Gail Gillon

Gail Gillon (Ngāi Tahu iwi) serves as Founding Director of the University of Canterbury Child Well-Being Research Institute and Co-Director of the Better Start National Science Challenge. Her internationally acclaimed research focuses on children's literacy development, particularly the relationship between spoken and written language. As a leading expert in phonological awareness intervention, she has revolutionized approaches to preventing reading difficulties in at-risk young children. Her work spans multiple areas including early literacy development, speech-language pathology, and interdisciplinary practices across health and education. Through the Child Well-Being Research Institute, she leads multidisciplinary research aimed at enhancing learning success and healthy well-being of children within the context of their whānau and community. Her contributions include developing innovative assessment tools in English, Te Reo Maori, and Samoan, while her research has earned numerous prestigious awards and has been widely published in leading journals. As Co-Director of the Better Start National Science Challenge, she guides a comprehensive 10-year research program focused on ensuring successful life starts for all young children in Aotearoa New Zealand, with particular emphasis on culturally responsive approaches to child development and wellbeing.