FOUNDER

Amy is the Head of the Early Neurodevelopment and Mental Health team at Telethon Kids Institute, Western Australia and a Zero to Three Fellow (2022-2024 cohort). Her research focuses on translational science in child development and mental health; specifically, she is interested in transdiagnostic frameworks to address early developmental vulnerability and optimise child mental health outcomes from the perinatal period onward. Her research interests and expertise span the spectrum of clinical research through to health systems research, policy development, and economic evaluation. Amy co-leads with Anti-Racist and Equity Promoting Practice Special Interest Group with Jaida Penny.

ANTI-RACIST AND EQUITY-PROMOTING PRACTICE LEAD

Jaida Penny is an Indigenous Research Assistant with the Early Neurodevelopment and Mental Health team. She is motivated by the prospect of facilitating equitable research that addresses concerns regarding Australia’s First Nations children. Jaida is currently studying at the University of Western Australia, undertaking a Bachelor of Science in Anatomy and Human Biology. She has an interest in health and wellbeing and integrating both psychological and physiological perspectives, with a passion for improving the lives of children. She has lived and worked experience in her day-to-day life, working with neurodiverse Indigenous youth through mentoring, tutoring and caring.

CO-LEAD, GLOBAL SKILL SHARE

Dr. Aung, a Zero to Three Fellow (2022-2024 cohort), leads an early intervention team at a child development clinic in Myanmar, with the aim of holistic developmental services for children with special needs. He works as a specialist assistant in pediatrics with the background of both faculty of social sciences and faculty of medical sciences. He studied M.A. in Child Development at the University of Haifa, Israel. Dr Aung is also involved in the process of Myanmar Pediatric Neurology as a supportive role in the services of child development center for children with special needs, other neurological intervention services and professional development for two and half years.

CO-LEAD, GLOBAL SKILL SHARE

Roop Zainab Rana is CEO of The Healing Triad, Pakistan, an organization dedicated to the promotion of mental health and management of mental illness in Pakistan. She is a toddler tata (mama), psychiatrist, trauma therapist and infant mental health advocate. Dr. Rana is a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and has a postgraduate diploma in child and adolescent mental health. She has done her psychiatry and psychotherapy training in both Asia and Europe. She pioneered the Learning for All program with the largest public school systems in Pakistan to make learning more inclusive in classrooms across the country.

CO-LEAD, GLOBAL SKILL SHARE

Valeria Atanacio serves as the Tribal Affairs Director within Oregon’s Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) forming the agency’s Office of Tribal Affairs and leading the co-creation of the Tribal Early Learning Alliance alongside tribal leaders from each of the nine federally recognized tribal nations within Oregon’s borders. She is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde with ancestral ties to the Shoshone-Banook, Chinook, Northern Ute, Umpqua, and Tututni tribal bands. As the first tribal dedicated position within the organization, she has grown this role to be the primary liaison on tribal issues concerning early childhood education. Ms. Atanacio is committed to solving the unique problems of practice facing tribal communities, establishing pathways for true tribal consultation, and uplifting the great work of our tribal nations so they can continue to share their stories.

Ms. Atanacio holds a master’s degree in Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Graduate Certificate in Infant Toddler Mental Health from Portland State University; Ms. Atanacio is bilingual in English and Spanish and learning her Native language Chinuk Wawa and Darija Arabic.