Our Team

Early Childhood 1/2 Teacher

Mahalakshmi S

Mahalakshmi S is a Singaporean Early childhood educator who strongly believes in play-based learning for all EC students. Mahalakshmi has a Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education (Teaching) from Modern Montessori International Academy, Singapore and a Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism management from Temasek Polytechnic.

Mahalakshmi has over 9 years of experience working with early learners in international pre-schools and kindergartens using the IB PYP framework to develop a sense of inquiry in her students. She loves to make learning fun through play. She believes in collaborating with her students throughout their learning journey and using technology prudently to help students achieve their goals.

Grade 1 Teacher

Paresha Shroff

Paresha is from Mumbai, India. She began her journey as an Early Childhood teacher in 2010 and attained the title of Centre Head of the preschool in a span of three years. She also built a new centre from scratch with her mentor by her side.

Paresha believes that a classroom should be a safe, caring community where children are free to speak their minds and blossom and grow. She also believes that each child is unique. Therefore, she endeavours to bring out their best potential.

Her own children are her strongest inspirations. Paresha says they make her a better teacher just by being themselves. In her time at OWIS, she looks forward to helping her students learn, create and build. She is known for being fun-loving, approachable and enthusiastic.

Paresha believes that kindness begets kindness, and no act of kindness is too small. The gift of kindness may start as a small ripple but can, over time, turn into a tidal wave affecting the lives of many.

In her free time, she enjoys painting, cycling and travelling around the world.

Early Childhood 3 Teacher

Jessica Latief

Early Childhood Teacher

Norhazariah Mustadi

Grade 2 Teacher

Alethea Luo Jiayi

Grade 2 Teacher

Mangalam Veeraghanta

Mangalam moved to Singapore with her family in 2005 and is now a Singaporean by nationality. She has completed her Masters in Education from Monash University. 

Mangalam has worked in the education sector since 2014, when she took up the role of a part-time co-facilitator attached to a social enterprise running CCE programs in MOE schools. Amazed at how rewarding it was to see students progress through the academic year, she decided to take up teaching as a full-time profession. In January 2020, she joined OWIS and has taught in Early childhood as well as the Lower Primary grades since then. She has also mentored Grade 5 students for their PYP exhibitions.

Mangalam believes her role as a teacher is to facilitate experiential learning, so that students are able to construct knowledge through these experiences. She also finds value in having a student-centred classroom where the individual needs of every learner is met.

As a teacher, Mangalam stands out for being patient, engaging and nurturing curiosity in young learners. In her free time, she loves to take her dog for a walk, listen to music, read and cook. 

Grade 1 Teacher

Nazia Jan

Nazia is from Singapore and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Royal Holloway, University of London, as well as a Diploma in Education from National Institute of Early Childhood. 

Nazia has been a teacher for over 6 years. She believes that every student is unique and that learning should be fun.

At OWIS, Nazia looks forward to growing better as a caring and fun teacher. In her free time, she enjoys photography and travelling.

Grade 3 Teacher

Tay Hsien Yung (Kieren)

Grade 1 Teaching Assistant

Rathi Baskram

Grade 1 Teaching Assistant

Nikita Nangia

Art Teacher

Suhailin Hamzah

Suhailin is a Singaporean. She started her career as a 3D Artist/Designer specialising in architecture/interior design. However, her growth mindset made her want to do something different in the long run, which was more challenging. So she took a leap of faith and quit her job as a designer to become an educator.

She has been teaching for more than 12 years now and has gained strong experience through her work in different educational institutions, which includes a secondary school and a SPED school.

Suhailin believes that every student learns at their own pace, in their own unique way. She implements her idea of “I Do, We Do, You Do” in classroom teaching. As someone who is caring, understanding and positive, she hopes to nurture the OWIS philosophy of kindness by encouraging students to be thoughtful of others and show empathy.

In her free time, Suhailin enjoys spending quality time with her family and heading out for shopping, dining, or to explore a theme park with them.

Mandarin Teacher

Jacqueline Khoo

Mandarin Teacher

Wei Li

Grade 4 and EAL Teacher

Ranita Gupta

Ranita Gupta is from India and earned her Masters in Teaching from East Bridge College. She holds a CELTA from Cambridge University. She has taught at various international schools in Singapore and is well-versed in the IB PYP, IGCSE and Cambridge Curricula.

Ranita’s teaching philosophy is that when students ask questions and find answers for themselves, they become engaged in their own learning. She believes that teachers are simply facilitators of this process of inquiry, and thus she promotes an open-ended discovery by students. She, therefore, tailors her teaching practices according to the needs of her students.

Ranita chose OWIS because it creates a nurturing, safe environment where children can build their confidence and learn self-expression. In addition, Ranita believes that each and every learner should feel that they are seen, valued and heard. At OWIS, she’s looking forward to creating a happy space for her learners.

Ranita loves to read books and write short stories in her spare time. She describes herself as a foodie who loves cooking and baking. She enjoys living in Singapore because of its natural beauty.

Learning Support Teacher

Fauzia Siddiqui

Originally from India, Fauzia earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Biotechnology from Allahabad University. A volunteering stint at her son’s Montessori preschool in 2017 sparked her passion for education and promoting the mental well-being of children became her driving force. Since then, she has earned a Specialist Diploma in Children and Youth Counselling and Management from ACC Institute of Human Services, Singapore, and a Graduate Certificate in Counselling from Monash University, Australia. She is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Counselling from Monash University. 

In 2020, Fauzia became a part of OWIS and she joined OWIS Suntec in 2021. She has been working collaboratively with students, addressing various aspects of their well-being, including anger management, anxiety, depression, conflict resolution, and social skills development. Additionally, she has implemented school-wide interventions by conducting Socio-Emotional Learning lessons, benefiting students in both Early Childhood and Primary levels.

Fauzia is glad that kindness is not just a marketing slogan here at OWIS Suntec. It’s something she witnesses every day, from our dedicated support staff and committed leadership team to our caring teachers.

Fauzia moved to Singapore 15 years ago and she has cherished the experience of raising her son in one of the world’s safest countries as well as making many friends here. A big foodie, she loves to explore new places to eat around Singapore. 

Admissions Manager

Sherry Albergaria

Assistant Admissions Manager

Yvonne ​Khor

Hailing from Singapore, Yvonne has been with OWIS since the school’s very first 200 students. Some of the things Yvonne loves the most is meeting people from all walks of life and seeing children from every corner of the world proudly showcase their national flags on International Day.

Digital Marketing Manager

Himesh Sharma

Parent Liaison Officer

Delia Homan

Deputy Manager - Marketing

Hanisha Motwani

Manager, Business Development

Michelle Alejandrino

Senior Executive - Communications & Content

Arati Rao

Admissions Executive

Harumi Seto

Senior Executive - Communications & Content

Goldie Isselstein

Admissions Executive

Malinda Vuu

Finance Manager

Anupam Konhar

Finance Executive

Archana Gowda

Executive, Operations Management

Neetha Prasad

Senior Operations Manager

Daryl Singh

Senior HR Executive

Alona Cruz

Transport Liaison Officer

Jeffrey Seah

Senior Finance Executive

Anjali Srivastava

Operations Executive

Nurul Rahman

Front Office Executive

Foong Meng Ho (Serena)

School Nurse

Mas Hidayu Nani

Senior Admissions Manager

David Pang

Early Childhood 3 Teacher

Dinali Naomi

Dinali is a Sri Lankan who moved to Singapore with her parents when she was two years old. She holds a Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education from Wheelock College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Monash University, and a Master’s Degree in Education (Educational Management) and a Postgraduate Certificate in International Education (IB PYP) from The University of Melbourne.

Dinali has been an educator for 12 years and has focused on working with young children between the ages of 18 months and 6 years old. She is passionate about teaching using an emergent and inquiry-based approach, and this drove her to pursue an IB certification in 2021.

Dinali’s teaching philosophy is grounded in the belief that children have a voice and choice that empowers them to take ownership of their learning. For her, teaching is a collaborative process that involves working closely with students, families, and colleagues to create a learning environment that is supportive, engaging, and empowering for all involved.

A humanitarian trip to West Timor solidified Dinali’s desire to become a teacher. During that trip, she conducted a programme for the children at an orphanage and witnessed firsthand their innocence and the unique perspective and potential that they possess.

In her free time, Dinali enjoys exploring new places and cultures through travel. She also likes to stay active and healthy by going to the gym or engaging in other physical activities. Over the weekends, she volunteers in initiatives related to children and the youth, and she enjoys building relationships and being a mentor to them.

Teaching Assistant

Nurul Fatin Binte Shahrul Amran

Teacher Librarian & Cover Teacher

Stephanie Chalmers

Stephanie is from the United Kingdom. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing Management from Lancaster University and a Qualified Teacher Status qualification from Canterbury Christchurch University. She has also gained a certification in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from The British Institute, Jakarta.

Stephanie embarked on her career as an educator over six years ago. She first started teaching Secondary students in Central London, and then switched to teaching English in Jakarta and Singapore. 

Stephanie believes in helping students to be the best version of themselves by helping them to understand and connect with the world around them. She loves being in the library as a Teacher Librarian, as she gets to go on so many adventures through books with students, that help them to open their minds, be curious and think about themselves and the world they live in.

At OWIS, she is looking forward to getting to know our students and their likes and dislikes and thinking of ways to encourage them through the power of knowledge and books. Our school values of nurturing kindness and compassion resonate strongly with her. She believes that if we can do and say things with kindness, then anything is possible. 

Stephanie has been living with her family in Singapore for over 10 years. In her free time, she loves to play netball and go on long walks with friends. She spends lots of time exploring the outdoors with her family and also doing arts and crafts. She also enjoys travelling to explore different cultures, cuisines, tourist attractions and the beauty of nature in the region. 

Head of School

James Sweeney

James is from Birmingham, England. He has earned a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in History from University of Plymouth, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from University of Worcester, and the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH).

James started his career as a Primary School teacher before taking on further responsibilities. He has both taught and held leadership positions in schools in the UK, South Korea and China over the past several years.

James says that there are many reasons behind his choice to become a teacher. The most important of these was the influence of his History teacher in Secondary School. Unlike others, Mr Doherty carried a unique passion for history, communicating it in such a way that engaged his students deeply. From him, James understood that the role of an educator is not just reciting facts, but instead provoking thought, encouraging student debates and independent discovery of answers. He believes this approach truly embodies the essence of a good and meaningful education system.

His philosophy about education is that academic excellence is developed in tandem with core values, sense of community, and opportunities that will stay with students far beyond their time at school. His aim is for students to enjoy their childhood of building lifelong friends, nurturing talents, celebrating achievements, and learning and growing together.

At OWIS, James is eager to forge connections with students, faculty, parents, and staff. Our school’s core values deeply resonate with him, because in his career in schools, he has found that unique perspectives from a diverse community greatly enrich the learning experience.

Outside of work, James has a keen interest in competitive sports. Being a part of a team is something he truly enjoys, and he looks forward to continuing this in Singapore. He is also an avid fan of football, passionately following his team, Aston Villa.

Senior Coordinator

Adrian Deller

Adrian Deller is originally from The Cotswolds, UK. He holds a PGCE in Primary (specialised in Mathematics) from The University of Exeter and a Bachelor’s Degree in Quantity Surveying (Hons) from Birmingham City University.

Prior to becoming a teacher, Adrian worked as a quantity surveyor for 10 years. He took a break to spend more time with his two daughters when he relocated with his family to Malaysia. It was during this time he became involved in running a toddler activity group and decided to become a teacher. He started his career in teaching at a junior school back home and then at an international school in the Bahamas prior to moving to Singapore.

A strong believer in the value of learning as an active process, Adrian aims to provide opportunities for concepts to be experienced through inquiry and understood in context. He also believes that it is important to build relationships with the children in his class, get to know their interests as well as what motivates them to learn. Adrian plans to cater carefully for the individual needs of his students and to both support and extend all students at each level of ability.

Adrian likes working in a busy and stimulating international school like OWIS, with its unique values and an experienced and innovative staff body.

Adrian enjoys playing football, table tennis, scuba diving, tennis, cycling, travelling and reading. He also likes to eat anything spicy!

PYP Coordinator

Irma Suryani Shahlan

Irma is a Singaporean with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of Manitoba, Canada and a Diploma in Early Childhood Education from MMI (London) Singapore.

Irma has been a dedicated educator for the past 19 years, both in Singapore preschools and international schools in Jakarta, Indonesia. She has taught students from various grades with age ranging from 3 to 18 years old.

Irma is passionate about her belief that every child has the potential to excel and that learning is a lifelong journey for both teacher and student.

Irma loves baking and has a soft spot for pastries.

Pastoral Care Coordinator & Grade 5 Teacher, OWIS Suntec

Laura Coulter

Grade 3 Teacher

Grace Altarejos

Grace is from the Philippines. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from De La Salle University and a Master’s Degree in Literacy Education from University College London.

Grace has been teaching for nearly 9 years, focusing on both the early and primary years. She has experience with various globally-recognised curricula in international schools in the Philippines, England, Japan and now, Singapore.

Her vision as an educator is to provide students with confidence in their abilities and lifelong skills that will nurture and inspire them towards achieving their individual potential. She believes in encouraging them to make a difference in their own way.

Grace strongly identifies with the OWIS philosophy of being kind and understanding. She feels kindness is best taught by committed adults who consciously ingrain lessons on kindness in every activity and interaction the child experiences.

At OWIS, Grace is looking forward to productive discussions with like-minded educators who share the same vision of promoting meaningful learning. She is also eager to learn new things from her students. In her free time, Grace enjoys having a good meal and spending time with loved ones.

PE Teacher

Marc Reyes Custal

Marc is from Spain. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Preschool Education, majoring in Physical Education, from International University of La Rioja and an Advanced Diploma in Physical and Sports Education from IES Quercus, Spain.

Marc’s journey in education started at his local school in Barcelona and took him to the renowned FC Barcelona Football Club. Being contracted by this globally recognised institution was a dream come true for a football lover like him. During the past nine years, he has contributed to FC Barcelona’s success and learned valuable lessons from the world of football. For the past six years, he has proudly served as the Technical Director of FC Barcelona’s Football Academy in Singapore, witnessing the transformative power of football in shaping young minds.

Now, he is thrilled to join the OWIS team as a Physical Education teacher. He believes OWIS provides the perfect platform to share his passion for education and use sports as a tool to bring out the best in each student.

In his free time, Marc finds great joy in staying active and engaged in sports like running, tennis, football, and working out in the gym. Additionally, he loves practising yoga to maintain balance and mindfulness in his life. One of his favourite ways to relax is by reading a book under the sun, either by the sea or a pool, enjoying the tranquillity of nature. He also loves spending quality time alone for self-reflection, as well as creating beautiful memories with his wife, family, and friends.

Music Teacher

Charmaine Lim

Charmaine is from Singapore, but she has also lived for a considerable time in the USA. 

She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music (major in Violin) and a Cambridge International Teaching Certificate from Cambridge University. She has been teaching music, violin and piano for a few years in international schools in the US and locally in Singapore as well.  

Describing herself as an enthusiastic and empathetic teacher, Charmaine believes that every child has the potential to achieve greatness. She loves seeing the genuine joy and happiness on her students’ faces whenever they are able to express themselves through music. 

At OWIS, Charmaine is looking forward to creating a fun and encouraging environment for her students and making music with them! She is excited to make use of her knowledge of music technology to empower students to use new apps to create and compose music. 

Teaching Assistant

Nuur Rihadaatul

Admissions Manager

Natasha Khanna