Gill Connell is a globally recognized presenter and child development authority, specializing in the foundations of learning through movement and play. She provides developmental expertise to parents, preschools, schools, and companies such as Hasbro, Inc., based on her more than thirty years in preschool and primary education. She is the former national director of Gymbaroo Preschool Activity Centers and the founder of Moving Smart, Ltd. (movingsmart.co.nz), which offers resources, tools, trainings, and workshops. She coauthored the books A Moving Child Is a Learning Child: How the Body Teaches the Brain to Thinkand Moving to Learn: An Essential Guide for All Parents, Carers and Educators. Gill lives in New Zealand, and travels regularly to the United States.
Wendy Pirie, M.H.Sc., is a consultant in preschool movement and the director of TimberNook New Zealand, which offers camps where children grow and learn through active, creative outdoor experiences. She has a special interest in the growth and development of the child through the relationship between the body and the brain. She is also passionate about empowering parents and educators to play with and engage children. Wendy lives in New Zealand with her husband and three sons.
Cheryl McCarthy is a former vice president of intellectual property development for Hasbro, Inc. She is a thirty-year veteran of the world of children’s play, specializing in young children’s storytelling and entertainment. As executive producer, she managed the creative development of properties such as My Little Pony, Candy Land, Mr. Potato Head, and many other beloved children’s icons. She is currently the creative director at Moving Smart, Ltd. Cheryl is the coauthor ofA Moving Child Is a Learning Child: How the Body Teaches the Brain to Think. She lives in Massachusetts.
