MEET THE ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE TEAM !
We have a fantastic team of talented and enthusiastic teachers, administrators, volunteers and community members who make the Alliance Française such a vibrant place.
TEACHERS
Viviane Oualou
Bonjour, je m'appelle Viviane, je viens de Montréal(Québec) mais j'ai grandi en France dans la région Rhône-Alpes.I have been an early childhood teacher for more than 25 years in France, in French Canada and in New Zealand and I have still the passion. I have a french diploma and the equivalent NZ qualification.I have 2 children and they inspire me in my work.I have traveled in many countries, I love to discover other cultures and essentially kai and share my cooking with people. I came back to NZ last November and decided to work with French Alliance.Looking forward to meet you.
Sabrina Guarino
Bonjour,
I come from Toulouse, a town located in the South West of France. I have been working in education for several decades. I have lived on three continents, in both hemispheres. I am delighted to be teaching at the Alliance Française in Wellington and to contribute to learning my mother tongue to Kiwis.
Djena Labro
Bonjour ! I am Djena, I am 35 and I am originally from New Caledonia. I have a Master’s degree in Education and 12 years of experience in early childhood in New Caledonia. I am passionate about the children’s
education and I like to participate in their development. Teaching is a passion like arts, crafts, travelling, cooking, gardening … A bientôt !
Samuel Tardif
Bonjour! My name is Samuel and I'm from Montreal, Canada. I studied ethnolinguistics and Japanese at Université de Montréal and did a 1-year exchange in Japan back in 2012-2013. After that, I worked for many years in international education with French and English learners in Montreal, helping them improve their language skills while enjoying la belle province of Québec. I'm an avid language learner (proficient in 5 languages and playing around with a few others), and my travels have led me all over the place, from Europe to Asia, all over the Americas and now Down Under!
Nadia Ettaher
Nadia is originally from Paris. She arrived in Wellington in February 2015, and graduated with a DAEFLE Diploma , DELF/DALF examiner. Previously, she worked as a clinical psychologist in France for 2 years, and spent 7 months living in Melbourne. She is now teaching adults and bilingual children at Alliance Française Wellington.
Chloé Anglade
Hello, I'm Chloé, I'm from Bretagne, in the west coast of France.
After I finished my degree in communication and languages in Normandy, I moved to Ireland where I taught French to students and help them prepare French exams.
Discovering a new culture was one of the many reasons why I teach French as a foreign language. Then I came to New Zealand at the beginning of 2020 and, during the lockdown, I taught French online all around the world.
I started to work at Alliance Française Wellington just after lockdown, I am very happy to be able to teach French in New Zealand and share my culture with all of you!
Mélanie Lacombe
Master FLE (French as a foreign language)
Mélanie has been working at the Alliance Française Wellington since 2014 after spending 7 years in Japan where she taught French to a very diverse range of students: in small private schools, in a university and at Institut Franco-Japonais de Yokohama. After completing a Bachelor degree in English and a Master's degree in FLE in Paris, she also enjoyed traveling and experiencing life in several places, from England and India, to New York or South America.
Mariama Mergelina
Master FLE (French as a foreign language)
I was born in the Loire Vallée but was raised in Bordeaux, where I studied Japanese, French as Foreign Language and Marketing and Economics. I am now finishing my Masters degree online with the university of Paris La Sorbonne Nouvelle. Over the last 4 years, I have been working as a private tutor, as a language assistant in Australian and New Zealander schools, as well as a teacher at the Alliance Française de Melbourne. I am specialised in exam preps (DELF prim, junior and general, DALF, International Baccalaureate, and Victorian Certificate of Education in Australia) and I am a DELF-DALF accredited examiner.
Patricia Yim
Formation FLE (French as a foreign language)
Bonjour, je m'appelle Patricia (but most people call me Pat).
I was born in Laos and have been living in the heart of the French Alps since I was 5. I moved to New Zealand 3 years ago and have settled in Wellington with my husband and two daughters. I have a Master's degree in International Management gained in my home town Grenoble and a Master of Tourism from Lyon University. I flourish when I can share with others about cultures and languages. My peculiar personal history makes me proudly wave the francophony flag and teaching French to non native speakers sort of completes the circle of my life.
Au plaisir de vous croiser un jour!
ADMINISTRATION
Nathalie Dourneau (Buckrell)
Nathalie first arrived in New Zealand in 1996 and has a background in education and administration, having previously worked in International Schools and Universities in Indonesia and more recently Victoria University of Wellington. Nathalie has previous AF director experience in Indonesia, broad teaching and administration experience along with extensive networks both in Wellington and overseas.
Claire Trotot
Administrator and Librarian
Hi I'm Claire! I've come from Nancy, which is in the north-east of France. There I studied a masters in French literature and cultural studies, which then lead me to work for a children's book publisher. I am a New Zealand permanent resident and I have been working at the Alliance since 2019.
Gary Childs
I am an accountant who has lived and worked in Wellington for most of my life. My work experience covers a wide range of sectors including government, multinational, listed companies, manufacturing and not for profit. This covers many industries mostly involving finance and insurance. I was overseas for two years in my twenties, based in London with several months spent travelling in Europe and especially France. I have played many sports and now follow various codes, especially the English Premier League.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The Alliance Française Wellington is, in common with Alliance Française branches all over the world, governed and directed by officers and committee in partnership with the director. The executive committee is elected annually by the local membership at the Annual General Meeting, and meets in accordance with the rules of the association.
The role of the committee includes:
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To plan and implement the activities of the Alliance in close cooperation with the Director
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To discuss cultural activities carried out by the Alliance
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To oversee administrative and financial matters in close cooperation with the Director
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Click here to download a full copy of the constitution of Mission, Vision and Values
Adrienne Bushell: President
Elizabeth Rose: Vice President
Warick Dunn: Treasurer
Bridget Hargreaves: Secretary
Winston Roberts
Jean-Michel Carnus
Sarah Dennis
David Kember
Christine Stonyer
VOLUNTEERS
Book Club Volunteers: Jacqueline Ferry, Monia Hay, Katherine Wharton
Volunteering is one of the easiest and most essential ways to support Alliance Française Wellington. Check this page if you wish to become a volunteer.
