Teaching Staff

	Benjamin, Gareth MSc (First Class Hons) in Mathematics from the University of Bath Teacher of Mathematics and Housemaster
Mr Benjamin joined POWIIS after teaching maths at a large school in Bath. His two passions in life are mathematics and sport. He has lectured to other teachers at the University of Bath about how to use ICT in teaching, and has taught climbing, survival skills and water sports at summer camps in the US.

Booth, Zoe BSc (First Class Hons) in Mathematics and Psychology from the University of Reading, PGCE from the University of Bath and currently taking a part-time masters degree at the University of Bath Head of Mathematics

Having fallen in love with maths, she decided at the age of 10 that she would become a maths teacher. She has become increasingly interested in the links between maths and other subjects and she believes that enjoyment of the subjects comes from independent thinking. She likes tennis, swimming and golf, but also snowboarding which she will find more difficult in Penang, and so she is looking for new activities. She and Gareth were married just before coming to Penang, and is now his head of department at POWIIS.

Dale, Alex BSc in Physics and Astrophysics, QTS Head of Physics

For a while Alex worked for the European Space Agency controlling spacecraft and ground stations, but teaching has turned out to be his true vocation. He calls on his real experience of physics in action to inspire his students, being passionate about the subject and finding that his enthusiasm is contagious. He is also an outdoor enthusiast and keen rugby player. His other sports include badminton, athletics, cricket, volleyball, hockey, gymnastics, trampoline and athletics and at school he was ranked in the top 16 in Fencing in the UK. He is a qualified mountain leader and search and rescue technician. On top of his physics teaching he is currently a part-time big cat keeper. He plays double bass and clarinet. As well as English, Alex speaks reasonable French and German.

deLeon, Ronald Teacher of Music

Ronald Vic C. De Leon is a vocal, saxophone and jazz piano teacher in Penang. As a school boy, he sang with the Boston Opera Company (Mozart's Magic Flute), San Francisco Opera Company (Puccini's Tosca) and as a member of the Las Pinas Boys Choir in his hometown. He is a self-taught musician. He has worked in Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia, and in numerous hotels and for the Star Cruise Line as an entertainer. He can pick up any musical instrument and play it, and has the ability to transcribe and transpose on the spot. He joins POWIIS to drive forward a huge variety of musical enterprises.

	Esteve, Justine Masters degree in Social Linguistics from the University of Nantes, France, Masters degree in French from the Sorbonne, Paris, and a degree in English Literature from the University of Tours, Licence to teach English Literature and French as a Foreign Language (Tours), DELD and DALF Head of Foreign Languages
Justine is already known to many in Penang through her previous role as Director of the Alliance Française. Previously she has worked in Paris, Taipei, Kaohsiung and Botswana. She is fluent in Mandarin as well as French and English, and she has workable Spanish, Italian, Maltese and Japanese. Justine has an interest in serious classical music and is on the Board of the China Festival.

Ghomashchian, Tracy BA in Applied Graphics from Strathclyde University, PGCE and PGDE from Strathclyde University and currently taking a part-time MSc in Learning Technology at Aberdeen University Head of Art & Design

Moving from one of Scotland’s top independent schools where she was Head of Design Technology, Tracy has a mission to reform the style of Design Technology teaching and assessment to make it appropriate for the 21st Century. She is a keen Duke of Edinburgh Award enthusiast, enjoying hill trekking and camping in the extreme Scottish weather; she describes herself as an avid explorer. In 2010 she and her Iranian husband drove motorbikes from Glasgow to Istanbul … and back!

Grainger, Chris BSc (First Class Hons) in Ocean Science from University of Plymouth, PGCE (Mathematics) University of Exeter Head of Sport and Physical Education and Teacher of Mathematics. Head of Hall and Housemaster.

Christopher is a highly active person who enjoys many sports from endurance activities such as swimming, cycling, running and triathlon, to team sports such as football, cricket and rugby, as well as individual sports such as squash, sailing and, his passion, surfing. His is also a successful mathematics teacher and he is currently writing a GCSE book. Originally from South Africa, Christopher was teaching at an independent school in Cornwall, UK, and also he has recent experience of managing a real estate company in Crete, Greece. As well as English he speaks Afrikaans and Greek.

Joshua, Mary Certificate in Education & Psychology teaching and Child Development Education from University Science Malaysia Teacher of English and Bahasa Malaysia

Before her position at POWIIS, she gained 10 years of teaching experience as an ESL English teacher and language arts teacher at elc International School, Kuala Lumpur. Apart from teaching she has been assisting in training programs and workshops for teachers on learning styles and behaviour modification. She has also facilitated Education Awareness programs (Prostar) for the Education Department of Penang to all educational institutions and secondary schools. When away from school she enjoys camping, gardening, aerobics, sports and music.

Kam, Su-Ning Masters of Arts (Language and Linguistics) (Hon) University Science of Malaysia (USM) Teacher of English, ESL and Bahasa Malaysia

Su-Ning, Kam, has taught ESL since graduation. She advanced further to teach HSC in the New South Wales curriculum. As service to the community, Su-Ning volunteered her expertise in the set-up of a daycare centre and taught English and Bahasa Malaysia to primary and secondary school students during her free time. Apart from teaching, she is also a certified trainer for adult learners in the hospitality and manufacturing industry. Su-Ning enjoys attending dinner and dance performances and cooking.

	Lee, James Masters Degree in Visual Communication, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design Teacher of Art
James Lee is a visual artist and graphic designer. Hailing from a multi-cultured background, James has a passion for design that offers a fusion of aesthetics from both the East and the West. He is currently teaching art in POWIIS and is also in charge of the graphic branding of the School.

Lim, Darren Degree in Development from University Utara Malaysia; Teaching permit from the Ministry of Education Teacher of Humanities

Penang born and raised, Mr Darren Lim has served at local secondary schools prior to joining POWIIS. He will be sharing his knowledge in the area of Humanities to the junior students of the school. A keen traveller, Darren also likes to exploit as much as possible outdoor classroom experiences which are a part of learning in his subject area. Darren coaches public speaking and will be assisting POWIIS in training future orators as well.

Liu, DaXin B.A. , Murdoch University Australia. Advanced Mandarin teacher certificate from the P.R.C. Government and the Senior Chinese Language Teacher Qualification from the International Profession Certification Association. Teacher of Mandarin

Mr DaXin Liu is from HuBei Province China. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Murdoch University Australia. He also has the Advanced Mandarin teacher certificate from the P.R.C. Government and the Senior Chinese Language Teacher Qualification from the International Profession Certification Association. Before joining the POWIIS, DaXin taught Chinese language for two and half years at Tenby International School in Penang Malaysia. He is an outdoor person and enjoys hiking - one of his favourite destinations is Pantai Kerachut. He also enjoys sport and coaches basketball.

Louisa Dawson BA Hons in English and a PGCE in Secondary English from the University of East Anglia (UEA) Head of English

Louise joins POWIIS after working as Head of English and Drama at a large, private English school in Valencia, Spain. Prior to her move to Spain she has had many years experience in mainstream education in the UK. She is passionate about English Literature and animals and has spent much of her time raising money and awareness for abandoned animals in Spain. She is a qualified TefL teacher and is currently beginning an MA in Education.

Lusanta, Ana BScEd in Social Science from the Philippine Normal University, currently taking BA (Hons) in History at the Open University (UK) and an MS in Geography at the University of the Philippines Head of Humanities and Head of Hall

Ana believes in the philosophy that an education should be wide and balanced. She has taught all over the world including Philippines, Indonesia, Bahamas and Nigeria. Living her own philosophy, she has taught History, Geography, Business Studies, Accounting, Economics, Commerce and Mathematics. She quotes Einstein who said “I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited, imagination circles the world.” In her spare time Ana likes bowling, pool, playing the guitar and drums, cooking, travelling and community work.

	McDowell, Jenny B.Sc. (Hons) Biological Sciences, University of London; Ph.D (Medical research in orthopaedics) at the University of London. Teacher of ESL
After bringing up two children, she has worked as a classroom assistant looking after children with special needs and as a residential Matron in an English Independent School. Recently she obtained a TEFL qualification to enable her to provide English as a foreign language support to students, her current role.

Tan, Jason Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (Hons), The University of Western Australia; M.Sc. Malaysia University of Science and Technology Teacher of Economics

Upon graduation Mr Tan was the Associate Lecturer in the Faculty of Business at UWA until he accepted a corporate appointment in Penang. He is a certified trainer by the PSMB of Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia and a certified coaching & mentoring professional recognised by the International Coach Federation. He is presently the Group General Manager of the MTT & Priority Group of Companies, involved in businesses across different industries including logistics, property development, information service and software solutions, business consultancy and education. He has a strong passion in learning development, youth entrepreneurship and orchestral music, and joins POWIIS to teach A level Economics.

Vallance, Emily BSc in Natural Sciences (First Class Hons) from the University of Durham, PGCE from the University of Durham Head of Biology and Housemistress

Emily was Biology Curriculum Leader at a high achieving grammar school in Kent. Academically, she is a high achiever herself having attended Sevenoaks School. She also has significant extra-curricular experience having led Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme expeditions in the UK and to Morocco, ski trips to Europe and a cultural exchange to India. At university she was captain of her college teams in netball, rugby and hockey and was voted Sports Player of the Year in 2005. She is a PADI qualified diver and has an avid interest in drama, music and singing.

Wilkinson, Anne BSc in Chemistry from Nottingham University, MEd from Newcastle University. PGCE Head of Chemistry

Anne lived in Penang before when she had management responsibilities in a new international school here. Since then she has concentrated on her Chemistry teaching and moved from her current role as Head of Chemistry at a school in Costa Rica where she was teaching IGCSE, A level and IB. Anne is a keen golfer and amateur musician, playing classical guitar. She returned to Penang to be with her husband who works for Intel.

Woodeson, Emily BA in Biological Science from the University of Oxford, PGCE from the University of Oxford Head of Science

Emily, who was Head of Science at large comprehensive school in Oxfordshire, devotes much of her energy in finding new ways to engage her students and to get them thinking differently and independently. At the high achieving St Paul’s Girls School in London herself before Oxford, she has always spent a lot of time exercising and going to the gym, running, cycling and walking. She enjoys travelling and took a group of her pupils to Nicaragua before coming to Penang. She also enjoys jewellery making and cooking.