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.

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 and is currently acting as Co-Chair with Barb Reid.

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.

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.

Motivated by a desire to preserve a trusted space for families and support the community, Juliana stepped in to serve as Director of Montessori Play and Learn Centre Ltd., applying her diverse professional experience to foster a nurturing, inclusive, and high-quality early learning environment.

Juliana is passionate about early years learning and is committed to collaborative efforts that support children, families, and educators.

Motivated by a desire to preserve a trusted space for families and support the community, Juliana stepped in to serve as Director of Montessori Play and Learn Centre Ltd., applying her diverse professional experience to foster a nurturing, inclusive, and high-quality early learning environment.

Juliana is passionate about early years learning and is committed to collaborative efforts that support children, families, and educators.

Helen has worked for the past 21 years with the YMCA of Northern Alberta and is currently a Child Care General Manager as well as a YMCA National Curriculum Champion, working with YMCA Curriculum Champion's across Canada to ensure best practices and quality child care are delivered daily. She also currently is a board member for ARCQE and is a representative for them for CELC. Helen’s passion lies in helping make every child feel that they belong and creating welcoming and enriching communities for children to grow and develop daily.

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.

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. With more than 30 years of experience working with children and families in the childcare sector, Melissa has dedicated her career to supporting Indigenous early learning and family wellness initiatives.

Melissa is the Executive Director of the Aboriginal Head Start Programs in Edmonton, where she advocates for culturally grounded early childhood education and community-driven programming that supports Indigenous children and families. She is an active member of the Alberta Aboriginal Head Start Regional Committee and serves as Chair of the National Aboriginal Head Start Association of Canada.

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.

Rob Buschmann is the Manager for Impact Assessment with the Edmonton Community Foundation. He has over 20 years of research and data analysis experience in a variety of fields, from early learning and child care to public housing to population health. Prior to his current role, Rob was a research associate at the Community-University Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families at the University of Alberta and a manager in an early learning and child care data analysis unit at the Government of Alberta. 

Dr Mackenzie Martin (BSc, BEd, MPhil, DPhil) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Early Learning and Curriculum Studies in the Faculty of Health and Community Studies at MacEwan University. Dr Martin has sat on the CELC since 2023, and is now the Co-Chair of the CELC's Research Working Group. Dr. Martin’s research program focuses on investigating the impact of community-based programs and policies aiming to advance the health and well-being of diverse, equity-deserving children, parents and families in the early years alongside community partners.

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.

Jane (she/her) is an entrepreneurial, cross-sector nonprofit leader with a track record of social impact. She currently provides fractional support to foundations and start-up nonprofits for short-term, strategic initiatives as an independent consultant, and volunteers her time as board member and soccer coach.

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.

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.

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 was on cognitive development in children. He has been a member of the Council for Early Learning and Care since its inception. He also works with the Community-University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth, and Families and with the Muttart Foundation. In recent years he served on the Board of Directors for Getting Ready for Inclusion Today (now Kids Included) and on the Stewardship Round Table for EndPovertyEdmonton.

Adine is the Executive Director of Jasper Place Family Resource Centre. She has spent her almost 40 year career advocating for children, their families and the importance high quality Early Learning and Care. Her passion for this work has sustained over the years through the core beliefs that children are citizens deserving of rights and recognition and that family is at the center of all we do.

Adine is a member of the CAFRA group and serves on the advisory committee for the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies Program at MacEwan University. She leads the Community Action Working Group with the Council for Early Learning and Care.