Meet a Dream Team

Abigail

Abigail established Senworks in 2013 to offer expert support to schools looking to improve outcomes for children with SEND. As an experienced specialist teacher, SENCO and Head Teacher Abigail has worked extensively across mainstream, special and independent settings. Senworks also offers bespoke training for teachers and teaching assistants based on Abigail’s books; ‘Effective Differentiation’ (Routledge 2018) & ‘The Effective Teaching Assistant’ co-written with Melanie Wright-Routledge 2020) December 2020.

Louise is honoured and delighted to welcome Abigail to the team and to be able to provide access to her insight, expertise, and valuable training offerings.

Siobhan

Siobhan’s experience includes school improvement, international and UAE school inspections, whole school leadership roles including being principal in Abu Dhabi.

Her specialisms are Inclusion, Safeguarding and Wellbeing.

Before moving to the Middle East, Siobhan was an Assistant Principal in a specialist autism secondary school and a member of the Department for Education Teacher Reference Group. Siobhan’s NPQH focused on correlating students’ wellbeing with academic success and her masters research was on how school inspections can lead to school improvement.

Contact Siobhan on Siobhan@LouiseDawson.Com

Razan

Razan Yahiaoui, is a dedicated special educator and learning support specialist. Her journey in education began as a support teacher, where she gained valuable experience in assisting students with diverse learning needs. From there, She worked as a homeroom teacher in Dubai, further honing her skills in providing individualized support to students.

With seven years of professional experience, she has had the privilege of working with students of different abilities and age groups. This has allowed her to develop a deep understanding of the unique challenges they face and the strategies needed to help them succeed. Whether it’s creating personalized learning plans or implementing inclusive teaching practices, She is committed to ensuring that every student has an equal opportunity to learn and grow.

In addition to her professional experience, she also have a personal connection to the field of special education for the past ten years. This personal experience has enriched her understanding and passion for supporting students with different abilities. It has motivated her to pursue her master’s degree in special education, as she believes in the importance of continuous learning and staying updated with the latest research and best practices.

Her ultimate goal as a special educator and learning support specialist is to create a nurturing and inclusive learning environment where every student feels valued and supported. She strongly believes in the potential of every individual and the power of education in unlocking their abilities. She is dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of students and helping them reach their full potential.

You can contact Razan on Razan@LouiseDawson.Com

James Persechino MA, PGCE, QTS

James brings over two decades of exemplary teaching experience to the team, with decade-long child-centered track records in both the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. His extensive tenure encompasses more than 12 years of middle leadership roles, including Head of Faculty, Head of English, Head of Mentoring, Head of PE, Head of House, and Head of Year.

Demonstrating an unwavering commitment to fostering a passion for English Language and Literature, James strives to ignite a thirst for lifelong learning in all his students and colleagues. His dedication to excellence has consistently earned recognition and praise from esteemed entities such as: the British Schools Overseas (BSO), British Schools in the Middle East (BSME), Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB), Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and internal reviews.

Beyond his classroom expertise, James actively engages in supporting his fellow educators by providing coaching, mentoring, and facilitating professional development on a range of essential topics such as: incorporating Bloom’s to enhance creativity in the classroom, using data to support and extend all students, using higher order questioning effectively, to name but a few. His approach centres on delivering training sessions that offer practical advice, clear strategies and effective teaching tools, empowering educators to implement these insights seamlessly within the classroom environment.

You can contact James on James@LouiseDawson.Com

Ben

Ben is a dynamic performance coach & Sports Psychology Trainer with a burning desire and unwavering passion for helping adults, children & teams, achieve higher levels of confidence, self-efficacy, emotional intelligence & emotional regulation, which can ultimately improve performance under pressure and general wellbeing. Ben has 16 years of experience in transforming the performance of athletes of all ages and abilities, through an holistic approach to coaching that encapsulates every variable to performance, with the premise of making daily 1% gains towards peak performance and a happier way of being.                                                                            

As a PE consultant for nearly 10 years, he has been responsible for curriculum design/management, and peripheral oversight of child physical development, mental development & sports coaching. Equipped with a personal development pedagogy that is underpinned by both empirical and anecdotal research and is evidenced within his previous role as a PE teacher/subject lead. His bespoke lesson plans have been created using Cooperative learning (CL) as the core pedagogy that underpins the pupil’s development. CL is an educational approach that aims to organise learning & activities into academic and social learning experiences. The premise of this is to aid in the development of emotional intelligence (EQ) for all participants through the medium of sport. Furthermore, he am highly skilled in developing biomechanics, spatial awareness, emotional regulation, leadership skills and psychological development (self-awareness & mental skills) through his personal teaching practice that is underpinned by current scientific literature, bridging the gap between anecdotal approaches and real-world practice. 

Education and Credentials:

MSc Sports & Exercise Psychology
MSc Psychology
BA (First-class Hons) Sports Coaching and School Sport
Sport Specific Qualifications, FA level 1, 2 & GK level 1, Talent ID level 1 (football), Communicating Effectively with Children and Young People certificate, Children’s Wellbeing in Scottish Football certificate, Mental Health in Scottish Football certificate, Paddlesport Instructor level 1, and an Enhanced DBS check.

You can contact Ben on Ben@LouiseDawson.Com

Vici

Victoria, The Diverse Mind Coach, is set to join us full-time in July 2024, focusing on supporting individuals, families, and communities in embracing neurodiversity and improving emotional regulation. Her extensive background encompasses roles as a management consultant and an inclusive educator.  Victoria brings expertise from her lived experience, and training, as well as the cultural understanding from over 25 years of living in the Middle East.

With her master’s in psychology and business from The University of Edinburgh. She has trained in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Motivational Interviewing and is International Coaching Federation accredited in Child/Adolescent Development and Parent Coaching. Victoria is also licensed to teach Robyn Gobbel’s ‘Being With’, a Course for parents, which tackles behaviour through the lens of Inter-personal Neurobiology and Polyvagal theory.

With a deep passion for empowering authenticity and applying insights from interpersonal neurobiology, Victoria ensures personalized and compassionate, neuroinclusive, support for her clients. Her goal is to create an environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and accepted, regardless of their neurodivergence.

The Diverse Mind Coach offers services tailored to individuals, families, and communities:

Individuals:  

Are you navigating your journey of self-discovery as a neurodivergent individual? Whether you’re exploring your neurodivergent identity, seeking clarity post-diagnosis, or supporting a loved one, we’re here for you. Our 1:1 coaching, mentoring, and advocacy services help you connect with your authentic self and feel fully understood.

Families:  

Enhance your parenting skills with our family-focused coaching and mentoring services. We specialize in nurturing healthy relationships, creating safe environments, and navigating challenging behaviors. Learn effective strategies to manage emotions, mend rifts, and foster independence in your child. Together, we’ll build a harmonious and thriving family dynamic.

Communities:  

Empower your community with our tailored training, mentoring, and coaching programs designed for schools and workplaces. We believe in fostering neuro-inclusive environments where everyone can be themselves. Embracing diversity brings valuable perspectives, enhancing collaboration, and unlocking potential. Let’s collaborate to create an inclusive, empowered, and thriving environment for all.Let’s work together to create an inclusive, empowered, and thriving environment where everyone can flourish.

Qualifications and Accreditations: 

• Master’s in psychology and business from the University of Edinburgh
• PGCE/NASENCo
• SPELD NZ Teaching Certificate in Specific Learning Disabilities.
• Child/Adolescent Development and Parent coaching. 
• Being With (Parenting course with Robyn Gobbel – https://robyngobbel.com) 
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A)
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Anxiety (CBT)
• 200hr Yoga Teacher Training/Special Yoga for for Special Children
• Member of International Coaching Federation (ICF) 
• Member of the British Psychological Society (GMBPsS)

You can contact Vici on Victoria@TheDiverseMindCoach.Com

Kes

Kes is a wellbeing advocate, coach, and Mental Health First Aid trainer. Kes has certifications in a wide range of skills including CBT (as a practitioner), Mindfulness Coaching, Positive Psychology Coaching (for individuals & businesses) and holds a Level 3 Education and Training qualification from the UK.

Within the Mental Health arena, Kes holds a Level 3 qualification in Supervising First Aid Mental Health, as well as certification to teach the First Aid Awards in First Aid for Mental Health.

Kes has held talks on resilience, optimism, goal setting, happiness, stress management, positive thinking (mind-setting), fostering good relationships, finding your flow in work and life, and using the modalities above.

Kes supports students, familis and school with initiatives and parent led discussions.  He also understands workplace wellbeing and supporting, not only the introduction of a beneficial framework, but also to deliver support and provide practical solutions with talks, training and coaching.  This is adapted to align with organisations and their employees. 

Let Kes help you meet the increasing demands and the world’s view about how organisations help their staff and leaders wellbeing.

Aaron

Aaron is an Honour’s Degree graduate and has joined the team to enhance our social media presence. He works wonders on all our media and mailing lists.

Please make sure you follow us on our social – @louiseinclusion on all platforms – to see the fantastic work he does to promote our activities.

You can contact Aaron on Aaron@LouiseDawson.Com

Tyler

Tyler provides back end business support, at all times of the day and night!  Supporting with graphics, videos, and supporting our clients to attend meetings and conferences around town.

You can contact Tyler on Media@LouiseDawson.Com

Sandy

Sandy brings over four years of top-tier customer service experience from the UAE, consistently delivering exceptional service. With an accounting degree, she’s adept in financial management and has worked as a junior accountant. Her administrative assistant background honed her organizational skills for efficient office management. Experienced in various roles domestically and internationally, she’s adaptable and excels in diverse environments. Promoted to Assistant Manager, she oversees company activities, staff management, payroll, and appointment bookings.

Currently, as Centre Manager at Louise Dawson PMDT, Sandy manages day-to-day operations, clients, trainers, trainees, and HR activities. She also handles scheduling and coordination of Louise’s calendar.

You can contact Sandy on Sandy@LouiseDawson.Com

Paul

Paul trained as mechanical engineer and has a experience of teaching/coaching sporting activities to children and adults.  He has expertise in delivering technical training for implementation and use of technology solutions in a range of settings.

He can be found around the training centre fixing things, as well as providing guidance and advice – nothing would ever get done if not for Paul!

You can contact Paul on Media@LouiseDawson.Com

Atta

Atta does the website wizardry and design stuff, including all of our logo, graphics, and website as well as creating our amazing stand and conference materials.