School Council

Daisy Lee – Chairperson

Daisy is a home grown HK Chinese who was born, raised and educated in HK. She is married with 2 children. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree and an MBA both from The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

She has been working as a Human Resources professional for over 30 years, initially in an Investment Bank for over 20 years followed by almost 10 years in the largest public body in Hong Kong. She has devoted her efforts in providing the best and suitable work place to employees so that they can focus on their work without having to worry about whether the company will take care of them and treat them fairly. She has chosen to early retire from full time work last year in order to put more focus and spend more time on herself, her family and the HK community.

She has been involved in volunteering work in NGOs like The HK Down Syndrome Association and participating in church activities. At present, she is a board member of the Zonta Club of Victoria, HK which consists of woman professionals working together to advance the status of women through its active engagement in social service programmes and charitable activities to serve the local HK community.

 

John Stewart

John is Director of Facilities for ESF and is the ESF representative for the board this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clare Haworth  – WIS Interim Principal

Clare has been working in education for almost 30 years. She had a number of roles in the UK including Head of Art, Assistant Principal and Vice Principal. After moving to Hong Kong in 2006 with her family, she started working at West Island as a teacher of art and design. Since then, she has been Head of Years 12 and 13, Pre 16 Director of Learning and Pre 16 Vice Principal. In March 2023, Clare was appointed as the Interim Principal and will continue in the role until April 2024.

 

 

 

Matthew Cheung – Community Representative

Matthew joined WIS Council in Feb 2024 with more than 20 years of experience in accounting and investment banking industries with equity capital markets and corporate finance focus.
Matthew is currently working at GF Capital as a Managing Director, Head of Greater China Equity Capital Markets. Prior to GF Capital, Matthew has also worked at J.P. Morgan, UBS AG, Nomura, Macquarie Capital and Bank of China International. Matthew started off his career at Deloitte as an auditor and subsequently corporate finance advisor.
Matthew holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administrative Studies with a major in Accounting from York University in Canada, he is the certificate holder of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ken Chan – Community Representative

Ken developed his love for theatre as a kid in Hong Kong before immigrating to Canada. His theatrical experience includes Assistant Stage Manager, Stage Technician, Carpenter, Lighting Technician, Sound Technician, Production Manager and Technical Director in Canada.

He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design & Production from York University in Canada. He is currently studying Executive Master of Business Administration at the Berlin School of Creative Leadership.

Upon graduation from his degree, Ken’s first big break came when he decided to further his career as the Associate Technical Director with the Canadian Opera Company. There he worked on amazing shows such as: Don Giovanni, La Bohème and Bluebeard’s Castle/Erwartung. He was one of the consultants in the development of the new Four Seasons Centre of the Performing Arts in Toronto, Canada. Three years later he was offered the position as the Technical Director with the National Ballet of Canada where he worked on some of his favourite productions including: The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and The Italian Straw Hat.

Knowing that education plays an integral role in young lives, Ken now finds himself working as a Senior Lecturer for the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, where he is happy to share his experience with a new generation of theatre professionals.

 

 

Irene Li  – Parent Representative

Irene and her family joined the WIS community in January 2021, with two kids studying at WIS. Irene became a WIS PTA committee member in January 2022.

Irene has a Ph.D. in Engineering and had been working in research labs and consulting firms before her family relocated to Hong Kong. She has always been an active member of school communities, organizing class and school events, serving on PTA committees, etc. She looks forward to making her contribution toward our school’s mission of providing exceptional learning opportunities for all WIS students.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prof Pingyang Gao  – Parent Representative

Professor Gao joined HKU Business School in 2020 as a professor, head of the accounting and law area, associate dean, and the Zhang Yonghong Endowment Professor. Until then he had been a faculty member at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business since 2008. He also spent the fall of 2019 at Yale University as a visiting professor.

His research primarily focuses on securities regulation, corporate governance, financial reporting, accounting standard-setting, and investment philosophy. He is a recipient of American Accounting Association Competitive Manuscript Award and several Best Paper awards of conferences. He has received several honors, including the IBM faculty fellowship, PCL Faculty Scholar, and Centel Foundation/Robert P. Reuss Faculty Scholar. He is a member of the Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society, a network of scholars who exemplify service and advocacy for students who have been traditionally underrepresented in academia.

Gao received a bachelor’s degree from Renmin University of China in 2002, a master’s degree from Peking University in 2004, and a PhD degree from Yale University in 2008.

 

 

Jessica Callow – Teacher Representative

Jessica arrived to Hong Kong in 2021 and this is her third year at WIS. She currently holds the post of English iGCSE coordinator. Beyond work, she enjoys reading, hiking, travelling and time with her cat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joy Zheng – Teacher Representative

Hailing from the city of Wenzhou, China, Joy joined WIS in 2018 and now serves as the leading teacher of Chinese.

With dual Master’s degrees in Education and Chinese Language and Literature from the University of HK, Joy instils a profound appreciation for Chinese language and culture in her students.

Beyond the classroom, Joy’s love for Chinese cooking allows her to share rich flavors and culinary traditions, creating unforgettable cultural experiences for students. Her passion for exploration takes her to new destinations, immersing herself in diverse cultures and expanding her horizons. Seeking balance, she finds inner peace through yoga, and her competitive spirit thrives on the badminton court.

 

 

 

 

Matt Zirps – Support Staff Representative

Matt arrived in Hong Kong in 2021 despite the challenges presented by the Covid pandemic. Shortly after arriving, he joined West Island School as a Full Time Educational Assistant in the Individual Needs Department.

Raised in Australia, Matt is a former I.T. professional who has previously run away with the circus, traveling with Cirque Du Soleil.

When not working, he enjoys playing rugby, gaming, reading, and walking with the dogs. He loves exploring the world, both near and far, and spending time with his Mum and nieces.

 

 

 

 

Dia Bharwani (Y13) – Student Representative

I’m Dia! Being at West Island School since year 7 has exposed me to a wide range of all-rounded activities, and encouraged me to grow through a balanced lifestyle. During my time here, I’ve participated in Circle in the Water, played on the netball team and founded a Youth Leadership Council for Mother’s Choice. However, more importantly, I have built strong relationships with my peers and blossomed as a social person. I love the WIS community, along with the wider ESF community, and value how diverse and accepting it is. I look forward to using my innovation and knowledge to help enhance student lives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Krishiv Khatri (Y13) – Student Representative

Having been part of West Island School since Year 7, I have been given the opportunity to contribute to many different facets of WIS life. Over the past six years, between student committees, extracurriculars, and the ever-entertaining dynamics of secondary school life, I have developed a unique insight of both the academic and social aspects of our school. Whether it’s leading the entrepreneurship club, tutoring younger students, representing the school at science competitions, or being a part of the Diwali Ball committee, WIS has shaped me into a more well-rounded individual. I am thrilled to be able to contribute further to our community and represent the student body to the best of my ability.