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Member Profiles

Introducing the executive members of the Newport Kutaisi Twinning Association




Below are details of the interests of some of our members. The page will continue to grow as we get more details from existing and new members. If you wish to discuss the twinning opportunities with members or wish to join in the activities please email us

Newport

Kutaisi

Aims of the Association


• To promote international friendship and understanding

   by strengthening links between the cities of Newport
   and Kutaisi.


• To stimulate exchanges of persons and organisations
   from various fields in the life of the two cities.


• To organise activities to support the Aims of
   the Association.















 

 


NKA Chair Person: Shirley Egley

Shirley is currently Head of Professional Learning in the School of Education at the University of South Wales (USW).

Whilst a senior staff member at the University of Wales Newport, Shirley welcomed several students from Kutaisi’s Akaki Tsereteli State University (ATSU) to its MA Education courses and she is hoping to organise similar activity with USW - maybe extending this so that students from Newport might visit ATSU.

Shirley enjoyed a memorable visit to Georgia 10 years ago with Caroline to deliver workshops in Philosophy for Children and undertake joint research with staff from ATSU. She is hoping to help revive the links between the the two Universities.

NKA Vice Chair: Colin Mason

Colin spent most of his working life in the Probation Service based in Newport but in 2000, after he was involved in setting up the Children and Family Court Advisory Service, CAFCASS Cymru, he worked as an Area Director in that organisation. He retired in 2007. He has been involved with NKTA for a number of years and shortly after retiring he paid his first visit to Kutaisi. During this time he made many friends and learned a great deal about Georgian history and culture.

Colin is also a long standing member of Newport Uskmouth Rotary Club and is involved with the work Rotary undertakes with young people. He has brought together these two interests in setting up a link between Llanwern High School and a school in Kutaisi, Public School Number 23. This is a joint project between NKTA and KNIA, Kutaisi Newport International Association.

NKA Secretary: Derek Butler

Before retirement, Derek was Principal Lecturer and Director of Studies at Newport College of Art/Art Faculty, University of Wales Newport. He is a graphic designer/artist and lectures on design history. Apart from art, he has many interests including current affairs and politics, classical music, travel, sport, visiting museums and galleries and all things Georgian.

A Co-Founder of the Newport Kutaisi Twinning Association and designer of the NKTA logo, he is presently Secretary of the NKTA. Derek has visited Kutaisi and Georgia many times and is proud to have been electedan Honorary Citizen of Kutaisi and Honorary Professor at the Akaki Tsereteli State University (Kutaisi’s state University).

NKA Treasurer: Nigel Hallett

A lecturer and senior manager in further education for much of his working life, Nigel ended his career as Director of Planning and Business Development of a large Cardiff FE college.

He completed a doctorate in philosophy of art and following a life-time’s interest in philosophy he has used early retirement as an opportunity to re-define himself by means other than his professional life. He paints, plays a guitar in a band, tends a large garden and is active in local community fund-raising and campaign initiatives. He is presently Chair of Michaelston-y-fedw Community Council.

Nigel has always travelled widely and has an interest in other cultures and places, the reason why involvement Newport’s link with Kutaisi and Georgia particularly appeals to him.

NKA Webmaster: Stephen Marshall

Stephen is a Newport City Councillor for the Gaer Ward since May 2017. However he has been an active member of NKTA for much longer. He was one of the young people participating on both Youth Exchanges led by Peter Landers.

Stephen completed his BA and Masters degree at Swansea University reading History and Politics and Pubic Policy respectively. He is highly active in his community and is a long term volunteer and youth officer in St John Cymru Wales Newport Division.

Maintaining links with many he had met through the exchanges, Stephen is hoping to revisit Kutaisi, and Georgia very soon.

Executive Member: Peter Landers

Peter Landers, born in Newport, was educated at Newport High School and the London School of Economics, and for postgraduate studies Cardiff University and most recently The University of South Wales. For 34 years he was Chief Executive of Newport YMCA. While working in the YMCA movement he was twice chair of the National Charity and served as a trustee of Y Care International, the YMCA's International Development Charity. As a practitioner in informal education, he worked with the Wales Youth Agency, The British Council and the UK Department of Trade in Erasmus related projects. He currently works on the Welsh government Taith international mobility scheme. He has been actively involved with Kutaisi since 1995 delivering a number of major projects.

Executive Member: Jamie James

Jamie James is Associate Dean for Student Outcomes in the Faculty of Life Sciences and Education at USW, having previously been the Head of the School of Education, Early Years and Social Work in the same institution and having worked as a secondary school teacher of modern languages. During his time at the University of South Wales, Jamie has led on the development of education provision, with a focus on teacher professional education, research engagement in education, partnership working and support for the Welsh language and he is currently engaged in a number of external partnerships on behalf of the University of South Wales.

Past Chairs

Caroline Mclachlan 2019 – 2022

Sonia Fisher 2010 -2019

Catherine Philpott 2006-2010

Bernard Tyson 2000-2006

Dame Rosemary Butler AM 1990-2000