Our Team
Meet the dedicated team at Vkole who are passionate about providing quality education. Get to know our team members and their expertise below.
Founder and Managing Partner
Precious Akponah (BSc, MSc, PhD, PGcert, FHEA)
Dr Precious Akponah is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and has served as a faculty member at several universities across the UK. With over 10 years of experience in academia, primarily as a lecturer in marketing, Precious has taught undergraduate, postgraduate, and MBA students, and has held various administrative positions. Dedicated to enhancing education, Precious focuses on pedagogical research aimed at improving teaching practices and enriching students' learning experiences. Precious employs innovative research methodologies to explore and understand the often-overlooked aspects of everyday life. Additionally, Precious has been a school governor in the UK for the past four years, specialising in student behaviour. Committed to addressing social problems through pedagogical solutions, Precious leverages expertise and experience to transform the experiences of teachers and students.
Educational Consultant
Dr Hela Hassen
Hela Hassen is a lecturer in Marketing at King's Business School, UK, and the Director of the online MSc Marketing program at King's College London. With a background in anthropology, social sciences, and design research, Hela excels in understanding people's needs and behaviours to uncover the most lucrative opportunities for improving educational services. She brings several years of consultancy experience, specialising in qualitative research data analysis in both British and French educational environments. Hela's research primarily explores the role of marketing and consumption in society, with a particular emphasis on food, sustainability, and digitalization. She is dedicated to interdisciplinary work, specialising in marketing studies and educational research. Additionally, Hela is deeply committed to promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in education, striving to create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students.
Education Consultant
Dr Anthony O'Tierney
Dr Anthony O'Tierney has worked in academia for ten years, and is a Lecturer in Accounting and Finance at the University of Leicester, where he was a committee member for the regional strategy group for the Middle East and Africa and is currently the MSc Management Programme Lead and Curriculum Lead for Human Resource Management. His research interests focus on legal identity, cash-based economies, mortgage securitisation, and innovation, and he has consulted on grant allocation for the EU-funded LEDGER project. As a qualified ESL teacher, he has previously taught English in Ireland, the UK and the Middle East. He is part of a team launching British Schools Overseas in the Middle East, with an emphasis on progressive and international-focused education.
Education Consultant
Dr Milan Gyanwali
Dr Milan Gyanwali is a distinguished researcher and educator who sees organisational growth from a sourcing perspective. With a passion for nurturing talent, Dr Gyanwali has significantly impacted both individuals and organisations. He holds an HRM/D degree and a PhD in Business Management. He is the Subject Lead for Business Management (Undergraduate) at De Montfort University. His roles include enhancing the student learning experience, empowering staff and enriching staff satisfaction. Beyond academia, Dr Gyanwali has extensive experience in designing staff development programmes, motivating employees and increasing employee efficiency. His leadership roles in profit-making and not-for-profit organisations have positively impacted them.
Curriculum Specialist
Annabel Emore (B.ED, RECE, B.A, M.Ed)
Annabel Emore is a distinguished figure in early childhood education, boasting extensive experience as a registered early childhood educator (RECE), mentor, and instructional designer. With a career spanning over a decade, Annabel has played a pivotal role in shaping the practices of educators through mentoring, coaching, and facilitating training workshops. Annabel's expertise extends to instructional design, where she has developed and led workshops focused on innovative teaching methodologies and classroom management techniques. As a published author of a children's book, “Tega’s Shiny Difference’, Annabel utilises storytelling to engage young minds and instil valuable lessons. Annabel is a strong advocate for the principles of How Does Learning Happen (HDLH) to create nurturing learning environments. Her commitment to holistic education, grounded in evidence-based practices and a passion for lifelong learning, has earned her a reputation as an expert in early childhood education. Annabel continues to inspire and empower educators to foster meaningful learning experiences that prioritise the well-being and growth of every child, making a lasting impact on the future generation.
Educational Consultant
Dr Dominic Appiah
Dr Dominic Appiah is a lecturer in Marketing at Royal Holloway, University of London, where he has developed and led curricula in Brands, Advertising, Contemporary Issues in Consumer Behaviour & Global Marketing, Marketing Strategy, and Digital Consumer Culture. He has demonstrated experience in both Higher Education (HE) and Further Education (FE) sectors across the UK and Singapore. Dominic holds a PhD from Plymouth University, an MBA from the University of Wales, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics & Philosophy from the University of Ghana. His research investigates the dynamics of consumer purchase intentions in digitally disrupted markets and the strategies for building resistance to brand switching in these competitive environments. He has published extensively in academic books and journals, including the International Journal of Consumer Behaviour, the International Journal of Retailing & Consumer Services, the Journal of Sustainability, and the Interdisciplinary Journal of Economics & Business Law. Dr. Appiah also has extensive experience in the financial services industry. He has worked for the State Insurance Company in Ghana, GIA Insurance, and Ghana International Bank, both in the UK, leveraging these experiences to contribute to schools' financial planning and management across Africa. Dominic is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), a Certified Management & Business Educator (CMBE), a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), a Member of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), and a Member of the British Academy of Management (BAM).