Our Staff
Alana Anderson
Chief Executive Officer
Alana Anderson, the visionary force behind Alana Kaye College, is a dynamic educator, entrepreneur, and advocate for transformative education. With a passion for empowering individuals through knowledge and skills, Alana has dedicated her career to redefining the landscape of education.
Alana’s educational philosophy is grounded in the belief that education should be a transformative experience, empowering individuals to reach their full potential and make meaningful contributions to society. With this vision in mind, she founded Alana Kaye College, an institution committed to providing innovative, personalised, and industry-relevant education to students from diverse backgrounds both onshore and offshore.
Under Alana’s leadership, Alana Kaye College has become a beacon of excellence in the field of education, known for its unwavering commitment to student success. Through a combination of hands-on learning experiences, interdisciplinary approaches, and close mentorship, the college equips students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.
Beyond her role as the founder of Alana Kaye College, Alana is a tireless advocate for educational equity and access. She works tirelessly to break down barriers to education, ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to pursue their dreams and unlock their potential.
With her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence, Alana continues to inspire and empower the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and changemakers through education.
Alana’s experience includes being a former Director on the National Board of the Independent Tertiary Education Council of Australia (ITECA) the peak body for independent private providers in Australia and the former Chair of the Northern Territory ITECA Committee. Her experience is supported by her Master of Education (Leadership and Management), Med (L’ship@M’ment) and her Bachelor of Adult and Vocational Education (B.AVE)
Marcus Thomson
General Manager
Marcus is our General Manager responsible for the overall daily operations of the College and has been with Alana Kaye College since its inception in 2011. Previous to this position he was our National Training Manager for over six years. Marcus commenced his training careers many years ago when he began his first work experience job supporting corporate groups in their team training endeavours in the pursuit of a Total Quality management philosophy.
He then began work with a Corporate Training Company in South Australia. He worked closely with schools and underprivileged children providing training and adventurous pursuits, including abseiling, navigational exercises, canoeing and rafting experiences.
Marcus’ extensive experience is supported by his qualifications in Training and Assessment, Leadership and Management, Work Health and Safety, Security and Risk Management and he has completed his Diploma of Vocational Education and Training, Diploma of Training Design and Development and his Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management.
David Thomson
Manager International Operations
David joined us as our Operations Manager, initially responsible for implementing our capability in the security field and associated advanced technologies. David has since moved into the role of Manager International Operations, responsible for building relationships in all areas of International associations and business growth.
His background is extensive with over 20 years policing experience with both the Northern Territory Police and the Australian Federal Police (AFP). In his position with the AFP he held the dual rank of Federal Agent and Detective Leading Senior Constable and has experience both nationally and internationally.
David has a significant background in investigations, along with experience in both overt and covert methodologies. He has been the recipient of numerous medals and awards for his service, including Australia Day Achievement Medallion, Australian Federal Police Service Medal, National Police Service Medal, Commissioners Certificate, National Medal and AFP Operations Medal with several bars. David is a skilled communicator with extensive experience in management and leadership, training, coaching and mentoring. He is also skilled in the production and dissemination of intelligence and evidence and conducting high-level investigations across various crime types.
This vast experience is supported by his qualifications and training in Security Operations, Leadership and Management (Advanced Diploma), Diploma of Public Safety (Policing), Advanced Human Source Management, Counter Surveillance, National Surveillance and Remote Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) qualified and licensed. David is a champion of learning and empowerment of team members through leadership, management, motivation and mentoring in both high stress and challenging scenarios.
Catherine Beagley
National Training Manager
Catherine Beagley, an esteemed figure within the halls of Alana Kaye College, is a dedicated educator, mentor, and innovator in the field of VET education. With a wealth of experience and a passion for empowering students, Catherine has played a pivotal role in shaping the academic and cultural landscape of the institution.
As a long standing member of the Alana Kaye team, Catherine has distinguished herself through her unwavering dedication to student success and her innovative approach to training and learning. Her dynamic teaching style, characterised by a blend of passion, rigor, and creativity, has earned her the admiration and respect of both colleagues and students alike.
Beyond the classroom, Catherine is a mentor and leader, offering invaluable support and guidance to students as they navigate their academic and professional journeys. Her genuine care for the well-being and development of her students has made her a trusted confidante and role model, inspiring countless individuals to reach for the stars and pursue their dreams.
In addition to her role as an educator and mentor, Catherine is also a trailblazer in the field of educational innovation, constantly seeking out new ways to enhance the student experience and promote academic excellence. Whether through the implementation of cutting-edge teaching methodologies or the development of innovative curriculum initiatives, she remains at the forefront of educational advancement, shaping the future of learning at Alana Kaye College and beyond.
With her unwavering commitment to excellence, her passion for learning, and her dedication to empowering students, Catherine embodies the values and ideals of Alana Kaye College, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of all who have the privilege of learning from her.
Catherine has numerous vocational qualifications including the Diploma of Training Design and Development, Diploma of Quality Auditing and the Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management and is currently undertaking the Graduate Diploma of Management.
Arvin Alcantara
Country Manager - Alana Kaye International
Arvin is the Country Manager of Alana Kaye International, stationed in Makati City, Philippines. He has over 19 years of professional experience in the education sector, which includes his work with Government and Private Schools in the Philippines in varying capacities. Prior to Joining Alana Kaye International, he was the Country Manager of a Private School Group in the Philippines which focuses on K-12 Curriculum.
His knowledge in the education sector and his experience in leadership and management make him an ideal Country Manager for the Philippines, where he will guide and lead the operation to continuous and steady growth. It is envisaged that he will also help AKC in growth of International Students from all around the world.
Arvin’s qualification includes his years of experience teaching Primary, Secondary (Domestic and International), Undergraduate, and Graduate School, as well as managing schools (Public and Private) as the School Principal and as the Country Manager. He is a Licensed Professional Teacher with a Master’s Degree in Teaching. He is still pursuing his Doctor of Education specialising in Educational Management.
Maria Cowell
International Partnerships Administrator
Maria is our International Partnerships Administrator located in our Gold Coast Campus and we are very happy to have her on board. She comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the international student space and is an experienced customer service and public relations operator.
She has over 10 years experience in client services roles in a range of industries including academia, communications, student support and hospitality and holds a Bachelor in Journalism, a Diploma of Business and she is currently enrolled in TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
Maria started her journey in Australia on a working holiday from Chile in South America and then commenced as an international student in the Gold Coast in Queensland. She is now a proud Australian Citizen and, as a consequence of this, has an excellent understanding of the Australian student journey. Outside of her work Maria also loves reading, travelling and engaging in the many outdoor activities that Australia has to offer.
She has come on board at an exciting time in both the vocational industry in Australia, the international student space and Alana Kaye College and is looking forward to providing advice to potential and existing students throughout their journeys and to liaise with our key partners.
MK Oh
Training Coordinator - Gold Coast
MK has joined our Gold Coast team as a Training Coordinator and comes to us with over five years in the International Education industry in roles covering course coordination and compliance.
MK originally came to Australia on a working holiday from Korea in 2012 and then became an international student herself. She has studied Certificate IV in TESOL, Diploma of Business, and a Graduate Certificate in Applied Linguistics. After completing her studies in Australia, MK moved to China for work before once again returning to Australia. As a previous international student and having worked in many different countries, she is well suited to support our student base as well as speaking Korean, English and Japanese.
Skye Dawson
Administration Assistant - Darwin
Skye holds the position of Receptionist and Administration Assistant at Alana Kaye College’s Darwin Campus, where she plays a pivotal role in ensuring the efficient operations of all administrative functions. As a primary point of contact, she leverages her strong administrative skills to support the college’s highly qualified trainers and assisting with students, contributing to a positive and enriching learning environment.
Skye brings a strong foundation of qualifications, holding a BSB40120 – Certificate IV in Business and a TAE40122 – Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. She is currently pursuing a CHC52021 – Diploma of Community Services, demonstrating her commitment to expanding her skills and her passion for supporting both staff and students.
Melgie Atis
Course Coordinator/Fieldwork Placement Coordinator - Darwin
Melgie recently joined the Alana Kaye College team at the Darwin Campus as Course Coordinator/Fieldwork Placement Coordinator. A highly motivated and results-driven professional, she brings over 6 years of project management expertise from the Philippines, where she led strategic initiatives and optimized operational efficiency across diverse organisations. Melgie excels in data analysis, effective communication, and leading cross-functional teams to drive impactful results within multinational environments.
Melgie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering from the Philippines and has completed the BSB40920 Certificate IV in Project Management Practice at Alana Kaye College. Currently, she is advancing her expertise by pursuing a BSB50420 Diploma of Leadership and Management as an International Student.
In her current role, Melgie coordinates student work placements, ensuring qualification requirements are met. She is responsible for actively promoting Alana Kaye College to businesses, focusing on Apprenticeships and Traineeships. Part of her role is building relationships and utilising industry networks to drive business growth, develop partnerships, and secure placement opportunities for students.
Ma. Sofia Dob
Admissions Officer
Sofia is the point person for student admissions in Alana Kaye College, responsible for responding to enquiries and processing student applications for both domestic and international.
She has over 8 years of experience in the education field, wherein the first four years and nine months was with a basic education institution and succeeding years with Alana Kaye College.
Stephanie Sy
Training Coordinator - Darwin Campus (International)
Steph is currently our Training Coordinator for all international students in Darwin. She has over five years of experience in the education industry, wherein the first three involved teaching senior high school students various English subjects, such as literature and professional written communication. She had then spent the previous two years in an organisation that produces training materials for Australian RTOs, wherein she was employed as a quality assurance officer before becoming a trainer for that role.
She is also pursuing her Masters of Literary and Cultural Studies, but is also seeking to learn more about education, training and assessment.
Sandra Esteban
Training Coordinator - Darwin Campus (Domestic - ECEC, CHC and HLT)
Sandy is our Training Coordinator for Domestic programs in ECEC, CHC, and HLT at the Darwin campus. With a decade of experience in the education sector, she has a strong background in teaching primary students.
Before joining Alana Kaye, Sandy spent three years as a Subject Coordinator, where she was responsible for developing assessment materials and managing both digital and traditional learning resources for classroom delivery.
Isaiah Baccay
Training Coordinator – Darwin Campus (Domestic – TAE, BSB, SIT, CPP and CPC)
Isaiah is our Training Coordinator for Darwin Campus for TAE, BSB, SIT, CPP, and CPC training package qualifications.
Before joining Alana Kaye, he was a former Learning and development Associate from one of the top 4 accounting firms in the Philippines, wherein he catered to new hire employees’ needs to effectively transition them into their respective roles. He also worked as a Training Officer for one of the retail industry giants of the Philippines, wherein he curated training materials and facilitated trainings that are tailor-fit to the employees’ needs.
Ricsha Peralta
Administration Officer
Ricsha is our Sales Coordinator for Alana Kaye International. She has sales experience and is a former brand ambassador as her first full-time job for international charities namely UNICEF Philippines and Operation Smile Philippines for more than a year. She also worked in a franchising company wherein she was under the Franchise Relations Department monitoring the sales and performance of outlets and process price increase requests. Her role before joining Alana Kaye was working with a global NGO that is providing programs to learners from primary to college level about Financial Literacy, Work-readiness, and Entrepreneurship.
In her previous job, Ricsha was the former Chairperson of the Secondary level and handles work immersion of their partner schools.
Kristal Formanes
Administrative Assistant
Kristal is multi-disciplined, specialising in visual identity design, marketing and editorial design, and digital illustrations. She started professionally designing in 2010, while working as a civil engineer. She has then further mastered the craft, and has been helping Alana Kaye College achieve marketing success by providing effective graphic design solutions. She is responsible for our branding and material design and helps and supports with administrative tasks as required.
Ross Lindsay
Trainer and Assessor (Training and Assessment and Project Management)
Ross has been with Alana Kaye College as our TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment trainer and assessor for over eighteen months and has extensive experience in the Vocational Training Sector. His training style is very interactive and inclusive and he spends considerable time with his students to help them through their studies. He specialises mainly in our training and assessment and project management qualifications.
Ross’s experience is supported by his qualifications in Diploma of Training Design and Development and the Diploma of Project Management.
Laura Ortiz
Trainer and Assessor (Individual Support, Ageing Support and Community Services)
Laura Ortiz is an experienced Collage Trainer who specialises in Certificate III in Individual Support, Certificate IV in Ageing Support and Diploma of Community Services. Originally from Colombia, Laura graduated from medical school in 2013 and has more than five years of experience working as a GP before moving to Australia in 2018. Since then, Laura has been actively involved in the Australian health sector with a focus on Aged Care and Community Services.
With Laura’s extensive background in medicine and healthcare, they bring a unique perspective to her role as a Trainer and Assessor. She has a passion for helping students gain practical skills and knowledge they can apply in real-world situations. Her goal is to provide a supportive learning environment that encourages growth and success for all students.
If you are willing to start your carrier in Australian’s health sector, Laura is an excellent resource for your training needs. She is dedicated to helping students achieve their professional goals and make a meaningful impact in the healthcare sector.
Rhea Eugene
Trainer and Assessor (Community Services)
Rhea has been working in the Community care sector for many years and has worked closely with people in need for over 15 years. She has extensive experience working with the assessment of mental illness, ageing support, Alcohol and Other Drugs and has provided counselling, emotional support, referrals and case management throughout her working career. Rhea’s feedback from her students is excellent and she supports her students through their learning experience with sound advice and practical applications wherever possible.
Rhea’s experience in this sector is supported by her Master of Social Work with specialisation in Medical and Psychiatric Social Work and her Bachelors in Rehabilitation Science gained overseas at the Stella Maris College and the Holy Cross College.
Victor Gazen De Mesquita
Trainer and Assessor (Leadership & Management)
Our teacher for the Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Leadership & Management, as well as First Aid, is also a former international student from Brazil with a wealth of knowledge and experience. He has been living abroad for almost 15 years.
Victor’s background is in the fitness industry, where he worked as a Personal Trainer and Fitness Center Manager for over 14 years, both in Brazil and Australia. His leadership skills led him to become a Vocational Teacher in 2018, lecturing in Fitness, Sports, and First Aid courses.
Victor loves motivating students to achieve anything they wish and constantly illustrates his lectures with stories of how he became an Australian citizen by studying the courses that he currently teaches.
In his spare time, Victor loves surfing, spending time with his wife and daughter (you might see them around with him on campus) while he studies for a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Physiology.
Jaya Srinivas
Trainer and Assessor (Business)
Jaya Srinivas OAM is experienced in educational leadership and has worked in the education sector in India, US, and Australia for over 30 years. She has a proven record of supporting growth, innovative approaches in education, creating culturally sensitive workplaces and promoting an environment that welcomes diverse perspectives which are in alignment with the organisation’s values and beliefs.
Jaya has a Master in Education from Northern Territory University and a Master of Business Administration from Australian Institute of Business and believes in being a life long learner and is committed to supporting personal and professional growth in her students. A strong believer in individualised learning styles, she prides in supporting students to pursue educational pathways catering to their individual needs.
She has extensive experience recruiting and working with international students over decades and has also served as an advisor to Northern Territory Government on International Education.
Jaya has called Territory her home for over 33 years now and is a well-known community leader with strong connections with the culturally and linguistically diverse communities living right across the Northern Territory. She has been recognised for her contributions to our community and received the prestigious Order of Australia medal in 2018. She is also a proud recipient of Pride of Workmanship award from Rotary.
As a Trainer and Assessor with Alana Kaye, Jaya will deliver courses to international and domestic students in Certificate IV and Diploma of Project Management, Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management, Certificate III, IV and Diploma of Business.
Monica Arcoya
Trainer and Assessor (Building and Construction)
Monica is an esteemed trainer and mentor with a wealth of expertise garnered over a decade within the dynamic construction industry. Her track record spans high-value projects ranging from $80 to $100 million across the United Kingdom, Australia, and Spain.
Having earned a Diploma Graduate in Construction in Spain, Monica’s career has predominantly unfolded in the bustling hubs of Sydney CBD and central London. Here, she masterfully navigated managing the challenging logistical issues, coordinating complex luxury designs and leading multidisciplinary teams.
Rooted in her robust background in site management and engineering, Monica’s proficiencies encompass the execution of refurbishment and fit-out initiatives across diverse sectors, including commercial, healthcare, and residential domains. Her forte lies in crafting comprehensive design and project management strategies that foster unity and cohesion.
Monica holds certifications as a trainer, assessor, coach, and mentor. Her mission is to kindle motivation, inspire innovation, and empower leaders within the construction and project management’s industry, all while championing sustainability, efficiency, and the successful delivery of projects.
Kim Theyers
Trainer and Assessor (Early Childhood Education and Care)
Kim has been working in the Early Childhood sector for 27 years, 10 of those years as a Trainer and Assessor.
Kim has worked in various Early childhood Settings, primarily as a Diploma qualified assistant director, Director and as a Home-based Educator. Kim holds currency in the Certificate III and Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, Diploma of School Aged Education and Care, as well as the TAE40122 Training and Assessment.
As a Trainer and Assessor, Kim acknowledges the value of continuous improvement, and reminds her students that learning does not stop on the day they complete their training – learning is a lifelong process. Her commitment to her students is exemplary as she continually works hard to offer provocation, motivation and delivers high quality teaching and support. Kim adapts her teaching mythology depending on the needs of her students, her approach is actively led by meeting the needs of the individual learner.
Kim demonstrates that she is passionate about VET, training and is committed to ensuring that her students are both job ready and/ or prepared for further study.
Florence Panteli
Trainer and Assessor (Early Childhood Education and Care)
Geoffrey Hickey
Consultant
Geoffrey Hickey has worked in the aviation industry for over 40 years as a pilot and captain of Boeing 747 and 777 aircraft. He has worked extensively in Australia, Asia, the Pacific and the Middle East. He has been a Captain with Emirates Airlines for ten years, Training Captain on B747 aircraft with China Airlines and his most recent position was with Qatar Airways as a Simulator Instructor and Examiner on the B777 aircraft.
Geoff has wide-ranging experience in managing long haul aircraft with a staff of over 20 and full capacity passengers of 400 or more. His leadership experience is extensive and he has managed staff during sometimes difficult situations. Geoff first commenced as a Pilot with Ansett Airways and has also been a flying instructor during his time in Australia.
Geoff comes on board as a consultant working closely with us to increase our capability, particularly in the aviation sector. Along with his experience, Geoff has also completed a Bachelor of Economics from Sydney University and is currently completing his training and assessing qualification.
Consultants
The Alana Kaye team are supported by a number of highly experienced consultants in our Gold Coast and Darwin schools who work closely with us to facilitate the learning process for our students. These include consultants in First Aid, Advanced Business and Leadership and Management, Work Health and Safety and Early Childhood Education and Care. These consultants have extensive industry experience with high level qualifications to support this work experience. They provide training in both qualification and short course requirements for students and corporate clients.