Kelly Raos

Founder and Director

The Thrive Programme is led by Kelly Raos, a qualified Speech and Drama teacher with over 20 years of experience. Kelly created Thrive to help children build confidence, communication skills, and self belief in a warm, supportive environment where every child is encouraged to shine.

Nathan Brown

Area Coordinator and Teacher

A dedicated instructor with over 10 years of teaching experience, Nathan is passionate about the personal growth that comes with learning. Nathan creates a supportive and engaging learning environment, where students feel encouraged to express themselves confidently. He is known for bringing fun and energy to every class which makes learning exciting!

Brooke Williams

Area Coordinator and Teacher

Brooke loves working with children to help them develop confidence and define and nurture their own unique gifts and creativity. Brooke has taught speech and drama in New Zealand for 9 years and has also worked with children as an acting coach for auditions and screen productions.

Ethan Carruthers

Teacher

Ethan loves helping students grow and discover their potential. In addition to acting and teaching, Ethan is also a certified personal trainer. He's found that those skills — such as goal setting, perseverance, and building confidence — translate really well into his approach as a teacher. He's all about helping people improve, build self-confidence, and reach their goals.

Clare McCormick

Teacher

Clare is a warm, enthusiastic teacher who brings excellent communication skills and a natural ability to connect with children. With a strong creative background, Clare has extensive experience building confidence and helping others feel comfortable expressing themselves. As a mum to three children who love performing, she has a deep appreciation for creativity, confidence, and self expression. Clare creates a supportive and encouraging environment where students feel safe to use their voice and grow in confidence.

Isabella Samarasinha

Teacher

Isabella is a warm and enthusiastic speech and drama teacher who loves helping children build confidence and communication skills. She is currently studying Law and Global Studies and brings a thoughtful, expressive approach to her teaching. Alongside drama, Isabella is also a piano teacher with a strong passion for music and the performing arts. She creates a supportive and engaging environment where students feel confident to express themselves and perform.

Olivia Costello

Teacher

Olivia is a confident and engaging speech and drama teacher with a strong background in performance and communications. She holds a Bachelor of Communications and has over a decade of experience in theatre, screen, and public speaking. Olivia is passionate about helping young people find their voice and build confidence through performance and storytelling. She creates supportive, well structured classes where students feel encouraged to express themselves clearly and grow in confidence.

Vanessa Moodley

Teacher

Vanessa is a warm, positive and highly organised teacher who brings strong communication skills and a calm, encouraging presence to the classroom. With a background in IT and HR, she has extensive experience working with and guiding people through training and development. Vanessa is a mum to two boys and understands how to support children as they build confidence and express themselves. She creates a friendly, supportive environment where students feel comfortable participating and growing in confidence.

Maya Watson

Teacher

Maya is a passionate and engaging speech and drama teacher with over three years of teaching experience. She is currently studying Law and Global Studies at the University of Auckland, majoring in Global Politics and Human Rights, and brings a thoughtful, confident communication focus to her teaching.

Alongside her studies, Maya teaches speech and drama at Howick Little Theatre, Baradene College, and Dynamic Speaking NZ, working with students across a wide range of ages.

Maya loves helping children build confidence, express themselves clearly, and develop strong speaking skills in a supportive and encouraging environment.

Jehangir Homavazir

Teacher

Jehangir loves teaching children and creates a fun and supportive learning environment. His classes include improvisation, public speaking, and storytelling, helping students gain confidence and express themselves. Jehangir is dedicated to nurturing young talent and inspiring his students to shine on stage.

Connor Amor-Bendall

Teacher

Connor Amor-Bendall is a creative communicator, writer, and performer sharing her passion for storytelling and performance with young people. Connor brings creativity, energy, and a love of expression to every Thrive class, helping students build confidence and find their voice.