Meet our teachers - TAFE NSW
Meet our teachers
TAFE NSW's award-winning teachers are industry professionals with at least five years’ experience in the field. Watch some of their stories to get you inspired.
Our teachers are passionate about their industry, whether it's hairdressing, cookery, electrical engineering or business management. They're ready to give you the practical skills and knowledge you need to succeed.
TAFE NSW teachers genuinely care about their students, they're invested in you and your future and are justifiably proud of their international reputation for training excellence. Here are just some of our teachers stories to get you inspired.
Jenni Preston
TAFE Digital, Early Childhood Education and Care
Linda Bergskas
TAFE Hunter and Central Coast - Fashion
Diana Bugarcic
TAFE Sydney - Accounting and Finance
Lawrence De Paoli
TAFE Sydney - Autobody Repair
Vivek Angre
TAFE Northern Sydney - Cookery and Wine (Patisserie)
Vivek was born into a royal family in Western India and began his professional training at the age of 17 at a boutique hotel in Bombay (now Mumbai), in India. Upon graduating his formal training, Vivek combined his love of his trade and travel, working in exotic locations such as Dubai and Bahrain, where he learnt the art of baking and was fortunate enough to be trained under some of the greatest traditional bakers and pastry chefs.
With decades of knowledge and experience under his belt, Vivek enjoys using his passion for food to direct future bakers and pastry cooks at the Northern Sydney Institute on the path they desire.
David Berger
TAFE South Western Sydney - Floristry
David is a Floristry teacher at Padstow College, part of TAFE's South Western Sydney Institute. David was a Head Designer for David Jones Florist for 25 years and travelled to Australia installing the annual Spring Show, the largest cut flower display in the Southern Hemisphere. He is a successful competitor representing Australia in the World Cup of Floristry on four occasions and gaining two silver medals in overall placings and five individual gold medals in various sections. David is a National Interflora Judge and National Competition Coordinator writing the schedules for the annual district and national Interflora competitions.
His large number of qualifications includes a Diploma of Floristry Design; Certificate IV in Floristry; Certificate III in Floristry; Diploma of Judging Interflora; American Institute of Floral Designers Certificate of Accreditation; Master Florist New Zealand Professional Florists; Diploma New Zealand Professional Florists; and Certificate in Training and Assessment.
Barry Nielsen
TAFE Sydney - Animal Care
Barry Nielsen has been teaching at Sydney TAFE for more than six years and has over thirty years' experience in animal care.
Passionate about being able to share his knowledge with students and the investment by TAFE into equipment and facilities, he talks about how students get a real world insight into what's happening in the industry via their studies.
Harry Williamson
TAFE Kingscliff - Creative Arts
Harry teaches design at Kingscliff Campus. He is a highly successful designer who was inducted into the Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame in 2013 alongside designer Ken Done, artist and fashion designer Jenny Kee, design historian Michael Bogle and industrial designer and educator, Byron Fitzpatrick.
Harry has had a pioneering design career spanning fifty years and many platforms. His commissions included the National Gallery of Australia, the High Court of Australia and Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit System for signage and information programs; the currency design for the Reserve Bank of Australia's $100 Mawson note and the $10 Bicentennial note; and a continuing association with Giramondo Publishing as their book designer.
Harry's dedication to the design industry continues through his teaching position at Kingscliff TAFE, where he is eager to pass on his wealth of knowledge and passion to the next generation of designers.