Tam has over 40 years experience working with and on behalf of vulnerable children and young people, including child and adult protection, youth homelessness, street-work and throughcare and aftercare. He was Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People 2009 - 2017, and his current work includes working with Child and Adult Protection Committees across the islands.

Tam has also sat on the IPA World Board since 2016.

Sarah’s background is in playwork where she has worked as a playwork trainer and practitioner for over 20 years. She recently finished her PhD entitled “Girls’ toys and ‘boys’ toys learning through play”, and is currently teaching on the Childhood Practice courses at West College Scotland.

Sarah is also the National Representative for Scotland on the World Council.

Elise is a former primary teacher, specialising in autism and attachment in the early years. Elise is a full-time PhD researcher at the University of Strathclyde, focusing on ways that play pedagogy in Scotland can support the inclusion of autistic pupils.  Elise hopes to continue to spread the message about the right to play for all children in Scotland and support the development of local, national, and international connections for promoting play.

Marguerite has delivered children’s right to play all her working life. Currently CEO of Play Scotland, Marguerite led the campaigns for a national Play Strategy, and more recently, a Statutory Duty for Play in Planning. Recently she was delighted to Chair the Children and Young People’s Participation Advisory Group for the IPA Glasgow Conference Steering Group.

Stacey is a PhD student at Heriot-Watt University researching children’s outdoor play across the urban rural continuum, who also lectures at Queen Margaret University on the Education programmes and at Edinburgh University as part of the BA Childhood Practice course. Stacey still makes time to work directly with children, delivering children’s clubs and youth work.

Lynn’s experience is as a multi-trauma and neurological rehabilitation nurse, a business owner and manager of Montessori pre-schools in New Zealand.  She has laterally returned to Scotland to develop and deliver The Highland Council’s Playpark Strategy.  Her interests are in observing and analysing how young people play, consulting with young people, designing inclusive and purposeful playparks, strategy development; and advocating for young people’s voices to be realised by adults.

Henry started work as a full-time dad, then established a successful childcare business before becoming a regulator for local and national government. As an influential early years leader, he has been instrumental in changing Scotland’s approach to risk and adventurous play. This included reviewing the national care standards for the Scottish Government, which have gained international recognition as a radical approach framing quality from the perspective of lived experience. As an IPA Scotland board member, Henry continues to support the right to play and for this experience to be compassionate, respectful, participative, and above all fun!

Cherie is Director of Projects at Play Scotland.  Her role is to work with partners to develop and lead projects that will improve children’s opportunities for play in their local community, with a focus on co-creation and action research. Cherie has delivered training throughout Scotland and worked with the Care Inspectorate with many of their best practice resources.

Cherie led on the first two Play Sufficiency Assessments undertaken in Scotland and is currently developing guidance for the sector. As a partner in the development of the Place Standard tools for children and for young people, she has wide expertise in engaging with children and young people to ensure their views are taken into account when developing plans.

Previously, Cherie was the Strategic Play Development Worker with Aberdeen Play Forum and was lead officer on a community capacity building project in a regeneration area in Aberdeen, the “Seaton Backies” project which saw huge success in the community taking ownership and improving their own play spaces.

Before that Cherie worked for Children 1st and Aberdeen College in roles that involved supporting parents and training.  Cherie is very interested in the learning and development of children through play; however, she is very keen to advocate for play as vital to children’s positive mental health and wellbeing.  Cherie has qualifications in childcare and education, and holds a BA in Childhood Practice, and has recently completed a degree in Business Management.

John works in financial services and has a good understanding of accounts (including for charities), budgeting and cash flow. John oversaw the accounts and Chaired the Finance Group for IPAGlasgow2023.