Patient, full of ideas and a great leader, Elio founded CIS in 1979 when as a young teacher creating his own materials, he saw an opportunity. CIS quickly became a successful language school and publishing company. The first language course that he co-wrote, Avanti!, changed the way languages are taught and how language textbooks are designed. In 2020 Elio launched Lingopont, a new groundbreaking publishing company with high ambitions. Elio’s passion for languages represents not only communication, but also cultural richness, new friendships, personal development and fun times. These are all things that he instills in our school. His hobbies include traveling, Opera, reading, playing golf, and watching sports . Lucio Battisti is his favourite Italian singer and Il Postino is one of the best Italian movies he recommends.

Reliable, smiling and enthusiastic. She joined the CIS team in 2022 and she’s been always passionate about teaching Italian grammar and culture, fashion and food. She has an obsession with authentic Italian gelato and her hobbies include travelling and going to yoga and pilates classes. Stella loves strolling at the beach or in the parks and she likes watching Italian movies starring Claudio Santamaria. Subsonica is her favourite Italian music band. She believes that “everything happens for a reason”. Born in Milan

Creative, empathetic, and passionate. Her motto is: "Replace fear of the unknown with curiosity." Asia has been at CIS since the end of 2024. She loves teaching because it exposes her to diversity, allowing her to connect with people from different backgrounds and perspectives. She finds teaching deeply fulfilling in a dynamic environment, where she helps others thrive while also growing and learning alongside them, all within a space that fosters authenticity. She likes to read, and is passionate about art in all its forms, especially the poetry of Alda Merini. She finds her raw and poignant words inspiring, and to be a true reflection of the beauty and depth of Italian culture.

Welcoming, patient and witty. Lorenzo joined the CIS team in 2024. He loves to stimulate his creativity and the creativity of students in the classroom, and he believes that learning, to be true, must be an obligatory consequence of free experimentation. When he is not busy teaching, he plays with his folk trio, walks around and, if the weather is good enough, pretends to know how to play soccer. His motto is a Latin phrase from the poet Ovid: "numquam quaerenti defuit orbis," he who seeks the world will always find it. His favourite poets are Giovanni Raboni and Guido Gozzano, and his favourite songwriter is Luigi Tenco. 

Passionate, curious, and with a research background in Australia, Cristiano joined the CIS team in 2022. He believes that learning a language requires cultural immersion, spontaneous connections, and authentic communication. A traveller at heart, Cristiano has used his skills in European languages to connect with people from dozens of countries. Some of his favourite Italian novels include “Timira” by Wu Ming 2 & Antar Mohamed and “La dismissione” by Ermanno Rea, whereas Italian filmmakers he usually recommends are Pier Paolo Pasolini, Michelangelo Antonioni and Claudio Caligari. He loves indulging his passion for urban photography while listening to old school Italian rap. Born and raised in Napoli. 

Reliable, friendly, and sporty, Max joined CIS in 2025. He brings a positive and determined attitude to every challenge and values the opportunity to connect with people from different backgrounds. Known for his supportive nature and approachable personality, Max enjoys sharing his knowledge of the Italian language and culture. Outside the school, he loves going to the gym, listening to Italian rap music and cooking authentic Italian food. From Monfalcone (Friuli Venezia Giulia).  

Super passionate about languages and a traveller. She started working at CIS in 2025. She has actually been teaching Italian in Melbourne for over 7 years, from little kids in primary school all the way through to adults. Teaching Italian isn’t just a job for her; it’s something that truly inspires her. Outside of teaching, you’ll usually find her at the gym doing Zumba, planning her next overseas trip, or out with friends discovering new places to eat. She's a big fan of the Italian author Oriana Fallaci, and her favourite Italian song is "Almeno tu nell'universo" by Mia Martini. She also never misses movies starring the Italian actor Pierfrancesco Favino!

Giorgia is a lively, cheerful person with a deep passion for theatre and reading. She loves getting lost in the pages of romance novels and thrillers, where the emotions and gripping stories completely captivate her. Her desire to share knowledge and inspire others is reflected in her passion for teaching. Giorgia lives in Siracusa, Sicily, a land rich in history and beauty, which helps to nourish her creative and enthusiastic spirit.

Curious, caring, and with a passion for words in any shape and form, Gaia joined the CIS team in 2026. Her background in language education has shaped her teaching method into one that emphasizes communication and discovery: the more you engage with the ecosystem surrounding the language itself, the more you retain and become part of it, while also uncovering new aspects about yourself. When she is not teaching, you can often find her wandering around parks or hunched over a desk with a book or a pencil in her hands, either writing or drawing. Umberto Eco and Italo Calvino are her favourite italian authors, and she could never get enough of listening to Lucio Dalla and Pino Daniele. Very passionate about ancient Rome, ask her about Etruscan history and she will not stop talking about it.

Positive, motivated and creative, Francesca has joined the CIS team in 2021 but she has been working as a teacher since 2011. She loves teaching using different techniques to make her classes always fun and dynamic. The phrase that she always keeps in mind is: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world”. Carmen Consoli and Brunori Sas are two of her favourite Italian singers while Erri de Luca, Marco Malvaldi and Antonio Tabucchi are her favourite Italian writers. 
She also loves cooking, watching TV series and playing tennis.

From Reggio Calabria

Friendly, enthusiastic and adventurous. Laura has joined the CIS team in 2025. Laura moved to Australia following her passion for archaeology and her curiosity for meeting new people in a multicultural, vibrant city like Melbourne. She loves creating an engaging, teaching environment to stimulate students’ creativity. In her free time, Laura plays volleyball and goes hiking. Her favourite Italian writer is Andrea Camilleri, and among the most recent Italian groups, she likes listening to the Pinguini Tattici Nucleari. Born in Sardinia.

Dynamic and passionate about languages and cultures, Ilaria joined the CIS team in 2025. She has previously taught Italian in London and Thailand and has a deep love for Japanese and Latin American culture. She enjoys eating sushi, dancing salsa, and watching romantic movies. Her favourite Italian movie is Baciami ancora directed by Gabriele Muccino, and her favourite Italian book is Io sono di legno written by Giulia Carcasi. From Cava de' Tirreni, Amalfi Coast.

Enthusiastic, passionate and determined. Francesca joined the CIS team in 2024. She has a playful and creative approach to teaching and loves engaging with her students' different characters and life paths to make the learning experience more complete and personal. As a violinist, she believes that communication is the most important part of any language, from the ones we speak on a day-to-day basis to the ones that challenge us to learn a new skill. When she's not teaching or playing violin, she loves hiking, surfing, exploring and spending time with people she loves. Her motto is "l'emozione e il pensiero creano il sentimento, e con il sentimento si muovono le montagne", feelings and thoughts create emotions, and with emotions one can move a mountain. Her favourite Italian songwriter is Fabrizio De André and her favourite Turkish-Italian movie director is Ferzan Özpetek.