Our team
TechSpark Core
At the heart of TechSpark Academy is a team of dedicated education and tech enthusiasts sharing the same priority – creating a fun and rewarding experience for all. Coupling an array of skills and years of experience, the team is able to ensure that any amount of time spent with TechSpark Academy is enriching, both educationally and socially.
MARTA GEHRING
An innovation-marketing consultant, Medtech expert and instructor at InnoSuisse, the Swiss Government’s innovation promotion agency, Marta has been working on TSA’s development since its creation in August 2015.
KATE MCKEE
Mathematician, entrepreneur, and technology enthusiast, Kate has helped drive TechSpark Academy’s growth and innovation since 2017. Passionate about building tools that improve operations and help students develop future-ready skills, she enjoys turning data and ideas into practical solutions with measurable impact. Her philosophy – optimise relentlessly, innovate constantly.
TED BALDWIN
development advisor
Ted studied Life Sciences at EPFL and spent 3 years at McKinsey & Co. in Geneva and Boston. He then completed an MBA at INSEAD in Singapore, and is now CEO of a young Medtech start-up in Paris.
JOSE ALEMANY
Jose is TechSpark Academy’s trusted Head of Web Architecture since 2015. He comes with web design, data analysis & copywriting experience and is the brains behind our innovative Online Lesson Scheduling infrastructure. He oversees our web presence and analytics as well as supporting us with SEO and ad strategy. He’s also an independent data analyst consultant.
MADDALENA MILANI
Maddalena (Madda) plays a pivotal role in identifying top talent and fostering a thriving, high-performing team environment. With an MA in Personnel and Development from the University of Westminster, she brings deep expertise in human resources and a passion for driving organizational and instructional excellence.
JACKIE DE BEER
Jackie De Beer is our Zurich & Zug Camp Operations Manager, ensuring TechSpark camps run seamlessly. She first joined as a proactive parent, helping establish the camps. With a background as an SAP consultant and Property Manager, her warmth and dedication make her loved by kids and parents, creating a supportive and engaging space for young tech learners
The spark in TechSpark
Supporting the core team is a group of expert advisors that have demonstrated exceptional knowledge and passion for education. They make sure course content is appropriate and up-to-date and help recruit the best instructors, tutors and mentors from the world’s leading universities.
YASSINE TAOUDI BENCHEKROUN
Yassine studied Biomedical Engineering at King’s College London, where he discovered his passion for neuroscience and machine learning. After working as a Machine Learning engineer, he pursued further studies in Zurich, focusing on Neuromorphic Engineering. Outside science, he loves classical music and literature, especially Proust and Dostoyevsky.
ALVIN WALKER
Alvin combines a rigorous academic background in Health Science and Technology at ETH and Biostatistics at University of Zurich, with proven leadership as a Swiss Armed Forces Officer. A dedicated TechSpark instructor with 5 years of experience developing and delivering innovative courses in Python, AI and Game Design. Alvin expertly guides students through complex topics with ease, blending technical precision with engaging, hands-on mentorship.
Jean-Baptiste Grillet
Jean-Baptiste is a Physics student at ETH Zürich, with a Bachelor’s degree from EPFL. Alongside his academic path, he has taken on key organisational roles in large-scale events such as Forum EPFL, Festival Balélec, and the Montreux Jazz Festival, where he coordinated logistics, audiovisual operations, and communication. Known for his adaptability and strong communication skills, he brings structure and reliability to complex team environments.
Vladislav Yarkovoy
Vladislav is a Computer Science student at EPFL with hands-on experience in full-stack web development, Java software engineering, and team leadership. He has led creative and technical teams on long-term projects, combining strong organisational skills with technical execution. At TechSpark Academy, he contributes as a Talent Scout and Instructor, and he is fluent in English, French, Russian, and German. Outside tech, he enjoys outdoor sports and creative media projects.
Our instructors
Our instructors are handpicked for their ability to communicate, inspire and mentor students. They are young expert enrolled at the following universities:
