Staff Faculty

Meredith has been a teacher for more than thirty years and has had the privilege of working both in Australia and abroad. Her experiences include teaching at Jerudong International School, Brunei, The British International School of Budapest and Harrow International School, Bangkok. 

In her free time, she loves to travel and discover new places. She also loves connecting with nature and being outdoors, whether it be walking, skiing or swimming. She is a creative person who hand stitches and crochets and is passionate about reading. 

Design has always been a significant part of Mia’s life, even from a very young age. It is something that brings her immense joy, and sharing that passion with young people is a true privilege. This year marks Mia’s second year as Head of the Design & Technology and Art Department at Harrow Appi. With her experience teaching in large, busy inner London schools, she has developed strong planning, pastoral, and curriculum expertise.

Having spent her career teaching across both Design Technology and Art, Mia’s understanding and experience of various specialisms will allow her to continue growing and expanding an already successful department. She will facilitate the delivery of innovative, holistic education for students.

Mia is excited to continue exploring ways of bringing the classroom outdoors, using the beautiful natural environment and local community to enrich student learning and their overall experience. 

I am the Head of English as an Additional Language (EAL) Department, here at Harrow Appi. This is a most welcome return for me, as I started my international teaching career in Japan in 2000. I spent five wonderful years teaching in places such as Oomiya, Nagoya and Shibuya. Following this, I was fortunate enough to find a small teaching position at the British Council in Singapore. There I honed my international teaching skills, teaching from 2 year-olds to 82 year-olds. I taught students from everywhere from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe. Soon I sort new challenges, becoming a trainer and leader of other teachers.

When I left Singapore, I had achieved the position of Head of Academic Management Systems and Support for British Council Singapore. However, I missed teaching, and wanted to explore more of Asia. So for the past three years I have been the EAL Specialist at Dehong International Chinese School, Shanghai. There, I became better acquainted with teaching Chinese students, and training other teachers to do so as well.

To supplement my years of teaching and training experience, I have also acquired a range of qualifications. In addition to my degree in Psychology, from the University of Plymouth, and my PGCEi from The University of Nottingham, I am also a certified CELTA and DELTA trained teacher and TYLEC tutor.

My personal interests include reading and visiting the cinema. 

Originally from South Africa, Shelley Long holds a Master’s degree in Sports Business Management from the University of Liverpool, a BA in Sport Science with Psychology from Stellenbosch University and a PGCE from Rhodes University. Shelley began her career as Director of Sport at Reddam House in South Africa before joining the Aquatics Department at Hong Kong International School. She later moved to Japan, where she served as Head of Sport and now works as Enrichment Director, overseeing the school’s wider enrichment programme.

Shelley’s favourite part of her work is the opportunity to shape young people’s lives through meaningful experiences beyond the classroom. She is passionate about helping students discover new interests, embrace challenges and grow in confidence. Outside of work, Shelley enjoys cooking a good meal and sharing it with friends and family.

I am from the UK and first came to Japan 36 years ago on the JET programme teaching English in schools on Awaji Island in Hyogo prefecture and then working as JET Programme Coordinator in Tokyo for a year before returning to take a Masters degree in Japanese Studies at Sheffield University. In 1992, I returned to Japan to work for the Japan Intercultural Academy for Municipalities in Shiga prefecture. During that time, I competed in the Japan Ironman Triathlon three years in succession.

After finishing a PGCE in Japanese and French at Nottingham University I set up the largest state secondary school Japanese Department at Tavistock College and a successful Japanese exchange programme with Edogawa ward in Tokyo. In 2013, I received the National award for Teacher of the Year in a UK Secondary School and in 2014 received the Japanese Ambassador’s Commendation for distinguished contribution to friendship and mutual understanding between Japan and the UK as a language teacher. I enjoy running and cycling in my spare time and have taken part in many marathons and half marathons in both Japan and the UK.

Philip Alexander has been a Secondary Teacher for over thirty years and in five different countries – Australia, Brunei, Hungary, Thailand and now Japan. He was born in Brisbane, Australia in a family that was very into sports and outdoor pursuits. He has organised and participated in hiking, canoeing, cycling and camping expeditions in Australia, Canada, Nepal and Thailand, often in very remote locations.

After leaving school, he completed a degree in Applied Chemistry followed by a degree in Education and has worked in several prestigious private schools in Australia and many international schools around the world. He has a passion for Science and teaching and has taught all three Sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) at A Level during his career.

Outside of work, his passions are cycling (both road and mountain bike), volleyball and rugby.