Outstanding People

I am a dedicated educator with a background rooted in Wales. I earned my BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry from Birmingham University, alongside my PGCE. My academic journey continued at Bath University, where I completed my Master of Education. With 30 years of experience in both British and International Schools, I am passionate about leadership and management in education.

Throughout my career, I have taught Biology in the UK and held significant leadership roles, including Head of Biology and Key Stage 4 at the British International School in Rome, as well as Head of Sixth Form at the British School in the Netherlands. In August 2005, I joined Bangkok Patana School as the Secondary Assistant Principal for Student Welfare, later becoming the Cross Campus Principal in August 2018. As of August 2024, I transitioned to South Island School, where I currently serve as Principal.

I have been a part of Hong Kong's vibrant educational landscape since 1997. My journey has been enriched by teaching at various respected international schools in the city, yet my heart found its home at South Island School. Equipped with degrees from Queen’s University and the University of Western Ontario in Canada, I furthered my academic pursuits with a Master of Education from the University of Hong Kong.

At South Island School, my role is as diverse as it is rewarding. From overseeing admissions, timetables, and cover, to managing information systems, I am deeply involved in ensuring operational efficiency and academic excellence. Moreover, fostering a culture of Making a Difference lies at the core of my responsibilities. Whether through spearheading programmes like Expanding Horizons, Values in Action, or coordinating Making a Difference Week, my aim is to instil in students the values essential for their holistic development.

After graduating from Bristol University with a BA (Hons) degree in Theology and Philosophy, I began my educational career teaching English in Italy and Portugal. I then returned to the UK to teach Philosophy and Religion, in Bristol. Searching for new and exciting challenges, I moved to Hong Kong in 2006 and ESF has been my professional home since then. I have thoroughly enjoyed living in this energetic city and being a part of a thriving international community. At Sha Tin College I enjoyed being Head of Philosophy and Religion and then Head of Middle School. I joined South Island School in 2019 as Vice Principal. 

As a Vice-Principal at SIS, I lead well-being, child protection and safeguarding, which is naturally a key priority of the school. I lead the Family and House system in the school, coordinating with talented and hard-working pastoral heads to ensure that all students are supported and able to thrive. I am passionate about reducing the stigma of mental health concerns, and also about promoting our values of inclusion and diversity. I am the lead Child Protection Officer of the School and liaise closely with external services to ensure that all our students are safe from harm. Finally, one of the most rewarding parts of my job is working with the student leadership programme and helping our leaders of the future to grow and develop, establishing themselves as role-models for our younger students.

I joined SIS in 2020 when I moved to Hong Kong, or rather I moved to Hong Kong in 2020 because I wanted to join SIS. I had previously worked in the UK and USA as a maths teacher. I studied mathematics at the University of Exeter and completed my PGCE at Chichester University while training in local schools. I am a passionate maths teacher and I can get overly nerdy about how we teach it. While I loved teaching in the UK, I opted to go and explore the world while continuing my career in education. I’ve fulfilled various roles as a Teacher of Maths, Head of Year, Transition Coordinator, Head of Department and now Vice Principal. Each role has given me new things to learn and new people to work with.

Overseeing Teaching & Learning is a broad label. In this school, that means that I get to work with department heads, curriculum coordinators and teachers to support them in delivering the highest quality education we can. The benchmark is constantly moving in international education; I enjoy looking for ways forward and working with staff who have such a wide range of talents to help us to do so.

I began my career in the sales and marketing department of an international hotel chain after earning a Degree in Business Administration. Following this initial experience, I moved to  work in human resources at a US Appliances company, and then joined a local transport group of companies with diverse operations in security, tunnel, and carpark management.

Before joining South Island, I served as the Assistant General Manager at a carpark management company under a prestigious property group. This role further enriched my professional journey, equipping me with a diverse skill set across various operational disciplines.

Utilizing my versatile background and experience, I decided to explore a completely new territory in managing school operations. I never expected to settle in South Island for almost half of my career tenure, but here I am, still enjoying my work every day and taking pride in supporting our new generation in the ESF family.

As Year 7-9 Phase Leader and MYP Coordinator at ESF South Island School since 2022 I bring 16 years of educational leadership experience. Starting as Head of Psychology at SIS in 2008, I advanced to lead the Individuals and Societies faculty, developing comprehensive curriculum across MYP, IGCSE/GCSE, and IBDP programs. 

My current role involves leading on MYP developments including leading our most recent IB Program Evaluation ( 2024) and co-lead on whole school strategic and operational developments around Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Justice ( DEIBJ) initiatives, Child Protection & safeguarding, and Primary 6 to Year 7 transitions, reflecting my commitment to student wellbeing.

Following my UCL further education, completing my BSc in Psychology at Goldsmith College and earning my PGCE from the Institute of Education, I began my teaching career in northwest London for 5 years before joining ESF.  

Beyond academics, I champion holistic development through sailing and rowing programs and have led transformative Making a Difference (MaD) trips across Asia, Africa, and Europe. My extensive professional development includes certifications in Safeguarding, Mental Health First Aid, Science of Learning, and Universal Design for Learning, supporting my vision of inclusive education that balances academic excellence with personal growth and happiness.

I have almost 25 years of experience teaching in a variety of roles and countries. Having been lucky enough to experience educational systems in the US, UK, Malaysia and HK.  I feel this has ensured that I am able to bring a wealth of global perspectives to my role and the students I teach.  I am passionate about education and about ensuring students are supported to be the best they can be while developing their sense of place in the world.  I am committed to nurturing well-rounded individuals who will go on to make a difference in their lives outside of school.  

Specialising in Geography and Environmental Sciences, I am driven to help students see their own impact on the world around us, and when not at work can be found enjoying the natural beauty around my home on Lantau Island.

After graduating from Queen's University with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Bachelor in Education, I moved to Hong Kong in 2011 to teach lB Maths and Science. While teaching, I furthered my education by earning a Masters in the field of Mathematics Curriculum from the University of Western Ontario. Previously, I held the position of Dean at ESF Discovery College, and joined South Island School in 2022 where I am pleased to serve as Head of Phase for Years 12-13, as well as IB Diploma Programme Coordinator.

In this role I oversee all aspects of our Senior School. In many ways, it is the most exciting phase of the school, where our students get to make critical subject choices which determine their futures and develop into responsible and flourishing young adults. I particularly appreciate the variety of leadership roles our Year 12 and 13s assume in the school community and it is a great privilege to support them during this pivotal stage of their lives.