Berkeley International Academy

Our Faculty

Mentors. Scholars. Practitioners.

At Berkeley International Academy, our greatest asset is not our building at Inverlochy Place, nor our technology, but the minds that guide our students. We have curated a faculty team that balances rigorous academic pedigree with real-world industry experience. Our teachers are active contributors to their fields, regularly publishing papers and engaging in continuous professional development.

Below, meet the Senior Heads of Faculty and Lead Instructors who will shape your child’s academic journey.

Computer Science & AI (CS-Adv Stream)

Dr. Aris Thorne Head of Technology & Innovation A former systems architect who traded the server room for the classroom. Dr. Thorne brings over 15 years of industry experience from London and Singapore. He is known for his “code-first, ask questions later” approach and his insistence that students understand the ethical implications of AI, not just the syntax.

  • Qualifications: PhD in Computational Logic (University of Edinburgh), MSc in Artificial Intelligence.
  • Specialisation: Machine Learning, Python, Data Ethics.
  • Selected Publication: “Algorithmic Bias in Secondary Education Assessment Tools.” Int. J. Ed. Tech. (2022). DOI: 10.1080/09523.2022.8842
  • Note: Dr. Thorne runs the weekly “Hack-Te-Aro” coding club and is notoriously strict about indentation standards.

Ms. Yuna Kim Senior Instructor, Computer Science Ms. Kim joined BIA after a successful stint as a front-end developer for a Wellington-based fintech startup. She focuses on bridging the gap between design and functionality, helping students create software that is intuitive for human users.

  • Qualifications: B.Sc. in Computer Science (KAIST), GradDipTchg (Secondary) (Victoria University of Wellington).
  • Specialisation: UI/UX Design, Web Development, Java.
  • Selected Publication: “Gamification Strategies in the Java Classroom.” NZ CompSci Teacher’s Journal (2023). Ref: NZ-CSTJ-23-401.

Visual Arts & Design (VAD-Pro Stream)

Mr. Marcus Sterling Head of Arts Faculty Marcus is a practicing artist whose works have been exhibited in galleries across Auckland and Melbourne. He believes that art is an intellectual discipline as much as a creative one. His studio classes are run with the intensity of a professional design agency, preparing students for the pressure of top-tier art schools.

  • Qualifications: MFA in Fine Arts (Elam School of Fine Arts), BDes (Spatial Design).
  • Specialisation: Painting, Architectural Modelling, Portfolio Curation.
  • Selected Publication: “The Silent Canvas: Spatial Negative Space in Urban Environments.” (2019). ISBN: 978-3-16-148410-0 (Monograph contributor).

Ms. Hinepau Williams Lead Instructor, Digital Media & Design With a background in Wellington’s thriving film post-production industry, Hinepau brings technical wizardry to the art department. She specialises in digital illustration and motion graphics, teaching students that technology is a brush, not a crutch.

  • Qualifications: BDes (Hons) in Visual Communication (Massey University).
  • Specialisation: Adobe Creative Cloud, Character Design, Motion Graphics.
  • Recent Work: Keynote Speaker: “Indigenous Narratives in Digital Media,” Wellington Design Forum (2024).

Pure & Applied Sciences (STEM-Res Stream)

Dr. Julian Ashcroft Head of Sciences Dr. Ashcroft is a purist who believes physics is the language of the universe. Originally from the UK, he has taught in international schools in Geneva and Hong Kong before settling in New Zealand. He is famous among students for his “Friday Explosions” demonstrations and his refusal to accept “close enough” as an answer in lab reports.

  • Qualifications: PhD in Theoretical Physics (Imperial College London), PGCE (Science).
  • Specialisation: Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Advanced Calculus.
  • Selected Publication: “Pedagogical Approaches to Quantum Mechanics at the Secondary Level.” Physics Education Review (2021). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevSTPER.17.0298X

Mrs. Sarah O’Connell Senior Biology & Chemistry Teacher Mrs. O’Connell brings a strong environmental focus to the science department. Before teaching, she worked in ecological conservation in the South Island. She integrates local Te Aro and Wellington harbour ecology into her chemistry and biology lessons.

  • Qualifications: M.Sc. in Marine Biology (University of Otago), B.Sc. (Chemistry).
  • Specialisation: Genetics, Organic Chemistry, Ecology.
  • Selected Publication: “Nitrogen run-off levels in semi-urban Wellington waterways.” NZ Journal of Marine Science (2020). ID: NZJMS-20-559.

Economics & Commerce (Econ-Biz Stream)

Mr. Simon Van Dyk Head of Commerce Mr. Van Dyk spent a decade in corporate banking in Johannesburg and Auckland before finding his vocation in teaching. He treats his classroom like a boardroom. He expects students to keep up with the Financial Times and frequently invites his former colleagues from the Wellington CBD to grill students on their business case studies.

  • Qualifications: MBA (University of Cape Town), BCom (Economics).
  • Specialisation: Macroeconomics, Business Strategy, Accounting.
  • Selected Publication: “Micro-financing models for youth entrepreneurship in the Pacific.” Pacific Economic Bulletin (2018). Ref: PEB-18-004.

Ms. Li-Mei Chen Teacher of Economics & Enterprise Ms. Chen specialises in the behavioural side of economics. She is fascinated by why people make irrational financial decisions and brings this psychological angle into her teaching. She also oversees the student-led “Young Enterprise Scheme” teams.

  • Qualifications: M.Com in Behavioural Economics (University of Auckland).
  • Specialisation: Consumer Behaviour, Game Theory, Marketing.
  • Selected Publication: “The Nudge Theory in Classroom Management.” (2023) – Internal Whitepaper, BIA Academic Review.

Mathematics & Logic (MAT-Cal Stream)

Mrs. Elena Sokolov Head of Mathematics Mrs. Sokolov is, affectionately, the most feared and respected teacher at BIA. With a background in the rigorous Eastern European mathematical tradition, she accepts nothing less than total logical clarity. She coaches the BIA Math Olympiad team and has a knack for spotting mathematical talent in students who think they “hate math.”

  • Qualifications: M.Sc. in Mathematics (Moscow State University), DipTchg (NZ).
  • Specialisation: Calculus, Linear Algebra, Number Theory.
  • Selected Publication: “Visualising Complex Variables for Year 13 Students.” Aust. Sr. Math. Journal (2019). DOI: 10.1007/ASMJ.2019.442

Mr. David Tane Senior Teacher, Statistics & Probability In contrast to Mrs. Sokolov’s abstract purity, Mr. Tane is all about data. He uses real-world datasets—from All Blacks rugby stats to Wellington weather patterns—to teach probability. He helps students see that statistics is the science of decision-making under uncertainty.

  • Qualifications: B.Sc. (Hons) in Statistics (Victoria University of Wellington).
  • Specialisation: Probability, Time Series Analysis, R Programming.
  • Selected Publication: “Data Literacy as a prerequisite for Digital Citizenship.” (2022). Conference Paper, NZ StatAssoc.

Humanities & Social Sciences (HSS-Glob Stream)

Dr. Alistair Finch Head of Humanities A historian with a passion for the 20th Century, Dr. Finch ensures that history at BIA is an argument, not just a list of dates. He encourages students to debate conflicting sources and understand historiography. His office is overflowing with books, and he is known to quote Shakespeare in casual conversation.

  • Qualifications: PhD in Modern History (Oxford University), MA (English Literature).
  • Specialisation: Geopolitics, 20th Century History, Classical Literature.
  • Selected Publication: “Echoes of Empire: Post-colonial narratives in the secondary syllabus.” Journal of History Teaching (2021). DOI: 10.1111/jht.2021.005

Ms. Pania Reid Teacher of Geography & Social Studies Ms. Reid focuses on human geography and urban planning. Living in Te Aro, she uses the gentrification and development of Wellington city as a primary text for her students. She is deeply committed to embedding Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) into the social sciences curriculum.

  • Qualifications: MA in Geography (University of Canterbury), BA (Sociology).
  • Specialisation: Urban Geography, Sustainability, Te Tiriti o Waitangi studies.
  • Selected Publication: “Urban density and social cohesion in Wellington’s inner suburbs.” NZ Geographer (2023). DOI: 10.1111/nzg.12345