Shirley Heaney (BA ECCE, MSc ABA) has worked in the field of Early Childhood Care and Education for nine years. During this time Shirley has worked as a Behavior Analyst with children who have additional needs and with children from the Traveller community. Shirley has contributed to the development and delivery of the Leadership for Inclusion (LINC) programme since 2016 and is currently the LINC tutor for the Better Start Early Years Inclusion Specialists.

Shirley also lecturers in the Department of Reflective Pedagogy and Early Childhood Studies, Mary Immaculate College. Lecturing on the BA Early Childhood Care and Education (BA ECCE), Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), and the BA Early Childhood Practice (BA ECP) programmes.

Shirley has recently commenced a PhD with Mary Immaculate College and her study focuses on the well-being of children with additional needs within Early Childhood Care and Education.