An Associate Professor in the School of Early Childhood at Queensland University of Technology, Dr Megan Gibson is a respected researcher in her field. Her background as an early childhood educator with experience in teaching and leadership positions, culminated in her role as Director of an industry-leading childcare centre in Brisbane. Megan’s award-winning doctoral research examined the professional identities of early childhood educators. This work combined with her extensive professional experience have laid the foundations for her ongoing program of research in the attracting, preparing and retaining the early childhood workforce. She proudly leads the early childhood workforce strand of the Childhoods in Changing Contexts research group. Megan is a Chief Investigator on the Australian Research Council-funded study: Exemplary early childhood educators at work , a 4-year study of National significance, now in its final year. Megan has also built a body of early childhood workforce research in Tasmania, working collaboratively with Gowrie Training and Consultancy Tasmania, where is holds the position of Research Associate. Megan is regularly sought after to create and deliver professional developments programs, including through the Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange, where she was engaged to develop a National series of workshops on ‘environment as third teacher’.

Megan is committed to dissemination, including a co-authored book, 9 book chapters, 12 journal articles, 4 research reports and 18 professional publications. She holds Editorial Board positions on two Q1 International journals – Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood and Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education.

In her current role at QUT, Dr Gibson co-ordinates the Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) program and is responsible for teacher education units on leadership, professionalism and health and wellbeing.

Megan holds a number of invited appointments:

• ELACCA National ECEC Workforce Expert Advisory Panel (2020-)
• Research Associate, Gowrie Training and Consultancy, Lady Gowrie Tasmania (2018 -)
• Australian Early Childhood Teacher Education Network, National (2017 – )
• QUT ECAQ Early Childhood Alumni chapter committee (2019- )

Megan is a Non-Executive Director of the Creche and Kindergarten Association, Chairs the Early Years and Innovation Committee, and has recently completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course.

Above all else, Megan is an early childhood teacher, who is passionate about building and sustaining the early childhood workforce.