Cecilia is a policy expert with over 20 years of experience in early childhood development, social protection, and inclusive cities, with a strong focus on young children, women, indigenous populations, and migrants. As Ecuador's former Coordinating Minister of Social Development, she led transformative national policies to improve well-being and social equity. She later served as Executive Director of the Bernard van Leer Foundation, where she advanced global efforts to integrate early childhood development into urban planning and public policy. Currently a Senior Advisor to the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, Cecilia continues to champion investment in young children as a cornerstone for sustainable and human-centered societies. She holds an Executive Master's in Cities from LSE, a Master's in Social Policies for Sustainable Development from the University of Bologna, and a BA in International Relations from the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador. Cecilia is fluent in Spanish, English, Italian, and French, and speaks basic Kichwa. She is a Fellow of Salzburg Global.