ABOUT US
Our Team
Meet the talented and passionate team behind our programmes.
Our Leadership Team
David Chiem
Founder CEO and Executive Chairman
Recognised internationally as an influential thought leader and education innovator, David Chiem is the Founder CEO and Executive Chairman of MindChamps, hailed by NY Times and Wall Street Journal number one bestselling author Dr Joseph A. Michelli in his book The MindChamps Way: How To Turn An Idea Into A Global Movement as the global education movement of the 21st Century.
In 1984, at age 14, David became the first Asian to secure a starring role in a mainstream Australian television drama. He went on to build a successful career in theater, film and television. That creative background shaped his understanding of how humans learn, perform, build confidence and form identity. This led to his epiphany that education had to be turned upside down, shifting focus away from tertiary education and toward the earliest years, where mindset is first formed and future capacity is set.
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That conviction led David to create the 3-Mind Model of Education, a future-facing framework built for an AI-driven world. This model synthesised decades of research across four domains, Education, Psychology, Neuroscience and Theater, long before interdisciplinary learning became fashionable.
To validate this model, David chose to pilot it in Singapore, widely regarded as the most competitive education system in the world, with the highest academic standards. Under his leadership, MindChamps has grown from point zero to become Singapore’s number one early education brand, commanding 51 percent of the premium preschool market.
In collaboration with Brian Caswell, MindChamps’ Dean of Research & Programme Development, David has co-authored four bestselling education and parenting books:
- The 3-Mind Revolution – A New World View for Global Leaders
- Deeper than the Ocean: How the Learning Brain is Formed
- The Art of Communicating With Your Child: Strategies for Inspiring the Champion Mindset in Every Young Person
- Talking with the Sky: Pre-school Parenting Secrets
They have also co-written two critically acclaimed novels, The Full Story and Only the Heart, the latter nominated for three Australian literary awards and used for many years as an English literature set text for high school students in Australia.
Brian Caswell
Dean of Research & Programme Development
Brian is an internationally acclaimed, multi-award-winning author, researcher, educator and songwriter, with a passion for early childhood education and a special interest in the psychology and neuroscience of the learning brain.
Recruited by David at the very beginning of the MindChamps journey in 1998, Brian’s leadership of the MindChamps Research & Programme Development team and his work with leading educationists, developmental psychologists, language-acquisition specialists and neuroscientists from 4 continents has been instrumental in the development of MindChamps’ educational philosophy and ‘brain-friendly’ learning strategies – including the S.M.I.L.E.S.TM early learning methodology, hailed as a breakthrough in preschool curriculum design, which is used in all MindChamps PreSchools and Early Learning centres worldwide. He also led the team which developed the celebrated curriculum for MindChamps ReadingTM, personally writing over 200 reading and phonics books and 40 songs for use in the programme.
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Over the past 38 years, Brian Caswell has presented to more than 300,000 people on topics including creativity, literacy, writing, education and early childhood development. His insights have also reached a wider audience through television, radio, podcasts, videos and virtual presentations — making him one of the most experienced and respected voices in the field.
Brian’s published work spans a wide range of genres and formats — from young adult and speculative fiction to short stories, picture books for early readers, and instructional guides for parents and educators. He has also contributed numerous scholarly articles and book chapters on literacy, creativity, education and parenting, reflecting his deep expertise across both academic and creative domains.
Dean Carey
Dean of Theatre
Dean is the Founder, Director, and Dean of Theatre of Actors Centre Australia (ACA) in Sydney, one of Australia’s top theatre schools. An established and widely respected acting teacher, Dean brings with him over 30 years of experience and has coached major Hollywood celebrities, including High Jackman, who is also the patron of ACA.
Dean was also Head of Acting at The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Perth, Australia and The National Institute of Dramatic Arts, Sydney, Australia. Dean has also taught in 9 countries including New Zealand, the UK, the USA, Russia, France, Singapore, Indonesia, Brazil, and Vietnam as well as in most major acting schools across the world.
Our Global Research & Programme Development Team
At the heart of MindChamps is a deep commitment to research excellence and innovation. Our philosophy and passion for transforming cutting-edge discoveries into practical educational strategies have attracted some of the world’s leading thinkers and practitioners.
Our curriculum is uniquely shaped by award-winning experts across the four key domains of Education, Psychology, Neuroscience and Theatre:
Emeritus Professor Allan Snyder FRS
Chancellor and Chair of the Mindchamps Global Research & Programme Development Team, Australia and USA
- Fellow of the Royal Society (the prestigious scientific fellowship that counts Newton and Einstein as its former fellows)
- Founder, Centre for the Mind (University of Sydney)
- Holds the 150th Anniversary Chair of Science at the University of Sydney
- Winner of the 2001 Marconi International Prize, the world’s foremost prize in communications and information technology
Emeritus Professor Steven Schwartz AM, FASSA
Senior Fellow, Australia
- Appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2013
- Former Chairman of the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority
- International award-winning researcher
- Named as one of the 100 highest cited researchers in his field
- Former professor with Harvard and Stanford
- Won the Brain Research Award, British Red Cross Society
- Australian Academy of Science – Royal Society (London) Exchange Fellowship
- Former Vice-Chancellor of Macquarie, Brunel University University, and Murdoch University
Mr Steven Andrews
Chief Academic Officer, U.K.
- Former Senior Education Advisor to the UK Government (Tony Blair Administration)
- Former Director of Schools, Greenwich, UK
- Former Group Chief Education Officer, Cognita International Schools
- Former Group CEO, Tanglin Trust School, Singapore
Dr James Muecke AM
Senior Fellow, Australia
- 2020 Australian of the Year
- Former Lieutenant Governor of South Australia
- Member of the Order of Australia
- World Renowned Ophthalmologist and Blindness Prevention Pioneer
Mrs Carmee Lim
Mentor Principal, Singapore
- Former Principal of Raffles Girls’ School, one of Singapore’s top schools
- Former Senior Inspector of Schools in the Ministry of Education, Singapore
- First Executive Director of the Academy of Principals, Singapore
Mrs Louise Mulligan-Andrews
Director General Of Education, U.K.
- Former Director of Schools, The Department for Education, UK
- Responsible for improving student exam performance in Nottingham City at double the national rate
Professor Trevor H. Cairney OAM
Fellow, Australia
- Awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2012
- Adjunct Professor at the University of New South Wales, Department of Education
- President of the New South Wales Business Chamber
- Has written nine books and over 200 reports, articles and book chapters on early learning, training, language acquisition and development
Ms Libby Gleeson AM
Fellow, Australia
- Appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2007
- Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Sydney, Department of Education and Social Work
- Award-winning writer for picture books and fiction titles, including Hannah and the Tomorrow Room, An Ordinary Day, and Amy and Louis
- Chair of WestWords, Western Sydney’s Literature Development Organization for Young People
Professor Kathy Hirsh-Pasek
Senior Fellow, U.S.A
- Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institute, USA
- Director, Infant Language Laboratory, Temple University, USA
- Recipient of numerous awards
- Author of 12 books including Becoming Brilliant: What Science Tells Us About Raising Successful Children, Einstein Never Used Flash Cards and A Mandate for Playful Learning in Preschool
- Has published over 200 articles and research papers
Professor Roberta Michnick Golinkoff
Senior Fellow, U.S.A
- Director, Child’s Play, Learning, and Development Laboratory, University of Delaware, USA
- Recipient of numerous awards
- Author of 14 books including Becoming Brilliant: What Science Tells Us About Raising Successful Children, Einstein Never Used Flash Cards and A Mandate for Playful Learning in Preschool
- Has published over 150 articles and research papers
Dr Scott Hicks
Senior Fellow, Australia
- Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award-winning director and screenwriter
- Director of the Academy Award-winning films Shine, Snow Falling on Cedars and box-office hits including No Reservations and The Lucky One
- Member of the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- SA Australian of the Year recipient in 2008
Mr Aubrey Mellor OAM
Senior Fellow, Australia
- Awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 1992
- Former Director of the world-renowned National Institute of Dramatic Art, Australia
- Renowned theatre teacher to a generation of acclaimed Australian Academy Award winners
Our Champion Ambassador
At MindChamps, our ambassadors embody the essence of what a Champion should be. By harnessing the Champion Mindset within themselves, these extraordinary people have used this personal attribute to be the best they can be, turn adversities into strengths and emerge triumphantly.
Dr William Tan
MindChamps Brand Ambassador and Programme Director
Neuroscientist and Physician | Paralympian | World record holder
Dr William Tan, a Paralympian, neuroscientist, medical physician, world record holder, and cancer survivor, exemplifies the power of the Champion Mindset. Despite battling polio since the age of two, he leveraged his disability into a drive for success, representing Singapore in the Paralympics and setting world records. He has continued to conquer extreme physical challenges, setting Guinness World Records while using his platform to raise millions for charitable causes. Dr Tan’s indomitable spirit and commitment to contributing to society epitomise the limitless potential of the human spirit and the power of the Champion Mindset.
Join Us and Shape the Future
Join The Dream Team
Want to be a part of our passionate and dynamic team?
Get In Touch
Discover how MindChamps can help your child thrive. Contact us today to learn more about our unique education model, tour our facilities, and meet our passionate educators. Your child’s champion journey starts here!
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