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Board of Governors
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Julie Richards is Chair of the Board of Governors. Having joined the Board in October 2003 as a parent-elected governor, Julie was elected Chair in November 2004. Julie has a Masters degree in Education Management and is currently studying for a Doctorate in Education. She has worked in education for 30 years as a teacher and manager in the UK, Europe and Middle East. She has taught at the Higher Colleges of Technology for 14 years and is currently teaching English as a Foreign Language. She is married to Clive, a civil engineer, and has two children who are at BSAK. On the Board, Julie is a member of the Personnel Committee. |
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Christopher Preston joined the board as a Parent Elected Governor in November 2010. He is married to Jo with two daughters at the School in Year 1 and Year 5. Chris has been living in Abu Dhabi four years, having spent time in the UK and in Dubai. A graduate from Aston University in Birmingham, specialising in Finance and Marketing; initially employed in the UK Automotive sector, Chris has worked for a number of large multinational organisations, in senior and business development roles. As CEO Automotive for Al Fahim Group, he now manages a number of different businesses for Al Fahim. On the Board, Chris holds the post of Vice-Chair, he is a member of the Finance & Premises Committee, Personnel Committee and Convenor of the Phase 4 Committee. |
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Debby Burton Shaw is a governor appointed by His Excellency the British Ambassador. Debby has been living in Abu Dhabi since 2004 and before moving to Abu Dhabi, Debby and her family lived in Spain. She is married to Fergus and has two children, Tom and Katie, at the school. Debby has a Masters of Law from University College London. She is a Managing Associate at Trowers & Hamlins, a City of London based international law firm. Debby is a regulatory specialist and also advises extensively on UAE local law issues. |
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Richard Oliver MA MBA FSI ACIB is a governor appointed by His Excellency the British Ambassador in October 2006. He is Managing Director, Head of Global for HSBC in Abu Dhabi and a Board member of a number of HSBC subsidiaries and affiliates. He has lived in the Emirate since 2002, prior to which he lived in Dubai. Married since 1991, Richard and his wife Jenny have had three children at the school. His main interests outside family and HSBC are history, economics and rugby. On the Board, Richard holds the post of Hon. Treasurer, he is the Convener of the Finance & Premises Committee and a member of the Phase IV Committee. |
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Frances Moffett-Kouadio joined the Board in September 2011 as the British Ambassador's Representative. Frances has a range of experience in different markets, including Iraq, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, South Africa and is now the Director of Trade & Investment at the British Embassy Abu Dhabi. Frances is married and has three boys in the school, (Years 5, 8 and 10) and has been in Abu Dhabi two years. Frances has, until recently, been a governor at BISAD and also has experience of working in the UK education sector. On the Board, Frances is Convener of the Personnel Committee. |
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Paul Kennedy is a governor appointed by His Excellency the British Ambassador. Paul was appointed to the Board in November 2012. He is Head of Real Estate Strategy and a member of the Strategy Unit at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. He is also a Visiting Fellow in Real Estate at the University of Reading and a Founding Partner of Bride Street Capital LLP. Professionally, Paul is a Chartered Surveyor with a B.Sc. in Land Economics and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science. Paul has been a resident of Abu Dhabi since August 2008 and is married with four children, three of whom are current BSAK primary students. His interests include history, architecture and current affairs. On the Board, Paul is a member of the Finance & Premises Committee, Education Committee and Strategy Committee. |
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Barbara Peacock is a governor appointed by His Excellency the British Ambassador, joining the Board in April 2007. She has a Bachelor of Education Honours Degree in Mathematics from Homerton College, Cambridge, and has taught both in the UK and the US, specialising in Mathematics. Barbara arrived in Abu Dhabi in August 2006 to join husband Steve. They have three children, the youngest of whom is at the school. On the Board, Barbara is the Convener of the Education Committee. |
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Victoria Nichol joined the Board as a parent-elected governor in November 2008. Victoria has been in Abu Dhabi for 13 years and is the Director of Jigsaw Nursery. She has worked extensively in a variety of areas of education including primary teaching, training adults and acting as the consultant for a new nursery in Al Ain. She has a Masters degree in English and Russian Literature and a PGCE in Primary Education specialising in the use of drama in the classroom. Victoria is married to Adrian and has two children at the school. On the Board Victoria is a member of the Education Committee. |
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Sue Peterson joined the Board as a parent-elected Governor in November 2010. Sue and her family have lived in Abu Dhabi for 11 years; her husband, Andrew, works as an investment manager for ADIA. Their two children are in the Secondary School. Sue worked for five years in Retail Management before going to college, where she studied Law & History. Following that she embarked on a career in Marketing, firstly as an Account Director for a Marketing Communications company and then went on to specialise in the Mobile Communications sector as a Marketing Manager for Cellnet and British Telecom. She has post graduate qualifications in both Marketing and Direct Marketing. Whilst in Abu Dhabi Sue has obtained a CELTA qualification and has taught English part-time at the Higher Colleges of Technology. On the Board Sue is a member of the Education Committee. |
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Sarah Hyde joined the Board as a parent-elected Governor in November 2011. Sarah is married to Steve and they have lived in Abu Dhabi since 1999. They have 2 children, Patrick and Madeleine, who both attended BSAK nursery and who are now in years 10 and 9 respectively. Sarah is a commercial lawyer by background, having worked for international law firms in London and Dubai and for Shell UK. In June 2000 she obtained her certificate in TESOL (Trinity College London) and has taught English on a freelance basis. On the Board Sarah is a member of the Education Committee, Personnel Committee and Convener of the Strategy Committee. |
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Andy Carre joined the Board as a parent-elected Governor in November 2011. Andy is married to Clare and they have lived in Abu Dhabi since July 2006. They have three children, all at various stages of Key Stages 1 and 2. The children have attended the school since their arrival, with their youngest born in Abu Dhabi. Andy was commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst into the infantry of the British Army, and was privileged to serve in a wide variety of appointments and places for nearly 15 years. He has served in a variety of command and training roles across the globe, including active service in: Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, and Iraq. After choosing to retire (whilst still young!) he and the family moved to Abu Dhabi to take up an appointment with the United Arab Emirates military. He also coaches at the Abu Dhabi Harlequins Rugby Club to keep his foot in the door of the local sporting environment. On the Board Andy is a member of the Education Committee and Strategy Committee. |
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Russell Williams joined the Board as a parent-elected Governor in November 2011. Russell is married to Rochelle and they have 2 children attending the school, in years 2 and 10. Russell and his family have been here in Abu Dhabi since 2011, prior to this Russell has spent time working in Hong Kong, teaching at Hong Kong Baptist University and serving as a parent-elected Board member for the English Schools Foundation. Russell has a Ph.D. in Mass Communication from Indiana University and currently works in the Graduate Studies and Research Division at HCT. On the Board, Russell is a member of Finance & Premises committee, Phase 4 committee and Strategy Committee. |
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Jo Wadham was a parent-elected governor from November 2007 - June 2012 and was Convener of the Phase 4 Committee. She is currently a co-opted governor who is working with the Phase 4 Committee for the duration of the project in order for the Board to benefit from her knowledge and expertise. Jo lived in Abu Dhabi with her husband, David, from 2003 - 2011. They have three children who attended the school. Prior to her arrival in Abu Dhabi, Jo worked as a corporate lawyer and for the last three years has been working as a freelance journalist. |
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Michael O'Brien M.Ed Studies B.Ed Dip.T MACE joined the Board as a parent-elected governor in October 2005, and was elected Vice Chair in November 2007. Mike is Associate Dean - Education at the Higher Colleges of Technology, and has lived in Abu Dhabi with his wife, Susan, and two children since 2004. Mike is a co-opted governor. |
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Stuart Blan is a co opted staff member to the Board. Stuart enjoys teaching physics, coaching hockey and practising sports psychology. After graduating from Bristol University Stuart coached and played hockey in the National Premier League. He then began a teaching career spanning 14 years working at Clifton College, Canford School and now BSAK. He has been an Assistant Housemaster, Master in Charge of Royal Marines and Head of Physics. He took a break from teaching to retrain and practice NLP specialising in sports psychology. He rejoined the teaching profession after visiting BSAK while engaged to his now wife Susie Blan, who has taught at the school for 9 years. They have a baby daughter. On the Board Stuart is a member of the Education Committee and Strategy Committee. |
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Mike Wolfe is a co opted staff member to the Board. He has over 20 years of teaching and management experience in Primary Schools and joined BSAK as an Assistant Headteacher of Primary in September 2007. He holds a BSC (hons) degree, PGCE, MA (Ed) and NPQH. He is also a trained ESTYN peer assessor for school inspections in Wales. Within the Primary School, he is responsible for Assessment, Recording and Reporting and line managing Learning Support, PE, Maths, Geography and Islamic Studies. Mike has two children who both attend BSAK. On the Board Mike is a member of the Finance & Premises Committee. |
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Governors