Professor Mathias Urban, PhD is Desmond Chair of Early Childhood Education, and Director of the Early Childhood Research Centre (ECRC) at Dublin City University, Ireland (DCU). He works on integrated early childhood systems, governance, professionalism, diversity and equality and social justice in working with young children, families and communities in diverse socio-cultural contexts. Mathias has 25 years of experience in designing and leading international collaborative research projects and has a well-established track record of publications. In 2018, Mathias was awarded the ‘Marianne Bloch Distinguished Career Award’ by the international Reconceptualising Early Childhood Education network. In 2020, he was awarded the ‘President’s Award for Research Impact’ by Dublin City University. From 2009 to 2011 he coordinated the CoRe project (Competence Requirements in Early Childhood Education and Care), funded by the European Commission, Directorate General for Education and Culture. The project developed the concept of Competent Systems in Early Childhood Education and Care, which has been adopted widely in ECEC global policy. Mathias is a member of the European Commission Expert Working Group on Early Childhood Education and Care, a member of the Global Advocacy Group with the global Right to Education initiative, and a member of the Board of TASC – Think Tank for Action on Social Change. He is the lead author of the Early Childhood Development, Education and Care policy briefs for the T20/G20 presidencies 2018 (Argentina), 2019 (Japan), 2020 (Saudi Arabia), 2021 (Italy), 2022 (Indonesia), 2024 (Brazil), and 2025 (South Africa).