Cecilia Vaca Jones

Cecilia is a policy maker and consultant with over 20 years’ experience managing social development policies and programmes. Most notably, she was Minister of Social Development of Ecuador from 2013-2016, during which time she championed policies to improve the conditions of children, women and indigenous communities, including a cross-sectoral policy for early childhood development.

Cecilia is currently a senior advisor to the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA), and from 2016-2022 she served as Programme Director and Executive Director of the Bernard van Leer Foundation. She has also worked for several civil society organisations, the Organisation of American States, the UNDP, and as a university professor. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Policies for Sustainable Development from the University of Bologna, a BA in International Relations from the Pontifical Catholic University in Ecuador, and an Executive Master’s degree in Cities from the London School of Economics.