Preeti Prada is a seasoned social sector leader with over 16 years of experience in urban policy, community development, child rights, and governance. As the Director of Programs & Partnerships at the Socratus Foundation for Collective Wisdom, she leads initiatives focused on collaboration and systems thinking to address complex societal challenges. Preeti holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and advanced qualifications in Management, Urban Policy, and Child Rights Law from prestigious institutions like LSE and Harvard. Preeti’s career has included impactful roles such as the India Program Manager at the Bernard van Leer Foundation and Senior Manager at Janaagraha, where she contributed to policies on urban poverty, child development, and citizen participation. She is also the India Country Representative for the International Play Association, where she advocates for the role of play in early childhood development. At the Asia Pacific Conference on Play, Preeti aims to raise awareness about the importance of play, showcase successful play-based initiatives, influence policymakers to integrate play into local and national policies, and build collaborative networks to prioritize play in child development. Her systems-thinking approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of children’s development, community engagement, and policy change, striving to integrate play into urban planning for healthier, resilient communities.

Kelsie will challenge us all to shift perspectives to consider who is not playing and what they can teach us about why that is the case.