Our team
Our network brings together experience from China, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and Singapore—across movement, drama, music, visual arts, psychology, education, technology and environmental practice.
Core faculty & international mentors
Our core team combines registered practice, university teaching, community facilitation and international creative-arts expertise.
Founder · Psychodrama & Student Development
An Australian registered counsellor and facilitator with extensive experience in applied psychodrama and more than six years of entrepreneurship in the psychology sector. David lectures within UNITAR and CIFAL Shanghai programme contexts and is undertaking a Master of Creative Arts Therapies, specialising in drama, at the University of Melbourne.
Co-founder · Dance Movement Therapy
A PACFA-registered psychotherapist and DTAA-registered dance movement therapist. Cindy holds master's degrees in Creative Arts Therapies and Education from the University of Melbourne and has taught or facilitated dance-based wellbeing programs with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Fudan University.
International Mentor · Trauma-informed Practice
A University of Melbourne placement supervisor and DTAA-registered dance movement therapist with more than 30 years of bodywork and movement practice across four continents. Her trauma-informed, somatic approach integrates Eastern and Western perspectives on health and wellbeing.
International Mentor · Dramatherapy
A University of Melbourne guest lecturer and registered dramatherapist affiliated with ANZACATA and the British Association of Dramatherapists. Natalie brings over a decade of experience across trauma, early-intervention psychosis, addiction, and child and adolescent mental health.
International Mentor · Applied Theatre
A community development and applied theatre practitioner with 40 years of experience facilitating individual and group learning. Johnnie works with Theatre of the Oppressed, Playback Theatre, music, embodied empathy and deep listening to build inclusive connection across cultures and abilities.
International Mentor · Playback Theatre
An applied theatre practitioner, educator and Accredited Playback Theatre Trainer. Michael teaches internationally, mentors advanced Playback Theatre leaders, and serves as lead trainer for Singapore's SDEA CET Playback Theatre Academy. He holds an MA in Arts Education and Practice from Goldsmiths, University of London.
Extended creative network
These profiles are drawn from ICATEA's programme handbook and show the range of perspectives available across our wider teaching and project network.
Global Mental Health & Outdoor Therapies
A National Health Commission psychotherapist and United Nations programme-certified instructor. Angelina studied Global Mental Health at King's College London and Outdoor Therapies at the University of the Highlands and Islands, with further training in phototherapy, counselling and psychotherapy. She has lived and studied across the UK, Japan, Italy and Africa.
Art Therapy & Illustration
A graduate of the School of Visual Arts with a BFA in Illustration and New York University with an MA in Art Therapy. Chenwei has completed more than 1,000 hours as an intern art therapist and brings nine years of study and life experience in the United States.
Music Wellbeing & Art Education
An education graduate of Shanghai Normal University, a children's music wellbeing practitioner recognised by the International Musicians Association, and a US National Guild of Hypnotists practitioner. Kris is the founder of Beitianyi Art Education.
Dance Movement Therapy
A Master of Creative Arts Therapies candidate in Dance Movement Therapy at the University of Melbourne, with dual majors in Visual Arts and Psychology from the University of Sydney. Ella brings a decade of study, work and life experience in Australia.
Clinical Art Therapy
An ANZACATA-registered art therapist with an MA in Art Therapy from LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore, and an MA in Arts from Beijing Normal University. Hippo has practised in Singapore General Hospital and Anglican Community Services psychiatric rehabilitation settings.
Permaculture & Eco-art
A Permaculture Design Certificate holder and practitioner who brings ecological ethics and design principles into creative learning. Alex is a co-founder of Groundhog Urban Farm.
Counselling, Trauma & Special Education
A University of South Florida counselling graduate with school counselling and K–12 special education credentials in Florida, plus special education credentials in Taiwan. Baiguo is trained as a clinical trauma professional and in applied behaviour analysis.
Applied Theatre & Playback Theatre
A theatre educator who has delivered thousands of drama, improvisation and applied-theatre sessions. Sean has trained in international Playback Theatre to Level Three and studied performance, role building and story construction with practitioners including Duke University faculty. He founded Huanxi Theatre and Guanxin Theatre Company.
Psychology & Social Innovation
A University of Virginia graduate in Psychology and Economics. Grace founded In-Between, selected by a US innovation incubator, and has led psychology work within an international development programme for Asian women. She is also the founder of Lovehub.
Music, Data & Interdisciplinary Practice
A Boston University graduate in Mathematics and Economics with an MS in Data Analytics. Jerry brings seven years of study and work in the United States alongside 17 years of music composition and guitar experience, including study with Shanghai JZ School and performances across China.
Art Coaching & Organisational Development
A postgraduate in Management Psychology from HKU Business School and a Tongji University graduate. Yuning is an ICF Associate Certified Coach, art and team coach, former strategy director, photographer, illustrator and Playback Theatre performer.
Sustainability & Ecological Design
An ESG sustainability and integrated ecological design planner, internationally certified permaculture designer and founder of Groundhog Farm City. Liufei connects environmental thinking with creative, community-based practice.
AI & Product Innovation
A Rice University Master of Computer Science graduate and senior product leader working across developer tools and artificial intelligence. Nick has contributed to the planning and delivery of GitHub Copilot and brings a decade of study and work experience in the United States.
Play Therapy & Expressive Arts
A Zhejiang Normal University Applied Psychology graduate with an MA in Educational Psychology and Counselling from National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. Ivy has trained in play therapy, group dynamics and expressive arts, supported children's mental health practice at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, founded Play Theatre and completed international Playback Theatre Level Three training.
Entrepreneurship & Wellbeing Practice
An entrepreneur with 19 years of experience across fashion, digital media, e-commerce and career coaching. Cici is a US National Guild of Hypnotists trainer, a UK Bach Centre flower remedy practitioner and an SRT practitioner.
Work with our team
Tell us about the student, institution or community you are supporting. We will shape a team and pathway around the objective.
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