Management Team
Giovanni Rottura – Vice President
Department: Operations
MSc
Giovanni has spent his whole career working in the education industry. Although originally from Italy, he has been based in the UK since 1989 and is Vice-President at KKCL. Thanks to his dedication and good-natured sense of humour, he has always received top results. “Once I start running,” says Giovanni, “no one can catch me, except for Reuben, my chocolate Labrador.” Giovanni’s work with teachers across Europe and his support for teacher development projects is legendary.
Janice Cheung – Director of Operations
Department: Operations
BSc
Janice also oversees the International Office, coordinating with department heads to improve operational efficiency, student recruitment and course delivery.
She is always up-to-date with the latest regulations and guidelines, giving support and guidance to our visa dependent students.
As one of the senior management team, she sometimes represents the College at different trade exhibitions and fairs around the world.
Gabi Kotlubaj – Director of Studies
Department: Academic
BA, DELTA, CELTA Trainer
Gabi has over 25 years of experience in the world of EFL as a teacher, teacher trainer and academic manager. Her interests have always been centred around needs-based learning, differentiated teaching and learner autonomy. A strong believer in CPD, Gabi has written and delivered workshops, seminars and training courses to teachers from all over the world, including courses on creative methodologies, Inclusion & Special Educational Needs and CLIL. In her free time she reads philosophy, enjoys hiking and rock climbing, and writes teaching and teacher training materials. Gabi has a degree in Philosophy and the University of Cambridge Diploma in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, she is also a Celta Trainer.
Stephen O’Sullivan – Centre Manager
Department: Academic
MA, DELTA
Stephen is responsible for the KKCL Greenwich Centre. He works with our teachers and students to make sure that all our classes are as fun, educational and challenging as they can possibly be.
He has over six years experience in English Language Teaching in Ireland, Spain and the UK, including working for the British Council and as an Academic Manager. Stephen has also worked in the film industry and brings his expertise to our recording studio.
His favourite aspect of the job is the genuine interaction he gets to have with all the students and staff.
Operations Team
Alexandra Luchian – Senior Operations Manager
Department: Operations
Alexandra takes care of the customer service and knows everything about our programmes and clients, please speak to her if you have enquiries or difficulties.
Alexandra can speak English and Romanian.
Connor Mew – Corporate Paralegal
Department: Operations
Studying at the LSE for a BSc. in Social Policy and Government, as well as working as a English Language teacher/tutor in Paris and London, Connor has enjoyed opportunities both at home and abroad.
He writes regularly for the LSE and runs his own journalist site online, as well as being in the process of writing his first book on politics. He teaches legal English to those who are pursuing the Bar of England and Wales, but whose first language is not English. Additionally, he established a music journalism platform based in London prior to teaching English in France.
Eleonora Ciucci – Operations Assistant
Department: Operations
BA, MA
Eleonora is a graduate student from Italy. She studied in Venice and China for a master in Language and Management to China. After her graduation she started an internship as an Operations Assistant with KKCL with aim to improve her knowledge in the sales field. She also worked for three months in the Italian Embassy in Beijing where she could develop her public relations skills. Thanks to her numerous trips across China she developed a strong passion for travelling and photography.
Sales & Marketing Team
Elisabetta Piano – Client Relationship Manager
Department: Operations
Elisabetta has been working in the education industry for many years both as a teacher and as a consultant. She is involved in student recruitment at KKCL so meets and communicates with international students and educational partners on a regular basis.
Originally from Italy, she lived in China for almost 10 years before coming to London, and this is where she developed her love for Chinese language and culture.
Dennis Nyoik- Production Editor
Department: Activities ,Sales & Marketing
Ekaterina Martynova – Representative in Russia
Department: Sales & Marketing
BA(Hons)
Ekaterina represents KKCL in Russia. Basically in Moscow and Ekaterinburg.
She was the owner of an English school in Ekaterinburg. Ekaterina has experience in the field of education abroad since 2009.
Now she is living in Moscow and coordinates the work of KKCL in Russia.
Irena Azizova – Representative in Russia
Department: Sales & Marketing
Fabiola Estrada Valtierra – Representative in Mexico
Department: Sales & Marketing
BA
Fabiola was born in a beautiful city called Guanajuato in México. She has participated in cultural exchanges in Italy, the United States, France and India. She speaks fluent English, French, Spanish and a little bit of Italian.
Fabiola holds a Bachelor´s Degree in International Commerce from the Universidad de Guanajuato and a Management and Economy Diploma from the Université de Caen Basse- Normandie in France.
After graduating she worked with a renowned Non-Profit International Education Organization in their office in Guanajuato. Now she is the Founder and Director of Culture and Language Abroad (CLA) and is the Representative in Mexico of KKCL.
Belén Orejas Fernández – Representative in Canary Island
Department: Sales & Marketing
With over 25 years’ experience in different fields in education, Belén Orejas holds both a degree in teaching and a Masters in School Supervision and Administration. She loves to teach and has taught all different ages. She also enjoys travelling, meeting new people and learning about different cultures. She has experience of organizing exchange programmes in Ireland and the USA, internships for university students from the US in Spain, and was given the International Humanism Award by the International Schools Association.
Jay Zhang – Chief Representative in China
Department: Sales & Marketing
MSc
Jay has over 10 years of experience in the field of education management and marketing. After graduation Jay worked in KKCL’s London office before starting his own successful advertising firm. Jay is KKCL’s chief representative in China and is responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with partner schools and organisations.
Joann Wu – Representative in China
Department: Sales & Marketing
Msc, BA
Jo-Ann gained her undergraduate and master degrees in the U.K. She has four-year work experience in education and training sector after spending three years in finance and banking industry. She has first hand English teaching experience for middle school students. She also started up an education and management consulting company named SCG, which has become one of the most reliable cross-board Executive education module providers for top education institutions in China, such as Fudan University and CKGSB etc. As KKCL’s greater china representative, Jo-Ann has cooperated with KKCL in K12 education for two years, and now is responsible for the marketing and relationship maintaining with customers from China and Japan.
Academic Staff
Hedvig Ilyes – Assistant Director of Studies
Department: Academic
MSc, CELTA
Hedvig was born in Hungary where she graduated as a biologist and technical translator and later on as a teacher of English Language and Literature. She is also CELTA qualified and has over 10 years of experience of teaching English, both in Hungary and in the UK. She has prepared students for several different language exams, among others, TELC that you can take at KKCL.
Her outside interests are science, energy medicine, reading, sports and travelling.
Daniel Zappi – Head of Drama Department
Department: Academic
Daniel Zappi is founder and director of Oxford World Theatre, one of Europe’s leading drama and English language-learning companies. Since graduating from the Oxford School of Drama as an actor, he has written and directed numerous student productions around the world for Oxford World Theatre as well as professionally. He also works extensively around Europe teaching drama CLIL with the Chain Foundation, an EU-funded cultural heritage programme for teachers. As a drama therapist he has worked with the UK’s NHS government health and prisons services, helping patients with psychiatric disorders through drama. Daniel is also a singer-songwriter and has released two albums of his own material and many songs for Oxford World Theatre shows.
Anna Mitchell – Teacher
Department: Academic
CELTA
Anna studied musical theatre at school and college, performing in many shows and watching countless amounts of musicals and plays in the West End. She also has a keen interest in travelling around the world.
She is currently learning Brazilian Portuguese and decided to start teaching English when travelling in Brazil.
She enjoys teaching both children and adults and likes to make her lessons fun and active.
Eva Patkova – Teacher
Department: Academic
Eva loves teaching. When she was a little girl, she was teaching her brother and wanted to become a teacher. Later, she completed her Master Degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language and became CELTA qualified.
At KKCL she teaches GoCreate! to young students from all around the world. She loves the energy children and teenagers have. She teaches groups of adults and one to one classes, too. It makes her happy to see students´ improvement. She has also taught English in Prague, Cambridge, Valencia and Jerez de la Frontera.
Eva is interested in travelling, photography and learning foreign languages. She speaks Czech, English, Spanish, German and Italian.
Noemí Catalina Hernández – Teaching Assistant
Department: Academic
Noemi is currently doing an English Studies degree in Spain, where she comes from. As part of her university studies she is doing an internship at KKCL with the aim to learn from professional English teachers so she can become one in the future.
Apart from studying and teaching English, she also enjoys reading, sports and travelling around the world and discovering different cultures and languages.
Activity Staff
Leah Charlton – Activities Manager
Department: Activities
Leah first joined the company in 2016 as an Activity Leader, but since has been given the role of Activities Manager. Typically, she works alongside the Operations and Activities departments to organise and run our Summer and Winter schools. She enjoys working with the students and group leaders to ensure they have the best time here at KKCL.
Throughout the year, she also assists the Operations department in running the adult centre. She oversees the Social Slate programme, which gathers all the interesting events and activities in London that month for our Adult students to get involved in and enjoy.
Anthony Kairouz – Activity Leader
Department: Activities
Anthony enjoys challenges that test his abilities, constantly looking to improve his skills. He is a university student and a Martial Arts champion, interested in future science and green energy. He is SIA licensed and trains our staff on anything related to taking care of security on field.
Melissa Auf Der Mauer – Activity Leader
Department: Activities
Support Team
Kamila Falkowska – Canteen Manager
Department: Support
Apart from organising the kitchen, cooking delicious European style lunch for KKCL students, Kamila also takes care of the tidiness all around the school.
Management Team
Giovanni Rottura – Vice President
Janice Cheung – Director of Operations
Gabi Kotlubaj – Director of Studies
Stephen O’Sullivan – Centre Manager
Operations Team
Alexandra Luchian – Senior Operations Manager
Connor Mew – Corporate Paralegal
Eleonora Ciucci – Operations Assistant
Sales & Marketing Team
Elisabetta Piano – Client Relationship Manager
Dennis Nyoik- Production Editor
Ekaterina Martynova – Representative in Russia
Irena Azizova – Representative in Russia
Fabiola Estrada Valtierra – Representative in Mexico
Belén Orejas Fernández – Representative in Canary Island
Jay Zhang – Chief Representative in China
Joann Wu – Representative in China
Academic Staff
Hedvig Ilyes – Assistant Director of Studies
Daniel Zappi – Head of Drama Department
Anna Mitchell – Teacher
Eva Patkova – Teacher
Noemí Catalina Hernández – Teaching Assistant
Activity Staff
Leah Charlton – Activities Manager
Anthony Kairouz – Activity Leader
Melissa Auf Der Mauer – Activity Leader
Support Team
