Our People
Alpesh Puna
Alpesh Puna is a former New Zealand international hockey player, youth sports coach, and one of the early pioneers of multisport development programmes for young children. Originally from New Zealand, Alpesh represented the New Zealand Men's Hockey Team, the Black Sticks, between 2000 and 2002 and played in the 2002 Hockey World Cup in Kuala Lumpur and was part of the squad for the 2004 Olympics.
In addition to playing hockey at a high level, Alpesh also had a successful cricket career and played at representative level in New Zealand alongside many players that went on to represent New Zealand. His grandfather Tom Puna was the first person of Indian ethnicity to play test cricket for New Zealand.
Following his playing career, Alpesh transitioned into coaching and grassroots sports development, where he built a reputation for creating engaging, developmentally appropriate programmes focused on helping young children build confidence, coordination, movement skills, and a lifelong love of sport. With more than two decades of coaching experience, his work has centred on combining high participation, skill acquisition, and fun within structured sporting environments.
Alpesh is the founder and driving force behind Shaws Little League.
His philosophy has consistently focused on age-appropriate coaching, fundamental movement skills, and creating positive sporting experiences during childhood and teenage years. Through his work, Alpesh has helped shape youth sports programming in Singapore by promoting the importance of physical literacy, active play, and holistic development for children as young as two years old.
He has also been involved with elite athlete development, coaching and mentoring.
In addition to his sporting background, Alpesh has qualifications in coaching, biomechanics, accounting (CA), and economics, bringing together sporting expertise, programme development experience and business acumen. He continues to contribute to youth sport through coaching, programme innovation, and the promotion of active lifestyles for children and families.
Dr. Astrid Simon
Dr. Astrid Simon has completed a masters degree in Physical Education and a PhD in Sports Science from the German Sport University Cologne. Dr. Astrid has worked at the Institute of Training Science of the German Sport University for more than five years.
In addition to her academic background, Dr. Astrid is a former middle distance and marathon runner and international triathlete and competed in the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii in 2002.
Liane Shaw
Liane Shaw is a Director at SHAWS, and is also responsible for overseeing the operations and curriculum at SHAWS. In addition to her Masters in Science (Early Childhood) from Wheelock College in Boston, Liane also holds degrees in Law and Accounting.
Lucy Shaw
Lucy Shaw is the founder of SHAWS preschool in Singapore and has more than 25 years early childhood experience. She has completed a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood.