Patsy Pillay, MEd, has been a leading ECD activist for the past 41 years in South Africa, with a deep passion for children and women’s development. She was part of a team at Chatsworth Early Learning Centre in the 1980’s that pioneered the first mobile playbus, home-based street playgroups and school readiness programmes in South Africa. She then became Director of New Beginnings Training & Development Organisation, and was appointed the first Chairperson of the Standards Generating Body for ECD under the South African Qualifications Authority. Patsy has received many accolades, including being in the Mail & Guardian Book of 100 women leaders in 2011. She serves as South Africa’s National Representative for the World Forum on Early Care and Education, and is a member of the Early Childhood Wisdom Initiative Leadership Team.