Global Perspectives on Leadership in Early Childhood Education

Matshediso Modise is an associate professor at the University of South Africa who specialises in leadership and management in the early years, which highlights issues for transformative pedagogy, curriculum, quality practices and programmes, teacher development, and pedagogical leadership. She has delivered papers internationally, written book chapters, and co-supervised master’s and PhD students, and she is a recipient of a 2022 Women in Research Scholarship. She serves in the college Research Ethics committee and is an acting chairperson of the college academic integrity committee. She is the leader of the project titled Professional Identities and Wellbeing of Middle Leaders.

Elina Fonsén holds a PhD and works as an associate professor at the Institute of Educational Leadership at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. Her research interest focuses on leadership in the educational field. She leads national and international research projects (e.g. Discourses of leadership, Sääntökirjat). In addition, she is a member of the Board of Early Childhood Education Association Finland (ECEAF) and chief of coordination group member in the International Leadership Research Forum (ILRF–EC). Furthermore, she is a member of the Executive Board of the Education, Administration and Research (SIG) of the Finnish Educational Research Association (FERA).

Johanna Heikka is senior lecturer at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education at the University of Eastern Finland in Joensuu, Finland. Her current teaching focuses on the research methods, thesis guidance, pedagogy, organisational and leadership issues in early childhood education. Her research interests focus on leadership, quality and pedagogical development in early childhood education. Her publications focus on distributed pedagogical leadership and teacher leadership as well as pedagogy in ECEC. She is a leader and/or a member of leadership development projects and research groups in Finland and internationally. She is adjunct professor in ECE leadership at the University of Oulu.

Nkidi Phatudi is a retired professor in the Department of Early Childhood Education, College of Education, University of South Africa. She taught literacy in early years for first and second language pedagogy in postgraduate and undergraduate programmes. She has supervised doctoral and master’s students in language teaching and learning and in leadership in ECD. She has also presented at different conferences on the same themes. She has edited a book on EFAL (English as First Additional Language), published articles, and contributed book chapters on a range of topics in ECD, including language teaching and learning in the early years. She serves as a member of the International Leadership Research Forum (ILRF) and the MOLTENO literacies and languages boards.

Marit Bøe is professor in educational leadership at the University of South-Eastern Norway. She has a PhD in early childhood education (ECE) leadership. Bøe has researched and published on educational leadership in ECE, leadership development, and teaching methodologies related to leadership training programmes for ECE leaders. She has worked as a leader in ECEC centres for 17 years, and as a lecturer within leadership programmes at bachelor’s and master’s levels since 2007. She participates in several projects in close relationships with ECEC teachers and leaders. Bøe is a member of the international leadership research forum (ILRF) coordination group.

Thembi Phala has a PhD in education and is the chair of the Early Childhood Department at the University of South Africa. Her research interests include diverse learners’ reading support and inclusive education. She has presented research papers at conferences and participates in multidisciplinary research aimed at developing inclusive early childhood care and education programmes. She supervises postgraduate students. Dr Phala is a member of the International Leadership Research Forum and Discourse of Leadership in Early Childhood. She is the project manager for the BEd FP degree programme at the Mathew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance, which prepares Grade R teachers.