Get to know the TEFL experts
The Premier TEFL team is on a mission: to create the newest, most unique live teacher-training experiences in the TEFL market.
With 25 years of TEFL journeys between us, we know the ins and outs of teaching English abroad. We train our English teachers to be confident, impactful travelers who are ready to explore the entire world. Our internationally recognized, fully accredited online courses are comprehensive, easy to follow, and give you the exact information you need to start teaching English as a foreign language.
We’ve had our adventures – now it’s your turn.
TEFL & Travel Experts
Kate Popova
Senior TEFL Specialist + Academic Tutor
Kate lives and breathes travel; Skyscanner is the most used app on her phone! This yoga-practicing Education graduate completed TEFL training before gaining her CELTA certificate and loved teaching English in Malta. Ireland’s cutest Pomeranian owner.
- Top Travel Spot: Iceland or Croatia (Anywhere Game of Thrones is filmed)
- Favourite Food: Does Coffee count? I also love Thai Cuisine!
- Best Part of Travel: Travel opens your eyes!
- Would Love to Visit: Indonesia – for beach sunsets, treehouses in rain and Yoga.
Riley Price
TEFL & Travel Specialist
Hailing from Minnesota USA, Riley has become a massive travel enthusiast following her time spent trekking across the U.K. and Europe. Freshly graduated with a degree in Film Studies from St. Cloud State, she has a passion for all things art and culture!
- Top travel spot: Amsterdam, Netherlands (I love Europe!)
- Favorite food: Lumpia (Filipino egg rolls)
- Best part about travel: Making connections with people and places all over the world.
- Would love to visit: South Korea. Their extensive history is so interesting!
Becky Popova
TEFL & Travel Specialist
After spending 3 years in Toronto, Becky feels inspired to help others travel! Her passion and BSc in Geology has taken her from across the UK to Greece an we’ve got a feeling she’s not quite ready to put her passport away yet 😉
- Top travel spot: Anywhere Mediterranean!
- I’m such a foodie! I do love to try chicken wings with the local sauces.
- The local food! Always love to try different things. The weirdest things so far would be escargot and frogs legs (gotta love the French)
- Would love to visit: A Buddhist temple in any of the four sacred mountains!
Sarah Goggin
TEFL & Travel Specialist
Our in-house fitness expert Sarah is well-traveled and can’t wait to help you plan your TEFL career. From hiking Yosemite National Park to a daybreak visit of Angkor Wat temple, this TEFL Advisor will make sure adventure is at the heart of your plans!
- Top Travel Spot: Cambodia
- Favourite Food: Pizza (all kinds)
- Best Part of Travel: The WOW factor of scenery and traditions abroad
- Would Love to Visit: Alaska
Partnerships & Development
Rosie Mansfield
Co-founder
Rosie has an impressive business career spanning 10+ years in the ESL training field. Always her favorite subject, she studied an English degee in Scotland. Her passion for travel and exploration is infectious, and her expertise is second to none.
- Top travel spot: Vietnam – all of it!
- Favorite food: Anything spicy, extra spicy
- Best part about travel: Diversity… of food, culture, people
- Would love to visit: Japan
Ian O'Sullivan
Co-founder
Ian’s educational travel career spans almost 20 years. In his opinion, travel is one of the most valuable educations you’ll ever get. This adventure-loving, dog-owning fitness enthusiast has a passion for living life to the full. Make every day count.
- Top travel spot: Peru (and Greece)
- Favorite food: a Vindaloo!
- Best part about travel: the unexpected
- Would love to visit: everywhere, I’m 1/2 way there at 100 countries
Nikki Foley
Operations
Nikki’s experience teaching in Barcelona means she’s walked in your shoes and is full of advice. This TEFL-qualified, Applied Languages graduate also cooks up a storm, making traditional, local dishes from her travels.
- Top travel spot: Berlin, Germany
- Favorite food: Lasagne (Di Carne o Vegetariana)
- Best part about travel: Experiencing a new culture, especially the food, while broadening your own horizons
- Would love to visit: Argentina (or anywhere in South America)
Nóirín Breen
Operations
Proud beagle owner Nóirín loves to get outdoors with her dog and explore. This people-person has a passion for all things creative and fun-filled; describing herself as part-time traveller & full-time travel obsessed!
- Top travel spot: Athens and Jamaica
- Favorite food: Italian
- Best part about travel: Discovering & experiencing
- Would love to visit: Iceland
Digital Wizards
Adam Gilroy
Developer + Customer Care
Social media enthusiast Adam hails from the home of Jameson’s Irish Whiskey. That’s all we need to say about that. This IT graduate is a huge music nerd with a huge love for Hip-Hop, Concerts, and Comedy.
- Top travel spot: Barcelona, Spain
- Favorite food: Anything Italian
- Best part about travel: Submerging yourself in another culture (especially the food!)
- Would love to visit: Los Angeles
Eoghan O'Sullivan
Developer
Preferring life on two wheels, Eoghan our resident techie has a penchant for Raspberry Pi and gaming. This guitar-loving Cork native is also a winner when it comes to culinary skills, cake anyone?
- Top travel spot: Wales
- Favorite food: Anything Italian
- Best part about travel: Getting to see new places and take in new cultures
- Would love to visit: Italy/Japan
Darragh Mangan
Lead Designer
#VisCom specialist Darragh is responsible for making sure our website looks on point. This guitar-owning rock music fan also loves a good soccer match. He’s the office comedian and has absolutely no guitar-playing skills.
- Top travel spot: Rome, Italy
- Favorite food: Beef bourguignon
- Best part about travel: Meeting cool people that you can have a good laugh/beer with
- Would love to visit: New York
Dan Goggin
Junior Copywriter + TEFL & Travel Specialist
Coffee addict and fashionista Dan is a communications major. Studying his masters in Public Relations, this Cork native has a passion for social media and loves to visit new places.
- Top travel spots: Paris, France
- Favourite Food: Pizza
- Best part about travel: Meeting new people and experiencing the culture.
- Would love to visit: Madagascar
Hugo Rettien
Digital Marketing Consultant
Digital marketing consultant and web developer Hugo hails from France. This keen athlete is a multi-marathon runner and sports fan. He makes a mean crepe and would never say no to good wine and cheese.
- Top travel spot: France, of course!
- Favorite food: Tartiflette
- Best part about travel: The chance to take good French wine and cheese around the world
- Would love to visit: The Himalayas
Emma Barry
Junior Marketing Executive
English teacher Emma spent five summers in Cataluñya, Spain. As Director of Studies, she fine-tuned her management skills. When she’s not completing her Marketing & International Business degree, she’s binging on documentaries.
- Top travel spot: Baix Camp, Cataluñya
- Favorite food: Cheese, cheese and more cheese
- Best part about travel: Meeting the locals and getting to know and understand their culture
- Would love to visit: Tibet
