Resume

Judith Sleijpen graduated from Ryde School of Horticulture with distinction in Urban Horticulture and gained experience in the retail nursery industry for several years. She now conducts her garden design and horticultural consultancy business, ‘Gardens, Balconies and Beyond’ and teaches garden design and horticulture for the Northern Beaches Community College. As a Member of the Horticultural Media Association, Judith writes a monthly gardening column for Peninsula Living and has also published articles in Landscape Contractor and Manager, Better Homes and Gardens, Gardens and Outdoor Living and The Garden Gurus. Passionate about plants and garden design, she is a Professional Garden Judge for Garden Competitions, a Member of the Australian Institute of Horticulture, a former Committee Member of the Sydney Executive Committee of Open Gardens Australia and a former member of the Speakers' Bureau of the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Resume

Jennie Smiedt is a certified mindfulness meditation teacher with extensive experience supporting adult learning in professional and community settings. Combining deep meditation practice with expert facilitation skills, she creates welcoming, reflective classes that help students build awareness, confidence and everyday resilience

Resume

Brendan Vivian Smith (MFA, Dip Arts) is an exhibiting artist showing nationally & internationally since 1986. His work is held in significant national public and private collections. He has taught at the National Art School, Raffles College of Design, City of Sydney Pine Street Creative Studios, for Reverse Garbage and the Australian Academy of Garden Design. He currently teaches at Bundanon, the former Arthur Boyd properties in the Shoalhaven.

Resume

Tatiana holds a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics (with a specialisation in Portuguese and French languages and literature) and a Diploma of Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language from Lomonosov Moscow State University. Over the last 9 years, Tatiana has been delivering Portuguese, Russian and literature lessons to groups and individual students of different ages and levels. Previously, Tatiana created and conducted tours in Portuguese for tourists from Portugal and Brazil. As a project coordinator at a library for foreign literature, Tatiana organised events promoting the culture and languages of Portuguese and Spanish-speaking countries. Her experience working in the field of culture and tourism inspires her to create engaging Portuguese lessons full of joy and discoveries to her students. Her teaching approach is focused on speaking, careful and patient study of grammar, cultural immersion and considering specific needs and interests of students.

Resume

After completing an undergraduate degree majoring in history, Bill undertook law studies and now holds a Masters in Law and a Master of Public Administration, as well as the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.  Having worked in the fields of employment services, workplace safety and industrial relations, he is now a senior lawyer managing a team specialising in organisations and their compliance.  Bill has taught and assessed courses at university, TAFE and other registered training organisations, and has presented to various conferences including on the issue of whistleblowing. He currently serves on the boards of Shelter NSW and WEA Sydney, and is an accredited mediator. He is also interested in sharing the lessons that sporting history can give us.

Resume

Kimberley Stuart. Tutor of WEA Sydney

Resume

Yiya Sun is the Founder and Director of Optimise AI, a Sydney-based consulting firm specialising in AI strategy, use case development, and tool selection. With an MBA and certification in AI Business Strategy from UC Berkeley, she combines strategic insight with hands-on expertise to help professionals and organisations work smarter and adapt to change. Recognised as a Finalist in the 2025 Australian AI Awards, Yiya empowers individuals to use AI confidently and effectively, bridging the gap between emerging technology and real-world business needs.

LinkedIn: @yiya-sun-optimise-ai-consulting

Resume

Ann Sutherland is an art historian and educator with a PhD from the University of Sydney on Australia’s cultural diplomacy and art exhibitions between the wars. She teaches and presents widely on art, culture, and history, and has been a long-standing guide and trainer at the Art Gallery of NSW. Ann has lectured for universities, museums, and community groups, sharing her passion for how art reflects social and political change. Her approach combines deep scholarship with accessible, engaging storytelling that brings art and ideas vividly to life.

Resume

Linda Swinfield. Tutor of WEA Sydney

Resume

Established in 1913, we are a voluntary, independent, not-for-profit adult education provider offering opportunities to join a community of keen learners. We offer a range of courses across the Humanities, Languages, Arts and Leisure and Wellness activities. We are based in the Sydney CBD with easy access to a variety of public transport options.

Our mission is to provide adults with stimulating and varied educational activities which develop their knowledge, understanding and skills. Within our program we place special emphasis on providing opportunities for the serious and objective study of the arts, humanities and sciences. We are committed to:

• Maintaining excellence in all aspects of our work
• Encouraging students to participate in their own education and in WEA's democratic management structure
• Facilitating access for all who seek to take part in our activities

We believe that WEA activities are of value both to individuals both in their personal life and in their role as citizens in a democratic society.

For more information, visit our What is WEA Sydney? page.