WEA Sydney

Nicola Gates

Resume

Dr Nicola Gates is a Clinical Neuropsychologist, author, speaker and researcher with over twenty five years' experience working with adults to promote optimal health and wellbeing for body, brain and mind. The Feel Good Guide to Menopause, published January 2019 by Harper Collins, explains how women’s sex hormones impact the body, brain and mental health. Menopause has been a taboo subject which has been unhelpful so this book provides information and practical strategies.

Roy Gerente

Resume

A passion for Italy and its culture took Roy on a life journey of exploration which started in Greece and led to her Italian citizenship. She studied Italian language and literature and obtained a master's degree in teaching Italian to foreigners from the University of Venice. She taught Italian to adults and children for several years in group and individual settings. She has attended specialisation courses in Italy and worked in a corporate environment in Rome and Athens. In her class, students are encouraged to participate in a fun and relaxing environment where mistakes are welcomed as friends.

Jo Gerk

Resume

Jo Gerk is an Australian certified tour guide, who was born and raised in Germany. After years of moving back and forth between Germany and Australia, he finally settled in NSW in 2002. After a career in accounting, consulting and education in both countries, he has lately been working as a freelance tutor, trainer and tour guide since 2012. Jo is passionate about history teaching, travelling and landscape photography.

Carolyn Gerrish

Resume

Carolyn Gerrish gained her initial teaching qualifications from Newcastle Teacher’s College, followed by her undergraduate degree from Macquarie University, and her Masters from the University of Sydney. Having initially taught in the NSW Public Education system, Carolyn has run a wide variety of adult writing courses (in both literacy and creative fields) at Mosman and Sydney Community Colleges, Bankstown Skillshare, Wollongong University.


She is the author of five books of poetry: The Ground Slides Away, Learning to Breathe Under Water, Hijacked to the Underworld, Dark Laughter and The View from the Moon.

Matthew Gibbs

Resume

Matthew Gibbs - BEcon, GCertPubAff - has worked as a speaker, writer, adviser and teacher in the financial services, education and cultural industries for over 30 years. He was the General Manager of Media and Communications at the Australian Securities Exchange, serving six CEOs and four Chairs, and held similar roles at the Sydney Futures Exchange and at Axiss Australia, a public agency created to promote Australia as a financial services centre. He is a regular speaker, panellist and moderator for industry forums, training courses and cultural events. Matthew was the President of the Friends of the Nicholson Museum of Antiquities (now part of the Chau Chak Wing Museum) at the University of Sydney and presents programs on the enduring value of William Shakespeare, including touring NSW high schools with his theatre-in-education show A Bit of Bard. Matthew believes in the power of education to realise the poetic advice that it is never too late to seek a newer world.

Catherine Gibson

Resume

Catherine Gibson comes from an artistic and musical family and has many years of experience as an exhibiting artist, painter and printmaker. Her paintings are in private collections in Australia, UK, Hong Kong and Vanuatu. Last year, a portrait of her daughter was shortlisted for the prestigious Doug Moran Portrait Prize and her portrait and landscape work is included in the International Contemporary Masters (Vol 7).


She is a member of Mosman Art Society and the Headland Artists' Precinct at Middle Head. Catherine taught Visual Art and Photography at Davidson High School, and for several years worked as a Visual Art teacher in high schools. She has coordinated Life Drawing groups and developed and taught art programs to primary school-aged children.


Catherine has also run songwriting programs for adults in Community Colleges, and music workshops at music festivals and with community groups including Penrith Women’s Health Centre and Mercy Arms Community Connection Day Centre in Waterloo.

Christine Gietz

Resume

Christine Gietz (BA Dip Ed, Grad. Cert. in University Teaching) is the Education Manager at WEA Sydney and has held this position since 2021 and has tutored at WEA Sydney since 2012.  She also tutored and lectured in education and academic writing at The University of Notre Dame Australia for several years.  She is currently completing her PhD in Philosophy of Education with a view to graduating in 2025.  In October 2024 she was awarded as Highly Commended Trainer of the Year from Community Colleges Australia.  As a tutor, Christine has a passion for teaching poetry, Shakespeare, the English novel and Journal and Memoir Writing.  She brings an engaging and personal style to her teaching that stimulates topic engagement, student interaction and enduring learning.  She believes that teaching is both a privilege and a joy and it is this sense of joy in discovery and learning which she endeavours to convey to her students.

Melissa Gilbert

Resume

Melissa Gilbert is a Certified Financial Planner. She also has a Diploma in Financial Planning, Post Graduate Studies with Securities Institute of Australia and BA (Economics). Melissa has over 20 years' experience in the financial services industry, where she has worked at AXA Financial Planning MLC, Macquarie Bank and Colonial Bank and most recently Diamond Financial Solutions as an authorised representative of Charter Financial Planning (a Member of the AMP Group).


Melissa offers specialist advice in respect to financial planning, investments, insurance and superannuation. Among her many speaking assignments, Melissa has lectured for the Australian Stock Exchange, Accounting groups and Evening Colleges. She has also provided financial planning articles for the Australian Business Women’s network, CLEO, VIVE and Family Circle magazines. Melissa was Vice President for Women in Finance, a non-profit organisation for women in the financial services industry to network with peers, and to gain professional and personal development skills outside of their companies/businesses.

Gwen Gill

Resume

Gwendoline Gill is an experienced tutor who has worked in a variety of settings as an adult tutor with WEA Central Coast, and St George Community College, and as a tutor in Crafts for Kaszazz (Crafty Kids) for children. She has now developed her own craft consultancy, and is regularly published in craft magazines.

Len Gillespie

Resume

Len comes from a training and technical background and has spent more than 25 years in private business helping companies and individuals solve problems and deal with the daily challenges of working with technology.


Teaching in the tradition of T. Krishnamacharya (having completed the Advanced Diploma of Teacher Training with The Yoga Institute) Len enjoys teaching privately in one-on-one sessions as well as exploring the many benefits of practicing Yoga and Meditation in the class setting.


Len is currently studying Yoga Therapy which combines the most effective aspects of traditional Yoga and Ayurveda with modern medicine.