Our Team
The PIMD team has a wealth of experience in the fields of education, teaching English as a second language (TESL), international development, school management and leadership, business and accounting.
The late Dr. Mahesan Kandaiya, President 2004-2019, B.Eng., M. Business (e-Business and Communications), PhD, Professional Member of the Australian Computer Society (MACS). Dr. Kandaiya had over thirty years experience in the IT industry having worked in Sri Lanka, Australia, and in pan-Asia Pacific roles. His PhD research developed an approach to financial sustainability for nonprofit organisations pursuing social enterprise strategies in the South Asia region including Sri Lanka.
Dr. Donna Vaughan, President (since March 2019), B.A., L.L.B, M. Soc. Sci, PhD, Grad. Cert. University Learning and Teaching . Dr. Vaughan has over twenty years experience in IT, project management, and management consulting. Donna has also taught development studies, political economy, and public policy (post-grad) at the University of New South Wales in Australia. Visit Donna’s Linked In page.
Monica Vaughan, Committee Member and Treasurer, B. A., Dip. Ed., Grad. Dip. Accounting, B. Theology. Monica over twenty-five years experience in teaching, including University foundation studies for international students, and ten years experience in business management. She is actively involved in community development within her own locality. Monica plays a key role in our program and developed the curriculum for Grades 1 and 2.
Judy Hawkes, Committee Member and Secretary, B.A. (Mathematics and Sociology) and over twenty years experience in IT management and consulting both in the USA and Australia. Judy also works as a volunteer in youth programs in Australia.
Helen McLeod, Consultant, B.A., Grad. Dip. Ed., M. Special Ed. (Sensory Impairment, TESOL). Helen is an experienced teacher and has played a key role in our program since its beginning, including development and delivery of teacher training in Sri Lanka, and mentoring teachers in village schools.
Emma Boundy, Committee Member and Consultant, B.Ed. Emma co-authored the Grade 3-5 literacy component of our program, has conducted teacher training in Sri Lanka, and plays an ongoing role in the continued enhancement of our program and delivery of online training.
Helen Farrell, Committee Member and Consultant, B.A. in Literature, M.A. in Linguistics. Helen has over 30 years’ experience teaching in High Schools and in the Higher Education sector. Currently she is involved in mentoring teachers in Sri Lanka as well as participating in local community activities.
Radhi Kalyanakumar, Vice President, Committee Member and Program Co-ordinator, has a professional background in financial services and is tri-lingual (Tamil, Sinhala, and English). Radhi provides program co-ordination, interpreting/translation, and cross-cultural support to the PIMD Program.
Mrs M. S. Fathima Rihana, Committee Member and Primary English Consultant, B.A. (English, Education, Sociology), currently studying M.A. Linguistics. Rihana is a primary English teacher in Sri Lanka and co-authored the Lotus ABOE Phonological and Phonemic Awareness Guide for Grades 1 and 2 English in Sri Lanka . Rihana also works as a documentary script writer (in Tamil and English) and translator.
Shashikala Dissanayake, EAL Consultant and Instructor, B.A. (Languages, English Language and Literature), M.A. Linguistics. Shashikala is a Sri Lankan Government school teacher, an instructor for PIMD’s Lotus Program, and advises on its implementation in Sri Lankan primary schools.
Sribhairavy Manogharan, Consultant and Trainer, Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours). Sribhairavy has over 8 years of experience in working with children who have communication and feeding difficulties. Her passion lies in the area of early intervention and capacity building for families and educators in order to promote positive outcomes for children. Bhairavy is a consultant and trainer for the PIMD’s Lotus Program, particularly in the area of pronunciation.
Judy Tollifson, Consultant, B.A., M. Ed., Diploma in Child Studies, and additional qualifications in Primary and Special Education. Judy is a qualified and experienced practitioner in remedial programs for struggling readers and leads a pilot implementation of a primary remedial reading program in selected schools.
PIMD is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.
Download our most recent annual report: PIMD Annual Report 2024.
