Siobhán Fitzpatrick, CBE, MBA, MSSC, CQSW, BSc., serves as ECPC Regional Vice Chairperson. She is Chairperson of the International Network on Peace Building for Young Children, and former Chief Executive Officer of Early Years – the organization for young children and was  in the post from 1989-2019, having worked previously for Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland.

 

The  Early Years organization supports 40,000 children and families and provides support, training and quality assurance for 12,000 staff in the early years sector across Northern Ireland. In her role as Chief Executive Officer, Siobhán exercised responsibility for policy and strategic development, relationships with the Stakeholder Group on Early Years, Childcare Partnerships and Pre-school Education Advisory Groups. She managed cross border relationships and international partnerships.

 

 She currently chairs the International Network on Peace Building with Young Children which is bringing the learning from the work in Early Years on inclusion, respecting difference and peace building to areas affected by conflict around the world. There are 20 countries represented on the Network and it is linked to the six International Early Childhood Networks in the world (Consultative Group, Latin America Early Childhood Network, ARNEC, ISSA, The African Early Childhood Network, the Arab Collective).

 

Siobhan is currently a Board Member of the New Ireland Commission an Organisation established to create an inclusive dialogue about the possible unification of Ireland.

Siobhán was awarded a CBE for services to Education, Family Support and Community Development in the Queen’s Birthday Honors in 2010. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Queens University Belfast in 2017 and a lifetime Leadership Award from the Chief Officers of the Third Sector in 2017.