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Sonya Thompson, MA, MALP, has taught in the subject areas of history and politics for over thirty years, much of that time with the WEA. Sonya holds postgraduate degrees in history, law and government. Her studies focussed on Australian history and international relations. Sonya believes the study of history is important because we need to understand the past to truly understand the present. Sonya embraces the opportunity the WEA provides to share learning with students and to exchange experiences and viewpoints. Sonya believes that learning should be about challenging views and perceptions, including her own.

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Dr John Tidmarsh was formerly President of the University of Sydney's Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation and Chairman, Executive Committee of the Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens.  He was previously  part-time lecturer in the Department of Archaeology. He is also Co-Director of the University's excavations at Pella in Jordan, and the Australian Mission to Jebel Khalid in Syria. He has also excavated in Greece and Cyprus. His special interests are in the Hellenistic period in the East (in which area he gained his PhD) and in the art and archaeology of the Islamic period. He has led numerous tours to Iran, Oman, Turkey, Syria, Jordan and other countries in the eastern Mediterranean.

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Professor Chris Tisdell is an award-winning educator, public speaker and Professor of Mathematics at UNSW Sydney with more than 20 years’ experience inspiring learners of all backgrounds. Internationally recognised for making complex ideas accessible, he has reached millions through his educational YouTube channel and innovative teaching resources. A recipient of the Australian Government Teaching Excellence Award, Chris combines mathematics, creativity and storytelling to create engaging, inclusive and thought-provoking learning experiences.

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Elsa (BA) is an emerging researcher of classical philology and history. For several years, she has taught both young students and adults; she approaches her tuition with warmth and enthusiasm. She has received numerous awards for her academic work, including the Douglas Kelly Australian Essay Competition Prize (subsequently published in “Classicum” 49), the Audrey Meaney Prize, and the Ancient History Senior Essay Prize. Presently, she is undertaking an Honours thesis in Latin literature at the University of Sydney. Her ecocriticism- and posthumanism-informed scholarship examines ancient conceptions of the non-human world and their practical ramifications, with a particular focus on environmental ethics in Roman poetry. Her interests extend to modern literature, art history, the French language, Baroque music, and film.

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Toolbox Education. Tutor of WEA Sydney

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Graziella Trafeli (GDLIS - Graduate Diploma of Library and Information Studies, Australia) is a native speaker of Italian residing in Australia since the mid-1980s. She has led a vast range of courses in settings such as the WEA, the Dante Alighieri Society, Co.As.It, the Institute of Foreign Languages (University of NSW), Continuing Education at the University of Sydney, several local Sydney Community Colleges, and within the corporate sector. While teaching and working for Waverley Library, Graziella penned short stories as part of a collection of short novelle published by the Italian Consulate, Sydney in 1999, and a number of articles in the bi-weekly publication II Mondo and the Italian publication Melting Pot; from 1992 to 1996 she was a casual broadcaster, producer, and researcher at SBS Radio for the Italian Program. Graziella is an enthusiastic and outgoing teacher whose animated style encourages interaction from her students. She uses a variety of teaching methods and provides support materials to aid and assist student learning. For Graziella, studying a language prepares you to understand a great deal more than words or phrases, but more importantly, the culture and history of a different people.

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Hugh Tranter is an author and historian, with interests in creative writing and the research and examination of Australian history.

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Liem Truong. Tutor of WEA Sydney

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Silvia is a native Italian speaker. She grew up in a small town close to Milan, then she moved to Madrid and in 2012 she came to Sydney. She received a Bachelor Degree in Marketing and Public Relations, a LOTE certificate from the University of New South Wales and a Teaching Certificate from the University of Sydney. Silvia has been teaching Italian to children, HSC students and adults at all levels for a number of institutions and schools including Co.As.It, Australian Catholic University and several local Sydney Community Colleges.

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Matt Tutty is an experienced Career Coach, Resume Writer and employment support professional with more than 10 years’ experience helping people improve their confidence, job search skills and career direction. His background includes career coaching, recruitment, employment services, resume writing, interview preparation and supporting job seekers from a wide range of industries, backgrounds and career levels.

Matt brings a practical, supportive and easy-to-understand approach to adult learning. He is passionate about helping people recognise their strengths, improve how they present themselves to employers and build the skills needed to move forward in their employment, study or career journey.