English Australia Board

Executive

Chair

Marc Weedon-Newstead, MA (Sydney), BA (UNSW), Grad Cert Management (UTS), RSA Dip TEFLA, Cert TEFL (ITTI) 

Marc is the Group Executive, Education at UNSW Global where he is responsible for language and pathway programs.  He has worked in the field of English Language teaching for over 30 years, initially as an EFL teacher in Sudan, Kuwait and Japan. 

He has held senior management roles in large and small, public and private ELICOS centres in Australia and has experience in all aspects of language centre management. 

He has a record of industry involvement having previously been a General Delegate on the Board of English Australia, a Deputy Chair of the Board and has served as the English Australia appointed member of the Board of the NEAS.

T: 61 2 9385 9678

E: m.weedon-newstead@unsw.edu.au

Deputy Chair

Cynthia Kralik, Master of Education (International Education), B. Arts (Social Sciences), DELTA, CELTA 

Cynthia Kralik is Director, Monash University English Language Centre and has over 20 years experience working in the English language teaching and tertiary sectors. She has held roles that include teaching, teacher training, business development and senior management. For the last 15 years, she has held executive roles that have focussed on academic quality, international partner management, and strategic and operational development.  She also drove the English language development strategy for RMIT University in 2010-11.

Cynthia has been an active participant in the English language and international education sector for many years and has previously held non-executive director roles on the English Australia Board and the NEAS Board (2006-11).

T: 61 3 9905 5260 

E: cynthia.kralik@mcpl.edu.au

Deputy Chair

Ruby Biscuit, BA, MA Education Management & Leadership, TEFL Certificate

Ruby has been working in international education in Australia since 2001 in the roles of ELICOS teacher, Assistant Academic Manager, Academic Manager, General Manager of an ELICOS college nationally and Marketing/Sales Manager of an ELICOS College nationally.  She has managed both a private independent English language provider and an English language provider which is part of a large organisation with multiple education offerings.  

She has gained a comprehensive knowledge of a diversity of international student profiles and their various study imperatives, as well as the extensive web of stakeholders and their needs each ELICOS organisation is responsible to.  She also has a comprehensive understanding of core industry issues, influential regulatory and legislative factors and future opportunities for the Australian ELICOS sector.  Her range of experience has given her an in-depth understanding and respect for each necessary component of ELICOS course delivery, from the management of an organisation's financial imperatives, sales and branding to academic integrity, teacher professional development and student support structures. 

T: 61 2 9850 5052  

E: ruby.biscuit@mq.edu.au

General Delegates

General Delegate

Donna Cook, BEc, Dip Ed. MA (TESOL) & a MEd (Adult Education) 

Donna is an educator and leader in English Language Education, with over 20 years’ experience in Schools, ELICOS and Higher Education sectors in Australia, and overseas. She is currently the Academic manager, ACU Centre Languages, Brisbane.

Donna has presented at a number of English Australia and NEAS conferences, as well as IATFL. She recently delivered a webinar for the English Australia Women in Leadership series on WorkLife Balance.  Donna has led academic management and teaching teams to design innovative programs and courses. Her passions and skills include organisational management and leadership, teacher training, professional development for teachers, and resource and curriculum development.  

T: 61 7 3623 7478

E:donna.cook@acu.edu.au

General Delegate

Kerry Sutcliffe, BA (Asian Studies), Grad Dip Education, Master of Education Studies (TESOL)

Kerry commenced in the ELICOS sector in 1992 and has been involved in ELICOS management since 1998.  She is currently the Director of Griffith English Language Institute (GELI) Brisbane and Gold Coast and prior to that held Director of Studies roles at GELI Brisbane and Gold Coast, Embassy Brisbane and Central Queensland University Language Centre, Rockhampton.

Kerry has been an active participant in English Australia since 1998. She was the Queensland State Delegate 2010-2013 and Alternate State Delegate for Queensland over the periods 2001-2005 and 2007-2010. Over many years she has been involved in organising English Australia Queensland Branch events, including the annual PD Fest, was on the organising committee for the 2005 English Australia Conference and was the Program Committee Convenor for the English Australia Conference 2010. She was also a member of the Project Working Group for the English Australia Guide to Best Practice in Direct Entry Programs.

T: 61 7 5552 7590

E: k.sutcliffe@griffith.edu.au 

General Delegate

Steve Knussen, MA Applied Linguistics (TESOL), BA, CELTA

Steve is the Director, English and Pathways, for Kaplan International in Australia and New Zealand.

He has over 20 years' experience in the ELT industry, and since moving to Australia in 1996 , Steve has worked with a number of ELICOS providers as Teacher, Director of Studies, Principal, and Operations Director.  He started working for Kaplan in 2008 as the Principal of the Sydney college, and in 2010, he was appointed to his current national role.  He is now responsible for ten English Language sector campuses in five Australian states and in New Zealand, including eight Kaplan International English colleges, and two university pathway providers: Bradford College and Murdoch Institute of Technology.

T: 61 2 8248 7688 

E: steve.knussen@kaplan.com

General Delegate

Gizelle F. Rezende Bachelor of Commerce - Otago University Foundations of General Management- MGSM

Gizelle Rezende has been at the forefront of the international education sector since 2002 working primarily as a business leader and sales & marketing professional with a number of reputable providers. For the past 2 years, Gizelle has been the General Manager at Greenwich College, an independent English and Vocational provider which is part of Redhill, an Education Group with multiple education offerings.

Gizelle has comprehensive experience in leading global teams, creating and implementing innovative business development strategies. Gizelle has continuously demonstrated exceptional leadership and analytical capabilities with a focus on surpassing targets, recruiting, building and retaining successful teams, and delivering solutions within budgets and timelines. Her breadth of experience across all sector segments has provided Gizelle with a deep understanding of the needs and industry impacts affecting a wide range of English Australia membership types from the standalone ELICOS operator to university pathway providers.

In addition to her 12 years of professional experience in the international education sector, Gizelle is also an embodiment of an Australian International English student success story having arrived in Australia 21 years ago to study English and to pass the Cambridge test. Her career trajectory keenly demonstrates the life-changing influence international education can have on our students’ personal and professional lives. 

T: 61 2 9264 223

E: gizelle.rezende@greenwichcollege.edu.au

General Delegate

Sally Waite, BA (Psychology), MBA

With over 16 years experience in the ELT industry, Sally currently holds the position of Executive General Manager, English & Careers, within the Navitas University Programs Australasia Division.

Sally commenced working in the international education sector with the Australian College of English (ACE), where she was responsible for the admissions and student accommodation across 2 ELICOS centres. Since then she has held a wide variety of senior management positions across ACE, ACL and Navitas. She now has 10 ELICOS centres within her remit, and enjoys managing a range of ELICOS operations under the Navitas English and Hawthorn Melbourne brands.

Sally has a comprehensive understanding of the core issues facing the ELICOS industry and is an active contributor to submissions to government on policy changes. She is committed to enhancing Australia’s reputation as a preferred destination for international students. 

T: 61 2 8246 6800 

E: sally.waite@navitas.com

State / Territory Delegates

Delegate for Western Australia

John Paxton 

John is a qualified English and History teacher, with some years of experience in the classroom, including teaching English to overseas students in Perth high schools and in ESL in the UK. Since 1991, he moved out of the classroom into several positions in senior management of schools and colleges in Perth.

Currently Director/Principal of Perth International College of English, John is co-owner with Warren Milner. PICE has been operating since 2002, and has moved from its small beginnings to play a considerable role in the ELICOS sector in Perth under John’s leadership.

Prior to starting PICE, John was the founder of International Language Academies Perth in 1997, and was the Australian Director for Nord Anglia, the parent company in the UK. ILA was sold to an international company in 2001 and became Aspect ILA. John became the Director for Aspect Australia with schools in Perth and Sydney answering to head office in London. In pursuing the opportunity to set up PICE in 2002, he realized an ambition to run his own school. Aspect was subsequently sold to Kaplan and continues to be in the building set up by John in 1997.

John is currently on the Perth Education City Board, representing private providers. He continues to serve on the WAPETIA Executive as he has done since 1998. 

T: 61 8 9221 2295

E: john.paxton@pice.com.au

Delegate for ACT/Northern Territory/Tasmania

Marian Star, BA, Dip Ed, M App Ling (TESOL)

Marian has had more than 20 years’ experience working with international students, both overseas and in Australia. She has been involved in all facets of international education — as a teacher, teacher-trainer (TESOL) and manager —across a range of institutions, including; senior secondary colleges, language schools and higher education institutions, both in the public and private sectors. Her management experience incorporates all aspects of the English language export education industry, including, marketing, accreditation, compliance and policy issues. In her current role, she is Director of Studies for the University of Tasmania English Language Centres – Hobart and Launceston.

T: 61 3 6226 7293

E: marian.star@utas.edu.au

Delegate for New South Wales

Ademir Cortes

Ademir has been working in ELICOS for almost 15 years, 5 of those in academic management.  He is currently the Director of Studies and Cambridge Centre Exams Manager at English Language Company, where he is responsible for 30 teachers and over 300 students.

His time in management has not only allowed him to hone his skills in supporting teachers as people and workers, and students as learners and customers, but it has also exposed him to the issues facing the admissions, student services, and marketing departments in the ELICOS sector. As a result, he is well aware of the many aspects of the ELICOS industry and the issues faced by the people in and around them. He completed the International Diploma in Language Teaching Management (IDLTM) which gave him even deeper insight into ELICOS management.

T: 61 2 9267 5688

E: ademir@elc.edu.au

Delegate for Victoria

Juliana Kendi

Juliana Kendi is an active participant in the English Australia Victoria Branch activities and professional development events. She was Convenor of the English Australia Conference 2014 in Melbourne and also the recipient of the English Australia Award for Contribution to Professional Practice in 2011. 

In her current role as Director of Studies, English Language Programs at La Trobe Melbourne, she has been involved in strategic planning, compliance and continuous improvement across the ELICOS Program. 

She has 13 years' experience in ELICOS as Director of Studies, Coordinator,  teacher trainer and teacher.  She holds a Masters Degree of Applied Linguistics and her experience in ELICOS, alongside her involvement in English Australia, has provided her with a broad understanding of industry issues, compliance and the importance of professional development across the sector for all those involved in the provision and delivery of English language programs.  Her interest lies in contributing to the development and sustainability of high quality English language programs in Australia.

T: 61 3 9479 3791

E: juliana.kendi@latrobemelbourne.edu.au  

Delegate for South Australia

Grant Packer

Grant is the Associate Director, Learning & Teaching, Professional & Continuing Education (including the English Language Centre), The University of Adelaide. He has over 20 years teaching and management experience in the English Language sector in Australia and abroad. Over two periods in Japan totalling 6 years, he was a language school manager, teacher trainer and university lecturer.  In Australia, Grant has worked in both the private and public sector and has been responsible for curriculum design, materials development and the teaching and management of Academic, Vocational and General English programs for both international students and migrants. In 2005, Grant completed a Master of Educational Studies (with a discipline focus in Applied Linguistics) at The University of Adelaide. He has worked for The University of Adelaide’s Professional & Continuing Education unit (PCE) for over 10 years. 

T: 61 8 8313 4777

E: grant.packer@adelaide.edu.au

Delegate for Queensland

Julian Wilson, MMgt, MA, BSc., PGCE, GAICD

Director at The University of Queensland’s Institute of Continuing & TESOL Education, Julian is a leader in the education sector with over 20 years of experience including the establishment of schools, and colleges in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Australia. He has held several leadership positions, as a previous Director (Business Operations), Principal, Head of School, and Deputy Principal of schools and colleges in both the domestic and international environment across secondary, tertiary and higher education sectors. 

Julian’s education includes a degree in Economics from Cardiff University, teaching qualification and two subsequent Masters Degrees in International Economics and Management at Warwick University in the United Kingdom, and Massey University in New Zealand. He is also a recent Graduate of the Executive Leadership Program from the UQ Business School. 

T: 61 7 3346 6770 

E: director@icte.uq.edu.au