Gill McKinnon graduated as a primary teacher and holds an MSc (European Pathway) in Early Childhood Studies (2010). She has held various positions in nursery and primary education across Lothian Region and for 23 years was head teacher of an award winning, multi-cultural nursery school situated in Edinburgh’s Old Town. In conjunction with Edinburgh Wildlife Group, she initiated a project where children developed their school grounds as natural extensions to the indoor playrooms. It showed how children can play a real part in improving the quality of their own environment. With Sudheer Caroll, she co-authored the Wee Green School Pack, jointly funded by Scottish Natural Heritage and Royal Mail and widely distributed across Scotland. For three consecutive years, she wrote a weekly column in the Edinburgh Evening News detailing nursery curriculum. Latterly, she was seconded full-time to HMIe for four years and travelled around Scotland inspecting all sectors of early years provision. Gill was one of the founding members of the CC Group in 2007 and is committed to providing the very best start for children and their families.