Marnie Power is an experienced leader, the Founder and CEO of a new national, charitable organization called Playful Mindset. She is a thought leader in nature and play-based early childhood education, having established herself in this field in 2008 when she started the first Forest School in Canada, and previously held the position of Executive Director for the Child and Nature Alliance of Canada. She holds a Master's of Education from Trent University where she focused on a pedagogy of play-based learning in the early years. She is a registered social worker and holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Dalhousie University, and has focused her career on the power of play for community development, learning and healing.She is a proud mama of Hazel and Emry, a Newfoundlander, twin, and queer woman who likes to wander in the woods or near water, whenever she can. Marnie is passionate about academic and creative writing, (poetry and short stories), and has recently also been dabbling in photography and children's literature.Career Highlights✓ Experienced Senior Not-for-profit Leader in a Director level position with the Child and NatureAlliance of Canada (Ottawa, ON) responsible for a team of 30+ employees, and annual operatingbudget of $1-2.5M. Responsible for strategic, financial, human resource and administrativefunctions.✓ Founder of new national charitable organization Playful Mindset. ✓ Launched first Forest and Nature School in Canada Fall, 2008, sparking a movement ofnature-based early learning in Canada resulting in over 500 Forest and Nature Schoolprograms across Canada.✓ Founder of Forest School Canada, led the development and implementation of successfulprofessional learning program for Forest and Nature School sector, with current waiting list ofthousands of educators internationally.✓ Founder of Ottawa Forest and Nature School, now a successful program of Andrew FleckChildren’s Services serving thousands of families and children in the Ottawa region.✓ Managed national collaborative projects with multiple external stakeholder groups, with role asfundraiser, chair, writer, and project manager.✓ Participated in provincial collective impact project on outdoor play, resulting in the launch ofOutdoor Play Canada, and being appointed as a member of the National Steering Committee.✓ Sought-out and passionate thought leader on child development, nature-based learning, and outdoor play, holds a Masters of Education through Trent University with a focus on a pedagogical framework for play-based learning.