Our team

Chan

My name is Chan, also known as Lily, and I am the operating manager of Young Learners ECE Centre. I arrived in New Zealand in 2005 to pursue my studies and have made it my home ever since. I became a qualified and certified ECE teacher since 2011 and have been running my daycare since 2016. My whānau includes my supportive husband and our two children, CJ and Moli.

My role here at YL is to support our wonderful kaiako so that, together, we can provide high-quality education and care for your children and our community. I look forward to meeting you all and growing together.

Lidiane

Olá famílias! My name is Lidiane, and I am the Centre 2IC at Young Learners, working alongside Lily and supporting our kaiako and tamariki across all rooms. I am originally from Brazil and have called New Zealand home for the past 15 years. My husband, Fadi, and I have two children, Daniel and Julia. As a family, we enjoy travelling, going to the park, and spending time outdoors together.

After becoming a mother, I discovered my passion for teaching and supporting young children to explore and make sense of the world in a fun, calm, and happy way. I began working as a teacher in 2021 and have continued to grow my knowledge and experience ever since.

 I hold a Certificate in ECE (Level 4) and have recently achieved the New Zealand Certificate in Supporting Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities (Level 4). This learning has further strengthened my interest in understanding individual differences and supporting children with diverse learning needs.

 I believe that every child has the capacity to learn and grow when they are understood, respected, and provided with the right guidance and support. In my role as Centre 2IC, I look forward to continuing my own professional growth while working alongside our kaiako, tamariki, and whānau to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment where every child can thrive.

Lisa

My name is Lisa, and I am the Lead Teacher in our Tui (Infant) Room. I began my teaching journey in 2008 and bring many years of experience, supported by professional learning and a strong commitment to nurturing infants and supporting their whānau. As a mother of five grown children and a grandmother of three, caring for young children is both my passion and my privilege.

I believe children thrive when they feel safe, secure, and genuinely known. Through responsive relationships, consistent routines, and calm, engaging environments, I aim to create a space where infants feel confident to explore and learn.

Outside of teaching, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, being in nature, and reading for personal growth. I look forward to working alongside you and your whānau.

Jamie

Ko Jamie Ho toku ingoa and I am one of the kaiako in the Pūkeko room. I started my journey as a registered kaiako in 2022 in our Tui room, where I learned the importance of supporting young tamariki holistically. My passion, however, lies in teaching preschool tamariki and helping them get ready for the big school- so I moved to the Pukeko room in 2023. I love doing arts and crafts, singing and dancing, playing different sorts of outdoor games and having meaningful conversations with the tamariki.

During my personal time, I love spending it with my family- my husband, Edison, my son Benaiah who has recently joined Young Learners and Bethel who is now in primary school.

I am looking forward to building relationships with you and your tamariki.

Nana

こんにちは (Konnichiwa),

My name is Nana; I am originally from Japan. and I am a qualified and registered teacher with over five years of experience. I have completed my Early Childhood Education studies here in New Zealand. I believe every child is unique and capable, and I am passionate about supporting tamariki to become confident, independent, lifelong learners.

I live with my husband and our two beautiful daughters. In my spare time, I enjoy being outdoors, especially walking on the beach with a coffee in hand.

Flavia

My name is Flávia, and I am originally from Brazil. I now call Aotearoa New Zealand a second home, where I live with my husband and son. I began my journey at Young Learners at the end of July 2025, working as a relief kaiako.

I feel privileged to be in this role, as it lets me build meaningful connections with our tamariki, help create a sense of belonging, support their learning, and witness their growth. Working as a relief kaiako also allows me to support kaiako across different rooms, get to know children of different ages, and contribute positively to our wider learning community.

I come from a family of educators, so teaching and supporting children has always been part of who I am. This passion has grown even stronger since becoming a mother, deepening my understanding of care, empathy, and the importance of nurturing and respectful relationshipsana

Amanda

Ni Hao and Kia ora Whānau, I am Amanda, kaiako in the Pukeko room. I migrated to New Zealand from China in 2016 and have been working in ECE since 2017. I am a qualified registered teacher with a GD in Teaching (ECE), and I have mostly worked with children aged 2–5 years. I live in Western Heights with my husband, Taylor, and our two school-aged children, Daniel and Abby.

I value play-based learning as a foundation for children’s holistic development. I see children as confident, capable learners and support their learning by following their interests and strengths. Building respectful and reciprocal relationships with children and their whānau is central to my practice.

Wendy

親愛的家長您好！ (Dear families),

My name is Wendy, and I am a qualified and provisionally registered teacher in the Kea Room. Originally from Taiwan, I am a proud mother of two beautiful girls who inspired my journey into teaching.

I believe that every child has unique potential, and with the right support and guidance, they can flourish in a nurturing environment. Creativity and hands-on activities are my passions, and I love incorporating them into meaningful learning experiences for tamariki.

I look forward to building wonderful learning memories and working closely with you and your tamariki.

Emma

Kia ora!

I’m Emma, an Infant Teacher in the Tūī Room. My fiancé Jacob and I have a son who attends Young Learners, which makes being part of this community extra special for us.

I’ve been working full time in early childhood education for two years and have completed my first year of a Bachelor of Education with NZ Tertiary College. I love creating a calm, caring space where tamariki can learn through play, make mistakes, and feel confident being themselves. Outside of work, I enjoy caring for plants, painting, and spending time with family in the kitchen cooking and baking.

Susann

Hallo zusammen, my name is Susann (Susi). I was born and raised in Germany and have been working as an ECE teacher since 2014. My husband Shayne and I have three children, William, Lilliana and Edwin, and we love spending time outdoors, especially at the beach, in the Waitākere Ranges, or going for walks.

I am a qualified and registered teacher and joined Young Learners since I moved back to NZ in 2022. I believe every tamaiti carries a treasure waiting to be discovered, and as a kaiako, I aim to support children to grow in confidence and thrive in a safe, caring environment. I also believe that teachers’ wellbeing is the foundation of strong teamwork.

I look forward to working with you and sharing many special moments.

Mei

Hai semua! My name is Mei, and I am from Malaysia. I speak English, Malay, and Mandarin, and I am a qualified and provisionally registered ECE teacher.

I am passionate about working with tamariki and believe that every child is unique and learns at their own pace. As a kaiako, I support children by following their interests and providing meaningful, enjoyable learning experiences. I value strong relationships and believe every child should feel safe, respected, and have a strong sense of belonging.

I look forward to learning and growing alongside the tamariki, whānau, and the team at Young Learners.

Lucy

Nǐ hǎo, hello everyone! I am originally from mainland China and came to New Zealand to study in 2002. Since then, New Zealand has become my home. I live here with my supportive husband and our two wonderful children, Mia and Lucas.

I have been part of Young Learners since Day 1, when the centre first opened, and I am very proud to have grown alongside our learning community. My main role is as the Centre Cook, preparing nutritious meals and kai for our children each day.

I also love spending time with children and supporting our teaching team. When needed, I help in the Tui room, particularly during emergencies or when extra support is required, and I may also step in to help cover teachers’ breaks. So, although you will often find me busy in the kitchen, you may also see me spending time with our tamariki in the rooms.

I really enjoy being part of the Young Learners whānau and look forward to continuing to get to know our children and families.