Role: Head of Centre and Tutor
Subject: Economics and Business
Qualifications: B.Ed (Hons), MA Ed, RSA, TEFL

"I regard myself as a very lucky person. When I was young, I wanted to have a job that was useful and that would be of benefit to others. I also wanted to travel and to meet different people. At the time, I had no clear idea as to what I was going to do. As things have transpired, I have been privileged to have been involved in education for most of my working life.

Being in education has allowed me to work with young people from an amazing variety of backgrounds and cultures. In this country alone, I have met and taught so many students from different parts of the world. For several years (I had better keep the exact number a secret, or it will make me appear to be truly ancient) I worked overseas in the Far East, notably in Brunei and Hong Kong, and The Middle East, specifically in Saudi Arabia and The United Arab Emirates.

Students often ask me which is the best place that I have ever lived in. The answer is simply: all of them. Brunei is in many respects a tropical paradise and I was fortunate enough to work there for over seven years. Hong Kong, where I worked at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, is a fascinating city which uniquely acts as a bridge between East and West. Saudi Arabia’s west coast, where I lived and worked for two years, must be one of the best and most beautifully preserved marine areas in the world. As for the United Arab Emirates, there are the gloriously vast wadis and red deserts of the north and the fabulous city of Dubai to the south."

Read the welcome from the Head of Centre

Role: Administration Officer
Qualifications: BA (Hons)

"I was born here in Wales and have lived here all my life except for three years spent at the University of Worcester. There I undertook an undergraduate BA Hons degree in History, Archaeology and Heritage Studies. Graduating from my degree is one of my greatest achievements to date. It was truly a fantastic time in my life. I had a wonderful experience, made some lifelong friends and even met my fiancé! Therefore, I know how it feels to be away from home for the first time and how everything seems so alien to you to start with. I hope that my experience as a student will be beneficial and help me to answer your queries or concerns.

Upon completion of my degree, I returned to Wales where for the last three years I worked as an Examinations Assistant at a tertiary college. I am now delighted to work at Wales International Study Centre as Centre Administrator. I am so pleased to be part of an exciting and innovative project here in Wales. I have been working since WISC’s door opened in September 2008. So far, it has been an interesting journey in implementing the administration systems for the centre and most importantly meeting the students. A great feeling for me is that if a student comes to me with an issue that I can try to help them and they leave my office with a smile on their face.

My dream is to see the centre grow and flourish as the ISC is situated in such beautiful surroundings and I could not think of a better place for WISC students to study!"

Role: Tutor
Subject: English
Qualifications: Cert Ed, RSA Cert, TEFL, ESOL Cert

"I have been teaching EFL and ESOL for many years. I started overseas in Japan and from there went to Italy, back east to Hong Kong and finally Spain. When I returned to this country in 2002 I started at a local college teaching ESOL, before coming here to Wales ISC, based at Caerleon Campus. It is a beautiful place to work.

I am now working on a Master’s degree in ESOL/EFL – I'm in my second year now and research comes next! It’s demanding with work and family, but it’s something I enjoy and get to put to good use.

I don't have a lot of free time, but when I do get any, I’m usually planning my next getaway! I love to travel and when I’m not doing that I enjoy theatre, films and eating out!"

Role: Tutor
Subject: Mathematics
Qualifications: BSc (Maths, Imperial College), PGCE (London)

“I have many years experience preparing UK students for University entrance. I ran the maths and science faculty in a sixth form college in London for many years, and also worked as an advisory teacher organising master classes and other events for sixth formers studying maths. I later spent some time with the International Baccalaureate as maths subject officer, developing new maths courses with panels of teachers from all over the world, and I am still an IB examiner. I recently helped run some curriculum development with an environmental charity, to work out how to develop and assess the skills acquired by volunteers taking part in conservation programmes. This gave me some experience of the European Qualifications Framework, and insight into how it will affect universities and colleges in the near future.

I am puzzled by the number of students who are worried about maths from an early age, and the number of adults who are reluctant to apply the maths they know to solve problems. I began a DPhil at the University of Sussex to research this issue.

I am married with a son of 32 and a daughter of 30. I enjoy mountaineering, mountain biking, sailing and skiing when I have time (I have a regular commitment to climb Mont Blanc every ten years to check whether I still can – next visit in 2010, age 60!).

I also enjoy designing and building, and have recently finished my third house, this time in France, living for six months in a caravan on site, trying to work out how to lift heavy roof timbers on my own – a challenging applied maths problem.”

Role: Tutor
Subject: English Language Preparation
Qualifications: BA (Hons), PGCE, RSA Diploma, TEFL

“I have been teaching for over twenty years. I first started out as a Drama and English teacher in London and then moved to Spain where I taught English Language and Literature at the University of Las Palmas. I moved from there to Italy and taught TEFL for two years with the British Council, where my daughter was born. Tired of the lack of green spaces and the hectic hassle and bustle of Milan we moved back to Spain, Granada this time, and settled in a converted cave house for the next thirteen years.

We finally moved back to Britain in 2002 and I taught English in Secondary schools before working for the Wales International Study Centre. In my free time I enjoy walking, cycling and aerobics. I maintain a strong connection with Spain, its language and literature.”