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Alexander Cigana is a sculptor, writer, and historian. He holds a PhD (2021) in Art History from the University of Sydney (AUS), and a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture (2024) from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp (BE). His sculptural work has affinities with Arte Povera and explores how space registers thresholds between the symbolic and the physical. His writing is centred on poetry, often in collaboration with musicians, while his teaching and scholarship have focused on the hidden histories of ornament, tracing broad trends from Antiquity until the present day. He lives in Sydney, where he works as a technician at a bronze art foundry.

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City of Sydney Toastmasters. Tutor of WEA Sydney

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Michaela Clarkson. B.A (Visual Arts) Sydney College of the Arts, Sydney University Alumnus. Art Certificate Hornsby TAFE. Michaela has been working, exhibiting and teaching in the field of photography, design and drawing for more than 25 years in both TAFE, WEA and a range of other Adult Education Colleges in Sydney. She is a teacher with a personality who makes the subject entertaining and accessible whilst interpreting theory with practical demonstrations, class exercises and assignments, visual displays and field excursions.

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Giulia Clemente. Tutor of WEA Sydney

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Colong Foundation. Tutor of WEA Sydney

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Byron Comninos has many years of experience in course design and presentation. Greek by ethnicity, he has travelled to Greece more than eight times covering extensive areas of the country by foot, ferry, train, coach and car. When he can, he travels there yearly and has visited more than 30 islands where he has stayed at most and lived and studied at others. He brings to his WEA presentations fresh up-to-date information for the benefit of his course participants. His WEA courses reflect his own interests - Greek culture, history and travel. He loves history, archaeology, carving stone, photography, sketching, and cooking.

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John Coombs gained his BA (Hons) from the University of Wales in Welsh Language and Classical studies. He has since supplemented this with a BA in Classics from the University of New England. John has taught in primary schools and taught Latin at secondary schools. He has taught Latin, Classical Greek, Welsh and other subjects relating to History, Literature, Celtic Studies and Music with WEA and with Continuing Education at the University of Sydney. He has lectured in Welsh at the University of Sydney.

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Council on the Ageing NSW. Tutor of WEA Sydney

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David Crawford PhD, Grad.Dip Policy Studies, BA (Hons). A newcomer to WEA teaching, he facilitated Men's Wellbeing workshops and retreats for several years including in California. David is a professional public sector research writer of 30 years, including with the House of Representatives Federal Parliament, UWS Men's Health Research Centre, Department of Premier & Cabinet, and the National Parks & Wildlife Service. A published author with articles in Men's Health Journal (UK), Friends on the Shelf Magazine (London), Sydney's Child, and the Southern Highlands News. Two self-published books of professional writings were produced in Paris. He has recently finished an intriguing book of Oral History interviews with Volunteer guides at the Maritime Museum in Sydney, of their hidden lives and work tales at sea and in the services 1950s-90s. He enjoys facilitative learning with participants. David knows learning is a two-way process, and flavours this with a mix of humour and fascinating content about Simone de Beauvoir, the French existentialist writer.

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Isabella, MEng, MTE, was born in Milan, Italy. She holds a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master’s in Management of Technology and Entrepreneurship from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne. After working in several fields for almost a decade, Isabella obtained a LOTE certificate from UNSW in order to teach Italian as a second language. She now teaches Italian for several institutions and schools. Isabella develops interactive, stimulating lessons and creates a relaxed atmosphere which makes the learning process enjoyable. She delivers lessons using extensive technology and a variety of materials. Isabella loves the challenge of finding the best approach to ensure everyone succeeds and reaches their goals.