MIA ELFENBAUM | Faculty, Early Childhood Education Program, Red River College, Winnipeg
Mia Elfenbaum’s current work focuses on, The Science of Early Child Development online curriculum resource with up to date, accessible information linking the latest research to ECD practice. Mia has been in the ECE field for over 20 years and has worked as a frontline worker, centre director, consultant and post-secondary instructor.

CLAIRE GASCON GIARD | General Coordinator, Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development
Claire Gascon Giard has worked with vulnerable young children and their families for many years in the development and training of social skills programs at the Centre de Psycho-Éducation du Québec. At the Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development she is able to mix her interests in research and its practical implications for service providers, planners and policy makers. The Centre of Excellence is engaged in the dissemination of the best scientific knowledge on early childhood development.

THE HONORABLE JOHN GODFREY
John Godfrey boasts a distinguished career as an educator, journalist and politician. As Member of Parliament for Don Valley West, he held a variety of senior parliamentary positions including Minister of State for Infrastructure and Communities; Chair of the Caucus Committee on Environmental Sustainability; Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister Responsible for la Francophonie; Chair of the National Children’s Agenda Caucus Committee; and Chair of the Standing Committee on Children and Youth at Risk. He is a widely published writer and co-authored The Canada We Want: Competing Visions for the New Millennium. John is currently head of the Toronto French School.

CAROL GOTT | Rural Voices for Early Childhood Education and Care
As a co-manager of Rural Voices, Carol Gott travels the country advocating with Aboriginal, rural, remote and northern communities. Through research, training and web resources, Rural Voices shares a community development and capacity building process called CARS that assists communities to mobilize for more responsive local services. In addition to her role as a Fellow for the Council for Child Development, Carol sits on the Council of Advocates for the Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada, does private consulting and is the co-owner/operator of the Delphi Health and Leisure Centre in Flesherton, Ontario. 

JIM GRIEVE | Director of Eduction, Peel District School Board
As director of one of North America’s largest and fastest-growing public school systems, Jim Grieve is leading the Peel initiative to ensure the best utilization of school and community resources. Using specific performance targets, his goal is to improve instruction and deliver higher student literacy achievement. He chairs the Peel Success By 6 initiative and the Program Committee of The Learning Partnership. He is Past Chair of the Peel Regional United Way Campaign Cabinet and the Passport to Prosperity, promoting school-to-work opportunities for students. Jim is a member of the Sheridan College Board of Governors, 2005-2008 and Vice-Chair of the Council for Early Child Development.