About Us - Bright Start Foundation

VISION

A world where all children have a Bright Start in
life enabling them to reach their full potential

MISSION

The first Five Years of life lay the foundation for the future success of all children. We work collaboratively with all who share our passion to deploy actionable strategies to optimize children’s physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development in all settings where young children spend their time.

OUR PEOPLE

Meet the people who are shaping the vision of the Bright Start Foundation

BOARD MEMBERS

DIMITRI A. CHRISTAKIS

Chair

Editor, JAMA Pediatrics, Director, Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, George Adkins Professor of Pediatrics, Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry, University of Washington, USA

AHMAD M. ALMAI

MD, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Saudi Arabia

FREDERICK A. CONNELL

MD, MPH, Professor Emeritus, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA

EFTHYMIOS PAPATZIKIS

Associate Professor in Educational Neuroscience of Music and Sound, Canadian University Dubai, UAE

JACQUELINE HARDING

PHD, MA CERT ED, Director Tomorrow’s Child, Director Parentchannel.tv

RANDA JAROUDI SAADEH

Senior Scientist, Consultant on Nutrition and Child Health, Geneva, Switzerland

MIKE WOOLRIDGE

University College London, Institute of Child Health, Honorary Senior Lecturer

ANTONIO FAPPIANO

Finance Director, Geneva, Switzerland

ADVISORY COUNCILS

Early Arts – Voices of Children Intervention (2019-2024)

Dr Gai Lindsay

Lecturer, Coordinator of PPP and Flexible B.Ed – The Early Years School of Education / Faculty of Social Sciences / University of Wollongong, Australia

Professor Ian Brown

(Honorary) University of Wollongong, NSW Australia

Jill Talbot

Jill Talbot, Artist and educator, Early Arts Family Engagement officer, Melbourne, Australia

Pete Moorhouse

Early Years Creative Consultant & Artist Educator, University of Bristol, UK

START Early initiative – Active & Healthy kids for Life (2020-2025)

Diane H. Craft

Professor, Physical Education Department, State University of New York Cortland, USA

Arlene Turner

M.S Early Childhood Physical Activity & Nutrition, Master Trainer Family Fun Days, USA

Lynn S. Brann

Director in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, Syracuse University, USA

Jane Burrell Uzcategui

MS RD CDN, Teaching Professor, Nutrition Public Health, Food Studies and Nutrition Falk College, Syracuse University, USA