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
	Yasmin Ebrahim, Community Representative Yasmin studied Social Psychology at Kent University in the UK after graduating from secondary school in Kobe, Japan. She taught ESL at the Hong Kong Japanese School Secondary Section and now continues to teach students privately. She is a member of the Mentorship Steering Committee of the Asian University for Women (Bangladesh) based in HK. Both her husband and son are Island School alumni.
	Dr Tarja Joro, Community Representative Tarja received her MSc and PhD from Helsinki School of Economics (presently part of Aalto University). She worked as a graduate researcher with funding from Science Academy of Finland, and as a faculty member at University of Alberta School of Business in Canada. She has published in the area of productivity economics. Her two children are Islanders (class of 2022 and 2023). She has been involved with fundraising for schools since 2006.
	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.
	Janet Yung, Secretary to School Council, Support Staff Representative Janet joined Island School in 2022 as an administrator, and she looks forward to serving the Island School community in the capacity of Secretary to the School Council.
	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.
	Airi Tachino, Student Representative Airi joined Island School in 2018 and is a proud member of Da Vinci House. With her devotion to helping others, she co-leads the Student Advisors committee and enjoys volunteering in her free time. As Head Student, she aspires to become a role model who demonstrates commitment, integrity, and compassion.
	Hannah Wu, Student Representative Hannah Wu is a proud Islander and Da Vinci student, passionate about driving change through student leadership. Currently, she co-leads the Debate and Public Speaking Club and chairs the ESF Sustainability Alliance. As head student, she is excited and eager to form connections, represent the student body and build up the Island School spirit and community throughout the coming year.
	Hannah Lee, Student Representative Hannah Lee has been a proud Islander since 2017, leading students through her roles in the Rutherford house and as the Co-Leader of Culture. She vows to use her position as Head Student to create a better environment for all students and bring ambitious ideas to life.
	Ray Yao, Student Representative Ray Yao joined Island School in 2020 and is a member of Fleming. He is passionate about local social issues, frequently volunteering outside of school, and is keen on instilling a greater sense of responsibility within students for the Hong Kong community as well as encouraging academic excellence.