Our Faculty

Michalakis Michael

Finance and Revenue Management

After graduation, Michalakis started his career in the hotel and events industry, before pursuing further studies and eventually moving into hospitality education. He has been teaching at Swiss hospitality schools since 1999, with regular breaks and sabbaticals to refresh his industry knowledge and to work in the areas of finance and consulting. He holds a BSc (Hospitality) and MSc (Educational Leadership) and numerous certifications in the fields of finance and education.

Campus: Switzerland
E. michalakis.michael@glion.edu

 

Josephine Underwood-Kaarenmaa

Financial Accounting

Josephine started her career in the City of London, working alongside various finance directors. She then opted to spend a number of years working in the hospitality and tourism industry, based in popular ski or windsurf locations around the world. From there, she entered into the education sector, and since 2002 she has been teaching financial accounting, both face-to-face and online, at mainly undergraduate and occasionally at graduate levels. Josephine holds an HND in Business and Finance and an MA in Leisure and Tourism.

Campus: Switzerland
E. josephine.underwood@glion.edu

 

Nicole Philips

Program Director, Master’s in Real Estate, Finance and Hotel Development

Nicole has amassed more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality and real estate industries across Europe, Middle East and Africa. Nicole worked for Marriott International for 16 years, during which – in the role of Vice President Development Planning – she supported the expansion of the company through hundreds of projects. Before that, Nicole worked for HVS International in London and Singapore, having previously been engaged with a number of hotel operations departments in Europe and the United States. Nicole holds an MBA from IMHI (Cornell University – Essec School of Management).

Campus: London
E. nicole.philips@ext.sommet-education.com

 

Jonathan Humphries

Head of International Hotel Development Finance Specialization

Jonathan Humphries heads up the Specializations in International Hotel Development and Finance for both the Bachelors and the Masters Programs. The specializations combine academics, industry experts and partners to create a best-in-class learning experience for the students. In addition, Jonathan is Chairman and Owner of HoCoSo, head of a team focused on creating new hospitality concepts. He has 22+ years’ experience in industry, consulting and academia. He has an Executive MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, University of Northwestern, Chicago.

Campus: Switzerland & London
E. jonathan.humphries@glion.edu

Pia Huh

Management Finance & Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Corporate Finance, and Bachelor Thesis

Pia joined Glion in 1999, and has taught courses in hospitality real estate finance, property asset management, corporate finance, portfolio management, and management finance and accounting. She holds an MSc in Banking and Finance, an MPS in Hospitality Real Estate Finance, and is currently pursuing a DBA in an area of pension funds.
Campus: Switzerland

E. pia.huh@glion.edu

Debra Adams

Corporate Finance, Financial Management and Management Accounting

Debra has held positions at a number of hotel schools in the UK and Switzerland. She develops financial management programmes for the academic and training sector for senior managers, and has worked with a number of international hotel groups. Debra holds an MA in E-Learning and is qualified with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

Campus: London

E. debra.adams@glion.edu

Jocelyn Schofield

Leadership and Intercultural Management & Business Ethics

Jocelyn (Jo) has worked internationally in the hotel industry and has also taught hospitality business management in both the United Kingdom and Switzerland. Jo has a Master’s in Tourism Management and a Master’s in Research. At Glion, she teaches at undergraduate and Master’s level.

Campus: Switzerland
E. jocelyn.schofield@glion.edu

 

Dr. Anna Bloch-Mechkour

Applied Mathematics and Statistics in Hospitality Business & Business and Academic Research Methods

Anna has been lecturing at Glion since 2012, teaching various Statistics and Data Analysis courses at the undergraduate level. She also acts as a tutor for Bachelor’s theses. Anna holds a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Fribourg (Switzerland).

Campus: Switzerland
E. anna.bloch-mechkour@glion.edu

 

Victoria Charles

Human Resource Management

Victoria spent several years employed in the restaurant and café bar sector where she worked as a General Manager before specialising in Human Resources. This time spent working in the industry gave her an insight into the importance of attracting, retaining and developing the right people in order to help organisations to succeed. Having obtained her MA in Human Resource Management Victoria then moved into teaching and lecturing in Higher Education and delivering Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) courses for HR professionals. She is a qualified teacher (PGCE) and a Chartered Member of the CIPD.

Campus: London
E. victoria.charles@glion.edu

Neil Coade

Economics, International Law, Business Ethics and Thesis Supervision

Alongside his work as a specialist lecturer with Glion, Neil is director of his own management and training consultancy and has worked for major international organizations. He additionally serves as Academic Director for the Mountbatten Institute in New York and London. Neil’s teaching philosophy is founded on a highly student-focused approach that effectively links the theoretical with the practical. He is the author of several books on organizational design to drive business performance, as well as contributing to numerous business and management journals. He holds an MBA from Henley Business School.

Campus: London
E. neil.coade@gilon.edu

Christelle Herbin

Management of Rooms

Christelle joined Glion in 2010, and currently teaches on our BBA and MSc programs in topics related to rooms division and hospitality. She boasts over 20 years of international experience in Asia, Central America, Europe and the Caribbean, where she worked for a wide variety of institutions related to tourism, hospitality, education and governance.

Campus: Switzerland
E. christelle.herbin@glion.edu

Susan Landtwing

Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility

Susan has over 16 years of experience in the hospitality industry, having held a range of management positions in various hotels. She has been teaching hospitality management subjects at undergraduate level since 1998, and holds an MBA (with a specialization in hospitality) from Oxford Brookes University.

Campus: Switzerland
E. susan.landtwing@glion.edu

Michael Heyward

Revenue Management, Hotel Development and Technology

Michael has over 25 years’ experience in hospitality, particularly in revenue management, hotel operations and corporate roles. He has worked for independent hotels, IHG and AccorHotels, as well as five-star hotels across Europe, Asia and the Pacific. Michael has a proven track record for revenue and team development.

Campus: London
E. michael.heyward@glion.edu

Ed Schofield

Business Development and Strategy

Ed joined Glion in 2008 and currently works as a lecturer in Business Strategy on the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs. Prior to moving into academia, Ed worked as a General Manager, managing Renaissance hotels in the UK. He originally studied Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management at Leeds Beckett University and holds an MSc in International Hospitality Management.

Campus: Switzerland
E. edmond.schofield@glion.edu

Peter Meyer

Marketing

Peter graduated in 2004 from our sister school, Les Roches, after completing a 3-year Diploma. Born and raised in the hospitality industry, he worked for major hotel groups around the world such as Hilton, Rosewood, JA & YTL Hotels & Resorts and specialized in the areas of F&B Management, Sales & Marketing and Business Development. Peter worked in the US, the Caribbean, the Middle East and the Far East as well as the UK and South Africa. He is also a bestselling author and film producer.

Campus: London
E. peter.meyer@ext.glion.edu

 

Mark Britton Jones

Marketing et et gestion des marques de luxe

Mark’s career in hospitality, airlines and travel & tourism spans 30 years, all of which underpins his commercial know-how for the hotel sector. Mark brings hospitality experience from the front line up to executive level – a deep understanding of the industry which was further advanced after he achieved an MBA in Hospitality & Service Industries Management from Glion. As a consultant lecturer to Glion London, Mark delivers courses covering Marketing, Leadership and Intercultural Management, C&E Management, New Product Development and Innovation, and Operations Services. He also delivers the luxury specialisation for our Bachelor students.

Campus: London
E. mark.jones@glion.edu

Dr. Barbara Czyzewska

Interim Academic Dean & Head of Luxury Specialization

Barbara has strong academic background in hospitality and tourism studies, with particular expertise in luxury marketing as well as history of hospitality. She serves as Interim Academic Dean and Head of Luxury Brand Strategy Specialization. Prior to joining Glion, Barbara led the MA Luxury Hospitality Management program at University of West London. Born in Poland and educated in the United Kingdom, she holds a PhD in Hospitality Management and a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Vocational Subjects, together with an MA and BSc in Tourism Destination Management, both from University of Birmingham. Barbara recently published a book entitled ‘The Story of Hilton Hotels: Little Americas’.

Campus: Switzerland
E. barbara.czyzewska@glion.edu

Laury I. Chauvin

Hospitality and Events Operations

After graduating with a Bachelor’s in Corporate Communication, Laury started her career in hospitality within the Four Seasons Hotels & Resort Company. There she worked on three openings, and at four established hotels, as front office manager and revenue manager. In 2011, she joined the team in GIHE, to share the experience she has gained throughout her years in the industry. Using the Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology she obtained in June 2014, Laury constantly works to adapt to the changing student needs and educational approach.

Campus: Switzerland
E. laury.chauvin@glion.edu

Dr Nicoletta Giusti

Luxury Business Environments

Nicoletta Giusti PhD is an academic with more than 20 years of research and teaching in the fields of Luxury, Fashion and Design, from the Bachelor level to MBA, in several Business Schools and Universities in Europe. She comes from family business in luxury menswear founded in 1887 and has a wide range of professional and entrepreneurial contacts in the Luxury and Fashion industry. She has worked as a consultant for several fashion firms and was Professor Ambassador for the Program LVMH INSIDE 2018. She is part as well of the Swiss Center for Luxury Research.

Campus: Switzerland
E. nicoletta.giusti@glion.edu

Anu Laukkala

Sales and Digital Marketing & Project Management

Anu has taught marketing at undergraduate and postgraduate level in hospitality schools throughout Switzerland for more than a decade. In addition to teacher, she leads the Glion Applied Business Projects. A graduate from Aalto University (Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration), she holds both an MBA in Digital Technology Management and an MSc in Marketing. She has a teacher’s pedagogical qualification from Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Finland. Before entering the world of academia, she worked at Total Quality Management and consulted for public sector procurement and supply chain management.

Campus: Switzerland

E. anu.laukkala@glion.edu

Darren Sleeman

Darren has been teaching various marketing subjects at Glion for over 11 years. He is currently teaching Hospitality Marketing Essentials. He holds an MBA in Hospitality Marketing from Les Roches Global Hospitality Education, as well as an SME Tourism Certificate from the University of South Africa.

Campus: Switzerland

E. darren.sleeman@glion.edu

Claudio Zucco

Economics for Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure

Claudio has been with Glion for more than 30 years, and currently designs and delivers courses related to tourism and events management. Alongside this, he is also a tutor of dissertations and other Capstone projects. His areas of expertise include the economics of tourism, destination management, transportation and sustainability in tourism.

Campus: Switzerland
E. claudio.zucco@glion.edu

Giovanni Manfredini

Head of International Event Management Specialization

Giovanni heads our International Event Management specialization, and teaches Marketing and Sales courses. He has had over 30 years of experience in a range of industries, taking on managerial roles at organizations in Europe, Russia and the USA. Giovanni holds an MBA in Marketing, Digital Communication and Sales Management.

Campus: Switzerland
E. giovanni.manfredini@glion.edu

Dr Martin Senior

Services Marketing

Martin has been teaching management and marketing for over twenty years, lecturing at undergraduate and graduate levels. He holds a BSc in Catering Administration, an MA in E-Learning and a PhD in Services Marketing. Prior to teaching, Martin began his career in hospitality, working in hotels, restaurants and bars.

Campus: Switzerland
E. martin.senior@glion.edu

David Alessandria

David started his career in the hospitality industry as a cook in 2002. He also worked in Michelin starred restaurants and luxury hotels in France, Belgium and Luxembourg. He joined Glion in 2017 and worked on the opening of Le Bellevue restaurant as Head Chef. David has participated in several international competitions during the past 10 years, winning the International Catering Cup in 2017.

Campus: Switzerland
E. david.alessandria@glion.edu

Fabrice Nicolot

Assistant Restaurants and Bars Manager – Senior Instructor

Fabrice joined Glion in 2008 after teaching for seven years at another prestigious Swiss school. Before that, he gained experience in palace hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants. He is currently working as a Senior Service Instructor and Assistant Manager of the school’s bars and restaurants, sharing his passion for training and transmission with mainly first semester Bachelor’s students.

Campus: Switzerland
E. fabrice.nicolot@glion.edu

Olivier Godart

Head of Students Lodging and Front Office Instructor

Olivier joined Glion in January 2015, after holding the position of Front Office Manager and Assistant General Manager at Vatel in Switzerland. Prior to that, he held management positions in food & beverage and rooms division at the Hilton Brussels.

Campus: Switzerland
E. olivier.godart@glion.edu

 

Francesco Armato

Head Chef & Instructor at Fresh

Francesco began his career in a two Michelin star restaurant in Milan. Then, he worked in a three Michelin star restaurant in Padua, before moving to France, where he became Head Chef at a gastronomic restaurant. In 2016 he arrived in Switzerland, where he worked at the Lausanne Palace before joining Glion. Today, Francesco leads Fresh’s kitchen as Head Chef & Instructor.

Campus: Switzerland
E. francesco.armato@glion.edu

 

David Gouaut

Chef Barman Instructor

David joined Glion as Head Bartender/Instructor in 2018 after making the move to Switzerland from Montreal, Canada. His 14 years of bar experience spans the globe, with roles in Australia, Belgium, Spain, the UK and France. David has worked in senior positions, including Bar Supervisor, Senior Mixologist and Bar Manager, with notable experience in opening. Fluent in French, Spanish and English, his academic achievements include a BTS in Catering Hospitality, High Level Bar Training and a Baccalaureate of Professional Aptitude in Hotel Business.

Campus: Switzerland
E. david.gouaut@glion.edu

Irène Es-Borrat

Front Office Manager & Instructor

Irene brings a background in rooms division and hospitality from both the USA and Switzerland. Prior to joining Glion, Irene worked at international companies such as Fairmont and Hilton. Irene holds a BBA in Hospitality from Les Roches Global Hospitality Education (then Les Roches International School of Hotel Management).

Campus: Switzerland
E. irene.es-borrat@glion.edu

Patrice Oriol

Senior Service Instructor

Patrice has a long history with Glion. He has taught students on both our Bachelor’s and graduate degrees. He has worked as a Senior Service Instructor, organising events and team-building activities for multinational companies. Patrice recently opened Glion’s restaurant, Fresh, a new concept developed by Meilleur Ouvrier de France award winner Benoit Carcenat. He also completed his Master of Education in Hospitality Organizational Training and Management at Glion in Switzerland in 2012.

Campus: Switzerland

E. patrice.oriol@glion.edu

Eric Foret

Practical Arts

Eric began his career in the pastry shops in France. He then moved to the UK, taking on a number of Head Pastry and Sous Chef positions. While in the UK, Eric was part of the opening of Ascot’s Dorchester Collection hotel. He then returned to France, working as Head Pastry Chef at Relais Desserts.

Campus: Switzerland
E. eric.foret@glion.edu

Chantal Wittmann

MOF Restaurant Senior Lecturer

Chantal has over 30 years of teaching experience within hospitality. She has coached students for competitions, held a number of academic roles and has worked for a range of hospitality organizations across France. In 2011, Chantal won the world-renowned Meilleur Ouvrier de France award. She joined Glion in 2017.

Campus: Switzerland
E. chantal.wittmann@glion.edu

Xinxin Liu

Mandarin and English

Xinxin Liu speaks Mandarin, English, and French fluently and she has been teaching English and Mandarin in Switzerland for four years. Previously she studied and worked in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Xinxin holds a BA from Hong Kong University and a MA from the University of Geneva, both in language arts. She holds as well a MAS in education.

Campus: Switzerland
E. xinxin.liu@glion.edu

 

Maurane Fauster

French Language

After graduating with a Master’s degree in teaching French as a Foreign Language, Maurane began her career in Geneva, where she taught French at different levels in a school that worked with international companies and brands. She has also taught French at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, in Geneva.

Campus: Switzerland
E. maurane.fauster@glion.edu

 

Mathilde Chevallier

French Language

Mathilde has been teaching French on the Bulle campus since 2018. Born in Nice, she studies in Paris and Canada and holds a Master’s degree in French Didactics and Interculturality from Paris University. She first taught French in schools and at university in Serbia. She then moved to Switzerland to teach French to businesspeople, before joining Glion.

Campus: Switzerland
E. mathilde.chevallier@glion.edu

 

Pascal Christian

IT Business Tools

Pascal started his career as a consultant specialized in SAP software, before moving into training and education. Since 2011, he has been teaching Hospitality, Tourism and IT Business Tools, both face-to-face and online, at undergraduate and graduate levels. Pascal holds a BSc (Business Studies) and an MBA (Business Administration).

Campus: Switzerland
E. pascal.christian@glion.edu

 

Dr Imogen Long

Dissertation Supervisor

Imogen supervises dissertations at both undergraduate and Master’s level for students in our London and Swiss campuses. She is an experienced lecturer, having worked for over 15 years in higher education in the UK and Ireland. Previously, she taught at the University of Leeds, the University of Limerick, the University of Sheffield and the University of Hull. Imogen has a PhD in French Studies from the University of Leeds and became a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2020.

Campus: London
E. imogen.long@glion.edu

 

Olive Yanli Hou

Mandarin Chinese Language

Olive is a communication and PR strategist with expertise in promoting cultural exchange between Europe and Asia. Former editor of China Entrepreneur Magazine and a trained journalist, she is experienced in delivering complex communication strategies for major businesses and luxury brands. In addition to working within a Chinese communications consultancy, she has provided Mandarin Chinese language and cultural training to European institutions and corporations. Olive holds an MA in Creative Industries Management from the University of St Andrews and an MA in Chinese Literature from Shandong University, China.

Campus: London
E. olive.hou@ext.glion.edu

Dr Zabin Visram

Intercultural leadership – Associate Professor

Zabin brings extensive teaching experience to Glion, having previously taught in six universities and three countries. Academic achievements include a first-class honours degree, a master’s degree and a Doctorate in Intercultural Relations. Zabin has taught both undergraduate and masters courses in International Hospitality Management. Zabin is well known internationally for her research having presented in Dubai, Ireland, England, Portugal, Florida, and Canada. Zabin also has extensive consultancy experience in leading a range of projects for global corporations.

Campus: London
E. zabin.visram@glion.edu

Cynthia Molteni Rillo

Spanish Language

Cynthia received her diploma degree in Law in 1997 and joined two post-graduate programmes in 2000. She has worked in both the private and public sectors in Argentina and holds a DipHE as a Teacher of Social Sciences. She has an extended career as a teacher in Buenos Aires, including for Universidad de Buenos Aires, and as a private tutor in The Hague and in London. She has been an active member in Colegio Publico de Abogados de la Capital Federal since 1997.

Campus: London
E. cynthia.molteni-rillo@glion.edu

Michelle Wells

Hospitality and Events Operations and IT

Michelle is an internationally experienced hospitality professional and educator, who has taught at graduate and undergraduate level in hospitality schools in Switzerland and the UK for close to two decades. She also has a background in event management and holds a master’s degree in Convention and Events Management from Southern Cross University, Australia. Her professional career in hospitality has taken her from resorts in Greece, Jordan, the UK, and the Maldives, with stops in Switzerland along the way.

Campus: London
E. michelle.wells@glion.edu

Sidi Mohamed Beldjilali

IT and Geopolitics

Sidi has been teaching at Glion since 2014, originally Geopolitics and more recently focusing on IT and Business. He has also been responsible for the BBA online courses, as well as acting as a tutor for both bachelor’s and master’s theses. He holds an MSc in International Relations: Security and Defense and has recently gained a Cybersecurity degree from the University of Montpellier. Prior to joining Glion, Sidi worked for a number of international organizations, including the Council of Europe and the International Justice Institute.

Campus: Switzerland
E. sidimohamed.beldjilali@glion.edu

Cliff Kast

Academic English

Cliff teaches Academic English and Applied Linguistics at Glion and supervises postgraduate dissertations in these disciplines. With over 25 years of teaching experience, he has worked at several universities in South Africa and Britain, as well as holding teacher-training positions in both Britain and China. A specialist in academic discourses, his current research interests include critical thinking, reading cognition, and critical pedagogy, elements of which are the focus of his doctoral studies.

Campus: London
E. clifford.kast@glion.edu

Zoe Conlon

Program Manager and Senior Lecturer

A graduate of Oxford Brookes, Zoe holds a BSc Hons in Hospitality Management and an MA in Higher Education Practice. She joined Glion in 2015 and currently manage the Master’s program. She is also a Fellow of the HEA and a member of the Institute of Hospitality. An accomplished lecturer since 2008, Zoe previously worked in events, sales and marketing for hotels and restaurants in London.

Campus: London
E. zoe.conlon@glion.edu

Lilia Sauvageat-Contla Landa

Spanish Language

Lilia teaches beginner, elementary, and intermediate-level Spanish on our foreign language programs. An experienced Spanish lecturer, Lilia has previously worked in the USA on a bilingual program. She holds a BSc in Oceanology from the Autonomous University of Baja California and a language teacher certificate.

Campus: Switzerland
E. lilia.sauvageat-contlalanda@glion.edu

Dr Bruno Levasseur

French

Bruno has been teaching at Glion London since 2013. He is an experienced lecturer and has previously taught at institutions such as the University of Chicago, the University of Birmingham, the University of Manchester and the University of Roehampton in London amongst others. Bruno has a PhD in French Studies from the University of Birmingham and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He has taught French at all levels as well as Research Methods classes. He is also an experienced Dissertation and Business Research Project Supervisor.

Campus: London
E. bruno.levasseur@glion.edu

Dr Francesco Screti

Spanish Language, Communication and Research Methods

Francesco has over ten years of pedagogical experience, teaching a range of courses, as well as tutoring several BA and MSc dissertations. He holds an MA in Communication Studies, a MPhil in Linguistics and a Doctorate in Sociolinguistics. An active researcher, he has got several papers published in international academic journals, and has given talks at numerous conferences. Francesco speaks English, French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese.

Campus: Switzerland
E. francesco.screti@glion.edu

Dr. Daniel Fuchs

International Human Resource Management & People Performance in the Workplace

Daniel Fuchs started his career as a Hospitality Consultant. This was the first step on a journey through the industry that took in roles as Food and Beverage Director, Director of Sales and Marketing, General Manager and finally COO of a hotel company. He then entered the world of academia, gaining experience as faculty, Dean and Director of hospitality colleges. Daniel Holds a first degree in accounting, a Master’s degree in Finance and Economics, and a PhD specializing in Human Resource Management.

Campus: Switzerland
E. daniel.fuchs@glion.edu

 

Jean-Marc Levrat

Management of Food and Beverage

Jean-Marc draws from 25 years of international experience in academia and the hospitality industry. Originally from Switzerland, he has lived and worked on three continents, including in Canada, where he was Director of Operations for 27 QSR restaurants that collectively employed over 1,000 people. He also taught at various schools and universities in Canada, including Royal Roads University, as well as in Switzerland

Campus: Switzerland
E. jean-marc.levrat@glion.edu

 

Eric Mabilon

Advanced Hotel Operations

Eric spent the first eight years of his professional career working in the Rooms Division of many premium hotels, mainly in the UK and Switzerland. His last position before joining Glion was Front Office Manager. Holder of an MSc in Hospitality Organisational Training and Management from Endicott College (USA), Eric taught Rooms Division and Rooms Division Management courses in our Bachelor’s program at Glion, before moving over to our Master’s programs. He is now in charge of the coordination of the master’s program in International Hospitality Business in addition, as a Senior Lecturer, to teaching in this program and tutoring students for their final Business Research Project.

Campus: Switzerland
E. eric.mabilon@glion.edu

Reka Mizsei

Bachelor Program Manager and Senior Lecturer

Reka joined Glion in 2016 and currently holds the positions of Bachelor Program Manager and Senior Lecturer. She teaches Revenue and Operations Management. Reka brings 16 years’ experience working in luxury hotels. She is also a member of the Academic Board, the Institute of Hospitality, an Associate of HOSPA and a Fellow of the HEA.

Campus: London
E. reka.mizsei@glion.edu