Rosanna Kirkbride originates from Toronto, Canada and is a graduate of the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) in English and Political Science. She then completed her teacher training at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia and is currently pursuing a master’s in education from the University of Bath.

Whilst in Australia, Mrs. Kirkbride developed a great passion for education and returned to her home country to teach at a native Canadian school in Northern Ontario. Shortly after she moved to the United Kingdom where she taught at primary schools in East London and Essex. Following her time in the UK, Mrs. Kirkbride then moved to an international school in Seoul, South Korea where she held the posts of Head of Year, Literacy Coordinator, Lead Safeguarding Trainer, and Extra-Curricular Activities Coordinator.

Mrs. Kirkbride served as the Founding Head of Primary at an international school in Malaysia, assisted with the physical development of the site, and successfully established the Primary School’s internal structures. She has also served as the Vice-Chair of Primary Heads within the Association of International Malaysian Schools. She is now the Founding Head of Primary at Concord College International School, Malaysia.

Brian Lees studied Aeronautical Engineering at Loughborough University in the UK, which included a year working as a Technical Services Engineer for British Midland Airways. A PGCE in Mathematics followed, before embarking on a teaching career in England and Wales which eventually brought him to Concord College UK in 2018.

He quickly realised the uniqueness of Concord and what a truly special place it is. The harmony existing between the students of many nations in a beautiful place of learning was tangible and chimed with his global view on promoting education, kindness, tolerance and peace. The opportunity to contribute to the new Concord College in Malaysia is an incredible undertaking and he is looking forward to helping build another very special place in which students can learn and thrive.

Mr. Lees is a keen cyclist and enjoys the outdoors. Teaching overseas has long been an ambition and he is excited to move to Malaysia with his spouse Janet, now that their three sons are independent.

Mrs. Iemke Dry embarked on her teaching journey in South Africa, where she acquired a Bachelor of Arts degree and PGCE. Fascinated by diverse cultures and the opportunity to explore different countries, she devoted 16 years to teaching at various international and private schools across South Africa, Egypt, and Singapore. Driven by her passion for education, she pursued a master’s degree in education in the United States.

Mrs. Dry’s expertise encompasses specialist Art teaching and Primary Class instruction, with experience in IB, the British National curriculum, as well as developing a bespoke inquiry-based curricula. Her primary goal has always been to ignite a profound love for learning within children. This commitment is underscored by her unwavering dedication to fostering a positive, welcoming, and motivating classroom environment, centred on inclusivity.

Dr. Chia Lang was raised and educated in England, attaining a BA from UCL in Classical Studies, an MA Dist. from SOAS in Pacific Asian Studies, a PGCE in primary education and a PhD in ancient literature. Since becoming a teacher she has worked at primary and middle schools in both the UK and South East Asia.

Dr. Lang particularly enjoys inspiring creativity and problem solving in the classroom along with delivering colourful, fun and story-based lessons, especially for core subjects such as maths. Dr. Lang believes in setting high behavioural and academic expectations along with modelling and fostering a culture of respect, empathy and kindness.

In her free time Dr. Lang finds joy in walking, exploring nature and gardens, needlework and knitting, arts and crafts, video and board games and visiting museums.

Shabena Begum, originally from London, UK, brings with her 14 years of teaching experience. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Psychology and went onto completing her PGCE at the Institute of Education in London.

Having taught both in the UK and internationally, including time spent in the Middle East, she has spent a total of 8 years teaching in Malaysia and has never looked back. She uses her positive, compassionate and empathetic persona to inspire young minds to believe in themselves, aim high and to become the best versions of themselves. With a holistic approach, Mrs. Begum endeavors to instil a genuine love for learning in her students, fostering an environment where children can thrive and develop both academically and personally. Mrs. Begum’s commitment to education and nurturing young minds is evident in her unwavering dedication and enthusiasm. In her free time, she enjoys hitting the gym or home workouts, exploring and travelling to new destinations, and playing card and board games.

Ballber Sanghera graduated from Lancaster University in the UK, with joint honours in Mathematics and Economics, before going on to complete his teacher training at Leicester University. He spent several years teaching in both KS1 and KS2 in the UK before deciding to make the move to teaching internationally.

He taught at a range of highly regarded international schools in the Middle East, including the British School of Muscat and Dubai English Speaking School, before moving to Malaysia where he has been teaching Year 6 at Repton International School. Although he enjoys teaching across the curriculum, the teaching of mathematics is a particular passion and Mr Sanghera has been the maths lead for primary in five of his previous schools, ensuring rigour and consistency throughout the school.

“I recognise the strengths and individual personalities of each child and build on their prior knowledge to create confident, motivated and independent learners. I believe that learning is a continuous journey of exploration and discovery, and when learners are at its centre, imagination can flourish and thrive.”

George Ridley has been working in international education for over 5 years. Whilst studying psychology at university in the UK, he spent a year living in the Netherlands as part of an Erasmus exchange program.

After completing his bachelor’s degree, he moved to China in 2018 to start his teaching career. In that time Mr. Ridley taught both early years and primary children in Beijing and Shanghai. Most recently, he has served as a Head of Grade One in one of the largest bilingual schools in China.

Joining Concord’s new chapter will be his second time in Malaysia and it is something he is excited to be a part of.

After five years spent boarding at Harrow School, William Pendered continued to study Philosophy at The University of Exeter, before completing a PGCE at Buckingham University. Having been fortunate enough to live and teach overseas in New Zealand and parts of Europe, Mr. Pendered has loved being immersed in different environments, meeting new people and learning to speak French and Portuguese.

In addition to being a keen sportsman, Mr. Pendered is also fascinated by culture and the way it varies across the world which he passionately brings into the classroom, providing a global context for any learning. He is excited to join Concord College International School Malaysia and creating an environment within the classroom that ignites curiosity, embraces challenge and brings the learning to life.

Mr. Tee Rui Jie, our Head of EAL, brings extensive experience in teaching English as an Additional Language (EAL), having worked with students from early years to secondary school across diverse nationalities and backgrounds in multiple prestigious international schools in Malaysia.

He holds an MA TESOL with distinction from Northumbria University, Newcastle (UK), and is currently pursuing a PhD in Education at the University of Malaya. Mr. Tee is committed to creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment at Concord where all students can thrive. His teaching philosophy is deeply rooted in his passion for education.

He finds it incredibly rewarding to witness the transformation and growth of each child over time. To him, teaching is not merely a profession or a job, but a responsibility and a calling. It is a process that empowers learners to reach their full potential, equipping them with the skills and mindset to be ready for the world.

Matthew McCobb was born and raised in Crosby, Liverpool (Evertonian). After Secondary, he studied for three years at Southport College of Art (Drawing, Painting, Graphic Design, Photography, Ceramics). Mr McCobb then graduated from Middlesex University, London with a B.A. (Hons) Fine Art and PGCE from Nottingham University, UK.

Mr McCobb’s teaching experience includes two years at the German International School of Abu Dhabi, designing the curriculum and examinations. He has three years’ experience teaching the MYP and DP visual art programme at Emirates National School, Abu Dhabi where he also qualified as an IB Visual Arts Examiner.

Mr McCobb has spent the last five years in St Andrews S107, Bangkok as a Visual Arts teacher responsible for KS3, KS4 & KS5. During this time, he also taught KS3 Design & Technology and been involved with creating units of learning for Primary students from Year 4 – 6.

The opportunity and potential of creating a bespoke Visual Arts Department at Concord College International School is an extremely exciting prospect for Mr McCobb who is looking forward to working with and learning from colleagues and students.

Michelle Hong completed her training at Seri Kota Teacher Training College and has been a Mandarin teacher in both Chinese government schools and international schools. She holds a Putonghua Proficiency Test Certificate awarded by the Tianjin Language Training and Testing Center of China.

Having taught for over 30 years, she has worked with students of all ages, from Year 1 to Year 11, using an interactive and engaging style to enhance learning. Miss Hong enjoys working with students and is always pleased when they achieve good exam results and learn from their mistakes.

Miss Hong is fascinated by people and how they interact with each other through languages. She believes that language is one of the most important aspects of any culture. It is the means by which people communicate, build relationships, and create a sense of community.

Wee Chin Fang, has been teaching Mandarin for over 15 years. She graduated from the University of Malaysia, where she majored in the Chinese Studies department. This academic foundation further deepened her appreciation for the language and culture.

Throughout her teaching journey, she developed a deep passion not only for the language but also sharing the rich culture of China with students. She believes that language learning is a two-way exchange and is always excited to learn and grow alongside students.

In addition to teaching, Chin Fang enjoys embroidery and cooking, which allows her to express creativity in different ways. Embroidery helps unwind and relax after a busy day of teaching, offering a peaceful and meditative outlet. She also love traveling, as it gives her the opportunity to explore new cultures and experiences.

Dr Nur Fiezila, who has more than 12 years of teaching experience in public and private schools, completed her doctorate study with Sultan Idris Education University and obtained her master’s in education from Asia E-University. Her involvement in the international school scene has brought her various achievements such as become the Head of Bahasa Malaysia, IGCSE speaking internal examiner, and founding member of a team that develops innovative curricula and teaching methodologies, striving to make Bahasa Malaysia learning engaging and impactful for students from diverse backgrounds.

Dr. Fiezi applies extensive knowledge and passion for language education to create dynamic classroom experiences that foster students’ linguistic proficiency, cultural appreciation, and academic achievement among her students. A research-informed approach will ensure that her instructional practices remain dynamic, evidence-based, and responsive to the evolving needs of 21st-century language learners.

Krisztina Ujhazy received her master’s degree in Music Education at the Eotvos Lorand University Budapest, Hungary, and completed her teacher training at the University of East London. She also holds a master’s degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

After teaching strings to all age groups in New Jersey, USA, Mrs. Ujhazy moved back to her native Hungary, where she worked as a Secondary School music teacher and choir conductor, as well as a teacher of English as a second language. She has played in different strings and symphony orchestras, played the violin in a rock band, and conducted school and adult community choirs at countless successful concerts and competitions. She is also the composer of instrumental and choral pieces as well as rock songs.

Mrs. Ujhazy was the Secondary Strings Teacher at one of the top international schools in South-East Asia, Bangkok Patana School, Thailand.

Yasmin is a Sports Science graduate and has been teaching for six years in an international school setting. Her expertise lies in fitness and dance including Salsation, Aerodance and Zumba, in addition to netball and field hockey. She is passionate about introducing students to variety of sports and activities, helping them build foundational skills, understand the value of sportsmanship, and discovering their personal passion for sports.

She believes in guiding students through each step of the journey, emphasising that there are no shortcuts to success. Progress comes through dedication and perseverance.

With a background in Journalism and Marketing, Iria started her career in 2014 at Newman Catholic College (UK) where she obtained her QTS through the salaried route at London Metropolitan University two years later. She has extensive teaching experience in both state and independent schools across the UK, achieving outstanding results in IGCSE and A-level Spanish examinations.

Recently, Mrs. Navas transitioned into the international education sector, spanning the primary and secondary level where she brings a wealth of knowledge and adaptability to diverse classroom environments.

Mrs. Navas is very much looking forward to joining Concord College International School in Malaysia where she would be proud of teaching through the school’s core values of Rigour, Kindness and Creativity.

Nikki Outram, who completed her PGCE at the University of Cambridge, has been a Maths Teacher for almost 25 years. She has worked at Concord College UK in various roles for over 15 years. It is there that she discovered a love for working in boarding and has many years’ experience looking after international students.

She has an astute understanding of their needs as they juggle their work commitments, interests and their friendships in a new environment away from home. Nikki believes that in order to thrive students need structure, a healthy, balanced routine and trusted adults who will listen, support and advise. She puts the care of her boarders at the centre of what she does and is excited to lead a team of like-minded, highly trained Boarding Staff who will make sure the care of your child is their number one priority.

Although working mainly in secondary schools, Nikki has also worked in prep and primary too. As our Additional Learning Needs Teacher, Nikki will work across both the Primary and Secondary Schools assessing and helping with any additional needs that our students may have.

As a richly experienced and qualified mathematics teacher of many years, Janet combines her expertise and a commitment to student success, to help individuals build confidence in their mathematical abilities and to reach their potential.

She has taught in UK state and private schools, and tutors online internationally.  As an assessment specialist, Janet provides freelance services to UK examination boards, in UK and international examinations, including roles of assessor, team leader, reviewer, principal examiner, and proofreader. She is also always keen to share with students her many interests in crafts and a healthy balanced lifestyle.

With three adult sons in the UK and New Zealand, Janet is now enjoying the adventure in Concord College’s new Malaysian international school with her husband Brian, and is looking forward to exploring more of Malaysia and other countries over this side of the world.