History & Past Events

The World Forum was first visualized by Bonnie and Roger Neugebauer and Carmel and Rodney Kenner at a 1998 meeting in Sydney, Australia. To test the waters for the concept, Exchange Press Inc. organized the first World Forum on Early Care and Education held in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1999.

The success of this first toe-in-the-water venture led to following World Forums in Singapore and Athens. In 2002, it was decided that the concept had legs. The venture was incorporated as a 501-c-3 non profit tax exempt corporation in the USA and has continued to sponsor gatherings of early childhood professionals around the globe. Over 4,000 early childhood professionals from 95 countries have participated in the following events: