Ghazala M. Syed is the BELDS KIX Project Coordinator at UNICEF Headquarters in New York. In her current role, Ghazala coordinates and provides technical support to the five countries in implementing the KIX BELDS project. These countries include Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Lesotho. Within ECE, Ghazala focuses on equity and access and gender-mainstreaming in ECE. She started her career as an educator and has worked with the UN system, the World Bank and various NGOs. Ghazala has a Master’s of Arts in International Educational Development from Columbia University, a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Waterloo, and a Bachelor of Education from Lakehead University, focusing on International Development. Her leadership roles in the field have equipped her with the ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds, work under pressure and advocate for inclusive education.