We are delighted to welcome Dr Vanessa Montesi to Action Foundation as the new manager of our Language & Learning service. She brings with her a true love of languages, being fluent in English, her native Italian, Russian, Portuguese and Spanish. Her passion for different cultures has taken her all over the world, including stints in Russia, Portugal and Canada, where she worked as a language teacher, research assistant and community engagement coordinator. We wish her every success in her new role here.
Tell us a bit about yourself
I was born in Italy, but I spent the last 10 years living and working in different countries before joining my partner in the UK. I am very curious, and I would love to spend my life learning new things. I love dancing, writing, cooking, daydreaming, learning new languages, the occasional cycle ride and being walked by my dog Joao. Friendship is something important to me.
What’s your career background?
My very first job was as a professional dancer, but I then studied Foreign Languages and Translation for my BA and MA degrees and decided to bridge the gap between the two through my PhD, which I did in Portugal and Canada. Before, in the meantime, and after that, I taught languages to students of all ages in Italy and Russia, worked as a translator, and took part in international creative projects.
When I moved to the UK after completing the PhD, I felt that I wanted to put the knowledge gained through it to more practical use and worked for local and national charities. Right before joining Action Foundation, I was lecturing on the BA degree in Professional Dance offered by Dance City/the University of Sunderland. When in Italy, I volunteered for the organisation, Refugees Welcome, and here in the UK I am a volunteer at HostNation and trustee at Company of Others, a dance company of sanctuary based in Walker.
What’s your new role?
I’m the Language and Learning Project Manager, a very exciting role which entails developing a rich learning offer to enable our learners to thrive despite the difficult circumstances they have to endure, coordinating staff and volunteers to achieve that and supporting our students in their daily lives. Listening will be a big part of my role and then coming up with solutions and dreaming up new ways to learn with and from each other.
What drew you to work for Action Foundation?
I have known and respected this organisation since I moved to Newcastle and I feel deeply about issues of migration. As someone who moved to the UK on a spouse visa, I have a little insight into the harm done by hostile infrastructures and being in an organisation that works towards a fairer, more welcoming future is something important to me. In one way or another, all my previous jobs were linked to education and enabled me to experience it from so many different angles so I hope I will bring that knowledge, alongside my enthusiasm and commitment, to this role.
