Management staff

John Mc Gowan (DIPM, MCIM, DMS, MBA, AIBA, AInstSMM) is the Director of the ‘North West Academy of English’. He graduated from the ‘University of Ulster’ (Magee Campus) with a postgraduate diploma in ‘Management Studies’ followed by a master degree in ‘Business Administration’. He completed his ‘Chartered Institute of Marketing’ exams in 1992 and is a full member of ‘The Institute of Sales and Marketing Management’. He is also SFEDI accredited for his delivery of business training and advice.

Laura Giacani (MSE) is the Project Manager of the North West Academy. She received her honors degree in ‘Political Science’ from the ‘University of Bari’. In 2001, after several periods of work experience within Italy, she became a ‘Leonardo’ student and joined ‘North West Marketing’ as a trainee. With this period concluded, Ms. Giacani began contributing to the ‘North West Academy of English’ as a project coordinator has since progressed to the position of ‘Project Director’. Within the company she is she is in charge of the overall coordination of the Leonardo da Vinci Project and of the Finance, Promotions and Marketing actions

 Carmel Fyfe BA (Hons) MA is the Academic Manager (Director of Studies) of the North West Academy of English. She completed a humanities combined degree in French, theatre and media at the University of Ulster in 2001. Following her graduation she obtained the Trinity College London Certificate in TESOL and completed a Masters in TESOL at the University of Ulster in 2004. She worked as a lecturer in ESOL prior to joining the North West Academy in April 2006.

Administration staff

Rosalia Moretti (MA) is the Accomodation and Logistic Administrator Officer, she acquired her degree in Administrative Science. Rosalia was a Leonardo da Vinci student in early 2006 and did her internship at the North West Academy as an administrative assistant and since progressed to the role of Logistic Officer and Assistant Accommodation Officer. Rosalia is in charge of organising all arrivals and departures and deals with any administration work related to Accommodation.

Manuela Curulli (MA) is the office Administrator, she obtained her degree in German and English Literature in 2005. Manuela become a Leonardo student in Hannover where she spent 5 months, after which she was granted another European funded project in Derry where she did her internship at the North West Academy as an administrative assistant and has since progressed to the role of Administrator officer. Manuela Curulli is the first stop for any information the students/partners need during the organisation/management of a programme. Manuela is fluent in German and offers to our German student language support.

Teaching staff

Clare Heaney (BA) is a English language tutor at the North West Academy of English. Clare graduated from Queens University in Belfast with a BA degree in French and English in 1998. Following her graduation she obtained the University of Cambridge Level 4 Cetificate in English Language Teaching to Adults and is currently completing her Masters in TESOL at Queens University. Clare taught English for specific purposes in Belfast before she joined the Academy in February 2006 as an English language tutor.

Joseph Hanley (BA) graduated in 1997 at Middlesex University in English Literature with literary theory and the history of art. He has been working for North West Academy for 3 years teaching to over 700 foreign students. He is a well known and published writer and artist in the city of Derry.