Gemma Ryder is a Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies at the University of East London. She started her career as a qualified Nursery Nurse and has worked in private and voluntary early childhood settings with the birth to five age group. She has worked closely with private and state schools and day nurseries as an Early Years Work Placement Coordinator at a college of further education and has acted as a trainer, assessor and mentor on the Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) and Early Years Initial Teacher Training programmes. Gemma is passionate about leadership and workforce development, which has been an integral part of her own research.