Expert group to advise The Princess of Wales’ work on early childhood

A group of eight experts from across academia, science and the early years sector has been appointed to offer strategic advice to The Princess of Wales and provide oversight of the work of her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.
The Advisory Group met with Her Royal Highness for the first time at Windsor Castle on Wednesday 25th January. They will go on to support The Princess and the Centre as work is accelerated to promote the fundamental importance of the first five years of a child’s life.
Several of those involved have already played a pivotal role in the work The Princess of Wales has been pursuing for more than a decade in this field, helping her to shape her work on the issue and adding to her determination to help change the way people think about early childhood.
Advisory Group members are:
Professor Peter Fonagy OBE, Head of the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences at UCL and Chief Executive of the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
Professor Eamon McCrory, Professor of Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology, University College London
Dr Alain Gregoire, Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist and President and Founder of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance
Dr Trudi Seneviratne OBE, Registrar at the Royal College of Psychiatrists
Ed Vainker OBE, co-founder of Reach Academy Feltham
Carey Oppenheim, Project Lead at the Nuffield Foundation
Imran Hussain, Director of Policy and Campaigns for Action for Children
Beverley Barnett-Jones MBE, Associate Director at Nuffield Family Justice Observatory and Trustee at What Works in Children’s Social Care
The group will support the delivery of the Centre’s work in commissioning new research, learning from best practice in the UK and globally, and raising awareness of the extraordinary impact the first five years of life have on future outcomes. Advisory Group members have been chosen for their deep expertise in a range of areas including neuroscience, psychology, perinatal psychiatry, early years services and policy development.
"Working with such an eminent group of people is an absolute privilege. I know their advice and experience is hugely valued by The Princess, and the whole Centre for Early Childhood team, as we continue to drive awareness of, and action on, the transformative impact of the early years.“
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