Meet The Team

Coleen Hoare

Founder & Managing Director

A global recruitment expert with 16+ years’ experience in education, Coleen leads CODA’s Managed Service offering, providing schools with full-suite recruitment service and additional school improvement strategies. As Business Development Director she drives strategic growth, secures contracts globally, and leads operations. With a focus on client-centric service, Coleen ensures smooth relocations for candidates worldwide, drawing on her experience of living in the Middle East for 5 years. 

“I wanted to create a trusted, mission aligned recruitment company where teachers’ welfare and student success and safety is paramount.” 

Favourite Country I’ve Visited: Brazil. We explored Rio for Carnival, Iquazu falls, florianópolis and Copacabana. Such a beautiful country, with an amazing culture, people, landscape and caipirinha’s!  

The Next Place I Want To Visit: Bali, after reading ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ I started researching and falling in love with what Bali has to offer, certainly next on the list for me! 

My favourite teacher was: Mr Thomas, he was a pastoral lead at my secondary school and went the extra mile to check in with me throughout school. He pushed me at sports and really supported me in making the right decisions when choosing subjects for my GCSE’s.

 Connect with me: The LinkedIn logo on a blue background with the letters, in, in white

Helen Kavanagh

Partner & Director

Helen has over 30 years of experience providing educational advice to schools worldwide. She has held two headships in England and was responsible for the quality of inspections in over 1500 schools there. She served as International Business Director (for Wellington College) and CEO (for Wellington College China). She has also supported all aspects of school operations in India, the UAE, Vietnam, Kenya, the US, Qatar and Jordan.

“Students should be centre stage and offered the chance to access world-class academic opportunities, take on new challenges to further develop themselves, and connect with international friends through the gateway of education. This can only be achieved if the right people are recruited to the right jobs.” 

Favourite Country I’ve Visited: Italy. I love the history, culture and food there  and my favourite city is Istanbul. It brings together East and West in a totally vibrant, colourful, beautiful way. 

The Next Place I Want To Visit: Hawaii. It has so much history and a broad range of geographical features to see and experience.

My favourite teacher was: Miss Schofield. She fosters in me a lifelong love of history.

 Connect with me: The LinkedIn logo on a blue background with the letters, in, in white

Alicia Asbury

Executive Search Assistant & Account Manager (Middle East)

Alicia is a seasoned recruitment and talent acquisition specialist with over 12 years of experience in agency and internal education recruitment across the UK and UAE. After moving to Dubai in 2016, she established the first international branch of Prospero Teaching, serving as Regional Manager for the MENA and East/Southeast Asia regions until 2021. Most recently, Alicia was the Recruitment & Onboarding Manager at Taaleem (2021-2023), where she played a key role in corporate recruitment and led hiring for twelve new schools during the group’s IPO. Her expertise includes school expansion, executive search, manpower planning, and implementing efficient recruitment policies.

Alicia is excited to join CODA Search, where she can align her passion for educational excellence with supporting institutional growth.

Connect with me: 

SHONA MORGAN

Recruitment Specialist

As a dedicated Recruitment Consultant with eight years of global travel experience, Shona specialises in connecting top talent with leading educational institutions worldwide. Shona’s expertise in establishing safe spaces for young people as founder of The BetterThanThis Foundation enriches her approach in educational recruitment. She recognises the significance of creating supportive environments and applies this understanding to her work in the global recruitment sector. Shona leverages her diverse background to shape the future of education through impactful recruitment strategies.

Favourite Country I’ve visited: France is my favourite country. I adore its work-life balance, dedication to fresh cuisine, strong sense of community, and of course, the exquisite wine and coffee. 

The next place I want to visit: Peru and exploring the wonders of the Incas remain a top priority on my travel list. 

My favourite teacher was: Mrs Wilmot, I was terrible at math, but she took extra time with me and helped me to visualise the problem to help me understand math in a way I’d never been able to grasp before. Her understanding of diverse learning styles enabled me to succeed.

Connect with me: 

RACHAEL MORPHEW

Recruitment Specialist

Rachael has 14 years of teaching experience across state, independent, and further education sectors, providing her with a wealth of expertise in diverse educational settings. She holds a degree in International Business and has extensive world travel experience, giving her a strong understanding of cross-cultural communication. As a long-time personal tutor to students of various ages, Rachael appreciates the importance of building a rigorous and supportive pastoral system within schools. She is committed to promoting safer working practices to help keep children safe and healthy throughout their schooling.

Favourite Country I’ve visited: Thailand. It is hard not to fall in love with the welcoming people, the delicious local dishes and the ornate architecture, with golden rooftops appearing amongst the chaos every time you turn a new corner. 

The next place I want to visit: Indonesia. I have loved my travels through Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, but haven’t made it as far south as Indonesia yet. We have friends currently living on Batam Island, and feel a trip to see them is overdue, so watch this space!. 

My favourite teacher was: My Business Teacher, Mr Christopher. He can’t have been very far into his teaching career when he taught my A Level class, so he still had that raw energy and enthusiasm that new teachers possess. His confidence in my ability and determination for me to do well was what pushed me to apply for a Business degree. 

Connect with me: 

CHRISTINA ARCILLA
Recruitment Vetting and Screening

Christina is a seasoned Recruitment and Sourcing Specialist with 12 years of HR experience across a range of industries. Leveraging her training in safer recruitment from the Safeguarding Alliance, she supports teachers and schools by guiding them through the thorough vetting processes, obtaining all necessary references and checks. Christina also aids consultants in sourcing top-tier candidates for CODA’s educational needs. Her extensive experience includes managing recruitment processes, payroll, psychometric exam administration, employee orientations, training and development, and ensuring compliance with DOH standards. 

Favourite Country I’ve visited: I like Singapore for its vibrant blend of cultures, advanced infrastructure and quality of life. The city-state’s clean and efficient public transport system, modern architecture and green spaces create a harmonious urban environment. Singapore’s strong emphasis on safety and security contirbute to its appeal.

The next place I want to visit: I’d like to visit Bali, Indonesia for its blend of natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. The island’s lush landscapes, including verdant rice terraces, serence beaches and volcanic mountain  look to offer breathtaking scenery and a peaceful retreat.

My favourite teacher was: My favourite teacher was Mrs. Gazzingan. Although she is strict, her discipline was a powerful motivator for me. Her high expectations pushed me to work harder and excel in my studies, helping me to achieve more than I initially thought possible.

 

Connect with me: 

Lucy Swindells

Social Media Marketing

Having worked in marketing for over 10 years, Lucy is a creative storyteller passionate about crafting compelling content. Her journey into educational recruitment has fuelled a desire to connect and engage educators globally. Highlighting the brand’s integrity, she aims to increase visibility and awareness by sharing the in-house expertise and services to create meaningful connections between schools, teachers and CODA Search.

Favourite Country I’ve Visited: I loved travelling around Vietnam and its captivating blend of bustling cities, serene countryside, and delicious street food – it was a real adventure. 

The Next Place I Want To Visit: The next place I want to visit: Botswana to explore the Africa’s natural beauty of the Okavango Delta and experience Africa’s vibrant culture. 

My Favourite Teacher Was: Miss McQuarry – she read the best books with real emotion and did all the voices. I’ve always been captured by a good story! 

Connect with me: This is the Linked In logo, featuring white lowercase letters in on a blue background

 
 

Kate Nicholls
Recruitment Administrator

Kate is the driving force behind our communication channels, ensuring our teaching network stays informed about the latest opportunities and updates. She edits newsletters, social media, and website content to keep the CODA community connected and engaged. With a background in marketing and admin, Kate bridges the gap  our teaching professionals and the opportunities they seek. She is currently pursuing a degree in business with a specialisation in economics for personal growth and development.

Favourite Country I’ve Visited: The Netherlands is an enchanting country; I enjoyed my time here exploring the cities historical architecture and modern amenities. Amsterdam’s rich history and museums. The Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank’s house were particularly fascinating to explore.

The Next Place I Want To Visit: Norway is a country of unparalleled natural beauty, with its dramatic fjords and majestic mountains. I have always dreamt about visiting this country as its natural beauty is quite simply unmatched!

My Favourite Teacher Was: My Math teacher, Mr. Campbell. He was a fun and enchanting educator who had a unique ability to make mathematics engaging and accessible. Despite my initial struggles, Mr. Campbell’s innovative teaching methods and patient guidance helped me to understand and appreciate the subject. 

Connect with me: This is the Linked In logo, featuring white lowercase letters in on a blue background

 
 

Get in touch