School Council

School Council

The Council is the group that represents all areas of our community. It oversees and guides the development of Island School, reviewing budgets, the curriculum and site development. The members of the Council are drawn from the following constituencies.

• • • The Council Chair appointed by the ESF Board.
    • Two parents are elected directly by the parent body and one parent nominated by the PTA.
    • Three Teachers and one Support Staff are elected by the staff.
    • Three Community members are nominated by the Chair.
    • The Head Students
    • The Principal.
    • A representative of the ESF Chief Executive Officer.

A second Parent from the PTA attends when the member it nominates cannot. Other senior staff attend when needed.

The Council meets approximately five times a year. The agenda varies from monitoring ongoing issues and discussions of new projects that are brought forward by members. Major changes in the school need to be agreed by the Council.

The Council has various committees that also include other members of the community. These committees include:

• • • Curriculum, Exams and Higher Education
    • Finance
    • Human Resources
    • Wellbeing, Risk Management & Facilities

Email: schoolcouncil@online.island.edu.hk

School Council Members

	Alec Tong, Council Chairman Alec is a Chartered Accountant qualified with KPMG in London and had 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.
	Stephen Loggie, Principal Stephen has been a principal in Australian primary and secondary schools for over 24 years. This has included being the foundation principal at two schools including the Queensland Academy of Science Maths and Technology which is Australia’s most accomplished IB World School. He teaches Maths, Science and Theory of Knowledge and devotes his leisure time to sport. He is most passionate about ensuring the talent of each student is nurtured to enable them to achieve their potential.
	Fatema Jangbarwala, PTA Representative Ms Fatema Jangbarwala 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-centered 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 Ebrahim, Parent Representative 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.
	Eric Chen, Parent Representative
	Sarah Lai, Community Representative 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 Chu, Community Representative 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.
	Bernard Wu, Community Representative Bernard brings over 30 years of professional experience in auditing, financial management, and investment management. He is also deeply committed to the educational sector, where he actively encourages fellow students to engage in extracurricular activities. Bernard believes that participating in these activities not only broadens one's horizons but also enhances networking opportunities beyond classroom learning. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Hong Kong Baptist University and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from The University of Manchester and The University of Wales. Additionally, Bernard has completed several Executive Programs at prestigious universities in the UK and PRC. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor in Business School at Hong Kong Baptist University and is the School Manager for few primary and secondary schools. His passion for education and personal development makes him a valuable asset to our committee.
	Maria Callow, Teaching Staff Representative 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 Otto, Teaching Staff Representative 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 Li, Teaching Staff Representative 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 Bluhm, Support Staff Representative 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.
	Belinda Greer, Chief Executive Officer, ESF Center Representative 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 Personalized 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.
	Arnav Gupta, Student Representative Arnav is a proud Islander and member of Rutherford house since 2018, passionate to amplify student voice and drive change through leadership, particularly in the field of STEM. Currently, he co-leads the STEM Committee and enjoys volunteering outside of school. As Head Student, he is eager to form new connections, represent the student body, and promote a greater sense of community at Island School.
	Alexandra Lai, Student Representative Starting her Island School journey in 2018, Alexandra has strived to enhance school life through taking on positions including Wilberforce House Leader, WANBO Head, Debate as well as MUN extracurricular leadership, and more. In her capacity as head student, she endeavors to further this by upholding existing initiatives and championing growth around the school where relevant.
	Katrina Hon, Student Representative Katrina has been a proud Islander and Rutherford member since 2020. With her passion for social issues and helping those in need through leadership, she co-leads the Social Action Committee and Model United Nations Club. As a Head Student, she looks forward to cultivating a supportive environment in Island School and serving as a role model who demonstrates commitment, integrity, and perseverance.
	Luciano Suen, Student Representative Luciano has been a proud Islander and a member of the Da Vinci House since 2018, where he co-leads the STEM Committee and is a Da Vinci House Leader. As Head Student, he's keen to continue his strong devotion to amplifying students' voices and spirits, making sure Island School remains a global leader in celebrating the individuality of its vast student body.