Outstanding People

Denise is a seasoned general management professional, is currently General Manager–Learning and HR Transformation in MTR Corporation, and lead the training and development as well as HR digital transformation in the organisation. Prior to this role, Denise has held senior roles in strategy, audit, finance, communication and project management.  Denise possesses degrees in engineering and business administration, is a Certified Internal Auditor and a Chartered Engineer. 

Denise was a Board member of the English School Foundation from 2019 -2024. Prior to that she was Vice Chairman of Island School for 6 years. She is passionate about education and enjoys working with and for young people.

Mark Blackshaw is the Director of Education for ESF and is the ESF representative for the board this year.

Vicki Hallatt is originally from the UK but has spent her career working in international schools across six countries, including Hong Kong. She is a History, Global Politics and TOK teacher and has held a number of academic and pastoral roles in her career. Vicki has a deep passion for teaching, learning and innovation and she has worked with Harvard Graduate School of Education on innovation, and was an early adopter of High Performance Learning (HPL). In addition to this, Vicki has completed an MA in Education and holds an NPQH (National Professional Qualification of Headship) from UCL in London. Vicki believes strongly in holistic education and has led school trips all over the world. 

Matthew joined WIS Council in February 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 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.

Born and brought up in culturally rich India, Saman has been living outside her hometown for more than two decades now.

A science graduate and an MBA qualification holder, she had a short stint with a job at an Advertising agency making ads for "Coca-Cola" and "The Times of India".

Spending seven wonderful years of her life in Seoul, Korea, Saman moved to Hong Kong in 2008

A mother of three, she has two graduates from West Island School both who are now at HKU and her third child in Year 10.

Having been part of the ESF as a parent for 17+ years, she feels like a part of the WIS family.

Saman joined WIS PTA to help and give back to the schools that were like second homes to her children. She was also on the PTA committee of Bradbury School for 3 years.

Passionate about writing and baking, she loves spending time with her children whether it's just chatting casually with them or hearing out their big ideas to make the world a better place.

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 the 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 arrived in 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.

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.

I am Rathi NandaKumar and currently the Manager – HR & Office operations at West Island School.  I have almost eight years of experience in the education sector, and I am proud to represent the support staff on the School Council.  I started my journey here as a part-time Exams Assistant in 2016 and thereafter I have had the opportunity to work in different departments (Exams, CAS, Finance, Office Admin), giving me a deep understanding of the needs and aspirations of the support staff.

As a member of the SSCG (Support Staff Consultative Group) at ESF, I have gained valuable insights into the concerns and challenges faced by colleagues at WIS & across other ESF group schools.  I believe this experience, combined with my position in the HR department, makes me uniquely qualified to be the voice of the support staff on the School Council.

My vision is to foster a collaborative and supportive environment where the contributions of the support staff are recognised and valued.  I aim to work closely with the council to develop initiatives that enhance job satisfaction and provide opportunities for professional growth for the support staff.

With my diverse background and unique strengths, I am confident in my ability to bridge the gap between the support staff and the school administration advocating for policies and practices that prioritise their well-being and development and create a more inclusive and harmonious school community.

Being at West Island school since Year 7, I am honored to be a part of the current 2025 Head Student team. I am passionate about service and making a difference in our community, especially by involving the school body and all year groups, and I have worked closely with the charity, Centre For Refugees. As part of the WIS 2025 School Council team, I am excited to continue contributing to school life, making sure everybody's voice is heard and valued. This year, I am eager to bring ideas to life and make our school even better.

Since joining Kennedy School in Year 1 and now moving into my final years at WIS, I have thoroughly experienced all the fantastic things our community has to offer. I’ve been fortunate enough to have such invaluable opportunities to learn about and give back to my community. My work as an ambassador for Sunshine Action has opened my eyes to a side of Hong Kong not usually seen. Behind the tantalising skyline of this concrete jungle loneliness, homelessness and many other plights plague far too many. Through hands-on work with these individuals, I have come to realise my privilege and responsibility in being a global citizen.Within our school I am also proud to be representing WIS in a variety of sports as well as captaining them. Through these experiences with our community, I have realised the true depth of our student body and how this culture cultivates an environment where everybody finds a place. Overall, I am super excited to represent this cherished community this year. Through the role of Head Student, I hope to help strengthen the collaborative and driven spirit that fuels West Island.