Diamond Business Centre, Building C, office 210C
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Diamond Business Centre, Building C, office 210C
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I am the Owner and Managing Director of Urban Swim Academy and Urban Training Centre. I believe strongly in doing things well, taking a long-term view, and creating sustainable businesses that are built on quality, consistency and care. Our training centre embodies these values and offers training with amazing tutors who have so much to give back to the industry.
My background is in luxury hotels and hospitality (rather than sport!), which gives me a different perspective on training, service and experience. I place great importance on five-star service, strong systems and people-focused leadership, and I am deeply involved in shaping how our programmes are delivered and experienced. I am passionate about supporting our team, our tutors and our learners, and about continually improving what we offer as we grow.
Nataliia is a world-class freediver, multi-time world champion, and seasoned coach who brings elite breath-control, mental resilience, and functional performance principles into her training programs. With over a decade of experience in elite sport and deep-water performance, she fuses athletic mastery with expert coaching to help clients build strength, focus, and confidence across all levels of fitness.
Originally from Kharkiv, Ukraine, Nataliia has spent her life pushing the limits of human performance — both underwater and on land. She combined a foundational background in competitive swimming with a prolific freediving career that includes World Championship titles and multiple world records.
Thushara brings his deep expertise in aquatics to Urban Training Centre, where he serves as a qualified RLSS Trainer-Assessor, leading lifeguard training and certification. In this role, he delivers advanced water-safety courses, teaches lifesaving techniques, and evaluates candidates using RLSS’s rigorous standards.
Whether guiding aspiring lifeguards through theory, practical rescues, or first-aid assessments, Thushara combines his patient coaching style with a commitment to the highest safety protocols. His dual experience as a swim teacher and lifeguard trainer means he’s uniquely positioned to mentor both new swimmers and future lifesavers with skill, professionalism, and care.
2025 – RLSS Lifeguard Tutor
2024 – International Diploma in Special Needs Education (Level 4)
2024 – STA Level 2 Certificate in Swimming Teaching
2024 – STA Level 2 Award in Teaching Swimming
2023 – Pool Lifeguard
2023 – Swim Angels Level 1: Adaptive Swim Whispers
2023 – Child Safeguarding in an Aquatic Environment
2022 – STA International Lifesaving Course for Swimming Teachers
2015 – Swiftwater Rescue Technician 1
2015 – White Water Rescue
2012 – ASCA Level 3
2018 – ASCA Level 4
Teaching has always been part of who I am—and combining that with my love of swimming is what makes this role so rewarding.
Heidi has been teaching swimming in Dubai since 2005, bringing nearly two decades of experience working with babies, children, adults, and individuals with additional needs. Originally from Australia, where a love of water is practically part of the culture, Heidi has always found joy and purpose in being in, on, or around the water.
Before entering the aquatics industry, Heidi worked in hospitality where she led staff training and development—an early hint at her natural passion for teaching and mentoring others. Now, as an Aquatic Tutor, she brings that same enthusiasm into training new swim teachers, helping them gain the confidence and practical skills they need to thrive in the industry.
Heidi’s hands-on experience as a swim teacher, combined with her background in staff training and her personal connection to inclusive teaching, gives her a unique perspective. She’s driven by the belief that great swim teachers aren’t just skilled—they’re supportive, adaptable, and passionate. And that’s exactly what she aims to nurture in every course she delivers.
I love helping others grow their confidence in teaching, just as much as I love geeking out on swim technique and performance.
Aurelie brings a unique blend of scientific thinking and real-world coaching experience to her role as an Aquatic Tutor. With a background in engineering and multiple science degrees, she approaches swim teaching with curiosity, structure, and a commitment to continual learning. After years of coaching squads and teaching swimmers of all ages and abilities in Saudi Arabia and now Dubai, she thrives on breaking down complex techniques into practical, teachable steps.
Her passion for swimming is matched by her love of mentoring new teachers. Whether she’s on pool deck or in the classroom, Aurelie empowers others to understand the ‘why’ behind what they teach—combining technical precision with a supportive, encouraging style.
Aurelie is also an active triathlete and a proud mum of two swimmers, bringing firsthand insight into both competitive development and the life-long benefits of aquatic sport. As an Aquatic Tutor, she’s here to champion quality teaching and share the knowledge that turns good instructors into great ones.
I’m passionate about building confident, capable professionals in and around the water.
With a deep passion for aquatic education and safety, William brings expertise, professionalism, and a hands-on approach to every session he leads. As a Swim Coach, Aquatic Tutor, ATC Coordinator and First Aid Instructor, William is dedicated to empowering others with essential skills. His calm teaching style and technical knowledge make him a valued member of the Urban Training Centre team, where he supports learners of all ages and abilities in achieving their personal and professional goals.
William has been active in the aquatics and leisure industry for over 20 years. He began his journey as a lifeguard and quickly progressed into swim teaching and tutoring. Over the years, he has delivered a wide range of aquatic qualifications across the UK and UAE, working with both STA and Swim England as a respected tutor.
In addition to his work in swimming education, William is a qualified lifeguard trainer and first aid instructor. His calm, methodical approach and deep knowledge of safety and rescue make him a trusted mentor for aspiring lifeguards and swim teachers alike.
William enjoys helping learners understand not just what to do—but why it matters. He brings humour, patience, and precision to every course, ensuring students feel supported and well-prepared to step into the industry.
As an Aquatic Tutor, William is committed to raising standards and helping others succeed, both in and out of the pool.
