Dr. Ella Cao holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). She previously worked as a book editor at East China Normal University Press and contributed as an education columnist to several magazines. She has extensive experience in academic and educational publishing. She also served as a project coordinator for a UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)-related grant project at USM.
As a researcher, she has published in Scopus- and SSCI-indexed journals such as International Journal of Play, Early Childhood Education Journal. She also serves as a peer reviewer for the Early Childhood Education Journal, an SSCI-indexed journal. Her research interests include play-based learning, inclusive education, and childcare for children aged 0–3.