Emis Akbari is the Executive Director of the Atkinson Centre and a Professor and Program Coordinator at the School of Early Childhood at George Brown College. Her current research evaluates changes in policy related to early childhood development and education at all levels of government. Dr. Akbari is the co-author of the Early Childhood Education Report. This report provides a snapshot of federal/provincial/territorial early education provisions. It also compares Canada to other developed economies. She is a member of the scientific advisory committee for the Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development. She is the co-principal investigator of the Knowing Our Numbers Project, examining the status of the ECE workforce in Ontario. She completed her Ph.D. in the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto in developmental behavioural neuroendocrinology.

Jeff Willmer worked as a professional planner in Ontario for over 20 years, including both public and private sector work, in urban and rural communities. He served as Director of Planning, and later as Chief Administrative Officer, for the City of Kitchener until his retirement in 2017.  In retirement Jeff has been active as a founder and volunteer with A Better Tent City, a community of tiny homes for 50 people who were experiencing sheltered homelessness.

Kerry McCuaig co-developed and produces the Early Childhood Education Report, which tracks provincial/territorial progress in early years program development. She co-authored Early Years Study 3, Making Decisions, Taking Action with Margaret McCain and the late Fraser Mustard. Kerry has had a long involvement in early childhood policy including as a founder of Toronto First Duty, a pioneer in the integrated delivery of early childhood programming. She supported similar integrated ECE service models in Atlantic Canada. She has authored several publications, including those commissioned by the Senate of Canada, the Toronto Board of Trade, and the governments of Manitoba, New Brunswick, the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Ontario and the City of Toronto as well as reports for labour, women’s and community organizations. Kerry is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences.