MAJOR GEN (RTD) PROF. DR. SALMAN ALI

PAEDIATRICIAN & NEONATOLOGIST

Major Gen (Rtd) Prof. Dr. Salman Ali is a distinguished Paediatrician & Neonatologist with extensive experience in child healthcare and early childhood development. He has contributed significantly to the advancement of pediatric care and neonatal medicine in Pakistan, with a special focus on preventive healthcare and early intervention strategies for optimal child development outcomes.

DR. HANA MAHMOOD

CHIEF OF GLOBAL HEALTH, INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH FORCE

Dr. Hana Mahmood serves as Chief of Global Health at the International Research Force and is actively engaged with the Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health Research Network (MNCHRN). Her work spans medical technology, epidemiology, and pediatrics, with a strong focus on advancing maternal and child health outcomes. With extensive experience in overseeing global health initiatives and research programmes, she brings valuable expertise in health systems strengthening and evidence-based approaches to improving care for mothers and children.

A pre-conference workshop on Prenatal Care and Early Childhood Development will be organized as part of the ICECD 2026 Conference, highlighting the vital role of prenatal care in shaping health, learning, and child development outcomes. This workshop will emphasize the critical importance of investing in early childhood development starting from the prenatal period, recognizing that the foundation for lifelong health and wellbeing is established before birth.

The workshop will explore key focus areas including maternal health and nutrition, early brain development, mental and physical wellbeing during pregnancy, and the crucial role of community and family support in early childhood development. Participants will engage in interactive sessions, expert discussions, and practical learning opportunities covering topics such as nutritional interventions during pregnancy, early stimulation techniques, and strategies for creating supportive environments for optimal child development.

This workshop is specifically designed for pregnant and lactating mothers, newly-wed couples, health professionals, and ECD practitioners who are committed to promoting early childhood development. The expected outcomes include increased awareness of prenatal care importance, enhanced knowledge of early childhood development principles, and practical strategies for supporting optimal development from conception through early childhood.

AMBREENA AHMED

DIRECTOR, TEACHERS' RESOURCE CENTRE

Ambreena Ahmed is the Director of Teachers' Resource Centre (TRC), a pioneering education institution in Pakistan working on quality reforms, especially teachers' development, since 1986. She is a versatile professional working for the last 23 years who has designed and led diverse projects and institutional partnerships in both public and private educational sectors and communities across Pakistan. She has recently curated a first of its kind climate change education initiative called CANDLE and is leading the development and launch of Pakistan's Introductory Curriculum on Climate Change Education (grades 1 to 10).

A pre-conference workshop on Cultivating Environmental Stewardship in Early Childhood will be organized by the Teachers' Resource Centre, focusing on climate change pedagogy and its integration into formative learning years. This workshop will emphasize the importance of early climate education in fostering awareness of climate change, its impact on the environment, and opting sustainable behaviors.

It will explore key objectives such as skill development, proactive community engagement, and empowerment while offering participants learning opportunities through discussions and group activities on curriculum integration, hands-on learning, educator training, family involvement, community partnerships, and practical approaches to fostering environmental stewardship from an early age.

The expected outcomes of this workshop include increased awareness of climate change among young learners, enhanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and the promotion of sustainable behaviors through engaging educational strategies.

DR. MUBESHERA TUFAIL

Assistant Professor, Science Education Department, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad

Dr. Mubeshera Tufail is an Assistant Professor, Science Education Department, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad. She holds a Ph.D. in Education from the National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad. She has an extensive research background in education, with over fifteen research publications and multiple research projects. She also serves as an associate editor of the Pakistan Journal of Distance and Online Learning (PJDOL).

A pre-conference workshop on Mental Health for Parents & Children: A Path to Well-being will be organized by Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad's Early Childhood Education and Elementary Teacher Education Department. This interactive workshop aims to educate parents and caregivers about the significance of mental health in family life as well as detecting the symptoms of declining mental conditions.

It will explore the main contributors affecting parents and children such as stress, family conflicts, and social pressures. Participants will engage in discussions, tackling real-life scenarios, reflection activities, and hands-on exercises to learn simple and effective ways to manage daily stress.

This workshop's expected outcomes include increased awareness of how mental health affects family life, practical strategies for reducing distress and to enhance emotional well-being, and techniques to support children's well-being and foster a positive home environment.

SHUMAILA BIBI

Ms. Shumaila Bibi, Director of PediaCare Therapy Clinic and MS in Speech and Language Pathology, is a leading IBT trained professional specializing in the evaluation and treatment of speech, language, resonance, communication, swallowing, and cognitive-communication disorders.

A pre-conference workshop on Play as a Therapy for Language Development will be organized by PediaCare Therapy Clinic, highlighting the crucial role and importance of language and speech development regarding a child's cognitive, social, and emotional growth. This workshop is designed to empower parents, caregivers, and educators with practical strategies to create a language-rich environment, limit screen time, and promote verbal interactions between parent and child through interactive sessions, play-based activities such as role-playing, storytelling, and sensory play. Expected outcomes include improved verbal engagement, enhanced vocabulary and communication skills in children, and stronger parent-child interactions through play and conversation.

DR. TOOBA SALEEM

Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education and Care Department, Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU)

Dr. Tooba Saleem is an Assistant Professor in Early Childhood Education and Care Department at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) and Master Trainer of "Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEA), UNICEF Pakistan in support of the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Network. She has more than 13 years' experience of teaching and training in the field of education discipline. She has developed and conducted several faculty trainings i.e. Art of parenting, Holistic Development and Foundational Learning in Early years, Empowering Educators: Assessment for Learning, Diagnostic Assessment, and Differentiated Instruction in the Pakistani Classroom recently and serving as additional director Centre for Lifelong Learning at AIOU.

This two-hour workshop aims to provide foundational knowledge and practical guidance on PSEAH concepts, standards, and reporting mechanisms to those work within humanitarian and development settings. The session will strengthen participants' awareness of safeguarding principles and encourage proactive engagement in preventing misconduct within humanitarian and development settings.

International organizations, including UNICEF, emphasize a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. However, effective prevention requires that staff, partners, volunteers, and community actors possess a clear understanding of safeguarding principles, codes of conduct, reporting procedures, and survivor-centered responses.

Many individuals working in humanitarian and development programs operate in contexts where power imbalances, vulnerability, and limited awareness of safeguarding mechanisms may increase the risk of exploitation or misconduct. Therefore, targeted capacity-building initiatives are necessary to ensure that all personnel understand their responsibilities and actively contribute to creating safe, respectful, and accountable work environments.