Outstanding People

Alec is a Chartered Accountant qualified with KPMG in London and has held various senior finance roles within the Jardine Matheson Group. He graduated with a BSc(Hons) degree from the University of Manchester; a MSc degree from the University of Leeds; and completed the Advanced Management Program from the Harvard Business School. He is an Adjunct Professor at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, and currently teaches both the Master and Bachelor degree programs on a part-time basis. He was a Council Member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and currently serves as the Deputy Chairman of the Qualification and Examinations Board at the Institute. Alec was an Independent Board Member at ESF and the Chairman of its Audit Committee for the past five years, as well as a former parent at Island School.

Nina is a dynamic and visionary school leader, bringing a wealth of extensive educational leadership experience from the UK. She cares passionately about delivering high-quality education and enabling young people to realise their full potential, through the fostering of an engaging, future-focused learning environment at Island School.

Fatema has lived and worked in HK since 2006. Her two daughters have always enjoyed their enriching time at ESF. Active previously on the Glenealy & currently the Island School PTA in various roles, Fatema currently serves as the Chair for the ESF Committee of Parents and the Island School PTA. She is an early years educator by profession and is passionate about holistic and child-centred education. After pursuing a Master’s in Education at the University of Hong Kong, Fatema is currently enrolled as a Doctorate student at University College London's (UCL) Institute of Education researching early years education and socio-emotional development.

Ali studied at Island School before graduating from the University of Chicago and completing a Mandarin programme at the Beijing Language & Culture University. Ali is a director at his family’s trading business where he supervises supply chain and project management. Ali also manages digital marketing and PR for nonprofits.

Sarah is an Island School alumni. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Brown University and a Juris Doctor from The University of Hong Kong. Sarah is a lawyer advising individuals and families on a range of domestic and international succession, US expatriation, immigration and tax planning issues. She also regularly works with professional trustees and family offices with respect to trust administration.

Horace is an experienced technology professional currently serving as the Director and Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the Gammon Construction Group. With over 30 years in senior technology roles at Gammon and Jardines, he brings extensive expertise to his position. He is a fellow of the Hong Kong Computer Society and is active on the executive committee of the CIO board. Academically, he holds a first-class honors BSc from the University of Warwick and an MBA with distinction from the University of Hong Kong. Horace was also a member of the Audit Committee of the ESF for the past six years, contributing to its governance and oversight.

Maria joined Island School in 2021 as an English Teacher and also teaches creative writing as part of the Elements curriculum. Before this, she taught in the UK for nine years and is excited to contribute to the Island School community.

Cameron is enthusiastic and experienced in the areas of MYP/DP, Interdisciplinary teaching and learning, Service and Action, Approaches to Learning and Global competency skill development. He is also part of both an International forum of Interdisciplinary Learning and Project Based Learning. He has led and facilitated school and foundation wide professional development workshops on the MYP and am currently a Building Quality Curriculum Arts reviewer for the IBO.

Cynthia is a Chinese teacher enjoying her sixth year in Island School. She is passionate about getting into the community to contribute her effort.

Daniel is a dedicated advocate for STEM education and modern technologies, having developed a range of products to advance engineering and computational thinking. Prior to joining Island School in 2019, he conducted workshops for K1-13 students across South-East Asia, passionately supporting and inspiring students to realise their award-winning projects. He is committed to fostering a thriving school community where well-being and sustainability are integral values, not just catchphrases.

Since 2013, Belinda has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the English Schools Foundation (ESF) in Hong Kong. She is a life-long educator, with a commitment to promoting opportunities for every child so that as individuals, and as members of their communities, they may thrive and excel.

Belinda’s career in education spans 40 years, including more than 30 years in leadership positions. Before taking on her role in ESF, she served as Chief Education Officer (Director) in two Scottish regions; as one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Education (HMI), and as a school principal in 3 schools. Belinda has worked in the UK, the Middle East, and in the Hong Kong SAR. She holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in education.

Belinda is a member of the Hong Kong UGC Quality Assurance Council and a member of the Personalised Vehicle Registration Marks Vetting Committee. She sits on the Executive Committee of Hong Kong’s Summerbridge, is a member of the Bodhi Love Advisory Board, and is a Trustee of the IndoChina Starfish Foundation.

Ava joined Island School in 2019 and has since strived to enhance the student experience by assuming leadership roles in extracurricular activities like Model UN and serving as Social Action Head, Girls Rising, and Connected Communities Leader. As Head Student, she is eager to represent the student voice and champion diverse initiatives while promoting school spirit throughout the community.

Hava has been a member of Rutherford since 2019. She specialises in the arts through the IBCP program. Some roles she has committed to include being a House Leader, Head of Design for the Islander, and participating in various extracurricular activities that serve as her creative outlets. Additionally, she served as a Year 7 camp prefect, demonstrating her leadership skills. As a head student, Hava wishes to cultivate passion and celebrate the individuality that each student brings.

Vijay has been an Islander and a member of the Fleming House since 2019, where he leads various school clubs, and co-leads the Student Learning Advisors and the Connected Communities Commitment Team. As Head Student, he is eager to continue a tradition of giving back like so many leaders before him, and making sure that Island School is a community where people are seen, heard and valued.