Karen Chetwynd
Karen ChetwyndChief Executive Officer

Karen has worked extensively in the education sector supporting Charity and Commercial success for over 20 years. Consistently focussed on achieving high-quality sustainable outcomes, Karen has worked with a variety of education providers across the UK and internationally navigating the ever-changing teaching and learning landscape.

Work with University partners; Ofqual Awarding Organisations and National Governing Bodies led Karen to support qualifications development from Entry to Post-Graduate, overseeing curriculum design within vocational Teacher Training; Performing Arts; Health and Fitness. Karen’s work has supported access to greater physical education within schools; widened vocational and academic transferability for Performing Arts trainees and helped specialist Higher Education institutions to achieve professional and statutory recognition. Karen continues to be hands-on with educational programme delivery and assessment believing that a practical, contemporary experience in the industry is essential in understanding learners and practitioners needs for today and the future. Karen holds a Masters in Educational Leadership & Management), is an experienced QAA Reviewer for Higher Education and continues to maintain an active research interest in authentic assessment practice to benefit learner progression.

Preeti Patel
Preeti PatelDirector of Education & Community

As Director of Education at Montessori Global Education, Preeti Patel draws on her extensive experience as a practitioner to support and develop students and their learning experiences across a wide portfolio of Montessori training and recognised qualifications. Familiar with the demands of discipline specialism provision and the involved delivery of regulated qualifications, Preeti oversees academic and professional support staff to ensure that both trainees and their qualifications are well prepared to enhance the professional sector upon graduation.

Of particular focus for Preeti is the integration and value placed upon the integral experiences developed onsite through work practice and placements opportunities within training for student and new teachers and educators entering the sector. After fifteen years practice in a Montessori day-care nursery as a qualified Early Years Educator and Nursery Manager, mentoring and supporting staff teams and individual Early Years practitioners is a passion for Preeti; having held the position of lead Academic Placement Tutor for Diploma and Degree level programmes and Course Leader she recognises the skills and professionalism required for this sector.

Rachel Shorter
Rachel ShorterFinancial Controller

Rachel Shorter, ACCA qualified Finance Director , renowned for her adaptability and strength in finance management. With a proven track record, Rachel excels in building robust reporting tools and leading multidisciplinary finance teams.

Rachel has an extensive and consistent track record of driving business value-adding financial processes, reports and cost controls. Her breadth of experience spans both the engineering and not-for-profit sectors, showcasing her versatility and ability to navigate the financial intricacies of diverse organisations. Rachel’s leadership style emphasises collaboration, innovation, and strategic financial management, driving success in every venture she undertakes.

Preeti Patel
Preeti PatelDirector of Education
After fifteen years practice in a Montessori day-care nursery as Nursery Manager and an Early Years Educator, Preeti took on the role of Academic Placement Tutor at Montessori Centre International (MCI). She is now our Director of Education.

Preeti holds a BA (Hons) Degree, Montessori International Diploma and an Early Years Teacher Status. Preeti has been involved in Safeguarding training and has delivered many CPD training sessions to colleagues over the last few years.

Rachel Shorter
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Andrea Garcia
Andrea GarciaMarketing & Communications Officer
Andrea is a skilled professional with a background in International Business and a love for Montessori education. With experience as a Montessori guide for children aged 3-6 in different countries and as a coach, Andrea blends her entrepreneurial spirit with a global perspective. She has gained insights into Montessori education through her own schooling and teaching roles, contributing to her understanding of Montessori educational practices and community dynamics.

Her career journey includes roles such as Marketing Product Manager at a global company, where she contributed to strategic campaigns and gained valuable experience in global marketing strategies.

Beatrice Luca
Beatrice LucaExecutive Development Liaison
Beatrice joined the organisation in February 2021, and she currently has a liaison role, facilitating and maintaining the communication between the organisation and our research partners, in order to foster mutual understanding and cooperation. Beatrice also works closely with colleagues on the team, aiding in organising relevant field events, such as panels, conferences, roundtables and meetings.

Beatrice has a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and a Master’s Degree in Business and Commercial Law. With over 10 years of experience in the field, she worked across the private and public sector, collaborating closely with business partners and local authorities. She is also interested in psychology, having earned a certification in “Methods, Techniques of Assessment, and Psycho Diagnostics in Adults and Children Using the DSM-V System.”

Jess O'Brien
Jess O'BrienDirector of Partnerships & Operations
Jess has worked in charities and the public sector for over 20 years – managing projects, developing partnerships and improving the quality of frontline services.

At Samaritans and Terrence Higgins Trust, Jess delivered major projects to improve services delivering person-centred emotional support. She successfully developed key partnerships for children’s services at Barnardo’s. While at Spurgeons, she delivered business improvement in services for prisoners and their young families.

Jess is committed to the values of respect, independence, curiosity and inclusion.

Joanne McIntyre
Joanne McIntyreAccreditation Co-ordinator
With 10 years’ experience in Adult and Primary education, Jo is a qualified Tutor with a QCF recognised Education and Training qualification – with a focus on Special educational needs Support. Her training and experience in Performing Arts has led her into teaching Drama and Musical theatre in the private sector.

Jo’s passion to facilitate the best learning environment for every child, has led to her work within Montessori Global Education as Accreditation Assessor for the STAR Accreditation framework and Accreditation Co-ordinator for the STAR Accreditation team.

Michelle Rice
Michelle RiceSTAR Administrator
With over 20 years’ experience in International Education Recruitment, Michelle has joined our team of STAR Administrators. Previously, Michelle was a founding member of a recruitment company that specialised in bringing overseas teachers to work in the UK and was responsible for sales, recruitment, safeguarding and compliance.

Originally from Australia, Michelle holds a Bachelor of Business from Queensland University of Technology and brings a breadth of skills that will help drive excellent customer service to our most valued partnerships.

Sinéad King
Sinéad KingE-Learning & E-Support Officer
For the past 25 years, Sinéad has worked as an IT professional with a broad competency across numerous areas of Information Technology, including delivery of and facilitating product training, application testing, authoring training and operational guides, delivery of bespoke software, website & graphic design, and support for multiple enterprise and global organisations. She holds a BA (Hons) Degree in Media Practices with Travel & Tourism.

Sinéad engaged with the role of E-Learning and E-Support Officer in January 2022, which involves maintaining the organisation’s website development & deployment, and supporting the E-Learning (LMS) Platform, both of which call upon effective design & technical knowledge.

Yelena Levashina
Yelena LevashinaFinance Assistant
Yelena joined Financial Team at Montessori Group in June 2019, she is dealing with day-to-day financial transactions of the organisation, analysing and recording them into the Accounting system, and provides support in financial administration across the departments.

Yelena is a qualified Bookkeeper (QCF) with background in travel and tourism industry and international publishing field. She holds Diploma in Economics from National State Institute of Turkmenistan, Diploma in Business Studies from Stratford College London and IAB Qualification in Bookkeeping.