Alice Chow – Chairperson

Alice runs a family business in Hong Kong. Previously, she managed a charity that serves local underprivileged youth. Prior to that she spent most of her career in finance/ private equity; and before that, worked as a management consultant and a biotech research scientist. Alice was born and raised in Hong Kong, finished high school here then went on to the US for her Bachelor and Masters degree. She is married with two children.

Outside work, Alice is actively involved in education and healthcare charities.

Belinda Greer – Ex-officio

Belinda is CEO of 22 international schools from Kindergarten through to Secondary, serving 18,000 students and their families. Belinda has over 35 years experience in national and international education including positions as school principal, one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Education in Scotland, Director of Education Services for Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils in Scotland and, now as the Chief Executive Officer of ESF.

Belinda spent the first five years of her career teaching in the Middle East. She has both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Education.

Outside work Belinda enjoys fitness and marathon running.

Chris Sammons – WIS Principal

Chris originally worked in Hong Kong between 1996-98 at Sha Tin College and his first child was born in Prince of Wales hospital. Since that time he has added another two children to his my family. Working in a variety of positions, including curriculum and pastoral leadership, he loves the challenge of leading a community of learners. As a second Principal post, West Island School has given him the greatest joy working with deep values inherited from its founders. He remains persistently curious how best to motivate, inspire and teach young people through a team of professional, committed and principled teachers.

Outside of work he enjoys reading, running, swimming and cooking.

Members elected by the parents of West Island School

Vivian Lau – Community Representative

Vivian is currently the Vice Chair and Group CEO of Pacific Air Holdings Limited. She is an intrapreneur and entrepreneur with over 20 years of international leadership experience from industries spanning educational NGO, petrochemical, leadership development, IT&T, online, advertising and airline industries. She possesses a proven track record in starting, growing, managing and restructuring organizations. A pioneer in the interactive industry, she founded Grey Interactive Hong Kong and China, one of the first leading interactive agencies in Hong Kong. She started her career with Qantas Airways in Sydney, Australia. During her tenure with the airline, she had delivered successful business processes and systems for Qantas Holidays, Qantas Freight and the joint Service Agreement between Qantas Airways and British Airways.

Prior to joining the company, Vivian was the President and CEO of Junior Achievement (JA) Asia Pacific, a member of JA Worldwide, one of the world’s largest youth-serving NGOs dedicated to preparing youth for the future of jobs and work in 18 countries/locations in Asia Pacific.

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.

Pearl Lee – Chair of PTA

Pearl grew up in Australia and worked in the financial industry for twenty years before she making the decision to become a full-time parent four years ago. This change has allowed her to fully devote to her family and volunteering work, which includes helping as librarian at Kennedy School and tutor at Principal Chan Free Tutorial world, a platform providing free tutorial service to the underprivileged.

She continues to be a volunteer tutor with much enjoyment and passion.

Golfing, swimming and yoga are their family sport. Her daughter, who is a Year 10 student at WIS is a member of the Hong Kong Golf Association and also a member of the school badminton team. Pearl is the Chair of WIS PTA Committee.

Catherine Dulude – Parent Representative

Catherine is the mother of two children both studying at WIS. She became a WIS PTA committee member in November 2018. Living in Asia for thirteen years her family members all consider Hong Kong as home.

Being raised in Canada with French as her mother tongue, Catherine’s children master both English and French very well despite the fact that they have never lived in Canada themselves. A few years ago, after being a managing partner of an expanding law firm in Asia, Catherine decided to have her own practice to get more involved in her children’s lives. In the past and up until now, working full time has never stopped her from being a class representative, a parent representative, baking for her kids schools’ events or for birthdays and parties, cooking at home and making the pack lunches, taking part in the different school seminars, forums, item collection efforts for donations.

Aparna Kanda – Parent Representative

Aparna has two children in Year 11 and Year 8. She has a Masters in International Human Rights Law and Economics. Her career includes working for the UNDP, Indian Government and with The Overseas Development Institute in London.

She is an active member on the board of AngelXpress Foundation, India that seeks to provide better access to education for children of migrant labourers mostly living in the slums of Mumbai. Aparna freelances with the University of Hong Kong during her spare time.

West Island School Staff Members

Emily Buckland – Teacher Representative

Emily arrived to Hong Kong in 2013 when she joined West Island as a teacher of Business.

Since 2015 she has led the International Diploma and BTEC courses, and now coordinates the IB Career Related Programme.

Her key interests involve hiking and exploring Hong Kong’s country parks and trails, as well as cooking and baking.

Jessica Gilbert – Teacher Representative

Jessica also arrived to Hong Kong in 2013 and currently works as Head of Year 11 and English iGCSE coordinator.

Beyond work, she enjoys playing Netball for HKCC, hiking, hosting dinner parties, playing board games and spending time with her two young sons.

Margaret Lau – Support Staff Representative

Margaret’s intention in 1999 when she arrived in Hong Kong was to work for a few years before resettling back to the UK. This never happened and with 3 children currently in ESF, her ties to the foundation are strong.

She joined WIS in 2014 as the HR & Office Manager, assumed acting Business Manager in 2018 before being successfully promoted to the permanent post in June 2020.

Margaret loves to travel and enjoy new activities with her family. When she is not at work, she either spends quality time with friends and family or can found at a dance class trying to recreate her youth.

Lorraine Lee

Having been a part of the West Island community for four years now, I have been given the opportunity to contribute to many different facets of WIS life. From attending dance trainings regularly to organising Star Search, these experiences have prompted me to become gregarious and innovative. I am delighted to contribute to the community further by representing the student body, and to support the school in as many ways as possible.

Ethan Kho

Hey everyone! I’m Ethan. In my free time, I enjoy boxing and watching videos on tech startups all over the world. Having only joined West Island last year, I can honestly say that the school community has been extremely inclusive of me. I hope to represent our students to the best of my ability, giving back in the ways that I can.