Meet our team of experienced
educators who encompass our mission
Emma Igelstrom
Beyond her role at ArtemEx, Emma has played a key role in shaping sports structures in the region. In Saudi Arabia, she was instrumental in establishing and implementing the first national school-based initiative for girls’ participation in sport—marking a significant milestone in increasing access to physical activity for young women. For this work, she was recognised by the Ministry of Education.
A former Olympian, seven-time world record holder, and five-time World Champion in swimming, Emma brings the mindset and discipline of elite sport into her leadership. She is passionate about creating environments where children and young people can explore different activities, develop confidence, and find their own path—while building sustainable programs that strengthen school communities and identity.
Annabel Sedgley
Following graduation, Annabel worked with Scottish Ballet Engagement Department, with a focus on engaging communities with the arts. Alongside this, she remained actively involved in teaching, freelancing across a range of Scottish Ballet projects and lecturing on the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Junior Conservatoire programme.
After completing her Teaching Diploma with the RAD, Annabel founded her own online dance studio during the COVID-19 pandemic. This experience sparked a deeper interest in building sustainable, accessible dance programmes. She then relocated to Qatar, where she launched her first ballet brand, operating across three venues, before starting a second ballet brand.
Annabel later joined Artemex with the ambition of delivering high-quality, accessible dance education for the Artemis school community. Drawing on her experience in both teaching and company development, she soon took on additional responsibilities as Head of Programmes and Business Development, supporting the growth and diversification of Artemex’s offerings. She now works as Business Manager, collaborating closely with the team to develop creative solutions, refining systems and processes, and working collaboratively to continually strengthen the identity and impact of Artemex.
Michael Brink
His time within structured and competitive sport in South Africa has given him a practical, hands-on coaching style and a strong understanding of athlete development from grassroots through to high-performance environments. This has shaped how he approaches coaching and programme design, with a focus on consistency, effort, and helping athletes progress over time.
Michael’s vision is to create diverse sporting opportunities across Artemex that help children of all ages develop their abilities, confidence, and overall potential in a positive and supportive environment.
Meryem Gunzel
In addition to her swimming background, Meryem has experience in martial arts and achieved a junior black belt at the age of 14, reflecting her discipline, commitment, and determination both in and out of the water.
She is currently the Head of Aquatics at Artemex, where she is involved in organizing and leading swimming programs based on Swim England criteria. Her work supports swimmers from as young as 4 months old through to adulthood, creating structured and enjoyable pathways for every stage of development.
Meryem’s vision is to bring greater awareness to the importance of swimming not only as a life-saving skill, but also for its physical and mental health benefits. Most importantly, she is passionate about building a positive community through swimming, where people can feel confident, connected, and have fun while learning an essential life skill.
