Cheryl Hadland is the founder and Managing Director of Tops Day Nurseries, Aspire Training Team, and the founder and chair of GECCO (Green Early Years Champions for Change) - a charity that helps the early years sector become more sustainable. After 35 years working in early years, Cheryl believes that the sector has a vital responsibility to safeguard the healthy and prosperous future of children by doing what we can to embed sustainability in every decision we make. She has done everything from lobby politicians for a more sustainability focus in the EYFS; trying to work with the DfE; made many everyday changes to the way children are educated and cared for, as well as trying to lead her own life and run Tops and Aspire in as pragmatically sustainable as she can.

Her organisation has been awarded the Queen’s Award in 2022 for her thought leading, inspiration and walking the talk in sustainability. This is testament to the innovation and sustainable development that she gladly shares with everyone.