UKTA

Dan Kirk

Dan has been working in the EFL industry since 2006. He has a Masters in Language Education and a DELTA. He has worked as a teacher trainer since 2014, delivering courses for NILE, Cambridge English and Assessment, and Trinity College London. These include CELTA, DELTA, CertTESOL, TYLEC and CertPT. He is also a DELTA Module 2 external assessor. He is passionate about delivering quality training programs that encourage autonomous teacher development.

Dan has lived and worked as a teacher, Senior Teacher, Deputy Teacher Centre Manager, Director of Studies, and teacher trainer in Slovakia, Ukraine, Borneo, Bahrain, Austria, Turkey, Algeria, and Sri Lanka.

Cherie Umagiliya

Cherie is blessed with the spirit of an islander and the soul of a foodie. After dabbling in Science and Advertising, she found her calling as a teacher at the British Council when she completed her CELTA in 2010. She has experience teaching adults, corporate professionals, young learners and delivering teacher training courses. She added TYLEC (2013) and DELTA (2016) to her credentials and has since specialised in teaching Primary and Early Years students.

She is passionate about training teachers and is an approved CertPT and TYLEC tutor. She is also a DELTA Module 2 Local Tutor. Cherie has made it her life's mission to share her knowledge and years of experience in teaching, to train and inspire the next generation of teachers in Sri Lanka and around the world.

Louise Kirk

Louise did her CELTA in Cambridge, UK, in 2007, at the same language school where she had worked as student services manager for more than a decade. She then moved to Ukraine to be an English teacher, followed by various EFL roles in Borneo, Bahrain, Austria, Turkey, Algeria, and Sri Lanka. She completed the DELTA and CELTA - YL Extension courses in 2015. She is a qualified CELTA and CertPT tutor as well as a DELTA Module 2 Local Tutor and a former Senior Teacher Young Learners at the British Council Algiers.

In the last few years, she has specialized in materials development, preparing content for online and face-to-face teacher training courses. Dan and Louise were married in 2014 and have one son.

Christine Jayasinghe

Christine was drawn to teaching ESL/EFL after completing her CELTA in 2007 and has spent most of the years since at the British Council, Colombo, Sri Lanka, where she has taught adults, young adults and young learners. She has also delivered professional programmes such as English for Academic Purposes on a university foundation course, English for Special Purposes for trainee journalists and IELTS exam preparation courses.

She was led to teacher education and development after completing TYLEC, getting a Masters in Linguistics and doing the DELTA. Having mentored and trained newly qualified teachers at the British Council, she is now an approved CertTESOL tutor. As a trainer, she would like to pass on her enthusiasm for learner-centred instruction and inspire trainee teachers to be creative in the classroom.

Anju Moses

Anju Moses is an academic management specialist with extensive experience leading large academic teams and programmes in Young Learner and Adult contexts. She has over 17 years experience across a range of functions in ELT including ICT, e-Learning and Professional Training. Anju toyed with Banking and Finance at the start of her career until she found her love of all things Training and Academic especially in the ELT field. Anju has an extensive background in teaching across all contexts and age groups and has experience supporting teachers to grow their own professional careers.

She is interested in Assessment, Materials design and Learning & Professional Development. She has published three children's fiction chapter books and is passionate about education in general and particularly supporting youth with creativity and reading.

She has an M.A. in Applied Linguistics and TESOL from the University of Portsmouth, DELTA from the University of Cambridge and is an Associate of the Institute of Bankers Sri Lanka.

Udani de Silva

Udani's career blends global experiences with a solid foundation in language education and teaching. Her journey began as a cabin crew member with Sri Lankan Airlines and Qatar Airways, traveling the world and gaining diverse insights.

Specialising in 21st-century skills, business communication, and personal development, Udani leverages her qualifications, including CELTA, TYLEC, and DELTA Modules 1 and 2, to enhance professional development programs. She also has a strong background in early years education, contributing to her well-rounded approach.

As a former academic lead at the British Council Colombo, she focused on improving processes and equipping teams with practical tools for success. Udani is passionate about fostering meaningful connections with her students, partnering with them to drive both personal and professional growth.

Chandima Nanayakkara

Chandima Nanayakkara is an accomplished educator with nearly 20 years of experience teaching graduate students at three universities. Currently, she excels in her roles at the British Council Colombo and the UK Training Academy (UKTA) as a teacher, teacher trainer, and corporate trainer. Chandima has a passion for storytelling with young learners and enjoys conducting workshops focused on skill development, which allows her to share her people skills with others. Her experience in corporate training has been particularly rewarding, enabling her to apply her training expertise in innovative ways.

Holding a BA, a Master's in Linguistics, and CELTA qualifications, Chandima effectively engages and inspires her learners. In her leisure time, she enjoys playing board games with her family, fostering connection and fun, as well as diving into captivating books and indulging in Netflix series.

Chandima is known for her friendly and approachable demeanor, always welcoming constructive criticism as a means of personal and professional growth. Her mission is to inspire individuals to become more confident speakers of English and to enhance their communication skills for greater success.

Amy Daniels

As an enthusiastic Training Consultant in Sri Lanka, Amy Daniels brings a wealth of experience to her role. Serving as a CELTA Assistant Course Tutor (ACT), she has proven expertise as an ESL teacher, specializing in diverse age groups such as adults, young learners, early years, and IELTS candidates. She has excelled in her roles as an EDI Product Lead and Adult Value-Added Product Lead, highlighting her proficiency in curriculum development and educational innovation. Her commitment to fostering positive learning environments and contributing to educational advancement defines her career.