Kaili Zhang

Dr Kaili C. Zhang is involved in research and teaching in the areas of early childhood education, educational psychology, and special education in New Zealand (and formerly in U.S.A, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia). Her expertise is in early childhood education, including research involving Steiner, Montessori and Reggio Emilia based preschools as well as holistic and alternative approaches to pedagogy and learning in mainstream settings. Her special research area explores children and young adults’ emotional/social and spiritual development and is internationally recognised. This research involves sensitive areas of research about children and young people’s values and beliefs. Kaili’s research contributes to wider understandings about the significance of early childhood education and inclusive education in terms of wellbeing and social justice. She is currently exploring the connections of children emotional and behavioral development and the environment.

Dr. Kaili has been a researcher and consultant in the education sector since 1998. She has worked with diverse populations across multiple countries. Kaili has presented at many international conferences and served as an associate editor and external reviewer for many refereed journals and books. In 2012, she was selected as the United Nations’ designated research fellow of Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood (UNESCO).

Dr. Kaili has published many papers in many international refereed journals, including Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, International Journal of Children’s Spirituality, Childhood Education, Asia Pacific Journal of Education, Asia-Pacific Psychiatry, Journal of Religion and Health,Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, Asia Pacific Education Review, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, International Journal of Inclusive Education. Kaili has worked as a principal investigator of a variety of research projects, ranging from studies that examine education policies in early childhood settings to projects that evaluate curricula and educational services for at-risk youths and juvenile delinquents. She also serves as an educational consultant internationally and has been actively involved in many professional activities and community services in Singapore, China, the United States, and Hong Kong. She and her husband Abraham are international advisors of the International Students Inc.

Kaili has also been regarded as an excellent and caring teacher, having won a teaching commendation from the University of Hong Kong in 2011.

Kaili was born in China, educated in Asia and the United States, has lived and worked in various countries, and is a Singapore citizen.