Our Educators and Leaders

A distinguished leader within the Wellington family of schools, Ms. Melissa has shaped exceptional early years and primary education across the UK, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia and China. Most recently, she served as Head of Junior School and Co-Head of Early Years at Wellington College International Tianjin, where her leadership was marked by clarity of purpose, a passion for joyful learning and an unwavering commitment to unlocking every child’s potential.

As a regular speaker at the Wellington Festival of Education, Ms. Melissa champions evidence-based innovation, seamlessly integrating research from cognitive science, child development and holistic education to create dynamic, future-ready learning environments. Her expertise fosters inquiry-led, play-based and experiential approaches, ensuring that well-being and academic excellence go hand in hand.

A firm believer that strong relationships are the foundation of an outstanding school, Ms. Melissa cultivates inclusive cultures where every child feels seen, valued and inspired. Under her leadership, learning is personalised, purposeful and rooted in belonging—a philosophy that resonates across the Wellington global community.

Ms. Lynn brings compassionate, relational leadership with expertise in academics, pastoral care, well-being and safeguarding. Her senior leadership experience spans top international schools in the UK, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Wellington College Shanghai.

As Assistant Head and Deputy Safeguarding Lead at Wellington Shanghai, she guided Early Years teams, strengthened teaching and ensured every child felt secure and valued. She believes children thrive when emotionally safe and connected.

Ms. Lynn fosters positive behaviour, rigorous safeguarding and emotional well-being across the school. She collaborates with teachers to nurture each child’s unique journey, ensuring academic excellence and emotional security go hand in hand. She champions high expectations, a rich curriculum and thoughtful assessment.

At WCIJ, she is committed to a warm, inclusive community where every child’s voice is heard and families are valued partners in education.

Mr. Chen holds a Master’s degree in International Chinese Education from Tianjin Normal University, where he earned national scholarships for six consecutive years in recognition of his academic excellence. He is also a certified Chinese language teacher with extensive experience in international schools, having taught students from the UK, the United States, Singapore and Indonesia.

Skilled in curriculum development within IB and Cambridge frameworks, he designs coherent learning pathways that blend language proficiency, critical thinking and intercultural understanding. A firm believer in inquiry-based learning, Mr. Chen prioritizes authentic language use, ensuring Chinese education extends beyond linguistic competence to nurture confident expression and global awareness.

Under his mentorship, pupils have excelled in Chinese writing and speech competitions, with selected works published on external platforms and recognized by school and community organizations.

Ms. Rebecca is an experienced Early Years educator who has worked in international settings, supporting children from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Throughout her career, she has focused on creating inclusive environments where every pupil feels secure, valued and confident to take risks in their learning.

She believes the Early Years are a truly special and formative time in a child’s life. Her teaching philosophy centers on learning through play, hands-on exploration and inquiry-based experiences that spark curiosity and deepen understanding. Passionate about fostering independence, resilience and a genuine love of learning from the very beginning, she is particularly dedicated to supporting communication development, especially for EAL learners, ensuring every child can express themselves and feel heard.

Ms. Rebecca loves incorporating creative, sensory materials into learning and is always just as excited as the children to see where their curiosity leads.

Mr. Luke is a passionate educator from Oxford whose teaching journey began as a Teaching Assistant at a renowned prep school in central Oxford. There, he coached sports, supported classroom teachers and discovered his true calling for education, inspiring him to pursue a degree in Primary Education at Leeds Trinity University.

Graduating with First-Class Honours and the Dean’s Award for Excellent Achievement, he brings academic excellence and a deep enthusiasm for the British National Curriculum. Now a Year 1 Teacher at a Double Excellent-rated prep school in Caversham, he has developed a teaching philosophy rooted in joy, safety and discovery.

Mr. Luke believes children learn best when they feel secure, inspired and excited to come to school. His classroom is a dynamic space where learning is fun, interactive and stimulating, helping young learners uncover their passions and carry them forward into life. Above all, he fosters a nurturing yet challenging environment where every child can thrive.

Ms. Sarah is a Primary School Teacher with a BA/BTeach from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Over the past decade, she has taught in New Zealand, Malaysia and Kuwait, enriching her practice with a global perspective. She has also held leadership roles as a Head of Year and Team Lead, supporting colleagues and contributing to curriculum development and whole-school initiatives.

Her teaching philosophy revolves around fostering a dynamic, engaging classroom where pupils learn to see the world analytically and with curiosity. Committed to inclusivity, she cultivates an environment where every child feels safe, supported and empowered to thrive. Ms. Sarah designs her curriculum to respond to diverse learning needs and styles, blending inquiry-based approaches with a strong emphasis on well-being.

With high expectations for every learner, she believes deeply that all pupils can, and will, succeed.

Ms. Yariska holds a Master of Education in Early Childhood Education from Monash University, Melbourne. With many years of experience in Early Years education, she remains deeply committed to this foundational stage of learning, where children develop confidence, independence and a genuine sense of identity.

As part of the school’s founding team, she has played an integral role in shaping the Early Years setting and curriculum from the very beginning. Her contributions have helped establish a learning environment that is both nurturing and ambitious.

She believes meaningful learning begins with genuine connection. Active listening is central to her practice; when children feel truly heard, they begin to reveal their world more clearly. Ms. Yariska is particularly passionate about early literacy, communication and language development, striving to create spaces where children feel both supported and appropriately challenged.