Katrina Kenny

Fujairah, UAE • +00 000 0000• user@company.com

Senior Education Specialist

~English Language Teaching ~Vocational Education

 Versatile, enterprising, resourceful professional with 10+ years of rich experience in the academic sector and media
industry in the Middle East and the UK.
 Working since 2010 in the Middle East contributing to the establishment, management and upgrading of educational
systems at University and school levels.
 Extensive experience in English Language Teaching with internationally accepted Teaching English as a Foreign Language
(TEFL) credentials and hands-on experience in curriculum design, delivery and assessment.
 Capable of managing academic quality assurance implementing strategies and plans for turning around both
underperforming teachers as well as ‘at risk’ students.
 Sound knowledge and practical experience in the media industry including design and delivery of university degree and
BTEC programs, production of short films, TV features and short films.
 Proactive achievement driven manager with strong work ethic, integrity, creativity, leadership and influencing skills
competent in delivering results in challenging environments.
 Seasoned professional with outstanding strategic planning and execution as well as problem solving and decision making
skills seeking a leadership position to utilize multifaceted competencies and contribute to the achievement of
organizational goals and objectives.

Key Skills

 Academic Administration  English Language Teaching  Vocational Education

 Curriculum Management  Academic Quality Assurance  Classroom Management
 Accreditation and Validation  Monitoring and Assessments  Faculty Development
 Media Industry  Film and TV Production  Documentary Filmmaking
 Fund Sourcing and Fundraising  Stakeholder Relations  Teamwork and Leadership

Professional Experience

Sector Specialist (September 2016 – November 2017)

Ministry of Education, Fujairah, UAE

Highlights:
 Led action plans to build a first rate education system characterized by the use of smart systems and devices providing 21 st
century skills to government schools as envisioned in the UAE Vision 2021.
Key Responsibilities:
 Managed 67 schools of the Ministry of Education dealing with HR, curricula, logistics, events, policies and procedures to
deliver educational needs of students of government schools.
 Established a virtual office to deal with HR, administration and logistics across all the schools ensuring efficient day-to-day
operations.
 Developed and implemented teaching and learning initiatives that have currently been adopted at all government schools
across the UAE.
 Coordinated the implementation of UAE Vision 2021 in the government schools in the UAE, participating actively in all
aspects of the mission.
 Project managed all activities related to promotion of the program under UAE Vision 2021 in the school education sector
including field work and events.
 Supported principals and lead teachers of the schools in preparing action plans in order to obtain accreditation of the
institutions from designated agencies.

Business Instructor and English Language Instructor (August 2014 – August 2016)
ESG Al Khobar Female College, Al Khobar, KSA
 ESG – an Interserve company – specializes in college training and education – manages several colleges in KSA including the Al
Khobar Female College, a College of Excellence (CoE)
Assignments:
 August 2014 – August 2016: Business Instructor and English Language Instructor, Al Khobar Female College
 March 2015 – February 2016: Teaching Team Manager/Lead Teacher, Al Khobar Vocational College
Highlights:
 Contributed to the start-up of the Al Khobar Female College as a College of Excellence (CoE) offering quality vocational
training programs through public private partnership.
 Successfully established a working partnership of ESG with Saudi Aramco to ensure employability and participation in the
Entrepreneurship Program for students of business courses.
Key Responsibilities:
Business Instructor and English Language Instructor, Al Khobar Female College
 Prepared young Saudi women for assessment through Cambridge English: Key (KET) and Cambridge English: Preliminary
(PET) exams.
 Taught Business courses on the Vocational Diploma Course and conducted assessments of students at the Diploma level.
 Built links with the Entrepreneurship program of Saudi Aramco to provide training and employment opportunities of
students of the college.
 Developed lesson plans based on thorough differentiation of needs and provided pastoral care to students to achieve their
learning objectives.
 Implemented and ensured compliance with college policies and procedures and updated own professional profile to match
job requirements.

Teaching Team Manager/Lead Teacher, Al Khobar Vocational College

 Supported English Foundation faculty with guidance in the areas of curriculum, resources, HR and dealing with ‘at risk
students’ as well as underperforming teachers.
 Managed a team of 21 teachers, supervised overall teaching activities and conducted observation sessions to evaluate and
ensure performance.
 Delivered effective PDs and lesson plans along with formative and summative assessment strategies to turnaround ‘at risk
teachers’.
 Developed and maintained an ‘at risk’ register dealing with underperforming students and an observation documents
containing strategies and teaching techniques assuring achievement of quality standards in the teaching faculty.
 Gathered and collated data the college’s self-assessment program and participated in preparing for the annual institutional
review of the college.
 Performed various duties requested by the head of the department, VP and Principal adhering to quality assured good
practices and standards.

Academic Coordinator – Preparatory Year Program/English Instructor (October 2011 – June 2014)
Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, KSA

PNU is a public women’s university in KSA and is the largest university for women in the world
Highlights:
 Successfully executed all academic tasks on time and was conferred an Excellence Award by the University for contributions
to the PYP.
Key Responsibilities:
Academic Coordinator - PYP
 Worked as Academic Coordinator – PYP during 2012 – 2013.
 Coordinated all academic aspects related to English in the Preparatory Year Program (PYP) assuring readiness of the
students to study at the degree level at various faculties including the Medical School.
 Delivered the English component of the PYP program and conducted workshops for faculty on writing, lesson planning,
monitoring & assessments and SOW.
 Supervised and coached a team of 14 Level 3 teachers ensuring that they received the most up-to-date information from
Program Leaders and monitored signing-off student records – attendance, test and assessment data.
 Collaborated with Program Leaders in training teachers on new curriculum directives and update them on PNU standards
and procedures.
 Conducted annual evaluations of performance of teachers as per the human resources policies of the University.
 Researched, compiled resources, wrote and delivered PDs for various topics of English under the PYP.
English Instructor – IELTS
 Coached students of the PYP program for the IELS examination, 2010 – 2012 and 2013 – 2014
 Learning Tutor and TV Coordinator (September 2007 – March 2009)
Grimsby Institute, Grimsby, UK

Highlights:
 Managing the phasing out of a degree program and introduction of the University of Hull degree in TV and Film Production.
Organized the degree handbook and ensured that the right lecturers taught on the courses in collaboration with university
consultants..
 Contributed to the validation of the TV and Film degree by the Lancaster University.
 Achieved Skillsets Academy status for the Media department of institute by successful production and coordination of films
and TV programs.
 As a Line Producer, completed 7 lifestyle programs and secured future funding for the institute. Ms. Julia Thompson, who
was a producer with Syco Entertainment was the Executive Producer of the programs.
 Achieved Skillsets Academy status for the Media department of institute by successful production and coordination of films
and TV programs.
Key Responsibilities:
 Taught courses covering a broad film TV and video curriculum for two degree courses affiliated to the Lancaster University
and the University of Hull.
 Taught BTEC Diploma in Moving Image course equivalent to Level 2 and Level 3 of secondary education of the British
curriculum.
 Coordinated the development and execution of action plans to secure funding and marketing of the institute including
attending of film festivals.
 Performed research related to the curricula of the 2 university programs and supported academic staff in the production of
course handbooks.
 Assisted in organizing course events and industry weeks at the institute and successfully secured participation of talented
professionals in delivering seminars and workshops to the degree students.
 Served as Line Producer for short films for the A Bargain, A Stich and a Wardrobe series, and Sports Challenge – Shape Up
series as part of Skillsets projects under various TV channels including Channel 7/Propeller short film channel and Virgin
Media Digital Channel 879.
 Coordinated with the training and education team and arranged work placement modules through Skillsets projects for
degree students.
 Ensured that further education (FE) training courses of the Media department of the institute balanced educational needs
of students with work placement needs of employers.
 Implemented new policies and procedures required for smooth running of the institute and its programs.

Media Industry Experience

 Coordinator, Squid Media Ireland Ltd, Dundalk, Ireland, December 2010 – July 2011
Organized pitching sessions for film ideas with potential producers through networking.
 Gallery Producer, ‘The Jewelry Channel’, Sky 650, London, UK, February 2007 – June 2007
Managed the production crew and led production of 7 1-hour live broadcast programs, looking after all creative and
editorial decision making and dealt with compliance issues.
Dealt with sales and promotions of jewelry through the TV broadcast medium
 Gallery Producer, ‘Yes Price Crash’, Shopping Channel Sky 638, Stockport, UK, November 2006 – February 2007
Led the production crew and managed day-to-day activities related to live broadcasts produced in a live gallery
environment with a selling capacity
 Gallery Producer, Ideal World Shopping Direct PLC, Shopping Channel Sky 640, Peterborough, UK, May 2005 – August 2006
Assisted senior producers in channel launch. Participated in the channel launch as a member of the team dealing with
strategic and logistic preparation prior to and on the day of the launch.
Contributed to the conceptualization and design of the program ‘Jewelry Vault’ by preparing and presenting a
comprehensive sales document to the company’s directors.
Supported researching and formatting office systems including a database of jewelry and gemstones for future reference
and a manual of standard operating procedures.
Managed the production crew, trained new assistant producers and participated in creative and editorial decision making
before and during live broadcasts.
 Audience Researcher, ‘Big Read’ series on BBC 2 and BBC 4, Lion Television, Glasgow, UK, April 2004 – September 2004
Researched for the literary series, ‘The Battle of the Book’ including copyright research for images used on the show and
audience research. Established and maintained databases.
Assisted the producer with overall production and contributed to development of creative ideas for documentaries.
 Researcher for a personal project – Life Beyond, Belfast, UK, January 2004 – April 2004
 Researched history of Northern Ireland by interviewing several psychiatrists and psychologists based in Belfast and studying
theses published by them for documentary idea for a documentary on living in border towns of Northern Ireland.
 Producer, ‘Storm’, Student Radio Station, Bangor University, Bangor, UK, June 2003 – December 2003
Dealt with marketing, promotion and advertising of the radio station, co-presented and produced a late lunch show,
researched educational websites, reviewed new film releases and interviewed visiting bands and DJs.

Voluntary Work

 Volunteer, Newry Hospice, Newry, N. Ireland, UK, 2009 to date - Fundraising for cancer
 Drama Assistant, ‘Toonspeak’ Young People’s Theatre, Royston, Glasgow, UK, June 2004 – Assisted in drama workshops
dealing with social inclusion
 Drama Tutor, Newry & Mourne District Council and Belfast City Council, N Ireland, UK, June 1986 – August 1987 –
Participated in a Northern Ireland Holiday – a non-profit making scheme aimed at children from both Protestant and
Catholic communities across Belfast which provided them with residential accommodation and drama tutors. Conducted
drama workshops using Community Drama techniques, finally producing/directing the children’s version of Michael
Jackson’s Thriller.
 Volunteer, Belfast Community Circus, Belfast, UK, July 1986 – August 1987 – Conducted workshops for young children
through to a performance at the Belfast Drama Festival. Assisted in the Newry & Mourne Festival. Taught dance to young
children In Newry and Warrenpoint County Down.

Education

 CELTA Diploma, International House – UK, Belfast (August 2014)

 TEFL Diploma, UK-TEFL – UK, Belfast (August 2011)
 BA Honors in English Literature with Film Studies, University of Wales – UK, Bangor (June 2003)
 General Studies Diploma – 3 ‘A’ Levels 5 GCSE, University of Wales – Training Provider: Harlech College – UK (June 1999) –
‘A’ Levels in Performing Arts, Radio and TV Journalism, Directing Theatre. Produced a documentary on Dylan Thomas, the
great Welsh poet which was funded by the Welsh Arts Council.
 Social Studies Diploma, University of Wales – Training Provider: Clanrye – UK, Newry (August 1998)
 Drama Diploma, City & Guilds, Rupert Stanley College – UK, Belfast (June 1987)
 GCSE – English Literature, English Language, Sociology, RSA Stage 1, Office Practice, Accounting, Typing, Reception Skills,
Newry Further Education College – UK, Newry (June 1986)

Professional Development

TRAINING COURSES AND WORKSHOPS:

 Professional Development Programs – Exam procedures, Quality, Recording feedback, PET – Delivery and Assessment, EFL
Quality Framework, Excel Workshop, Multicultural & Diversity Training in the Workplace, ESG Al Khobar Female College,
KSA, October 2015 – August 2016
 Management Training Certificate, TVET at ESG, KSA, October 2015
 IELTS Examination and How to deliver IELTS, Princess Nourah University, KSA, 2012
 Teaching English to Adults, Oxford Academy, Oxford University Press at Princess Nourah University, KSA, March 2012
 Motivating ESL Learners, British Council, KSA, December 2011
 Documentary Filmmaking, Chris Jones, Filmmaker, Pinewood Studios, London UK, June 2008
 Pitching, Funding and Distribution for Documentary Filmmaking, DFG, London, UK, October 2007
 Classroom Essentials – Smartboards, Monitoring and Assessing, Lesson Plans, SoW, Basic Camera Skills and Editing, Report
Writing, Grimsby Institute, UK, September 2007

Personal Details

 Nationality: British
 Date of Birth: 1 January 1999
 Hobbies and Interests: Horse riding, Reading, Filmmaking, Charity work, Fundraising
 Languages: English
 References: Available on request