Our Team
Ensuring both the well-being of our pupils and a meaningful learning journey is our very first priority and constant focus. Teaching staff at LIFT are seasoned professionals, with a substantial track-record in an international establishment setting, native speakers of their teaching language, and with required higher education qualifications to teach pupils from their home country.
Administrative team
Anthony Belin
Head of Establishment
Anthony grew up in France where, after studying in “classes préparatoires”, he graduated with a double master’s degree at the Panthéon-Sorbonne University in philosophy and teaching.
After getting his teaching certification, he worked in various Parisian establishments to then experience the richness of a bilingual education for five years at the Taipei European Establishment.
This professional career at the crossroads of languages convinced him that a quality education must build a dialogue between cultures and offer the conditions to bring out the singularities and potentialities of each child. To him, the classroom represents a space for exchanges between researchers, teachers, parents and students to build a joyful and lively relationship with knowledge and to raise future generations of enlightened citizens, who are advocates for sustainability.
Ching-Wen Liang
Head of Finance and Administration
Ching-Wen was born in Taiwan and brings a wealth of expertise in financial management, administrative operations, and innovative technology applications, including the use of artificial intelligence to enhance decision-making and operational efficiency. With a diverse background encompassing consulting and leadership roles in multinational corporations and emerging startups, she has excelled in strategic planning, data analytics, risk management, and organizational transformation.
Beyond her professional career, Ching-Wen is passionate about pro-bono initiatives, including facilitating climate change awareness workshops. She is also committed to education for both children and adults.
Ching-Wen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, a Master’s degree in Financial Engineering from leading Taiwanese universities, and a Master’s in Management from ESCP Business Establishment in Paris.
Fluent in both English and Chinese and having studied French in recent years, Ching-Wen is a highly effective cross-cultural communicator. She is dedicated to advancing LIFT’s financial stability, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth while supporting the establishment’s mission of trilingual and international education.
Tristan Chang
Administrative & Financial Officer
Tristan graduated from the french department of Fu Jen University. Inspired by the class of linguistics during the four years in the college, he went to Belgium to study more about French linguistics at the University of Louvain.
Coming back to Taiwan, he worked as a director of academic affairs in a private institution for three years and also taught students from 7 to 18 years old English. During the three years in the institution, he was also Vice-director of the institution to help the director to deal with administration work and students’ affairs.
Albertine Chambenoit
Administrative officer
Albertine is half French and half Taiwanese and grew up in Taiwan. She is fluent in Chinese, English, and French, and is comfortable working in multicultural environments. She studied arts at Fu-Hsin Trade and Arts School and earned a degree in French from Chinese Culture University. Part of her upbringing was spent in Shanghai, where she attended a French school, helping her develop strong adaptability.
During university, she participated in two theater competitions, which strengthened her creativity and communication skills. Albertine also completed a six-month internship in Brittany, France, assisting with Chinese language teaching and cultural exchange activities. She worked for four years at Lutetia French Bakery in Tianmu, gaining valuable customer service and teamwork experience.
Chloé Leybros
Marketing and Fundraising Manager
Chloé grew up in France, where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Foreign Languages (English-Chinese) and then a Master’s degree in International Business at the University of Bordeaux Montaigne. Passionate about the Chinese world, she took part in university exchange programs in Beijing and then in Taipei, where she developed a deep attachment to Taiwan.
She began her career as an export sales representative for a Bordeaux wine estate, before moving to Malaysia, where she held Asia-Pacific Area Export Manager positions in several companies.
Today, she brings her expertise in marketing and business development to LIFT, supporting the promotion of its values and educational project.
Gwenola Galicher-Chen
School life manager and administrative officer
Gwenola is French and was born in Normandy. She studied in the medico-social field in Orleans. After that, she worked in the area of Montpellier. She worked in institutions dedicated to child welfare, then to adult reintegration, before joining a facility that support foreign people in their asylum application.
At the same time, her passion for oceans and seas made her take professional training in scuba diving. Raising awareness about ocean protection is a cause that she deeply cares about, and she is proud to be able to share and transmit it.
Gwenola is extremely proud to join LIFT’s pedagogical team and to share with them the goal of a learning respectful of each pupil’s evolution. Our mission is to enable them to discover and explore new things everyday.
Amandine Ispa
School life manager and administrative officer
Amandine holds a Master of Science in Business Engineering and International Projects.
She began her career in management control, a role she held for eight years within central departments and branch offices. She then continued her career as a project manager (MOA) and research officer for six years in a private company, providing support to management and sales teams through operational analyses.
Having lived in Taiwan for several years, Amandine is delighted to bring her experience and skills to LIFT, contributing to its development and the structuring of its projects.
Lysa Poumirol
School life manager
Born on the beautiful Reunion island, Lysa has always had a passion for exploring the world. She has lived in Michigan (USA), France for her university studies, New Zealand for work, and has been in Taiwan since 2024 to further her Mandarin skills.
Lysa currently teaches French at cram schools, where some of you may have already met her. She is outgoing, warm, and genuinely delighted to spend time with children.
Primary
Marine Verchain
Primary Teacher CP (1st Grade)
Marine has always been attracted to learning languages. She first took a degree in foreign languages, English and Chinese, at the Aix-Marseille University, then she moved to Taiwan to improve her Mandarin. She then became interested in teaching French. She therefore decided to take a master’s degree in teaching French as a foreign language.
For more than 10 years, Marine has actively taken part in many activities related to teaching about French and French culture in Taiwan, working with the association of French teachers in Taiwan. She also was in charge of teaching summer camps for children at the Alliance Française. This allowed her to learn more about teaching French to the youngest.
It is very important for her to be in contact with others in order to develop truly authentic relationships. She believes that language teaching should be done with respect for the culture of the student and offer an environment where the learner feels encouraged and supported to allow him to improve.
Nezli Hafiz-Khodja
Primary Teacher CE1 (2nd Grade)
Nezli grew up in Austria, France and Algeria. She studied Hypokhâgne and Khâgne and has two bachelor’s degree : one in History and one in Italian. She then graduated two masters degree in primary establishment teaching : one from the IUFM of Montpellier and one from ESPE de Paris-Sorbonne. She has been a civil servant primary establishment teacher in the Academy of Paris for 8 years. Training and experiences gave her the opportunity to pass certifications in digital teaching, English, German and Italian primary teaching, and teaching French as a second language.
French and Algerian binational woman, she is fund of culture, languages and foreign lands : she speaks 7 languages and lived in 5 countries before coming to Taipei. As a former Lycée Français pupil, coming back there as a teacher was the obvious choice.
It is with a great commitment that she joined the LIFT team, which project fascinates her from the start. The pedagogy by project, the multilingual and multicultural teaching, the use of digital in teaching, the cooperation with the parents and, most of all, the pleasure of learning and the well being of the pupils are her favorite professional matters.
Valérie Catrice-Brignon
Primary Teacher CE2 (3rd Grade) / Primary Coordinator
Valérie has spent the 10 first years of her life abroad, where she evolved in a multicultural environment. After she graduated in history and geography, she later studied musicology. She taught music for a few years in a parisian high-establishment before taking the civil service entrance examinations for Primary teachers.
She then taught different establishments in Paris before leaving for Germany where she lived for 9 years, then Egypt for 3 years and finally 9 years in Taiwan at the Taipei European Establishment, multiculturalism being the guiding principle of her professional and personal life.
She has always attached the utmost importance to teaching in an innovative, dynamic and caring framework, and put at the forefront of her work to allow each of her pupils to progress at its own pace. For Valérie, to listen to the needs of the pupils is a priority to be able to create an adequate learning environment.
Maxence Villion
Primary Teacher CE1-CE2 (2nd Grade- 3rd Grade)
Maxence studied Education Sciences and completed a Master’s degree in Teaching at the University of Saint-Étienne, France. After teaching 3rd grade to 5th grade students in France, he moved to Cuenca, Ecuador, where he taught 5th grade in a bilingual school.
Most of his pupils were just beginning to learn French, which strengthened his commitment to differentiation and to creating a caring and supportive classroom.
For Maxence, teaching means building a climate of trust and cooperation where every child feels valued and is encouraged to progress at their own pace, while finding joy in learning.
Pierre Pellerin
Primary Teacher CM1-CM2 (4th Grade - 5th Grade)
Pierre was born in the North of France. He started graduate education in preparatory class in Lille, then joined a business establishment for one year in Montpellier. He then chose to turn to teaching to become a Primary teacher. Pierre holds a bachelor degree in English and Spanish and two Master’s degrees in Teaching and Education; one from the university of Montpellier and one from the Sorbonne university.
At the same time he grew out of international experiences through internships abroad in New-York and Lisbon, and a certification to teach French to allophone students. After a career of 7 years in Paris, Pierre joined a establishment in Tunis.
He is a teacher with an international mindset, who considers teaching as a rewarding vocation, focused on the well-being and fulfillment of pupils but also communication with pupils’ parents. He works to pass on values such as mutual respect, solidarity, autonomy and citizenship training.
Elise François
Primary Teacher CM1-CM2 (4th Grade - 5th Grade)
Elise was born in the North of France, where she studied a Chinese language, literature and civilisation bachelor’s degree before specializing in a master’s degree of French as a Foreign Language. Passionate about foreign cultures, she also studied a bachelor’s degree of English at the same time.
After several experiences abroad, she arrived in Tiwan 4 years ago and taught french in different private establishments in Taipei. During her career, she worked with children from different cultures and origins, and could thus develop a pedagogical approach adapted to their needs. Teaching to foreign children in France helped her understand the issues non native learners can be confronted to in a total french environment.
In her class, Elise actively encourages oral participation and expression by creating a reassuring environment where kids feel comfortable expressing themselves in french. Her objective is to make french learning fun and interesting, so that each pupil can improve at its own pace.”
Secondary
Uira Picard
French and Latin Teacher
From his childhood, Uira grew up in a multicultural environment, between France and Brazil. Former Sciences-Po Bordeaux student, he graduated in Philosophy and Modern Literature. During his studies, he did some university exchanges at the Coimbra economics university, in Portugal, then at Cluj-Napoca in Romania.
After his studies, he teaches modern literature in a high establishment near Bordeaux, where he trains its classes to the Baccalauréat. Then he goes to Malaysia to teach French as a Foreign Language at the Alliance Francaise of Kuala Lumpur. At the same time he teaches Literature History at the American Establishment to a french speaking class. Back in France, he teaches French at middle establishment, first at Bordeaux then in a bilingual establishment in Paris.
In his work, he regularly shows his will to encourage his pupils and bring to all, according their needs, some help. He offers at the same time reassuring rituals and demanding projects. His diverse training enables him to offer a transdisciplinary teaching in order to make them build themself a solid classical culture, a must-have to overcome modern world’s challenges. He is convinced that Literature and imagination artworks help the student’s self-fulfillment as individuals and as future citizens.
Quentin Vanlaethem
History and Geography Teacher
Born in northern France, Quentin first studied law with a major in political science at the University of Lille, aiming to work in political collaboration, before turning toward a master’s degree in education.
He began his teaching career in Economics and Social Sciences at a high school based on scout pedagogy, located in a forest north of Paris. After journey to Taiwan, he decided to settle there to teach history, geography, and civic education.
Across the subjects he has taught and the variety of students he has worked with, Quentin has pursued the same mission: to help shape future citizens who are both thoughtful and responsible, by fostering critical thinking and strategic awareness through play.
Nicolas Perrot
Mathematics Teacher
Nicolas is a certified teacher since 2001. Originally from France, he has had the opportunity to work in very diverse contexts: an urban middle school near Paris, a rural middle school in the Bordeaux area, and a city-center high school in Bordeaux.
These experiences have helped him develop strong adaptability skills and the ability to support students with very different profiles. He enjoys engaging students in hands-on activities and group work, encouraging cooperation and active learning.
In addition, he has led several clubs, most recently a video club where students created documentaries about species protection, cultural projects, or tutorials designed to help their peers.
Salomé Galicher-Chen
Science Teacher
Salomé is Taiwanese and has been fascinated by nature, particularly the sea, ever since she discovered scuba diving about ten years ago. She first earned a bachelor’s degree and then a master’s in ecology and biodiversity at the University of Montpellier, while completing marine biology research internships in Taiwan and Belgium. She then pursued a PhD at Aix-Marseille University, where she studied interactions between plankton and planktivorous fish.
In 2021, she returned to Taiwan and worked as a postdoctoral researcher at National Taiwan University, participating in plankton sampling campaigns at sea.
Today, she has chosen to share her passion for the ocean and science with the children at LIFT, offering them an insight into the underwater world and hoping to awaken in them an ecological awareness for future generations.
Alban Coueffé
Music and Art Teacher
Born in Lyon, France, in a musical family, Alban studied classical violin at the Conservatoire de Lyon before moving toward rock and experimental music, later immersing himself in Arab-Andalusian and Baroque traditions. During his studies at National Taiwan University, he joined the Chinese orchestra NTUCO. He holds a PhD in Transcultural Studies and a diploma in acupuncture (Geneva, 2006). He currently teaches at the Ethnomusicology Institute of NTNU and the Traditional Music Institute of TNUA.
He contributed to various soundtracks, most notably The Assassin (Hou Hsiao-hsien), designed board games such as Yes! Ginseng (Good Design Award, 2018), and studied lutherie across Taiwan, Belgium, Japan, France, and Turkey. He also designed/conceived, and prototyped instruments for the Taiwanese brand Kai Ukulele, and exhibited his work at Shanghai, Tokyo and in Hawai’i.
Awarded Best Musician at the 2017 Golden Indie Music Awards with the band Bazaar, he was also nominated at the Golden Melody Awards in 2016 and 2018.
Zachary Meftah
Primary and Secondary Physical Education Teacher
Born in Lyon, France, Zac grew up with a deep passion for sports, especially football, which he has played at a high level since childhood.
Over the years, this passion led him to discover and practice many other sports, fueling his curiosity and open-mindedness.
Alongside his undergraduate studies in Lyon and a master’s degree in Taiwan, he always maintained a strong involvement in the field of sports.
In Taiwan, he joined a sports academy where he taught physical education and discovered the importance of educating children through physical activity.
Zac is happy to be part of LIFT, a rewarding experience where he continues to learn every day, both professionally and personally.
Language teachers
Kuoying Chiang
Mandarin Primary Teacher
Kuoying graduated from the Department of Applied Psychology of Fu-Jen University. Her studies focused on counseling and psychotherapy. During that time, she regularly went to remote villages to participate in children’s summer camps and studied children’s physical and mental development, psychotherapy, and educational psychology. Kuoying has worked in a children’s clinic and special children’s education institutions for many years.
Kuoying then studied in France. After living in France for more than ten years, she opened a Chinese tea house, to promote Chinese tea and music. It quickly became a Sino-French cultural exchange institution. During the 2003/04 Sino-French Cultural Exchange Year, she cooperated with French music artists to integrate Guzheng and Tang poetry into her music creation.
After returning to Taiwan with her family, Kuoying engaged in French-Mandarin translation work and worked with Waldorf Education. She then joined the French Section of the Taipei European Establishment. She trained in Chinese as a foreign language for children and held various positions such as special education assistant, preestablishment Teacher and Primary MandarinTeacher.
With a background in psychology, many years of cross-cultural experience and nearly ten years of work experience in the field of children’s education, Kuoying believes that one should understand children before teaching them. Through multilingual learning, children can develop the ability to face the world of tomorrow, to understand and put into practice universal values.
Viviane Fan
Mandarin Primary Teacher
Viviane Fan is currently completing a Bachelor’s degree in French Language and Literature with a minor in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language at National Central University, Taiwan. She also studied at the University of Limoges, France, as an exchange student.
Viviane has taught Chinese in Belgium as a language assistant at UC Louvain Saint-Louis Brussels and ECEPS Charleroi, leading oral activities and supporting pupils’ pronunciation and cultural learning. She has also worked as a teaching intern at an elementary school in Taiwan, designing creative courses and cultural camps for children.
Viviane brings an intercultural perspective and a passion for fostering engaging, learner-centered classrooms.
Ying-Hsuan Lee
Mandarin Primary and Secondary Teacher
Ying-Hsuan graduated from National Taiwan Normal University with a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language. Throughout her academic career, Ying-Hsuan earned the secondary teacher credential as well as the International Baccalaureate (IB) educator certificate.
Ying-Hsuan has taught Mandarin at several establishments in Taiwan and abroad over the past 5 years. She has had experience teaching preestablishmenters at a Chinese immersion kindergarten in Germany, developing their language abilities in a natural setting. She has also worked with young pupils from numerous countries, ranging in age from 3 to 18, helping them improve their Chinese language skills. Furthermore, Ying-Hsuan has also worked as a classroom teacher in a Taiwanese public establishment, demonstrating her adaptability to various educational settings.
Through these experiences, Ying-Hsuan has gained valuable insights into meeting diverse learning needs. The most important thing to her is to create a welcoming classroom environment in which children can build lifetime passions for learning and reach their full potential.
Maggie Hsiao
Mandarin Primary and Secondary Teacher
Maggie Hsiao was born in Taiwan. She holds a PGDE (Postgraduate Diploma in Education) in TCSL (Teaching Chinese as a Second Language), which emphasizes the IB International Baccalaureate certificate, from the University of Hong Kong. Additionally, she has a master’s degree in TCFL (Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language) from Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Maggie has taught Mandarin at the English Schools Foundation for grades 7-13, covering the IB MYP, IGCSE, and IB DP curricula, as well as serving as a Chinese homeroom teacher under the Canadian Alberta Curriculum in Hong Kong. Prior to her teaching career, she worked as an international cabin crew member based in Singapore and Hong Kong.
Maggie is proud to be part of LIFT, where she enjoys daily growth in a positive, caring, and open-minded environment alongside the LIFT family.
Kimberley Ward
English Primary Teacher
Kimberley grew up in the UK and graduated with a degree in Forensic Science and Biological Anthropology. Soon after she set about acquiring her PGCE teaching certification from Chester University.
Since graduating Kimberley has enjoyed 9 years of teaching in both British and international establishment settings including the vibrant and multicultural International Establishment Seychelles before finally settling in her home away from home, Taiwan.
For 3 years, Kimberley worked at a prestigious bilingual private establishment in Taipei where she was a grade leader and subject leader for English and Mathematics and an English homeroom teacher in a bilingual primary establishment classroom.
Kimberley approaches teaching and learning from a global perspective. Her scientific background makes Kimberley a passionate advocate for inquiry-based learning and kinesthetic activities as part of learning. For Kimberley the most important thing is creating an inclusive classroom environment and forming meaningful connections with students in order to personalize their learning journey.
Omar Rivera
English Primary teacher and Spanish Secondary Teacher
My journey in the educational field full-time started more than six years ago, and to this day, I have never regretted saying yes to such a life-changing invitation.
I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic; from a very young age, I was surrounded by educators: my grandmother was a primary establishment teacher for several years, eventually becoming director, and my dad and uncle were part-time college professors. This made a huge impact on my life and education.
I have been evolving in an international educational system, teaching local and international students the American curriculum. I have enjoyed teaching English and Art at the elementary establishment level and Spanish and Math in high establishment.
My greatest desire regarding teaching goes beyond the academic: I yearn to see my students grow and develop good character, morals, compassion, and sympathy for each other.
Luke Springett
English Primary Teacher
Luke is originally from the UK and grew up along the south east coast before moving to London for university. He graduated from Roehampton University with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and soon started working in higher education. His role included working with international students from all over the world who came to study in the UK.
Luke moved to Taiwan in 2019, taking advantage of the youth mobility scheme shared between Taiwan and the UK. Since then, he has taken an active interest in furthering his skills and education, studying Mandarin part-time and then later taking a Master’s degree in international literature and languages from National Taiwan University.
During this time, he continued working with international students, interested in studying in the UK and teaching English at a number of different schools, including the British Council. These experiences have allowed Luke to grow as a teacher and educator, and have allowed him to truly understand the importance of good quality teaching and education.
Kate Billington
English Primary and Secondary Teacher
Kate grew up in the UK, where she studied French and Chinese at university. Her studies took her to Beijing and Paris, and after graduating she decided to pursue an MA in Intercultural Communication at Shanghai Theatre Academy. She then trained as an English teacher and began teaching in the UK.
Kate taught English as a Foreign Language and English Literature at the British Council in Paris for five years, before moving to the British Council Taiwan in 2023 to take on the role of Adult Coordinator. In 2025, she moved to LIFT to work as an English teacher in an environment that allows her to use her French, English and Chinese, all while pursuing her passion for teaching.
Kate particularly enjoys teaching teenagers and helping them to explore different ways to express themselves through spoken language, theatre, and creative writing. For her, the most important part of teaching is ensuring students’ wellbeing is protected, and fostering a love of learning that students will take with them through their lives.
Solène Cornilleau
French as a Foreign Language Teacher
Solène has been teaching French as a foreign language (FLE) for 15 years, and is a landscape gardener specializing in the creation of gardens in urban environments. Passionate about teaching and nature, she has combined her pedagogical skills with her expertise in horticulture and ecology to propose innovative projects in establishments. Thanks to her action-based approach, Solène transforms establishment gardens into veritable learning laboratories, where students discover nature in all its forms through practical, ecological activities. Her initiatives aim not only to enrich students’ educational experience, but also to promote biodiversity and sustainability in urban environments.
