Dr Keri McCrickerd appointed Executive Director of the Centre for Holistic Initiatives for Learning and Development
Published: 18 Jun 2026
Dr Keri McCrickerd has been appointed Executive Director of the Centre for Holistic Initiatives for Learning and Development.
The Centre for Holistic Initiatives for Learning and Development (CHILD) at NUS Medicine has appointed Dr Keri McCrickerd as its Executive Director with effect from 1 April 2026.
Dr McCrickerd is a research psychologist specialising in appetite, eating regulation, and the design and implementation of interventions that support children’s health and development in real-world systems and settings. She holds a concurrent appointment as Principal Scientist at the Institute for Human Development and Potential (A*STAR IHDP).
Since joining CHILD as Deputy Head (Research & Development) in April 2024, Dr McCrickerd has led the growth of the Centre’s research team, secured competitive funding from foundations and agencies, and developed programmes that reached caregivers and families across Singapore. She brings a strong commitment to translational and participatory science, and to connecting evidence to real-world policy and practice.
In her role as Executive Director, Dr McCrickerd will lead CHILD’s mission of giving every child the best start in life, overseeing the Centre’s strategic direction, programmes, community and government partnerships, and capacity-strengthening activities.
Dr McCrickerd received the baton from Professor Nick Sevdalis, who served from October 2023 to March 2026. During his tenure, the Centre underwent a strategy refresh, strengthened relationships with community and government stakeholders, launched its largest conference to date, and expanded its outreach and policy-driven knowledge mobilisation activities.
Professor Sevdalis brought valuable expertise in behavioural and implementation science to the Centre’s leadership, and the Centre is grateful for his commitment throughout this period. He will remain engaged with CHILD’s work as he continues in his role as Academic Director of the Centre for Behavioural and Implementation Science Interventions (BISI), a position he has held concurrently since 2023.
