Our Trainers

Dr Denise Lai Chua

Dr Denise Lai Chua leads and manages CAPE as its Managing Director and Head of Programmes. An experienced early childhood professional, leader and researcher, Denise is skilled in early childhood education, the treatment of children with additional needs (especially autism spectrum disorders), entrepreneurship and organisational development (including non-profit organisations) and leadership development.

Jennifer Eades

Jennifer has a Bachelor’s degree in Teaching and has been working as a teacher in Australia for the past ten years. Her love for children has led her to acquiring exceptional competencies in child development and nurture, initially through work as an au pair and in child care centres, and then later through a focus on Children at Risk which has by far been the most distinctive highlight of her career. Jennifer has systematically sought to address this injustice by training teachers and care workers throughout Asia and Africa. In this, she brings her own unfortunate but unique experiences in childhood abuse and trauma, which invariably gives her a deep empathy and compassion for children and women who are hurting. Jennifer is a mother of two grown sons and currently resides in Australia.

Zhang Ling Jun

Ling Jun (or L.J. for short) has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Sydney, an MBA from Tsinghua University, as well as a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She is certified in China as a National Psychological Counsellor Level 2. Her areas of expertise and interest include parenting, family education, and problem-based learning (PBL). Fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese, L.J. looks forward to connecting with CAPE clients throughout Asia, but especially in the East Asia region.

Sarah Rigden

Sarah has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Durham University in the UK, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from Goldsmith’s, the University of London, and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education (with distinction) from the University of Sheffield. She loves equipping teachers and preschools on the topics of Language and Literacy, The Project Approach, Emergent Curriculum, Dramatic and Imaginative Play, as well as Outdoor/Adventurous Play and Sports/Games. As an educational leader, she has spearheaded educational and community outreach projects throughout Asia, but especially on the Indian subcontinent, and feels very strongly that children’s learning should include amazement, joy and wonder, rather than activities with no context and dry facts without meaning.