Primary Staff

Kris arrived at KTJ from the United Kingdom in January 2015 having previously taught in England for 4 years. Since then, Kris has worked in a range of leadership roles including as Key Stage Leader and Deputy Head of Primary before taking on the role of Head of Primary in August 2020. Kris believes that at the heart of any school, there must lie a vision to develop all students academically and holistically, beyond the curriculum. He is passionate about helping students to receive the best possible educational experience and strongly believes in the importance of developing effective and meaningful relationships with parents. In addition to his role as the Head of Primary, Kris is also a member of the School’s Senior Leadership Team and is also the Safeguarding Lead for the Primary School. Away from KTJ, Kris enjoys spending time with his young family and is also a keen sportsman who loves to play football, cricket and golf.

Michelle graduated from The University of Canterbury in New Zealand with a Bachelor of Arts and a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (Primary). She enjoyed teaching in New Zealand before moving to her first international position at a school in Korea. Since joining the team at KTJ, Michelle has obtained her Masters in Education, with a focus on how technology can be used to enhance learning. Alongside ICT, Michelle has a passion for speech and drama and has attained her letters (ATCL) through Trinity College. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys diving and hiking and is enjoying exploring Malaysia and this corner of the globe.

Emily studied Early Year childhood development and education in the United Kingdom. She achieved a First Class Donors Degree BA at Staffordshire University in 2018. Then went on to complete PGCE Primary at Newman University in 2019. She started her career at St Margaret Mary Catholic Primary school in Birmingham, before becoming Head of Early Years. In her spare time Emily enjoys pilates and running, reading, travelling and spending time with her family. She is married to Tom and they have one dog, Bailey.

Simonetta completed her PGCE in English from Buckingham University after a career running her own hotel. For the past four years, she has been a housemistress at Salisbury Cathedral School where her passion for education developed. She loves to meet new people and can’t wait to explore more of the world with her family.

Liam studied for a BA in Drama and Performance Studies at the University of Worcester. He started his career as Creative Arts Co-ordinator at Sunfield, a residential school for young people with severe and complex learning needs in Worcestershire. He then spent several years working for C&T Theatre Company leading the primary school network before achieving QTS in 2013. His teaching career has seen him hold a variety of roles including Head of Department, Professional Practice Coach, Head of Faculty, and Lead Practitioner - Quality of Education. He enjoys keeping up to date with the latest educational research and exploring how this can be applied in the classroom.

In his spare time, he enjoys a good tv series, running and spending quality time with his family. He is married to Paula and they have two children, who both attend KTJ.

Emily studied Early Year childhood development and education in the United Kingdom. She achieved a First Class Donors Degree BA at Staffordshire University in 2018. Then went on to complete PGCE Primary at Newman University in 2019. She started her career at St Margaret Mary Catholic Primary school in Birmingham, before becoming Head of Early Years. In her spare time Emily enjoys pilates and running, reading, travelling and spending time with her family. She is married to Tom and they have one dog, Bailey.

Simone is a loving and cheerful teacher. She has been teaching for 8 years and enjoys listening to music, reading and of course, having fun with family and friends. 

Lianne studied for a BA in English Language Studies at Universiti Sains Malaysia and later in her career was awarded her iPGCE from the University of East London. She started her career at St. Christopher’s International School in Penang, Malaysia, where she taught different year groups across Early Years and Infants, after initially teaching PE. In 2007, Lianne moved to England and taught Reception and Year 2 in the Pre Prep Department at Brambletye School in West Sussex. In 2011, she returned to St. Christopher’s and after a pause to be a stay at home mum, she returned to teaching. With 18 years of experience, Lianne completed her stint at St Christopher’s by being Reception Year Lead last year prior to joining KTJ. In her spare time, she enjoys sports, musicals, art and travel as well as spending time with her husband, Tim and their children - Jake and Tilly.

• Indra Dewi 
• Siti Maheen Aqilah bt Mohamed Taufik
• Rosley Siluvai

Gabriella (Gaby) Pearson studied Drama and Theatre Studies at Royal Holloway, University of London from 2014–2017. After graduating, she gained international experience working at Walt Disney World in Florida, where she developed a passion for building positive relationships and creating welcoming environments. This experience helped shape her commitment to fostering warm, supportive, and engaging classrooms. Gaby went on to complete her PGCE in Primary Education at St Mary’s University, Twickenham in 2021–2022 before beginning her teaching career in Bahrain, where she taught Year 1 for three years. Having grown up as an expat herself and lived in six different countries, she brings a deep understanding of international communities and the importance of fostering a sense of belonging for all learners. Now in her fourth year of teaching, Gaby joins KTJ as a Year 1 teacher. Outside the classroom, she enjoys travelling, singing in choirs, and has a lifelong love of theatre, both on stage and behind the scenes.

Originally from Australia, Nick brings with him 17 years of experience teaching in a number of schools around the world, including Kenya, Mozambique, Ukraine and Australia. He studied for a Bachelor of Applied Science (Horticulture) at the University of Melbourne before completing his Bachelor of Teaching at the same institution some years later. During his free time, he enjoys gardening, kitesurfing, playing just about any sport and spending time with his family and dog. Nick has a passion for sustainability and has received several awards for his work in this field.

• Imelda Francis
• Tengku Zainab Zanariah Tengku Mohd Amin 

Emily studied Early Year childhood development and education in the United Kingdom. She achieved a First Class Honors Degree BA at Staffordshire University in 2018. Then went on to complete PGCE Primary at Newman University in 2019. She started her career at St Margaret Mary Catholic Primary school in Birmingham, before becoming Head of Early Years. In her spare time Emily enjoys pilates and running, reading, travelling and spending time with her family. She is married to Tom and they have one dog, Bailey.

Everose, hailing from Kenya, graduated with a Bachelor of Education in Special Needs from Maseno University. With a solid seven years at a British International school, she has adeptly taught Years 1, 2, and 3. Now, she's embarking on a fresh chapter at KTJ and in Malaysia. Beyond her teaching expertise, Everose loves delving into local cultures, tuning into diverse music genres, reading, and practicing calligraphy and crafts.

• Aishwerryaah Rajashegher 
• Shalini Maniventhan 

Anna is from the UK and moved to Malaysia in August 2017 with her family, including two children who are studying at KTJ. She graduated with first-class honours from the University of  Gloucestershire, with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work. She has been teaching within the EAL department for the past 3 years, having previously worked at International schools in South America and East Africa. She has been awarded the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (International), with distinction, from the University of Nottingham. Anna also works as a Boarding House Tutor in Jawahir house. She has a passion for teaching and enjoys being part of KTJ’s vibrant community. In her spare time enjoys reading, spending time with her family and experiencing all the delights that this part of the globe has to offer.

Tim studied Music and Sports Science at Brunel University before completing his PGCE at the University of Buckingham. He began his teaching career in the UK at his alma mater, Salisbury Cathedral School, before joining Port Regis as a House Parent and Head of Boys’ Games. After an initial stint in Malaysia, Tim returned to the UK as Director of Sport at Brambletye School. However, Malaysia soon called him back, and it has been his home for the past 14 years. During this time, he has held senior leadership roles including Deputy Principal at St. Christopher’s in Penang and Head of Primary at King Henry VIII College. Tim is married to Ms. Lianne, and they have two children—Jake and Tilly—who both currently attend KTJ Secondary.

• Suhashini a/p Tamilchilluan
• Vethanayagi Jaram 

Preti graduated from the University of Nottingham with a Bachelor of Education in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) with First Class Honours and top of her graduating class. Preti conducted both her internship and teacher training at Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar. In her time at KTJ, Preti has developed a true connection to the KTJ community. As a young child, Preti spent 2 years at Ladysmith Middle School, Exeter, UK– which she is reminded of whenever she walks across the KTJ campus. When she is not teaching, Preti is reading about teaching and enjoys photography. The spark in Preti’s life are the girls from the Jawahir house, where she is the resident tutor. Preti is a firm believer of the tenet “learning, unlearning and relearning” and considers this her teaching philosophy.

Katrina Bannister studied at Christchurch College of Education, NZ and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Teaching. She is EAL certified from the Colleges of Teachers, U.K and trained in Reading Recovery. She started her career 24 years ago teaching in various Primary schools in New Zealand from year 0-8, including taking on the role of AP at Cornerstone Christian School.  Katrina began her International teaching career in 2005 moving to Jerusalem teaching at the Anglican International IB school, then moving to Amman, Jordan working at IAA, then to Oman and Brunei working in Shell Petroleum schools – which is majority of her international teaching career. Last year Katrina and her family took the opportunity to volunteer in Kathmandu, Nepal, teaching and assisting families working for NGOs. Katrina is married to Ross and has three children: Morghan, Kobe and Finn. During her free time, she enjoys hiking, water sports, and archery.

• Caroline Ann Peter Nadeson 
• Pavitradevi Ravindran 

Andrea studied a Bachelor of Communication studies, followed by a Graduate diploma in Primary Teaching at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand. She started her career teaching in Auckland before embarking on her first overseas teaching experience where she taught across various schools in London, UK. She returned briefly to New Zealand before deciding to continue her world adventures. Andrea’s next teaching post was at a British International school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia where she stayed for 3 years as a classroom teacher. This was followed a longer position at The International school of Western Australia, then at All Saints’ College, a prestigious private school in Perth, Australia. Andrea loves to travel and is very excited to be living in Malaysia with her husband and young family.

Simonetta completed her PGCE in English from Buckingham University after a career running her own hotel. For the past four years, she has been a housemistress at Salisbury Cathedral School where her passion for education developed. She loves to meet new people and can’t wait to explore more of the world with her family.

• Annah Emannuel Joseph 
• Sethu Rajeswari 

Anna moved from England to Malaysia in February 2014, with her family, including her two children who are studying at KTJ. She joined Year 3 in August having previously worked within Key Stage 1 and Early Years, at a School in London. In her spare time Anna enjoys reading and exploring the wonderful places in South East Asia, sampling different foods and meeting wonderful people.

Prior to completing her PGCE in 2017 at the University of Greenwich, Amy studied Theatre Design at the University of Manchester gaining a BA in Set and Costume Design. Before joining KTJ, Amy has taught in primary schools across South East London. Most recently, she was teaching Year 4 at Babington House Preparatory school in London where she had been teaching for the past two years. In her spare time, Amy enjoys traveling, art, visiting the theatre and live music events, and spending time with family and friends. Amy has a passion for staying fit and active through dance and running. She also enjoys playing team sports such as hockey and netball.

Neil is from New Zealand and graduated from the University of Canterbury with a Bachelor of Arts. He also gained a graduate qualification in Event Management before traveling overseas to Korea to teach English. While in Korea, he pursued a teaching qualification through Teach-Now in Washington DC, which led to him enjoying opportunities to teach at an international kindergarten and an international school. In his spare time, Neil enjoys sports, music and spending time in the outdoors.

• Nor Aimi Saleh
• Tie Ing Ing 
• Liew Yen Thieng 

Syarmeela completed her Certificate in Secretarial Studies at Cambridge College, Johor, Malaysia, and later earned a Diploma in Human Resource Management from the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. She began her career in the office sector before discovering her passion for working with children and transitioning into early childhood education in 2005. With 18 years of experience as an Early Years teacher at a private preschool, she has dedicated herself to creating a nurturing and engaging environment where young learners can thrive. In addition, she has worked as a tutor for primary students at a private learning centre, helping them build confidence and strengthen their academic foundation. Currently, she is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Education (TESL) to further support her professional growth. Outside the classroom, Syarmeela enjoys music, traveling, and spending quality time with her family.

Rachel graduated with a Bachelor of Education in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the University of Nottingham Malaysia. Prior to joining KTJ, Rachel conducted her teacher training at Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar. In her spare time Rachel loves listening to music, and she particularly enjoys painting while having a cup of coffee.

Brandon grew up in Penang, a small island on the west coast of Malaysia where he did his 6th form studies in Saint Xavier’s Institution. He then completed a BEd in TESOL at the University of Nottingham Malaysia under The Star Education Fund Scholarship, graduating with first class honors. KTJ is his first school, and will be a great starting point for his career in Education. He enjoys teaching EAL, but enjoys learning alongside his students even more. Outside the classroom, Brandon was also involved in many team sports, most notably Basketball, Volleyball, and Cheerleading in which he took up leadership roles. In his spare time, Brandon enjoys cooking, bodybuilding, bouldering, and gaming.

Paula studied for a BA (Hons) in Drama and Writing at Manchester
Metropolitan University. Paula then worked for several years as an
actor, writer, director and educational facilitator of drama. Paula has
taught and directed in schools and youth theatres across the UK. Her
joy comes from creating work with young people that explores the
complexities of the world around them. This led to Paula achieving her
teaching qualification at Newman University and then leading on arts-
based initiatives within secondary school settings. Paula has loved the
opportunity to learn and teach in Malaysia and aims to bring her passion
for the arts to this setting. In her spare time Paula enjoys travelling,
reading, swimming, going to the theatre and spending time with her
family, Liam and her two children Tristan and Phoebe.

Prior to joining KTJ, Elizabeth worked at West Hill Park Prep School in the UK as Head of Boarding and Teacher of Art, and she has a wealth of experience teaching Art to students aged 5 - 18. During her free time, Elizabeth enjoys camping, walking and spending time with family and friends in the great outdoors. She holds a BA Hons in Graphic Design from Falmouth College of Art and a PGCSE in Art and Design awarded by Bristol University. 

James studied for a BMus and MMus in Musicology at the University of
Huddersfield. At the conclusion of his MMus, he was awarded the Vice-
Chancellors PhD Award and completed a four-year project identifying
prototypical symphonic sonata-form codas in the works of Haydn,
Mozart and Beethoven. During his time at the University of Huddersfield,
James was involved in the delivery of Analysis in Music, Teaching Music
and Work in Professional Practice modules. James began his teaching
career at The Peterborough School, where he met his wife, Chloe
Johnson, before moving to Bedford School. Prior to joining KTJ, James
was involved in educational research exploring and analysing the
declining uptake of classroom Music in students aged 14-18. As the
Head of Curriculum Music across both the Primary and Secondary
Schools, James is aware of the importance of having a strong Music
programme from Early Years through to Sixth form. James is a reviewer
for the Journal of Music Research Online, and an examiner for the
International Baccalaureate Higher-Level Music course. In his free time,
James enjoys archery, both as a competitor and qualified Great Britian
coach, and playing modern board games.

Gemma has been passionate about theatre and dance from a young age, studying BA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance Performance at Middlesex University in North London while working for The Pleasance Theatre as Front of House. After moving home, she worked backstage at both Hull New Theatre receiving large national touring productions, and Hull Truck Theatre, working with John Godber and the creative team on new plays and company favourites. Upon deciding to teach, Gemma trained as part of the Graduate Teacher Programme and achieved a Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning. She taught in several Hull schools, but spent most of her early career at Winifred Holtby Academy, teaching Dance, Drama and Art. She also spent some time as Head of Art and Head of Faculty. Tempted by a new life in Asia, Gemma moved to the British School Jakarta in 2016 with her two children. Teaching Dance and Drama at both Primary and Secondary, Art, Media and Life Skills, Gemma also enjoyed being Head of Year 7, 8 and 9, and working on the many school productions. Gemma enjoys travelling and exploring new places.

Amy studied for a BSc Hons in Design and Technology and Education at Nottingham Trent University having achieved A-Levels and GCSE’s at Chew Valley School, near Bristol.  Prior to University Amy went to do ‘Camp America’ and work as a Camp Counselor in Florida.  She started her teaching career in a school near Bath, teaching Design Technology.  After taking a year to independently travel Amy continued with her teaching career in Bristol and then became Head of Design Technology before taking a break in her career to have her 3 children, Dougie, Rosie and Pippa.  In her spare time Amy loves to play netball, swim, walk, travel as much as she can and spend quality time with her family.

Angela teaches Food and Nutrition at KTJ. She is passionate about all things food, and shares her favourite recipes on her Food Brainwash YouTube channel! 
 

Kelly is a Primary School music teacher who joined KTJ in August 2013. She graduated from The University of Newcastle, Australia. She loves to play different musical instruments and likes soap making.

Katherine Ay is a Malaysian native who grew up in Perak. She earned
her undergraduate degree in Chinese Language with Education from
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris and subsequently completed her
Master of Education in Measurement and Evaluation at the University of
Malaya.Prior to joining KTJ, Katherine taught Mandarin for several years
at two International Schools in Malaysia. Her experience includes
teaching IB Chinese Language B, IGCSE Chinese as a First and
Second Language, and Mandarin Foreign at the high school level.
Katherine brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in teaching
languages in both international and national school settings. In her free
time, Katherine enjoys baking, playing badminton, and exploring social
science.

(up to 150 words) Mei was born and raised in Hong Kong. She holds a BSc (Hons.) from Hong Kong Baptist University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Since 2012, she has taught Mandarin across various international curricula, including PYP, MYP, IGCSE, and DP Chinese A and B. Mei began her teaching career at the International School of Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, where she served as a MYP/DP Chinese B teacher. Before joining KTJ, she spent seven years at an international school in Penang as a Chinese Language and Literature teacher, where she nurtured students' analytical and creative skills. Currently, Mei serves as an IGCSE and A-Level First Chinese writing examiner, providing her with valuable insights into academic excellence and assessment standards. She is also pursuing an MA in Chinese Studies at Universiti Malaya. Beyond the classroom, Mei enjoys reading, brewing kombucha, and cooking.

Rachel spent nine years as a specialist SEN teaching assistant in the UK before moving to Uzbekistan to set up a learning support department. She spent three years developing this before moving to Malaysia to join Learning Support at KTJ. In her spare time, Rachel enjoys swimming, watching historical documentaries and reading science fiction books. She has two children who are currently working in the UK.

Rini graduated with an Early Childhood Education from Segi University and a Master of Education in Educational Management from Open University. She began her career at a Montessori school in Subang Jaya and later worked as a student care tutor, supporting primary students in home learning. Beyond her professional role, Rini is actively involved in her community as a Sunday School teacher and coordinator, where she leads classes and engaging activities for children. Also, she earned the Certificate for Teachers of Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (CTCSOL). In her free time, Rini enjoys musical, travelling and cherishing moments with her husband and two daughters.

Balvinder has recently joined Primary Learning support team, previously worked as a learning assistant across various year groups at KTJ primary. She graduated with a Bachelor of Information Systems from University of Western Sydney (Hawkesbury), Australia. Passionate about education, she has been a constant supporter of her two daughters’ academic journey.

When she first joined KTJ as a parent in 2013, she became an active member of the PTC, helping to organize school events, support teachers, and foster stronger connections between parents and the school. She is also passionate about crafts. Alongside of her professional role, she frequently hosts craft workshops, teaching her skills to both children and adults, hoping to inspire others to explore their creative potential. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, watching good tv shows, spending quality time with her family, and doing what she loves most—crafting.

Avindran Tharmasegaran, commonly referred to as Avin, is the Head of Outdoor and Experiential Education for both Primary and Secondary schools. Avin's previous engagement was with Fairview International School, where he held the position of Outdoor Education Coordinator starting from January 2019, following his tenure as an Outdoor Trainer commencing in January 2016. His responsibilities primarily encompassed organising camps and facilitating international expeditions aimed at students' holistic development.

Avin's expertise lies in the realm of experiential and outdoor education, which he aims to seamlessly integrate into the school curriculum. Beyond his professional pursuits, Avin is an avid sports enthusiast, engaging in activities like badminton, basketball, and table tennis. His penchant for adventure is evident in his love for hiking as well.

His academic background includes a Bachelor in Education (TESL) earned from University Selangor, accompanied by a Master in Education (IB) and PGDE in Education (IB) acquired from University College Fairview. Notably, he also holds certification as a Duke of Edinburgh International Award Leader, reflecting his commitment to fostering well-rounded development in students.

More information to follow 

Richard studied Sports and Exercise Science at the University of Gloucestershire before moving on to undertake his PGCE at the University of Exeter. After this, he started his teaching career in Central London, working for the Compass Partnership of Schools as Head of PE. In his spare time, he enjoys participating, watching and coaching in a range of sports. Richard grew up in Cornwall - the far South West of England, where he spent lots of his time in or around the water enjoying watersports, walking his dog and spending time with his family and friends.

Areena earned her bachelor’s degree in Sports Science from the University Teknologi MARA. While field hockey is her primary sport, she also likes to play basketball. Areena’s commitment to fostering a positive environment was demonstrated through her 2-year tenure as Head of Wellbeing at her previous school in KL, where her focus was on making students feel safe and happy. In her free time, Areena relishes participating in various physical and outdoor activities.

Ayu Amrizal studied a Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology, a Bachelor (Hons) Health Sciences Exercise and Sport Science as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (International Baccalaureate). She started her professional career in 2015 as development officer for Malaysia Rugby Union before embarking on her journey as educator in 2017. She has been teaching Physical Health and Education (PHE) for more than 5 years. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading, drawing, playing various sports and has a passion for outdoor activities.

Jordan was born and raised in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. He holds a Diploma in Sports Science from Management and Science University (MSU). Prior to joining KTJ, Jordan worked at J8 Autism Athletics coaching football for special needs children. He loves helping children learn about the benefits of physical education including building a strong mind and body, having fun and working together. He is a keen sportsperson and actively enjoys playing football and running.

Joshua was born in Seremban. He holds the Bronze Medallion, Emergency First Response (EFR) and Swimming Teaching Certificate (STC) for his role in the primary and secondary schools as swimming teacher. His aim is to make the lessons as fun, easy to understand, effective and safe as possible. He always promotes swim-health, swim-safe and swim-fun into his teaching