CAPA About Us | Resident Director Staff

Barcelona

Jane Perkins

Director of Program and Student Services in Barcelona

Originally from Brighton on the south coast of England, Jane started teaching English as a foreign language mainly because she wanted to travel. It turned out to be a good decision as, among other things, it gave her the chance to live in Spain – 15 years in Barcelona, as well as in Poland and China, which were all great experiences. Jane progressively moved into managerial roles, including her most recent position as Principal of the Oxford International Language School in Brighton, but stayed in international education, as she enjoys working with students. Jane speaks fluent Spanish, proficient Catalan, and some Italian and French. At the moment, Jane and her husband are restoring an old stone farmhouse in Galicia, which she says is “pretty hard work!”

Buenos Aires

Mariela Diaz

Director of Program and Student Services in Buenos Aires

Mariela holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, with a specialization in International Relations, from the University of Munich, Germany. She previously served as an Outbound Coordinator at Youth for Understanding, Argentina, providing administrative support to program participants, host organizations, and other exchange stakeholders. Most recently, she worked as a Volunteers Mentor for a German NGO called Internationaler Bund, where she provided monthly supervision and support for the volunteers from Germany. She also worked as a remote tour leader and operator, organizing holiday tours and arranging transport, accommodations, and activities for visitors from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland in Patagonia. During her international experience in Germany and South America, Mariela developed a sensitivity toward different facets and challenges in cross-cultural communication and teamwork. She speaks and writes fluent German and English in addition to her native Spanish. Her personal interests include literature, dancing tango, art, sports, and spending time with multicultural friends.

Dublin

Susanne Bach
Director of Program and Student Services in Dublin

As CAPA Dublin’s Resident Director since 2012, Susanne oversees student affairs and welfare. She works closely with our faculty and staff, as well as our Griffith College partners, to ensure the best possible study abroad experience for our students. Susanne also teaches our summer course in Irish Cinema and holds an MA in Film Studies from University College Dublin. Having arrived in Ireland as a student herself, cultural immersion and a deep understanding of Ireland’s rich heritage lies at the heart of Susanne’s work. Dublin has so much to offer; after spending over two decades here, she’s still fascinated with the country and its remarkable people.

Florence

Lorenzo Ciccarelli

Director of Program and Student Services in Florence

Lorenzo was born and raised in Florence and is half Italian and half Swiss. His mother tongue is Italian, though he is fluent in German, English, French and Spanish. After attending high school in Florence, Lorenzo moved to Lucerne, Switzerland where he obtained his degree in Hotel Management. Lorenzo became a part of the CAPA Florence Center team in 2000. Prior to joining CAPA, Lorenzo worked in the Hotel Business for several years in various countries in Europe and South America. He oversees all the operations for the CAPA Florence Centre.

London

Claire Kibblewhite

London Center Director and Director of Global Program Services

Claire has been with CAPA since 2012. As London Center Director and Director of Global Program Services, she supports all Global Resident Directors and ensures standardization of program and student services. Originally from London, she earned a B.Ed in Education and English at the University of Southampton. Trained as a teacher, Claire has always worked in international education. She rides motorcycles and plays tennis in her spare time.

Shanghai

Colin Speakman

Director of Program and Student Services in Shanghai

Colin manages CAPA Shanghai operations and student services, including leading orientation and excursions, as well as providing extensive support throughout the program. He brings over 25 years of high-profile experience in international education for American undergraduates. Colin makes regular contributions as a columnist to the China Daily newspaper and has also undertaken education consultancy for blue-chip companies.

Sydney

Daniel Cunningham

Director of Program and Student Services in Sydney

Daniel has more than eight years of experience in student services, activity programming, accommodations, procurement and staff management, sales and marketing, client relations, and health and safety, including as the Duty Manager and Academic Coordinator at Corrib Village, a large student accommodation facility in Galway, Ireland, and at the Griffith College housing facilities in Dublin, where he provided exceptional service to the CAPA Dublin team and our students. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Accountancy (Honors) degree from the National University of Ireland, Galway, and a Higher Diploma in Project Management from Griffith College, Dublin.