Shaireen has 20 years of local and international field experience as a teacher, principal, curriculum specialist, teacher-trainer and research consultant. Beyond the copious hours she spends ‘coffee coaching’ and designing online inspirational posters, she is pursuing a full-time PhD at the University of Warwick, researching leadership and policy in the early years.

Coming from a family of educators, Shaireen – who holds a Forest School level 2 certification among her qualifications – defines her life work as ‘a joyous mission to enable educators to design their best self’. She blogs at http://www.shailosophy.com and http://www.printcutcraft.com.

Iris has been in the early childhood education sector for 15 years as a learner, teacher, leader and trainer. She began her career as a primary school teacher at CHIJ Bukit Timah, before joining Chiltern House as a Kindergarten 2 teacher.  She went on to work at other preschools and moved into management roles. She now oversees the running of all Chiltern House centres in Singapore.

Outside of Chiltern House, Iris is a associate lecturer and practicum supervisor with SEED Institute. She has written a preschool English Language curriculum and two series of assessment books on mental mathematics and English grammar. She is a jazz-lover, DIY jeweller, and avid traveller. As a mentor in Principal Matters, she hopes to help others embrace the unexpected and learn to take risks in whatever they do.

Connie has 20 years of experience in early childhood education, with expertise in curriculum development and leadership. She graduated with a Doctorate in Philosophy in Early Childhood Education and Teaching from the University of South Australia, and is an adjunct professor with Wheelock College.

Geraldine oversees the professional practices and development for all childcare-related business units at NTUC First Campus, namely My First Skool, The Little Skool House, and The Caterpillar’s Cove. She is also the Centre Director of The Caterpillar’s Cove Child Development and Study Centre, a winner at the President’s Design Award 2015, Singapore’s top design accolade. It is the first entry from the early childhood education field to win this prestigious award.

Jacqueline, who holds a PhD in early childhood education and has 19 years of experience in the sector, leads SJCK with its 1,400 children spread across 3 campuses. She received the ECDA Outstanding Early Childhood Leader Award in 2014 and is listed by the Exchange Leadership Initiative (USA) in its 2016 Directory of Exceptional Master Leaders.

She conducts talks and workshops for parents and teachers on a wide variety of topics such as the visual arts, music, language & literacy, learning environments, mentoring and leadership. She is a consultant to preschools in Singapore and overseas, balancing that with weekly mentoring sessions for leaders within her centre. She is a certified trainer of ‘Key to Learning’, a Vygotskyian approach to early childhood education.

Wee Mee has been managing and growing early learning centres since 2000, when she started Pre-school By-The-Park. Before that, she worked in management positions in a multi-national company after graduating with a Masters from Melbourne Business School.

She enjoys growing teams of leaders and practitioners who are able to adapt their style and practices in step with developments in the industry.

Mrs Dianne Swee-Seet has more than 20 years experience working with children in many areas like primary schools, theatres and enrichment centres. Dianne graduated from National University of Singapore and is a trained pianist with the Trinity College, London. Her passion for performing arts beckons her to continue to inject excitement and enthusiasm in the creative arts.

She started in the Early Childhood sector as a music and movement teacher and music curriculum developer. She has joined Ascension Kindergarten since 2007 and has since taken over as principal for 7 years, leading the school to be one of the first kindergartens to attain SPARK certification in 2011. Together with her team, they have initiated several innovative projects and conducted several peer sharing sessions to share their good practices. She enjoys growing and glowing new leaders to adapt in the ever changing development of Early Childhood.

Nadhira is a committed and fervent Early Childhood Professional Practitioner who has been serving children and families for 33 years. She started her teaching career as a relief teacher in MOE before moving to the early childhood field. Nadhira served in a local Volunteer Welfare Organisation (VWO) as the Director for its Early Childhood Division for 10 years. She administered the mentoring of the VWO’s 6 centre principals in their essential duties

Having graduated with a Master Degree in Early Childhood from University of South Australia, Nadhira also conducts teacher-training sessions on a variety of topics such as working with infant and toddlers, child development, mentoring and leadership.

She is also a consultant in a parenting agency, COMPASS Connects that provides parenting workshops and talks. Nadhira serves as an implementation assessor for the Islamic Religious Council Singapore (MUIS)’ a.L.I.V.E programme.

Nadhira believes that leadership is a process of choices, chances and changes in respectful, reciprocal reflections in instilling values and influences with dedicated adults for betterment of children and families.