Annette Nelwan

Annette graduated from Manchester University in 1995, beginning her teaching career in an inner-city school where she taught a Grade 3 class of 36 students. After three years of saving, she pursued a lifelong dream to travel the world, taking a one-year sabbatical.

This experience sparked her interest in international teaching, leading her to The Netherlands, where she taught for three years before moving to Southeast Asia, a region she had fallen in love with during her travels.

Annette spent 14 years in Malaysia, working at two prestigious schools, including 11 years at the Alice Smith School in Kuala Lumpur. There, she pursued her passion for personalized learning and supporting individual needs, securing a role in the school’s Learning Support department. Although she gained significant experience, she recognized there was always more to learn.

In 2005, while working full-time, Annette embarked on a part-time Master’s program and became a mother to two daughters. Balancing these commitments left little time for herself, but over the next five years, she not only completed her Master’s degree in Special Educational Needs from Nottingham University in 2011 but also published numerous articles on special education needs (SEN) across Asia.

In 2014, she transitioned to the Middle East, where she took her first role as a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) in Abu Dhabi, working at two highly regarded international schools, including Cranleigh School. During her time there, she established an SEN department from the ground up, managed the progression and development of students with mild to moderate learning needs, and mentored learning support teachers. She also completed her certification in Educational Psychometric Testing and Access Arrangements (CCET3a), becoming a qualified assessor for exam access arrangements for the IB & iGCSE exam boards.

After 18 years abroad, Annette relocated to Stockholm in 2018 to be with her Swedish partner. Adjusting to her first Swedish winter after living in tropical and desert climates was a challenge, but she embraced it. She secured a position as Case Manager (MYP & DP) at Stockholm International School, where she continues her work in supporting student learning needs. Most recently, she completed a diploma in Dyslexia from Middlesex University and is licensed with the British Psychological Society, holding an Assessor’s Practitioner Certificate for diagnosing Dyslexia.