Professor and program coordinator in the School of Early Childhood at George Brown College and a Senior Policy Fellow at the Atkinson Centre for Society and Child Development at the University of Toronto. Adjunct Professor in the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Akbari is co-author of the Early Childhood Education Report with Kerry McCuaig and Dr. Shelly Mehta. She has an extensive background in development at the neurobiological, hormonal, behavioural, and experiential levels as well expertise in the effects of early adversity on developmental outcomes. She is also an international expert in ECE policy and program evaluation.
Dr. Akbari has authored several publications in these areas including those commissioned by the provinces of British Columbia and Northwest Territories, and the City of Toronto. Dr. Akbari has also served on advisory boards to the federal government. She is a married mother of two living in Toronto, Canada.
Senior Fellow in Early Childhood Policy, Atkinson Centre for Society and Child Development, OISE/University of Toronto
Kerry co-developed the Early Childhood Education Report, with Jane Bertrand as part of Early Years Study 3, Making Decisions, Taking Action. Subsequent editions were co-authored with Dr. Emis Akbari. For ECER 2023, Shelly Mehta joins the team.
Kerry has had a long history and involvement in early childhood policy development including as one of the founders of Toronto First Duty, a pioneer in the integrated delivery of early childhood programming. She has authored several publications, including those commissioned by the Senate of Canada, the provinces of British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Newfoundland and Labrador, and New Brunswick, as well as, the City of Toronto and several labour, women’s and community organizations. She is the mother of two daughters, and a grandmother to three boys.
Professor and coordinator in the School of Early Childhood at George Brown College
Dr. Mehta is co-author on the 2023 ECE Report and was a member of the WAGE Anti-racism project. She is a certified primary/junior teacher (OCT) with additional qualifications in special education and primary education, and a registered early childhood educator (RECE) in Ontario. Her research interests and projects are grounded in liberation-focused approaches, and include amplifying and empowering children and family voices in early years spaces and student voices in higher education settings.
Kristell Le Martret and Isabelle Vinet of the Abilio — Childhood Knowledge Dissemination Centre at the Université Laval and Université de Montréal directed the development of the Quebec profile and oversaw the French translation of the New Brunswick profile and of the complete report.
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