Senior Policy Fellow at the Play in Education, Development and Learning Research Centre at the Department of Education, University of Cambridge (PEDAL)

Sally has had a varied career in charities and national and local governments, leading teams to develop and implement interventions for families in the early years, and campaigning successfully to drive policy change. Sally joined PEDAL from the Parent-Infant Foundation, where she was Deputy CEO and the creator and first chair of the First 1001 Days Movement, a campaigning alliance of over 200 charities and professional bodies.

Sally has a specific expertise in children’s early development and support for families during pregnancy and early childhood, and an interest in the operation of health, early education and children’s service and systems during this life stage.

Prior to this, Sally’s roles included Strategic Lead at the Maternal Health Alliance, Senior Commissioner in a Local Authority, and Development Manager for Children Under One at the NSPCC. Sally started her career as a Civil Servant working on Children’s Policy in Westminster and, for a short time, in New South Wales, Australia.

She has authored a range of influential policy reports relating to the importance of the earliest years of life and issues affecting families during that time.