aimed at advancing more holistic, evidence-informed, and neuroinclusive approaches to pediatric care.

Nazia Mirza is Director of Early Years Educators at PrepMe Learning Centre, leading initiatives that strengthen Early Years leadership, workforce development and professional practice across the UAE. With over 22 years of experience spanning leadership, education, training, coaching and organisational development, she is passionate about empowering educators and leaders to create meaningful and sustainable change. Her career includes leadership roles within Early Years settings, alongside extensive work in professional development and wellbeing. Nazia is also an experienced media contributor, having appeared in over 200 television programmes, sharing insights on wellbeing, personal development and education.

Ayesha AlHashmi is a lecturer at the National Academy for Childhood Development. She is a passionate educator, holding a Bachelor of Science in Education from Zayed University, and recognized as a Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Scholar by New York University Abu Dhabi.

Ayesha served as a facilitator in the Abu Dhabi Parenting Program, where they support and empower new mothers in their parenthood journeys. She was also the co-author and assistant instructor of Ramsah, a curriculum designed to teach Emirati dialect to Arabic language learners, showcasing her commitment to cultural heritage and language education.

As a published children’s author, Ayesha is dedicated to promoting reading and inspiring young readers and foster a lifelong love of learning.

Leena is the COO of Maple Bear Nurseries and is proud to lead a female-driven company. As a mum of two little girls, she is passionate about early childhood education and dedicated to creating inclusive, nurturing spaces where every child feels seen, heard and empowered to thrive.

Through her work, Leena is committed to building a strong nursery community where families feel connected and supported, while giving children the foundation to grow into kind, confident and curious little humans.