Mayor of the City of Newport & Mayor of the City of Kutaisi
Member Profiles
Introducing the executive members of the Newport Kutaisi Twinning Association
Executive Committee Members:
Anne Parry and Peter Landers.
Dame Rosemary Butler AM 1990-
Bernard Tyson 2000-
Catherine Philpott 2006-
Sonia Fisher
Web Design: WebWake
Past Chairs
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.
Joint Presidents of Newport Kutaisi Twinning Association
NKA Chair Person: Caroline McLachlan
Caroline has worked in a variety of educational contexts including primary teaching, further education and higher education. Until recently she was an Academic Leader for Education where she managed a variety of degree courses, both within the University of Wales Newport and externally with the partner colleges.Caroline’s longstanding friendship with the people of Kutaisi began in 1990 when shewas part of a civic delegation organised by Dame Rosemary Butler, then Mayor of Newport. Since 1990 she has visited the city many times, travelling via Moscow in the early days. Caroline has delivered lectures and training to Akaki Tsereteli State University staff and students and also helped develop educational initiatives and projects focussing on inclusive educational practices. Caroline is an Honorary Professor at ATSU and on her most recent visit to Kutaisi she was awarded an Honorary Citizenship by the City Council.
NKA Vice Chair: 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 -
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 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-
philosophy he has used early retirement as an opportunity to re-
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-
He is presently Chair of Michaelston-
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.
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-
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).
