Meet Our Speakers & Panellists 

Dr. Christine McLean has been involved in the early learning sector for the past four decades. Currently, she is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Child and Youth Study at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax. Prior to this, Christine lived  in St. John’s, NL, working in the ELCC sector in a variety of capacities, including Manager of the ECE Program at the College of the North Atlantic, child care consultant with the NL provincial government, and AECENL Registrar of Certification. Christine has a Bachelor of Child Study from Mount Saint Vincent University, a Bachelor of Special Education from Acadia University,  a Master of Education (ECE) from University of Cincinnati, and a PhD in Applied Psychology and Human Development from University of Toronto. She is a current member of the National Advisory Council for ELCC, and a member of the Minister’s Engagement Table for ELCC in Nova Scotia. She is an executive member of the Canadian Association for Young Children (CAYC), a former executive member of the Child Care Human Resources Sector Council, former Chair of the Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada, and former Chair of the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Newfoundland and Labrador (AECENL). Christine’s research interests are centred mostly on play and play-based learning, pedagogical documentation, and reflective practice in the field of early childhood education.

Marnie Power is a registered social worker, Founder and CEO of Playful Mindset, and a recognized leader in outdoor, play-based learning. She led the development of Canada’s first Forest and Nature School. Her work advances systems change by championing trauma-informed, equitable play experiences that support the mental health of children, caregivers, and the practitioners who serve them. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work, a Master of Education with a focus on play pedagogy, and a Master’s Certificate in Play Therapy. 

Sarah Reddington is an Associate Professor in the Child and Youth Study Department at Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.Sarah’s research in critical disability studies and critical gender studies focuses on how prevalent developmentally frameworks (e.g., medical model, binary logic) shape the lives of underrepresented children and youth. Her work examines how institutionalized practices, policies, and programs impact marginalized young people’s identities and their equitable access to education, community inclusion, and broader social supports. Sarah’s body of research engages with poststructural thinking, affect theory, posthumanism, Deleuzoguattarian theory, queer theory, diffraction and new materialism to challenge the conditions of oppression with the large aim to remove systemic barriers and attend to the complexity of individual experience.

Lisa Pinhorn B.Child Study (MSVU), M.Ed (MUN). is the Co-Founder of Empowered Parents. She has over 30 years of experience as a public speaker, educator, writer and advocate for neurodivergent/disability family culture and neuro-affirming practices. She often advocates for children and their families who are seeking equitable and meaningful inclusion. Her work is driven by lived experience within her neurodiverse family and by empowering parents to support change. Her personal and professional philosophy is that families can have a greater impact than they realize and can become powerful agents of change in their homes and communities.

Kyle Rees is a partner at O’Dea Earle in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Kyle focuses on union-side labour law and worker-oriented representation, with a litigation practice that ranges from motor-vehicle accidents to human rights. He was nominated for a Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Award and was the recipient of the Canadian Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Pro Bono Award, as well as the Osgoode Hall Law School Alumni Gold Key Award. Kyle holds a B.A. (Hons.) in Philosophy from Memorial University of Newfoundland and a J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School. He was called to the Newfoundland and Labrador Bar in 2013. He lived in Topsail with his spouse and two young children.

Reza Marvasti is the Founder and CEO of The Power of Play, a global movement advancing children’s mental health through play-based learning and trauma-informed design in some of the world’s most complex and hard-to-reach environments. His work spans 18 countries, reaching over 60,000 children in refugee camps and conflict affected communities. He brings together international aid agencies, governments, universities, and local communities to co create sustainable, community built spaces using locally sourced and upcycled materials, empowering people to lead for their own children. As a program advisor to four universities, he helps shape innovative approaches at the intersection of design, psychology, and social impact. Reza translates bold ideas into real world impact, advancing a powerful belief that play based experiences are a pathway to healing, belonging, dignity, and peace.

Laura Wright, PhD, is a Lecturer (i.e. Assistant Professor) in Childhood Studies at Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh. She uses qualitative play and arts-based research methods in partnership with children, youth, and communities to explore and strengthen mental health and wellbeing, play, children’s rights, and social justice.  She brings two decades of experience as a researcher and practitioner across Canada, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. Laura is active across international networks to support positive collaboration and meaningful change (e.g. CoFounder international Arts Play Health Community, Children and Young People Hub Leadership Team, Youth Climate Justice Research Project Advisory). When not working, you’ll find Laura playing in the forest, mountains, ocean, or playgrounds alongside loved ones. 

Susan Sparkes is an occupational therapist who specializes in supporting young children. Over the past 15 years, she has worked primarily with neurodiverse children across both public and private healthcare settings. Susan often describes her role as that of a detective—seeking to understand the ‘why’ and ‘how’ behind the challenges families bring forward. Using a neuroaffirmative approach, she considers the whole child within their environment before offering insights into why difficulties may be arising and how best to support the child. Her therapeutic approach is informed by leaders in neuroscience-informed and relationship-based practice, including Dr. Stephen Porges (Polyvagal Theory), Kim Barthel (relationship-based occupational therapy), and Dr. Bruce Perry (Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics). She owns and operates Freelance Occupational Therapy Services.

Hilary P. Hennessey (she/her) holds a Master of Health Ethics and is a Registered Social Worker. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Science in Rehabilitation and Health Leadership at Queen’s University.

In addition to her academic work, Hilary serves as the Public Relations Specialist with the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission, where she promotes human rights across the province through education and community engagement and supports the early resolution of human rights disputes. Hilary has partnered with international organizations to advance accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities, particularly within educational settings.

Dr. Shelly Mehta is a research associate with the Atkinson Centre for Society & Child Development. She is a Professor, Coordinator, and International Student Liaison in the School of Early Childhood Education at George Brown Polytechnic. She also serves as Vice President/Co-Chair of the Canadian Association for Social Justice Education (CASJE). Her work centers on amplifying historically silenced narratives of students, children, families and communities through diasporic, anti-racist, abolitionist, and liberatory frameworks. Shelly’s work is grounded in counter-storytelling and critical, strength-based pedagogical and andragogical approaches.

Shelly is a certified Diversity & Inclusion Service Management (DISM) ISO 30415:2021 professional, and founder of McMehta Inc., education consulting specializing in professional development related to social justice education, AI in higher education/Ed Tech and the early years, advancing equity and transformation in education and curriculum and content design. Shelly is co-author of the ECE Report 2023 and co-lead of the ECE Faculty CARE Collective at the Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario (AECEO).

Charlotte Warford is an Early Childhood Educator, instructor, advocate, and Professional Learning Coordinator with over 18 years of experience in the early learning and child care sector. She currently teaches in the Early Childhood Education program at College of the North Atlantic and is the founder of The Curious Educator, a professional learning platform focused on supporting educator growth and reflective practice.

Charlotte also serves as Chair of the Association of Early Childhood Educators Newfoundland and Labrador (AECENL), where she works alongside educators and community partners to advance the profession, advocate for high-quality early learning and child care, and support educators across the province.

Passionate about inclusion, belonging, and play-based learning, Charlotte believes that every child deserves to feel valued, respected, and supported in environments that celebrate their unique strengths and identities. Her work is grounded in the belief that strong relationships, responsive practices, and collaborative communities are essential to fostering children’s well-being and creating inclusive spaces where all children can thrive.

Caron McDonald is a dedicated educator and a proud board member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Down Syndrome Society. Holding bachelor’s degrees in both Primary/Elementary Education and Special Education, Caron is deeply passionate about inclusive learning. As a mother of three, she is a fierce advocate for individuals with Down syndrome and the broader neurodiverse community. She is thrilled to join the panel and share her unique insights and experiences.