Leadership Team
Management Team
Ang Poh Seng
CEO of The Learning Lab
Mr Ang Poh Seng brings a wealth of experience to The Learning Lab, having commenced his professional journey as an auditor with Ernst and Young and PwC. His career trajectory led him to the position of vice president at the Rockstead Capital Group, a private equity firm, followed by roles as Chief Financial Officer in reputable clean energy companies such as Asia Water Technology Ltd and Asia Power Co. Ltd.
Notably, Poh Seng's tenure at EtonHouse International showcased his remarkable leadership skills. Initially joining as Group CFO, he seamlessly expanded his responsibilities to oversee Operations and eventually assumed the role of CEO for the China business. His recent appointment as Group Deputy CEO, in conjunction with his continued role as Group CFO, speaks volumes about his multifaceted capabilities.
Poh Seng's proven track record in leadership, operational excellence, and financial acumen will be instrumental in propelling The Learning Lab towards unprecedented success in line with our business objectives.
Michelle Chen
Director of Planning, Enrolment and Customer Experience
Michelle’s journey with TLL began in 2011, fueled by a Business Management degree and a fervent passion for customer service. This passion soon saw her taking the helm as Head of Enrolment and Customer Services at Tampines Mall in 2016. Michelle's dedication wasn't confined to a single location. In 2017, she returned to United Square, where her transformative leadership spurred her teams to new heights. Under her guidance, they consistently delivered service that exceeded expectations, strengthening the very foundation of our student and parent journeys.
Now, Michelle harnesses her expertise and passion to oversee class planning and operations across all TLL facilities. Her dedication to ensuring optimal learning experiences is evident in how she meticulously matches students and teachers, timings, and classrooms, all while keeping the needs of parents and students at the heart of every decision.
Michelle's commitment goes beyond operations. She is deeply invested in nurturing a love of learning in every student. This core value is woven into every task she and her team undertake, ensuring that TLL fosters a vibrant and inspiring environment where every child can thrive.
Fiona Tan
Associate Director of Marketing and Communications
Boasting a strong portfolio in digital, performance marketing and analytics, Fiona Tan is Associate Director of Marketing & Communications at The Learning Lab. She joins the company from Google, where she previously held the role of APAC Performance Media Manager and led APAC Performance Marketing for Google Chrome browser and Chromebook business, as well as global workstreams for Chrome.
Fiona is no stranger to TLL, having been its Digital and Marketing Analytics Lead from 2019 to 2021, lending her expertise to the brand’s web and digital paid strategy and the implementation of Adobe Analytics.
Therese Cheng
Head of Curriculum and Teaching Excellence
An educator for 20 years, Therese started her journey in the education sphere as an editor for educational books after she graduated from NUS with a Bachelor’s degree in English Language (Hons). With a desire to go further in the field, she attained a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE, Secondary) from NIE and specialised in teaching the General Paper thereafter.
In 2009, she joined TLL, and through the years, she was involved in teaching, shaping the secondary curriculum as well as mentoring and training new teachers. She has been part of the management team in many roles, first helming the team at Marine Parade Central as the Academic Director, before taking on the role of the Lead Subject Head of English to lead the English pedagogy. Therese later also took on the role of the Head of Centre Excellence, overseeing the TLL centres across Singapore.
In her present role as the Head of Curriculum and Teaching Excellence, Therese works in close partnership with the English, Maths and Science curriculum teams and the Teacher Development and Quality Management unit not only to ensure high quality in TLL's curriculum and delivery, but also to perpetuate the TLL magic – by engaging curious minds, stretching imaginations and motivating all our charges to reach for the stars.
Academic Team
Therese Cheng
Head of Curriculum and Teaching Excellence
An educator for 20 years, Therese started her journey in the education sphere as an editor for educational books after she graduated from NUS with a Bachelor’s degree in English Language (Hons). With a desire to go further in the field, she attained a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE, Secondary) from NIE and specialised in teaching the General Paper thereafter.
In 2009, she joined TLL, and through the years, she was involved in teaching, shaping the secondary curriculum as well as mentoring and training new teachers. She has been part of the management team in many roles, first helming the team at Marine Parade Central as the Academic Director, before taking on the role of the Lead Subject Head of English to lead the English pedagogy. Therese later also took on the role of the Head of Centre Excellence, overseeing the TLL centres across Singapore.
In her present role as the Head of Curriculum and Teaching Excellence, Therese works in close partnership with the English, Maths and Science curriculum teams and the Teacher Development and Quality Management unit not only to ensure high quality in TLL's curriculum and delivery, but also to perpetuate the TLL magic – by engaging curious minds, stretching imaginations and motivating all our charges to reach for the stars.
Jay Pillai
Head of English Curriculum
Jay is a Ministry of Education (MOE) scholar and professional developer with 20 years of experience in EL pedagogy and curriculum. She was also a Head of Department for English Language and Literature. She has taught students in the Gifted Education and Integrated Programmes, as well as in government schools.
After leaving MOE, she set up Jay Professional Learning Consultancy due to her keen interest and ability to develop professional development workshops and curriculum for educators. She completed her Master in Curriculum and Teaching, at the National Institute of Education, Singapore in 2011, after which she worked for the English Language Institute of Singapore, MOE.
Jay believes in living her personal and professional life based on three key questions: Where am I now? Where do I need to go to? How do I get there?
Goh Wan Mei
Head of Mathematics Curriculum
Wan Mei graduated from the National University of Singapore in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics. She joined The Learning Lab since graduating from NUS and has been developing the Mathematics curriculum in TLL for the past 12 years. Due to her belief in the importance of influencing and making a positive impact on young lives, she joined TLL to pursue a career in education. She believes that it is essential to help every child see the beauty and usefulness of mathematics in the real world. She is also a proud mother of a baby girl.
As Head of Mathematics Curriculum at The Learning Lab, Wan Mei leads a team of curriculum specialists who plan, research and write Mathematics curriculum across all levels at The Learning Lab. She leads her team in analysing trends in school exam papers and with them, continually develops materials, games, activities, and other learning tools that help students meet exam needs as much as they help students understand the deep relationships between math and our daily lives.
Chen Yilin
Head of Science Curriculum
Yilin graduated from National University of Singapore in 2009 with a Bachelor Degree in Science (Chemistry). Upon graduation, she decided to join the education industry as she is passionate in educating young minds. She believes that it is important to develop curiosity of the world in children which helps them to be open-minded towards new adventures, ideas and even interest. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her family and friends.
As Head of Science Curriculum at The Learning Lab, Yilin leads a team of curriculum specialists who plan, research and write Science curriculum across all levels at The Learning Lab. Together with her team, she analyses trends in school exam papers and with them, continually develops materials, games, experiments and other learning tools that help students develop a deep love for Science as they meet exam needs in school.
Juliana Cheong
Lead Head of English
Having graduated from National University of Singapore with a Bachelor’s degree in English Language, Juliana moved from the banking industry into the education sector as she found much joy in teaching and nurturing young minds. She joined TLL in 2013 and became Subject Head for Upper Primary English at United Square in 2018.
As the Lead Head of English, Juliana works in close partnership with her team of English Subject Heads across all centres, the curriculum team and English teachers in ensuring quality in our English lessons – by finding the optimal balance between technical knowledge required for academic excellence and curating lesson experiences that will prove to be memorable in every student’s learning journey.
Choo Swee Heng
Lead Head of Mathematics
Swee Heng graduated from the NUS with a bachelor’s degree in engineering. After working for several years, she decided to answer the calling to work in education at The Learning Lab. Over the last 9 years, she has continued to further her knowledge in the teaching of mathematics, including the completion of a master’s degree in education that will serve her and her team well in continually bettering our students’ experiences at The Learning Lab.
As the Lead Head of Mathematics, Swee Heng works in close partnership with Mathematics teachers and the curriculum team in ensuring quality in our Mathematics lessons — finding the optimal balance between technical knowledge required for academic excellence and critical learning experiences that are crucial in every student’s journey of self-discovery.
Choo Xin Ying
Lead Head of Science
Xinying graduated with a bachelor's degree in Life Sciences from the National University of Singapore and obtained a Master's degree in Teaching from the National Institue of Education (NIE) in 2023. She is committed to nurturing the next generation of thinkers and problem-solvers, believing that with the right teaching strategies, every child can be motivated to embrace challenges and realise their true potential.
Since Xinying joined The Learning Lab in 2014, she has taken on various roles, including teaching Science to upper primary and GEP students, curriculum writing for TLL's Upper Secondary Biology program, and curriculum vetting for the Primary Science program. Before her appointment as Lead Head of Science, Xinying led the Upper Primary Science team in United Square and the Science team in the East Zone as a Subject Head for Science. As a mentor and trainer to her team, Xinying believes in empowering her fellow teachers to be lifelong learners, consistently enhancing their pedagogical approaches to provide a positive learning experience for their students.
As the Lead Head of Science, Xinying works in close partnership with science teachers and the curriculum team, ensuring quality for Science at The Learning Lab. She focuses on finding the optimal balance between knowledge and skills required for academic excellence and crafting learning experiences that nurture positive learning dispositions.
Julio Mendoza
Julio graduated from La Trobe University Australia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology in 2011. As a strong believer in the power and importance of education, Julio sought to channel his skills and knowledge into his calling as a teacher and joined The Learning Lab in 2016. Combining his wealth of life experiences spanning across the globe with his passion for pursuing excellence in academics, sport and art, one of Julio’s greatest joys is to bring a holistic and enriching approach to learning into the classroom.
As Academic Director of Marine Parade Central, Tampines Mall and Century Square, Julio provides academic leadership for teachers to ensure quality standards remain high and are consistent across the teaching team. He leads the academic team, comprising English, Mathematics and Science Subject Heads, to provide proactive support to teachers through training, coaching and mentoring sessions. The academic team also works closely with the curriculum teams to ensure that the curriculum meets students’ needs and expectations.
Lee Sue Lynn
Sue Lynn graduated from NUS with a bachelor’s degree in English Language. She has always had a strong conviction that a child’s learning journey starts from a very young age. At The Learning Lab, she is inspired to work with young children in their formative years and hopes to inspire in them a deep love for learning that fuels a passion that burns brightly even outside the classroom. Having joined The Learning Lab fresh out of university in 2009, she has been enjoying a fulfilling journey of growth. Together with the team of Early Years teachers, she envisions The Learning Lab as the start of a memorable and endless learning journey for children.
As Academic Director of Early Years, Sue Lynn provides academic leadership for all teachers in the Early Years team to ensure quality standards remain high and are consistent across the teaching team. She leads the academic team, comprising English and Mathematics Subject Heads, to provide proactive support to teachers through training, coaching and mentoring sessions. The academic team also works closely with the curriculum teams to ensure that the curriculum meets students’ needs and expectations.
Lim Wan Ping
Wan Ping graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from NUS and joined The Learning Lab teaching Mathematics and Science. With more than 13 years in TLL, she has embraced various roles, including being a mentor, trainer and curriculum vetter. From 2017 to 2022, she led the Upper Primary Mathematics team in United Square as Subject Head for Maths, before she was appointed the Academic Director of the Secondary and Junior College team.
As Academic Director of United Square, Secondary and Junior College, Wan Ping provides academic leadership for teachers to ensure quality standards remain high and are consistent across the teaching team. As an educator who is deeply passionate about teaching, she believes that instilling a growth mindset will encourage students to learn from mistakes and challenge themselves such that their potential is truly realised. She also believes in empowering teachers to cultivate the best practices and pedagogical approaches to provide a positive learning experience for students at TLL.
Soo Wai Kit
Wai Kit graduated with a bachelor's degree in Life Sciences from NUS in 2010, with a Joint Minor in Environmental Ecology from the University of Toronto.
After discovering his passion for teaching as an Education Officer in what is now known as the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, Wai Kit joined The Learning Lab as a specialist primary school Science teacher and also became part of the pioneering team of teachers who started teaching secondary science lessons at TLL. In 2016, he led the science teachers in Tampines as Subject Head for three years before he was appointed as Academic Director of Marine Parade Central from 2019 to 2021.
Wai Kit is passionate about inspiring future thinkers and confident problem-solvers. He believes that a strong partnership between teachers, parents and learners is the bedrock for a learner’s uninhibited growth to achieve their potential.
As Academic Director of Seletar Mall and Woodleigh, Wai Kit provides academic leadership for teachers to ensure quality standards remain high and are consistent across the teaching team. He leads the academic team, comprising Mathematics, English and Science Subject Heads, to provide proactive support to teachers through training, coaching and mentoring sessions. The academic team also works closely with the curriculum teams to ensure that the curriculum meets students’ needs and expectations.
Additionally, as Academic Director of Online Programmes, Wai Kit oversees TLL’s suite of fully online programmes for the Singapore market. He works closely with the relevant curriculum and teaching teams to understand the needs of our students and parents and to refine and ensure quality of the online programmes.
Hong Jiayi
Jiayi graduated from NUS with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. As someone who is passionate about driving meaningful change in the world, she found herself drawn to a career in education and joined The Learning Lab in in November 2014 as a teacher. She was appointed as the Subject Head for English at the West centres in December 2017. Ever the quiet and unassuming leader, her consistent dedication and application in her work has added much value in the learning of students and teachers alike at the centre. With her strong team playing abilities, she has also supported her predecessor well in making the West centres a well-organised team.
As Academic Director of Jem and Choa Chu Kang from 2020 to 2023, and most recently with The Learning Lab (Rochester) under Jiayi’s purview, Jiayi provides academic leadership for teachers to ensure quality standards remain high and are consistent across the teaching team. She leads the academic team, comprising Mathematics, English and Science Subject Heads, to provide proactive support to teachers through training, coaching and mentoring sessions. The academic team also works closely with the curriculum teams to ensure that the curriculum meets students’ needs and expectations.
Joyce Simpson
Joyce graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Social Science, with majors in Political Science and Corporate Communications, from Singapore Management University. After having spent a couple of years in another industry, Joyce decided to join The Learning Lab in March 2014, fuelled by her passion to nurture a love for learning in children and to put the whole learner at the heart of things. Over the years, Joyce has taught a range of TLL English classes, spanning from Early Years to Upper Primary and GEP students. Between 2017 and 2020, Joyce served as the English Subject Head at The Learning Lab (Rochester). As a subject head, she trained and mentored a team of passionate English teachers to deliver effective and inspiring lessons that bring out the best in every child before she was appointed as Academic Director at The Learning Lab (Rochester) from 2021 to 2023.
As Academic Director of United Square and Upper Primary, Joyce provides academic leadership for teachers to ensure quality standards remain high and are consistent across the teaching team. Joyce leads the academic team, comprising Mathematics, English and Science Subject Heads to provide proactive support to teachers through training, coaching and mentoring sessions. The academic team also works closely with the curriculum teams to ensure that the curriculum meets students’ needs and expectations.