Academic English teaching team
Find out more about the Academic English teaching team of UCAE.
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Sara Ahsan - Senior Language Tutor, English
Sara has been at the University of Manchester since 2009, but prior to that worked in Further and Secondary Education. She has BA in Modern Languages and speaks several European and Asian languages. At the UCAE she is the co-ordinator for Foundation Programmes in the faculties of Science and Engineering, Biology, Medicine and Health.
She is also currently doing a Doctorate in Education in the role of generative AI in developing academic literacy skills for study in Higher Education for international students who use English as a second or additional language. Apart from an interest in languages whether human or artificial, she has travelled widely for both work and leisure to experience different cultures and food.
She is involved in environmental issues and her favourite place in the world at this moment in time is the Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam as it is a haven for peace and biodiversity which are the two things she is passionate about.
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Craig Davis - Senior Language Tutor, English
Craig holds a BA in International Business, an MA in Applied Linguistics, the Cambridge ICELT and a Postgraduate Certificate in English Language Teaching with Assessed Teaching Practice (covering DELTA modules). A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, he is working towards Senior Fellowship and is an aspiring PhD candidate.
Before joining The University of Manchester in 2022, Craig taught EFL in South Korea and EAP in Turkey, EAP and Foundation Business Management AT Huddersfield, and EAP at King’s College London, where he was assistant coordinator for Pre-sessional programmes and nominated twice for the King’s Education Awards.
At the University Centre for Academic English, he develops and coordinates assessments for Pre-sessional courses and teaches across course units. His interests include inclusive assessment, sustainable learning and widening participation in higher education. Craig also works as an IELTS Speaking Examiner.
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Ben Enticknap - Academic English Tutor
Ben has a master's degree in TESOL from the University of Nottingham in addition to a Diploma in Teaching English to speakers of other languages (DELTA).
Before joining the University of Manchester in 2022, Ben taught EFL in Japan and Russia where he co-founded and managed a language school.
Ben’s role at UCAE includes teaching on a range of courses. He is also involved in writing materials, including developing a credit-bearing course for undergraduates studying in Manchester on an exchange programme.
He is interested in creating opportunities for continuing professional development and took a leading role in organising the 2025 UCAE Conference.
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Claire Everett - Senior Language Tutor, English
Claire holds an undergraduate degree in Modern Languages from the University of Oxford and a master’s in Education (TESOL) from The University of Manchester. She also holds the Cambridge DELTA and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Claire has worked in higher education since 2009, joining the University Centre for Academic English (UCAE) full-time in 2019 after roles at two other universities. She has taught in language schools, Further Education and overseas.
At UCAE, Claire teaches and coordinates across courses including the Academic Success Programme and Pre-sessional courses. She is particularly interested in course material development and staff training. Claire is a member of the University Qualifications Group and represents UCAE on the Committee for Social Responsibility and Internationalisation in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures.
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Mark Lawrence - Senior Language Tutor, English
Mark completed his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Manchester. After gaining his master's degree, Mark obtained his DELTA also in Manchester.
He has worked in Asia, Australasia and also Europe before working at The University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and The University of Sheffield where he ran the Pre-sessional course for 5 years.
Mark is also the external examiner for Nottingham Trent University for their Pre-sessional course as well as an OET examiner and assessor for Advance HE Fellowships.
Mark's interests lie in both Pre-sessional and in-sessional camps with a focus on innovative teaching methods.
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Nicola Harding - Academic English Tutor
Nicola has a BA in European Studies and Spanish from The University of Leeds, a Cambridge DELTA and is concluding an MA in Digital Technologies, Communication and Education at the University of Manchester.
Before joining the UCAE, Nicola worked in Hong Kong for a decade. She taught Business English in the banking and accountancy sectors before moving into Academic English and working as a Visiting Lecturer at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. In this role, Nicola specialised in teaching writing and speaking for specific degree pathways including Social Work and Marketing and Advertising. Nicola has also lived and taught in Shanghai, Seville, Mumbai, Frankfurt and Johannesburg.
Nicola currently teaches across a full range of UCAE courses. She has a particular interest in navigating learning and assessment in the context of AI and has recently been involved in designing a new strand of assessment.
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Rachel Heasley - Senior Language Tutor, English
Rachel coordinates in-year Academic English and Skills provision for students in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health and teaches across UCAE courses. She completed her undergraduate degree in Modern Foreign Languages at The University of Birmingham before teaching English in the UK and South America. She has a Diploma in Teaching English to speakers of other languages and a master's degree in TESOL and Applied Linguistics. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, working towards Senior Fellowship.
She started at UCAE as a Pre-sessional Tutor before becoming an Academic English Tutor in 2021 and transitioning to this role in 2024. She is interested in the changing role of technology, education, and creating student-centred learning environments. At UCAE, she has also tutored prospective students with the university's widening participation scheme and established ongoing teacher-training for volunteers teaching ESOL through the student-led Speak Up project.
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Dr Sheena Kalayil - Senior Language Tutor, English
Sheena holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Wales, an MA in Education and Applied Linguistics, and a PhD in Linguistics from Lancaster University. Her research explores migration and multilingualism, and her monograph, Second Generation South Asian Britons, draws on her PhD. She’s taught English in countries including Nepal, Mozambique, Tunisia and Equatorial Guinea, and held posts at Manchester Metropolitan, Keele, Staffordshire and Edinburgh universities.
Now a Senior Lecturer, Sheena teaches in both the University Centre for Academic English and the Centre for Translation and Intercultural Studies. She supports PGR students across Humanities and Science and Engineering, and has led on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at School level. Sheena is also a published novelist. Her latest book, The Others (FlyOnTheWall, 2025), follows her interest in identity and language. In her spare time, she performs in an acoustic duo, The Long Game.
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Alison Luke - Senior Language Tutor, English
Alison holds a BA in English Studies and Linguistics from the University of Nottingham and an MA in Linguistics from The University of Manchester. She gained the Cambridge RSA DipTEFLA and is working towards Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.
She has taught in the UK, Indonesia, Lithuania and Taiwan, and worked as an Academic Co-ordinator in Jakarta. At the University, Alison teaches on University-wide and in-Centre courses, and co-ordinates Pre-sessional and year-round programmes, including the English Winter and Summer Programmes.
She leads materials and course development projects, including for the CertPT in Teaching EAP, developed in partnership with Trinity College London. Her teaching and research interests include speaking skills, pronunciation, and first language influence on oral English. A trained teacher trainer, she regularly delivers CPD sessions and contributes to the BALEAP TEAP Accreditation Scheme as an observer.
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Neil McGregor - Senior Language Tutor, English
Neil has a BSc Computer Science, MA Applied Linguistics, Diploma in Teaching English to speakers of other languages (DELTA), and a PGCert HE.
Before joining The University of Manchester in 2013, Neil worked in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, Libya and China as a teacher and lecturer, and also worked as a quality assurance and process manager.
Neil’s is the UCAE lead on educational technology and focuses primarily on developing and coordinating the delivery of online material and courses. Neil’s interests lie in materials development, alternative assessment practices, and the use of AI in EAP practices.
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Sally Morris - Senior Language Tutor, English
Sally holds a BA in History, an MA in Applied Linguistics and a teaching diploma. She began her career teaching EFL and ESOL in a UN refugee camp in Singapore, before spending over a decade with the British Council in Italy, Bulgaria and Spain. Her roles included Business English, IELTS training and invigilation, medical English, and teacher training.
On returning to the UK, she became a CELTA trainer, setting up and supporting new training centres across the north-west, while continuing to work with refugees and asylum seekers. Before joining The University of Manchester in 2003, Sally taught on Pre-sessional and year-round courses at several UK universities.
At the University Centre for Academic English, she co-ordinates bespoke and credit-bearing course units, summer ESP courses and the Pre-sessional observations team. Her passion remains in the classroom, teaching both home and international students.
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Cassie (Thu Ngan) Ngo - Academic English Tutor
Cassie holds a CELTA, a DELTA, a BA in English Language and an MA in TESOL and Applied Linguistics. She is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Cassie came to Manchester in 2017 as an international student for her Master’s study, after a few years of teaching English in Vietnam. Since finishing her Master's, she has taught at universities in England, Scotland and China and at language schools in Brazil. She joined the University of Manchester in July 2024.
Cassie is also a researcher whose interest lies in integrating technology into learning and teaching. She is currently exploring the integration of AI literacy into EAP contexts. Her latest publication can be found in the journal English for Specific Purposes.
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Michelle Nixon - Academic English Tutor
Michelle has a BA in Drama, an MA in TESOL from The University of Manchester, and the Cambridge DELTA.
She has worked in a number of other universities, including Staffordshire University, BPP, King's College London and Keele University, in teaching and co-ordination roles. At Staffordshire University, she worked both in the UK and supported partners overseas including testing in Spain, and teaching and testing in China. She was an IPA for the International Foundation Programme, working with an institution in China, and worked in private language schools in the UK, Japan and Spain.
Her work involves both teaching and development work on a range of courses, including in-sessional and Pre-sessional courses. She received a Rewarding Exceptional Performance award for helping to convert a face-to-face Pre-sessional course to a fully online course in COVID.
Her interests lie in student experience and wellbeing, intercultural communication, and community building.
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Wayne Rimmer - Academic English Tutor
After reading classics as an undergraduate, Wayne completed postgraduate degrees in TESOL and education.
Prior to his current role, Wayne taught across a range of contexts and curriculum types in the UK and overseas.
Wayne teaches on pre-university, in-sessional and Pre-sessional courses. His professional interests are eclectic but he is committed to data-informed pedagogy.
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Kate Stainsby - Academic English Tutor
Kate holds an MA in Applied Linguistics, a Cambridge DELTA and a CELTA. Her passion for language and culture began in Qatar and Japan, and led to a career in English for Academic Purposes (EAP). At the University Centre for Academic English, she teaches across Pre-sessional, in-sessional, foundation and PhD support courses, and co-developed the CertPT in Teaching EAP.
Kate works closely with students from a range of disciplines – including Politics, Health Sciences, Chemistry, Business and Engineering – embedding EAP into their subject areas. She designs tailored course content and independent learning tools to meet varied academic needs.
Her interests lie in educational technology, including virtual reality and generative AI to enhance academic writing and digital literacy. She also contributes to research and projects on AI in education, digital assessment and inclusive, technology-enhanced learning.
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Kamil Stobiecki - Senior Lanuage Tutor, English
Kamil has a BA in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from Nicolaus Copernicus University (Poland) and an MA in Translation Studies from Aston University. Since 2009, he has taught English for Academic Purposes at several UK universities and joined The University of Manchester in 2011.
He teaches across General English, exam preparation, Pre-sessional and In-sessional Academic English courses. He also delivers the credit-bearing course unit Language Acquisition and Language Learners for MA Linguistics and supervises dissertations.
Kamil develops assessments and teaching materials, including end-of-course exams, and has co-ordinated Pre-sessional courses. He currently leads the Academic Success Programme for the Faculty of Humanities.
As UCAE's BALEAP representative, Kamil supports staff development, co-organising the UCAE Conference in 2023 and 2024. He holds a Cambridge DELTA (EAP specialism) and is working towards a Diploma in Leadership and Management.
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Liam Thomas - Academic English Tutor
Liam holds undergraduate degrees from the Universities of Liverpool and Salford, and a master’s in Applied Linguistics with distinction from Aston University. He also gained a distinction in the Cambridge DELTA. After teaching internationally – including at the British Council in Bangkok and Madrid, and at Menéndez Pelayo International University – he joined The University of Manchester full-time in 2022, having worked on Pre-sessional and summer courses since 2014.
At the University Centre for Academic English, Liam teaches across Pre-sessional and in-sessional academic and non-academic English programmes. He designs teaching materials and has led workshops on intercultural communication for staff, as well as sessions for volunteers supporting local parents with English as an additional language.
He is also an IELTS speaking examiner, with interests in corpus linguistics, discourse analysis and interactive teaching approaches.
