Nat Dickinson | Bahrain
St. Christopher’s School

An educational leader for 11 years, Nat Dickinson is currently Head of Infant School at St Christopher’s, Bahrain. She has a unique perspective on education, having taught ages 3-18, after originally qualifying in Secondary Education over 20 years ago.

Nat and her team at St Chris have introduced research-supported play-based learning into Y1 and Y2, ensuring a holistic education and a seamless transition from EY to KS1. She describes the education in the Infant School as a blend of Montessori, Scandinavian and Reggio Emilia with a focus on schema play and the outdoor environment.

She is a lifelong learner with a constant desire to study and develop. With a Masters in Educational Leadership, Nat has recently achieved a Certificate in School Management and Leadership through Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is a Level 5 certified Coach, a facilitator delivering the NPQSL qualification and is about to undertake the NPQEL.

Melanie Midwood | Egypt
Modern English School Cairo

Melanie is the BSME Country Representative for Egypt and is immensely excited to be working with colleagues within Egypt and beyond in support of the students in their care.

Melanie has spent three decades working in Education as a leader in the UK and the UAE, a Headteacher in Denmark and now as School Director at Modern English School Cairo. Melamie completed the NPQH, is a qualified visitor for NEASC and inspector for BSO and holds a Masters’ Degree in Gothic Literature. Beyond this, her passions lie in reading, sports and music.

Alun Yorath | Jordan
International Community School

Alun is the Principal of the International Community School Amman (ICS) in Jordan. ICS is a not for profit, parent governed school which has recently celebrated its 70th birthday, making it one of the three oldest British Curriculum Schools in the MENA region. Alun has previously been the BSME Country Representative for Abu Dhabi, where he led, from start up, two schools in the UAE (Brighton College Abu Dhabi and Brighton College Al Ain). Alun has also led an IB school in Europe and is an experienced BSO inspector.

Richard Marchant | Kuwait
New English School Kuwait

Passionate educational leader Richard Marchant brings 25+ years of experience, including more than 20 at the New English School (NES) Kuwait, where he's been Principal since 2017. A chemistry teacher and former Head of Year/Deputy Headteacher, he championed NES becoming a Google Reference Programme school. Holding a Master's in Educational Leadership and NPQH, Richard actively shapes the region's education through BSME, collaborating on initiatives and fostering networks. He's dedicated to bridging gaps between BSME and Kuwaiti education, empowering educators, and driving innovation.

Andrew Williams | Pakistan
British Overseas School Karachi

It has been Andrew's great privilege to be the principal of the British Overseas School in Karachi, Pakistan for the last 20 years. In one of the largest cities in the world, he leads a small school that has a village-feel, where everyone knows everyone else and the individual really matters. Andrew has been lucky to have a degree of autonomy that has allowed him and his teams to combine British and local culture, tradition and innovation, high academic standards and a commitment to values and character education. Andrew enjoys contributing to the development of education in Pakistan, which, this year he has been able to do with Agha Khan University Institute of Education Development.

Zoe Wooley | Oman
Knowledge Gate International School

Zoe Woolley is the Executive Principal of Knowledge Gate International School in Muscat. The school teaches the Omani Bilingual Curriculum alongside the UK National Curriculum. Zoe has been a school leader and headteacher in the region for almost 15 years and understands the importance of combining cultural heritage with an innovative modern education.

Zoe started her career in a primary school in East London and has worked in both state and independent schools in England. A sense of adventure led her to work in Saudi Arabia in the mid 1990s at the British School of Riyadh.

Zoe has a track record of flying the flag for British schools overseas. She worked for nine years in Dubai and enjoyed a second post in Saudi Arabia, more recently in Jeddah. Zoe has been a long standing member of the British Schools in the Middle East (BSME).

Sean Sibley | Qatar
Doha English Speaking School

Sean has been Principal of Doha English Speaking School (DESS) since April 2016. Under his leadership, DESS was rated by BSO as Outstanding in both 2017 and 2023. Before moving to Qatar, Sean was a Headteacher in the UK for 10 years, where his school also achieved an Outstanding OFSTED rating. From 2012 to 2016, he worked as a Local Leader of Education for the NCL, mentoring headteachers in challenging schools. He was also a Lead Facilitator for the NCL, delivering training on key leadership programmes. Sean believes the collaborative working of BSME schools is invaluable.

Stephen Viner | Saudi Arabia
British International School, Al Khobar

Stephen is an accomplished educational leader with extensive experience across mainstream and special educational needs settings in both London and Hertfordshire. In 2010, Stephen embraced the challenge of international education by joining the British International School, Al Khobar (BISAK) as Head of the Senior School. He was appointed Principal in 2015, and has since led the school through a period of significant growth, including a major campus relocation in 2019.

Stephen is the founding Director of the Association of British Schools Overseas (AoBSO), where he continues to advocate for the development and recognition of high-quality British international education worldwide. His leadership has been recognised is KSA; in 2019, he was awarded the Pearson Principal of the Year for Saudi Arabia for his contributions to BISAK and the wider Al Khobar community.

Riaan Huyser | UAE - Abu Dhabi
Al Rabeeh School/Academy

Riaan Huyser is the Executive Principal of the Al Rabeeh Schools cluster in Abu Dhabi, part of the Royal Group under Palms Sports (a subsidiary of IHC). With over 30 years of international educational leadership experience across three continents, Riaan has transformed schools through a deep commitment to teaching excellence, school improvement, and inclusive leadership. As a former Advanced Skills Teacher in Science and qualified school inspector, he has led every school he manages to an “Outstanding” rating. Since relocating to the UAE in 2014, Riaan has made a measurable impact on school performance, staff development, and student outcomes. As the BSME Country Representative for Abu Dhabi, he is a champion of collaboration, peer support, and future leadership development. Celebrated for his people-first leadership approach, Riaan was recently named one of Abu Dhabi’s top three Principals in the ADEK Awards. As the Executive Principal of Al Rabeeh Education, Riaan is passionate about forging future leaders and fostering a culture of success.

Nav Iqbal | UAE - Dubai
GEMS Metropole School

Nav Iqbal is an esteemed educational leader renowned for his expertise in school leadership, strategic planning, and academic excellence. With over 12 years of principalship experience, Nav has demonstrated his proficiency in both school start-ups and turnarounds, leaving a significant impact on each institution he has led. As the Principal and CEO of GEMS Metropole School, along with his role as Cluster Lead for two other schools, Nav has been instrumental in setting up highly successful educational establishments that prioritize excellence and innovation. His visionary leadership has transformed developing schools into thriving centers of learning, expanding their reach and impact within the community.

Rachel Higgins | UAE - Dubai
Jumeirah Primary School

Rachel leads GEMS Jumeirah Primary School, where she has proudly served since 2003. Over her 22-year journey, she has driven innovation and sustained excellence, with JPS rated Outstanding for over a decade. Rachel is deeply committed to inclusive leadership, celebrating diversity, and empowering every child and staff member to ‘Rewrite their Stars’. As BSME Country Representative, a role she has held for two years, Rachel is honoured to support schools across the UAE, championing collaboration and continuous growth. Believing every learner deserves an exceptional education, Rachel is passionate about fostering communities that celebrate uniqueness. Rachel looks forward to continuing to support BSME in aligning global best practice with the unique context of international schools in our region.

Brett Girven | UAE - Dubai
Dubai British School Emirates Hills

Brett Girven, Principal of Dubai British School Emirates Hills, is a New Zealand-born educator and sustainability advocate with over 20 years of international experience. He founded the Middle East chapter of the Alliance for Sustainable Schools (TASS), leading initiatives like biofuel adoption in school transport. Brett holds advanced degrees in Educational Leadership and Environmental Science. During the global pandemic, he found vital support through the BSME network, reinforcing his ongoing commitment to regional collaboration. At DBS, Brett promotes academic excellence, wellbeing, and environmental responsibility. Outside school, he enjoys rugby, triathlons, and exploring Dubai’s natural spaces with his family.

John Bagust | UAE - Northern Emirates
Pace British School, Sharjah

John Bagust is the Principal at PACE British School in Sharjah and brings over 35 years of experience in teaching and school leadership across the UK and internationally. He has previously worked in the UK and Kuwait. He has worked for ten years for Shell Schools in Malaysia, Syria and Oman. He has also worked in IB schools in the Czech Republic and Egypt. He holds a B.Ed, an MA in Educational Leadership, and the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH). John has also served as a British Schools Overseas (BSO) team inspector for the past 10 years, contributing his expertise to the evaluation and improvement of educational standards worldwide. He looks forward to working with and supporting Principals in BSME schools in Sharjah and the Northern Emirates through email, phone, and face-to-face meetings.