Executive Committee

Zainab Abdel-Gawad is an energetic and vibrant ESL Program Support Lead at G.A.Wheable. She has been working for Thames Valley District School Board for 27 years that have been full of accomplishments and dedication. In 1998, Zainab sailed her first ship in the ocean of ESL and landed at the shore of teaching newcomers to London. Then her ship was steered to a different direction where she was assigned Language Training in the Workplace portfolio for a couple of years. In 2019, Zainab had a shift in her career as she entered the realm of leadership where she was hired as an ESL Program Support Lead for four sites, B.Davison Secondary School, South London, South London Pool and Westminster Secondary School. Zainab continued to manage those ESL locations for 5 years with excellent leadership skills and determination. She also served as TESL London president from 2018-2020.

Zainab's educational background includes an MA in Adult education from Yorkville University and a bachelor's degree in English literature from Damascus University. 

Zainab loves to read books and enjoys her walks on the beach where she disconnects from her busy life and reflects on her dreams!

Jen Artan is an experienced CLB curriculum writer and presenter. She formerly worked with Ellii.com (formerly ESL Library). Jen has been a Learning Support Lead, having worked with Thames Valley District School Board and IWC Hamilton. Jen has also been a WRIT Professor at Fanshawe College (School of Liberal and Language Studies) and George Brown College. She is also a Mentor/Trainer with LearnIT2Teach (Avenue.ca). A certified Google Educator (Level 2), TESL Ontario Webinar Presenter, and a Masters of Education graduate from the Ontario Technical University, she likes to keep current on educational technology for adult learners. She has presented webinars on educational technology topics such as Generative Artificial Intelligence in Education, Google Apps for Education, Mobile Learning in Adult ESL, Pragmatics in ESL, and Blogging. Jen has also presented at the TESL Ontario Fall conference on "Project Based Learning in Specialized Language Training Courses". She presented at TESL Toronto, TESL Ontario, TESL Hamilton and TESL London's language conferences. Jen continues to work closely with TESL Ontario, developing webinar ideas for ESL instructors, and keeping current on how educational technology is used to help engage learning and develop 21st Century skills.

She also plays pickleball.  

Marcia received her Bachelor's Degree and Bachelor of Education at Western and completed her TESL Certification through the University of Saskatchewan in 2019. She is teaching ESL at the Centre for Lifelong Learning and serving as the TESL London Treasurer.

Ghazal is an accomplished English Language Teaching (ELT) professional with more than two decades of experience teaching adult learners, primarily in post-secondary settings. She has a PhD and MA in ELT and BA in English Language Translation. Ghazal is also a TESL Ontario Certified English Language Teacher (OCELT) and TESL Trainer. Being a life-long learner, Ghazal is currently pursuing a Master of Education at OISE with a focus on Online Teaching and Learning. Throughout her career, Ghazal has taught linguistically, educationally, and culturally diverse student populations in face-to-face and online contexts as an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) instructor, TESL trainer, and professor in Canada and overseas. Ghazal believes in empowering students to take ownership of their learning and become active members of their community. To this end, she supports her learners to develop not only academic skills but also the confidence and autonomy needed to thrive in academic and professional settings.

Ghazal has held several leadership roles, including TESOL Coordinator and Practicum Supervisor, where she coordinates practicum and supports faculty to ensure compliance with TESL Ontario and Canada standards. Before joining TESL London, Ghazal served as an Affiliate Chapter Representative with TESL Windsor for four years. Ghazal’s research interests are exploring teacher identity and reflective practice in TESL and designing digital learning tools that support language development and socio-emotional learning of students in post-secondary ELT contexts. She has published articles on second language (L2) vocabulary development, L2 listening instruction, and language learners’ beliefs, which have been cited by scholars globally.

Gita is an experienced SLT/ESL Instructor with the Thames Valley District School Board, where she supports adult learners in developing their English language skills for academic, professional, and everyday success. With over 20 years of teaching experience across multiple countries, Gita brings a rich, global perspective to her work and fosters an inclusive, respectful, and learner-centered classroom environment. She holds two Master’s degrees in Education and completed her academic training at Western University. Gita also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a diploma in Human Resources Management from Centennial College. Her extensive qualifications in teaching English as a second language to adults reflect her deep commitment to lifelong learning and educational equity. Passionate about empowering newcomers and promoting diversity in education, Gita continuously integrates innovative teaching strategies to meet the diverse needs of her students.

Joy is a passionate and rising ESL instructor at TVDSB. She exudes her vibrant energy during teaching because of her sports background. After getting her Master’s degree in TESOL from Western University and Post-graduate certificate in Advanced Communication, she happily joined TVDSB.  

Sports, linguistics and psychology are her jam. She is also a story teller with a big heart. She is one of the most bubbly, outgoing, helpful and cultured people you will ever come across in your life time.

Brian is an experienced English Language Teaching (ELT) professional dedicated to preparing students and training new teachers for global success. His career has spanned across South Korea, China, and Canada, including extensive online synchronous instruction, curriculum development, and CAEL proficiency test preparation. As a TESOL trainer accredited by TESL Ontario, Brian has trained over 150 new teachers and mentored 75+ practicums, with graduates employed across seven Canadian provinces and internationally.

In addition to teaching, Brian has held significant leadership roles, including Academic Coordinator and Head of Academics, where he oversaw TESOL certification, coordinated practicums, and supported faculty development to ensure compliance with TESL Ontario and Canada standards. His administrative experience also includes serving as Treasurer for TESL Canada, where he managed an annual budget and contributed to the organization’s strategic restructuring.

Brian is committed to the ELT community through ongoing volunteer work with TESL London, having helped organize numerous professional development events and annual conferences. His educational background includes an MA in TESOL and a commitment to continuous professional development, with specialized certifications in language program management, IELTS test preparation, and portfolio-based language assessment.

He is passionate about empowering students and educators to succeed and is always open to connecting with others in the ELT community.