Staff
Introducing our Full-time Regional Advisors:
Amira Nanis
Region 1 – North, Region 2 – East-West
Amira Nanis, an experienced ESL educator with over 16 years of teaching, founded Twiza in 2013 to offer quality education and bridge cultural gaps. Her academic journey includes a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction, motivating her ongoing commitment to innovate in language education. Additionally, she's deeply engaged in social justice advocacy, earning a second master’s in Social Justice Education to effect meaningful change. Currently, she's humbly exploring her creative side through her debut graphic novel project. Outside of work, Amira values genuine connections, often found enjoying a quiet moment with a book or cherishing time with her family.
Email: amira.nanis@norquest.ca
Phone: 780-720-4152
Lia dela Cruz
Region 3 – Central
Rosalia Pison dela Cruz (Lia dela Cruz) has been an ESL practitioner for 35 years -- 12 of those in Canada and the rest in her home country, the Philippines. She started out as an English teacher to high school and university students. Adult education came later as an ESL instructor in MacEwan University and in NorQuest College. In the Philippines, she was also a teacher trainer, conducting outreach workshops for teachers in rural areas outside Metro Manila. She has worked many years as a language assessor including a brief stint with Catholic Social Services. At home in Edmonton, she enjoys family bike rides and camping in the summer but has only briefly tried skiing in the winter. She counts herself lucky to be able to do all that with the backdrop of the Rockies and Prairies in Alberta.
Email: rosalia.delacruz@norquest.ca
Phone: 780-920-7579
Alana Johnson
Region 4 – South
Alana Johnson is the Lead for the Alberta Routes Initiative, as well as the advisor for Region 4. Alana has over 25 years of experience with providing engaging and meaningful training and leadership for a broad range of audiences. She worked for many years as an English language instructor, and an essential skills specialist. For the past 8 years Alana has provided professional development supports and services with Alberta Routes. When not at work, you can find Alana hiking up a mountain, walking her dogs in the coulees of southern Alberta, and spending time with her family.
Email: alana.johnson@norquest.ca
Phone: 780-644-6301