John Richards is an economist and a professor in the School of Public Policy at Simon Fraser University, and a scholar-in-residence at the C.D. Howe Institute.

Manzoor Ahmed is professor emeritus at BRAC University, Chair of Bangladesh Early Childhood Development Network (BEN). and Vice Chair of Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE).

Shahidul Islam served as Senior Education Advisor to USAID and is currently a consultant on education reform projects in South Asia.

Sir Fazle Hasan Abed was the founder of BRAC, one of the world's largest non-governmental organizations.