Cecilia Allon

Discreet, warm and highly organised Executive Assistant with over seven years' experience providing trusted, long-term support to a Director/Founder, combined with a fifteen-year background in English language teaching, examining and academic course design. Skilled in producing, formatting and proofreading documents to a publishable standard, coordinating research and liaising confidently with universities, publishers and translators. Degree educated, technologically confident, and known for staying calm, precise and emotionally intelligent under pressure.

Executive Assistant to the Director / Founder - Yoga Nidra Network

(2019-01)

Long-term, trusted Executive Assistant to the Founder/Director, supporting business strategy, governance and day-to-day operations, including leading the correct formation of the organisation's Community Interest Company.

• Manage the Director's calendar and complex schedules; coordinate bi-weekly marketing priorities and cross-team workflows via Asana.
• Produce, format and proofread a wide range of documents and course content to a publishable standard, including sales pages, course materials and bi-weekly newsletters to a Mailchimp list of 19,000 subscribers.
• Coordinate with publishers for book launches and wholesale orders, and with translators to ensure accurate translation of course text, audio and video subtitles.
• Liaise with web designers, summit and podcast hosts, and external consultants to keep content accurate, current and professional.
• Manage confidential student, client and stakeholder communications with warmth, discretion and emotional intelligence, ensuring GDPR compliance across the organisation.
• Recruit, train and line manage a small team, including a Shop Manager, Postal Assistant and Student Support Assistant.
• Oversee event and course finances: raise invoices, monitor income/expenditure, and manage software subscriptions and contracts.
• Introduce and maintain efficient systems (Teachable, WooCommerce, Zettle, Acuity/Squarespace, Google Drive) to simplify day-to-day working.

Course Manager (remote) - Yoga Nidra Network

(2019-11)

• Manage delivery of an online teacher-training programme and develop curriculum content in line with accrediting body guidelines.
• Conduct 1-1 tutorials with trainees on the Teacher & Facilitator Training programme.

Private 1-1 EAP / IELTS Tutor - Self-employed

(2012-01)

• Design and deliver tailor-made English for Academic Purposes and IELTS preparation courses for individual students, including document and essay proofreading.
• Conduct initial, formative and summative assessment to inform course content and track progress.

Lecturer in Education (Observations) - Croydon University Centre

(2017-09 - 2019-07)

• Conducted graded learning observations with developmental feedback for trainee teachers on the L5 Diploma in Education & Training; supported trainees to develop schemes of work and lesson plans, and provided written progress reports to course tutors.

Mentor, PGCE Literacy and ESOL - University College London (Institute of Education)

(2017-09 - 2018-02)

• Mentored PGCE trainees, conducting graded observations and developmental feedback, and liaised with UCL course tutors on trainee progress.

ESOL Lecturer / Course Tutor - Croydon College

(2009-09 - 2018-07)

• Delivered ESOL at all levels and prepared students for Cambridge Skills for Life and FCE examinations; developed schemes of work in line with the Adult ESOL Core Curriculum.

IELTS Examiner / EFL Teacher - British Council, Dakar - Senegal

(2005-10 - 2007-07)

• Delivered and assessed Business English and IELTS preparation courses; examined IELTS Written and Spoken modules, and wrote and delivered teacher-development sessions.

ESOL Co-ordinator/Lecturer - Lambeth College

(2003-01 - 2005-12)

English Language Teacher - St Giles International - London

(2001-01 - 2003-12)

EFL Teacher - British Council - Nairobi

(2002-01 - 2002-12)

DTLLS Mentor - University Centre Croydon

(2009-01 - 2013-12)

BA (Hons) - History of Art and Architecture - University of East Anglia (1994-01 - 1998-12)

Diploma - Cambridge RSA Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults (DELTA) - Hammersmith and West London College (2002-01 - 2003-12)

Certificate - Cambridge ESOL Level 4 Certificate in FE Teaching / ESOL Subject Specifications - Hammersmith and West London College (2004-01 - 2005-12)

CELTA - St Giles International, London (2001-01 - 2001-12)

A Levels - English Literature, English Language - Kingston College (1992-01 - 1994-12)