Dr. Leah Austin is President and CEO of the National Black Child Development Institute, leading with a deep commitment to advancing equity and opportunity for Black children and families. Her career spans teaching, grantmaking, organizing, research, and philanthropy, with leadership roles at United Way of Greater Atlanta, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Southern Education Foundation, Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, and the Schott Foundation for Public Education.

Jamal Berry, President & CEO of Educare DC, is a champion for early learning excellence and equity. Beginning his career in the classroom, Mr. Berry now leads Educare DC with a deep commitment to high-quality practice, earning top ratings and national accreditation. A respected advocate and thought leader, he contributes to numerous publications and podcasts, serves on multiple advocacy boards across DC, and centers the voices of early educators and families.

Tracye Fortin, Chief Operating Officer of Kennebec Valley Community Action Program Child & Family Services / Educare Central Maine, has dedicated four decades to advancing high-quality early learning. A visionary leader, she has built powerful cross-sector partnerships, led Educare Central Maine’s innovative Beyond-the-Walls model, and mentored countless educators through her leadership in higher education and the early childhood community.

Dr. Ola J. Friday is the inaugural Executive Director of The Early Educator Investment Collaborative, a national pooled fund driving systems change to strengthen and elevate the early education workforce. Previously, she led the implementation of New York’s Quality Rating and Improvement System and directed professional development and higher education initiatives for early educators in Massachusetts.

Dr. Theresa Hawley, Executive Director of the Center for Early Learning Funding Equity at Northern Illinois University, partners with states to design policies and funding structures that advance equitable access to early learning. A longtime leader in Illinois, she founded Educare West DuPage and served as Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development and First Assistant Deputy Governor for Education.

Dr. Nat Kendall-Taylor, Ph.D., is Chief Executive Officer of the FrameWorks Institute, a Washington, D.C.–based research organization that investigates how framing and narrative shape public understanding and drive social change. A psychological anthropologist, he leads a multidisciplinary team that helps organizations apply insights from cognitive and social science to advance equitable systems change. He also serves as a Senior Fellow at Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child and Senior Advisor at Stanford’s Center on Early Childhood.

Dr. Joan Lombardi has dedicated more than five decades to advancing the healthy development of young children around the world. She serves as Principal Advisor and Adjunct Professor at the Center on Early Childhood at Stanford University and as Senior Scholar at Georgetown University’s Thrive Center on Children, Families, and Communities. A former senior official in the Clinton and Obama administrations, she co-founded the Georgetown Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues and leads Early Opportunities.

Othello Meadows is Managing Director at Blue Meridian Partners, where he leads strategic and innovation efforts to expand the organization’s impact in place-based initiatives nationwide. Previously, he served as President and CEO of Seventy Five North Revitalization Corp., guiding a $90 million redevelopment in Omaha, Nebraska that integrated housing, education, and community engagement to drive lasting neighborhood transformation.

Paula Moujalli is Vice President of the Center for Excellence in Early Education at United Way Miami. She oversees coordination between Educare Miami and the Early Head Start–Child Care Partnership to ensure seamless services for children from birth to five and their families. Previously, she led Educare Miami and served as a mentor teacher, pedagogical coordinator, and adjunct professor at Florida International University.

Lucy Recio is Co-Founder and Principal Consultant of Third Bloom Consulting, a social impact firm advancing equity and well-being in early learning systems. She has held leadership roles with the National Black Child Development Institute, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and the Office of the Bronx Borough President. Recio helped secure $54 billion in federal relief funding for early childhood and elevate the national dialogue on workforce equity and compensation.

Blythe Keeler Robinson is President and CEO of Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Centers in Atlanta, where she has expanded the organization’s visibility and impact through strategic partnerships, policy collaborations, and community engagement. A nationally recognized equity advocate, she previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Programs Officer at the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe and as Vice President of Strategic Planning and Initiatives at Reading Is Fundamental.

Dr. Lisa Roy is Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and a distinguished leader in early learning policy and systems design. Appointed by Governor Jared Polis in 2022, she led the creation of the Department and the launch of Colorado’s Universal Preschool Program. With more than 30 years of experience, Dr. Roy previously held leadership roles at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute and Denver Public Schools, advancing equity-centered strategies that strengthen outcomes for children and families.

Ginger Ward is CEO of Southwest Human Development, Arizona’s largest nonprofit dedicated to supporting young children and families. Since founding the organization in 1981, she has guided its growth into a nationally recognized model for early childhood innovation. A trusted advisor and advocate, Ward serves on several boards, including the Arizona Early Childhood Alliance, the Governor’s Council on Child Safety and Family Empowerment, and the Phoenix Community Development and Investment Corporation.