Stella Zhou

Master of Hiba Shanghai

Stella Zhou graduated from East China Normal University with a bachelor’s degree in Chinese language and literature and a master’s degree in education. Since then, she has gained nearly 20 years’ experience of teaching and management in international and bilingual schools.

As the founding principal of Hiba Academy Shanghai, Stella, together with other Chinese and international educators and experts, designed the school’s bilingual curriculum and recruited a team of dedicated teachers. She has led this team tirelessly to develop the best possible bilingual curriculum for Chinese pupils.  

Stella is a passionate educator who fully believes in the Hiba philosophy of holistic education. She hopes to bring all her experience to Hiba and is keen to make it a world-class bilingual school.

Stella understands the importance of implementing a flexible education that focuses on pupils' long-term benefits without losing sight of more immediate concerns. This means empowering our pupils to live a meaningful life while taking the initiative to represent China on the world stage. 
 

Charlotte Knight-Benjafield

Executive Head of Early Years

Charlotte is an experienced Early Years teacher and Head of Early Years.  She holds a BA(Hons) degree in Geography from the University of Oxford.  She completed her PGCE(with QTS) specialising in Early Years at Oxford Brookes University and went on to gain vast experience in outstanding schools in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, UK. During her time in the UK she was actively involved in Oxfordshire Moderation teams in addition to mentoring a number of successful PGCE students.

Charlotte has been teaching internationally for a number of years. She began her international journey as Head of Early Years, at a leading international school in Beijing where she led the Early Years to produce outstanding academic results.  During this time, she also developed a successful Parent Partnership Program (PPP) which has gone from strength to strength.  It was on this journey that Charlotte discovered her passion for growing effective teaching teams.

Charlotte says ‘Creating the right culture and environment for our talented teachers to thrive is ultimately the best way to support our young learners.  If our teachers are well supported and informed then their genuine passion for learning will shine through. This passion serves to inspire our children to be curious, independent thinkers and learners.’

Charlotte says her most important role is being a mother.  She has four children; three children join her and her husband in Shanghai, whilst her oldest daughter studies at University of Bristol, UK.  Charlotte says ‘I think being a mother allows me to connect with our Hiba parents in a meaningful way.  I understand their concerns, worries and questions.  I am here to understand and support our families on this most important educational journey.’

With a large family, Charlotte does not have much spare time on her hands!  When she has a moment free, she loves to walk her two little dogs, Echo and Bagel.  She also enjoys reading biographies.

Yuki Gong

Deputy Head of Early Years

Yuki graduated from Fudan University with a bachelor’s degree in law. She also gained a master’s degree in education. Yuki became involved in early childhood education after graduation, and she has gained nearly 20 years’experience of teaching, management, and a solid knowledge of Eastern and Western education philosophies in international and bilingual nurseries. As a founding leader at Hiba Academy Shanghai, she uses her expertise to provide personalised and holistic education for every pupil.

Her experience in leadership has enabled her to create a safe, fun and supportive learning environment where the awareness of responsibility and autonomy is encouraged among teachers and pupils. She believes that building mutual trust and respect between pupils, parents and colleagues is at the heart of an inspiring early childhood education. Only by promoting exploration, active learning, creativity and critical thinking can we support our children to grow up to become effective learners.

Lydia Lim

Bursar

Before joining us, Lydia Lim spent four years in the same capacity in Beijing City International School, which accommodates both foreign and Chinese pupils. Lydia also has extensive experience in the accounting industry, where she was attached to several international firms, including Arthur Andersen and KPMG. During this time, she led various financial projects in real estate, resorts and service related industries, assurance and advisory business for multi-national organisations and public listed companies. She is a chartered accountant, a fellow member of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA), an experienced member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants and the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She also completed an MBA from Oxford Brookes University.

Jingwen Chen

Assistant Head

Jingwen was born and raised in Shanghai. She has more than 13 years’ experience teaching early years in both bilingual and international schools. Jingwen received her first degree from Shanghai Normal University in the field of education, then continued her studies at East China Normal University, receiving a bachelor degree in business management. After graduating from university, Jingwen began her career teaching in a local kindergarten and became very familiar with the Chinese local early years’ curriculum. She then went on to teach in a number of international and bilingual kindergartens and schools in Shanghai. Her work experiences helped her to better understand Western culture and to see the differences between the Western and Chinese cultures.Jingwen looks at ways to combine these two cultures when leading curriculum planning. Just prior to joining Hiba Academy Shanghai, Jingwen worked at East China Normal University Affiliated Bilingual School Early Years as the early years’ Curriculum Co-ordinator, Lead Class Teacher and Acting Principal. During this time, she also finished her Principal course work and training, receiving her Principal Certification. Outside of the classroom, Jingwen enjoys travelling and experiencing different cultures.

Rob Spillane

Assistant Head

Rob was a singing and drama teacher for nine years whilst simultaneously studying drama at university. It was then that he began to pursue a career in Early Years education. He studied a post-graduate course in Early Years teaching before attaining his PGCE from the University of Leeds. 

He has taught children of all ages, and this has helped him develop his knowledge of how to get children engaged in learning and develop a passion for education. Having previously worked at Hiba Academy Hangzhou for four years, where he was head of EY3 for two years and then head of EY2 and EY1, he has comprehensive experience of how different children learn. He has developed his knowledge of bilingual education and is looking forward to supporting children to learn English and Chinese in fun and engaging ways. Rob believes that children can develop a fundamental enjoyment of school and learning and that if thinks children do not enjoy school, they cannot reach their full potential. This puts PSED and wellbeing at the heart of everything he does. 

Having lived in Hangzhou for the last four years, Rob is preparing himself for a busier and faster pace of life in Shanghai and is looking forward to being part of everything the city has to offer. He is a proud Yorkshireman and loves to be in and around quietness and nature, just like home. When he is not enjoying parks and forests, he loves music and theatre. 

Angela Gu

Assistant Head

Angela obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Pedagogy from Shanghai Normal University. Having studied and taught Early Years in both local and international schools since 1997, Angela has extensive experience in this field. She spent 10 years as a co-teacher at Dulwich International School, where she developed a talent for integrating Chinese and international students and creating a positive and inspiring learning environment. She joined Hiba Nursery in 2019 as a teacher and EY1 team lead. Angela enjoys working closely with pupils, parents and staff, and has a desire to contribute to the Hiba Nursery community. Angela has a teenage daughter that keeps her busy. They enjoy travelling together and learning about new cultures. Angela also enjoys reading and online shopping. She especially loves to buy homeware and crockery.

Emily Lee

EY1 Classroom Teacher

Emily joined Hiba Nursery in 2019. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree, majoring in Biology.  In 2015, she arrived in Shanghai and became interested in education. She then obtained her TESOL certification in 2016 and began teaching in bilingual kindergartens here. Before long, Emily obtained MACAR (Montessori Applied to Children At Risk) certification in 2017 and PGCE with the Institute of Learning, Wellington College China in 2020. Emily feels fortunate to be apart of a nursery that focuses on practices of Characteristics of Effective Learning, the collaboration between teachers, wellbeing and involvement of children. In her free time, Emily enjoys reading and spending time with her husband, two children, their 19-year-old cat named Uma and their two-year-old dog named Molly.

Jean Jin

EY1 Classroom Teacher

A founding member of Hiba Academy Shanghai, Jean Jin has worked in bilingual and international kindergartens and language learning institutions in Korea, Hong Kong and Shanghai since 2012. Her experiences working abroad have instilled in her a strong interest in working with bilingual children. When offered the opportunity to work at Hiba Nursery in 2016, she was ecstatic and has been with the nursery ever since. In 2012, she entered the ‘Misulo’ internship in Korea and Hong Kong. Following this, she continued her studies in Chinese Linguistic Literature at Fudan University. To build up her experience working with children, she obtained a primary school English teacher qualification and kindergarten teacher qualification. When Jean is not busy with the children at Hiba Nursery, she enjoys watching movies, reading and doing volunteer work, which in the past has included the 2010 Shanghai Expo and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Bethany Owens

EY1 Classroom Teacher

Bethany is from the North East of England and has been living and teaching abroad for the past 8 years. Bethany has an English Literature degree and a PGCE from Leeds Beckett University. She has taught in both China and South Korea, where her passion for the Early Years and bilingual teaching has continued to grow. Bethany is excited to join the HIBA team and work together with others to create a warm, enabling and inclusive environment for all children to flourish in. When she isn’t teaching, Bethany is kept busy by her two small children, and her dog named Sausage! In her spare time, she likes to read, cook and listen to podcasts.

Lydia Oliveira

EY1 Classroom Teacher

Ms Lydia first started teaching in the UK as a drama teacher and she worked with teenagers. Ms Lydia moved to China in2020. She was a English teacher in international kindergarten and private school when she work in Chengdu. Ms Lydiamoved to shanghai in 2022, she started working at Wunan kindergarten. As soon as she started teaching she knew this wasthe profession for her. During her free time, Ms Lydia is very active, she spends a lot of time in the gym working out,or on the football field, or rugby field. She also has a long standing love with yoga, which she loves to bring to theclassroom, she likes to do yoga classes and yogi breathing with the children to help them find calm and balance beforeand after class. Ms Lydia also loves to travel and experience new cultures and meet new people.

 Yenny Li

EY1 Classroom Teacher

Yenny, Bachelor of Economics, registered teacher of Chinese dancers’ association, joined Hiba Family in 2020. During university period, she had participated the aid and the education project in Sri Lanka. That experience has made her realise the significance of Child Education, and she feels satisfied to put her sense of self-worth in teaching children. After graduation, Yenny has joined Wellington Shanghai Family, in which she harvested more than two years’ experience in curriculum management and bilingual teaching across Wellington and Hiba campuses. After joined Hiba Nursery, Yenny had taken the role of music assistant and librarian teacher. As a teacher, she prefers to view children as “friends waited to explore”. She believes that every child has his or her own unique creativity, thus what she needs to do is to discover, respect, encourage and accompany. On the journey of learning and self-discovery, the teacher would also go further with the children.

Apart from teaching, Yenny loves dance ardently. She had ever won championship and the first runner-up in national dancing competitions. Nearly 10 years of dancing and stage performance experience has given Yenny confidence in teaching music and dance. Meanwhile, she would like to combine her interests and specialities with teaching, offering diverse and interesting activities for the children.

Hannah Zhang

EY1 Classroom Teacher

Hannah Zhang was born and raised in Lingbi, Anhui Province. Hannah has lived in Shanghai for 18 years. After attending university she went on to teach, with over 13 years’ experience working in a British international school in Shanghai. She is a founding teacher at Hiba Academy Shanghai. She believes that every child is uniquely different and that each child’s experience in the early years is very important. A secure, safe and happy childhood provides the foundation for children to make the most of their abilities and talents. Learning should be carefully scaffolded, with an emphasis on activities that are fun, relevant and motivating for all pupils. When she is not teaching, Hannah loves cooking and enjoys gardening, reading and listening to music.

Nina Schatz

EY1 Classroom Teacher

Ms Nina Schatz has a PhD in Chemistry. During her spare time, she likes cooking, playing Lego and swimming. She has two boys, aged three and five. She is eager to learn more Chinese and embraces a growth mindset and a positive attitude towards lifelong learning.

Vivian He

EY2 Classroom Teacher

Vivian grew up in Shanghai and has more than 17 years’ experience teaching in international schools in Shanghai. She holds a degree in primary education from East China Normal University and is a published author. As a teacher, she has always aimed for excellence by harnessing her natural ability to motivate and inspire others, inject warmth into her teaching practice and create harmonious, challenging and rewarding environments for children. She has found that children achieve greater success in learning when activities are delivered in highly creative ways. She also believes that children have the ability to learn everything through play, and therefore provides her pupils with a variety of materials and resources to support their play. Vivian also holds the responsibility of being team lead for EY2. Outside the classroom, Vivian loves travelling and experiencing new cultures with her family and spending time with her cat, Dai Dai.

Tania Contreras

EY2 Classroom Teacher

Ms Tania attended UCLA where she grew a fascination for learning about different cultures and where she eventuallygraduated with a degree in Anthropology. Her first job in school was as a teacher’s aide and this is where she found herlove for teaching. Upon graduation, Ms Tania worked on acquiring her preschool teaching license for the State ofCalifornia and worked full time at the UCLA Early Care and Education Krieger Campus. After working a total of 8 years atthis wonderful school, Ms Tania made the move to Shanghai where she has been working since 2016. Ms Tania is currentlythe English Curriculum Coordinator at her school. Ms Tania is a bilingual speaker (Spanish and English) and attemptingto learn Chinese. In her spare time she likes to craft and explore different artistic venues, pottery being a currentfavorite. She enjoys spending time with her friends playing board games, attending trivia nights, or hosting movienights. She also enjoys quiet time reading, listening to music, baking or short bike rides around the city.

Iris Bao  

EY2 Classroom Teacher

Iris received her Master degree in the United States, with a focus on curriculum and instruction. After graduation, she dedicated herself to the education of autism children in California.

After returning to China, she gained extensive experience in schools and educational organizations and joined the Hiba family in 2018. She focuses on children's individualized psychological development, develops activity plans based on children's characteristics, encourages children to take risks, and focuses on building good relationships with children.

Iris specializes in calligraphy and passionate about tennis, volleyball and cycling, she hopes to start her own classic women's road bike riding team in the future.

Abigail Celeste Louw

EY2 Classroom Teacher

Ms Abigail hails from beautiful South Africa and has lived abroad with her family (her husband and two sons) in SouthKorea and China for over seven years. Ms Abigail graduated from The University of Stellenbosch and majored in SocialWork, and later obtained her PGCE from Moreland University in the USA. She had the privilege of being an educator fornine years and worked with students and teachers in a variety of K-6 settings. Ms Abigail has worked as a classroomteacher, RWI Lead Teacher, Cohort Coordinator and Head of English. Her goal is to create academically engaging learningexperiences through an environment that fosters creativity, curiosity, and kindness. Ms Abigail lives by the philosophyof her great mentor, Nelson Mandela: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Cory Morales

 EY2 Classroom Teacher

After graduating with a degree in psychology, Cory began to work in the field of education, interning as a behaviour analyst for primary-age children and working as an educational advisor for young adults. To further challenge himself, Cory moved to Shanghai in 2017 and began working in an international pre-school setting. Working with children in the EY2, EY3 and EY4 age groups for the past five years, he has gained valuable experience in implementing various teaching methods. He also served as the foreign campus director at his last school and has experience preparing pupils for the rigours of primary school. Cory also possesses a teaching certificate and is passionate about empowering his pupils to be daring and confident both in and out of the classroom. Outside of the classroom, he enjoys being on the pitch playing football or American football with his friends, producing music and playing instruments.

Emily Gu 

EY2 Classroom Teacher

Emily graduated from East China Normal University. She also obtained a bilingual teaching certificate from Goldsmiths, University of London. Emily worked in international schools for several years before joining Hiba Nursery four years ago. She is experienced in teaching British curriculum framework EYFS and is adept at combining the Chinese and Western educational ethos in her teaching. She is rigorous yet patient with her pupils and aims to create a safe and caring environment and maintaining an open line of communication with parents. Emily is outgoing and loves life. She likes travelling with family and friends to explore magnificent natural scenery and different cultures.

Flora Lu 

EY2 Classroom Teacher

 Ms Flora Lu graduated from East China Normal University with a BA in Preschool Education. While in university, she was fortunate to be selected to serve in the Chinese Air Force for two years. Her military service had a profound influence on her and led her to teaching children. In her work, she applies all the excellent qualities developed through her military training, to her pedagogy. She supports the children in her class to become more independent, brave, kind and warm-hearted. She loves to take her children into the natural environment to observe the change of seasons, plants and animals.

Ms Flora is cheerful and lively. She values the communication with parents and would like to create a caring and happy learning environment for children. In her spare time, she likes going out with her family, read children's picture books and educational books. She believes that teachers and children grow and progress together.

Johanna Van Wyk

EY3 Classroom Teacher

 Ms Jani Van Wyk has a degree in Human Science (Psychology). She also has PGCE in Early Years Education and a master's degree in Special and Inclusive Education. Ms Jani has been teaching for nine years. She has been in China for eight years and will soon be starting her ninth year in China. She loves photography and enjoys travelling. She also enjoys scuba diving and reading as many books as she can to get her hands on. Ms Jani really enjoys being a teacher to young children. She would like to continue to work with children in the future and is hoping to complete her postgraduate degree in Educational Psychology to better support young learners in their school and home environments.

Mia Tan

EY3 Classroom Teacher

Ms Mia has been joining Hiba Nursery for 4 years. Ms Mia majored in preschool education for her undergraduate degree and in education for her postgraduate degree. During her university period, she got excellent results and won the first prize of the Basic Skills Competition of Normal University Students in Jiangsu Province. She holds the Senior Infant Teacher Certificate, the third-level Psychological Counselor Certificate and the International English Teacher Certificate. The postgraduate study has made Mia more aware of the diversity and differentiation of education, so that she can treat every child with an inclusive and open mind. She believes that the real world needs to be experienced by children themselves, and this experience cannot be told. Outside of work, Mia enjoys playing a variety of musical instruments, playing the piano, ukulele and kalimba.

Sarah Preston

EY3 Classroom Teacher

Ms Sarah has been a teacher in the UK for twenty years in Early Years classes. Ms Sarah graduated from St. Martin’sCollege, University of Lancaster and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History with QTS (qualified teacher status). Shehas taught in several primary schools in the UK. She currently lives in Shifnal Shropshire and has been teaching in aprimary school in Telford and Wrekin. Ms Sarah has been an Early Years moderator for over ten years. She is passionateabout developing the whole child through play as well as enriching children’s curiosity and creativity through mindfulexperiences. In her spare time she enjoys reading, pilates and yoga. Ms Sarah also enjoys nature, hiking and gardening.She enjoys travelling and visiting new places.

Katie Allen

EY3 Classroom Teacher

Ms Katie graduated from Liverpool Hope University with BA Honours Degree in History with Theology and Religious Studies.She then went on to complete her PGCE at the same university. Ms Katie has been teaching for over 10 years andpredominately working within Early Years. She has worked in the Middle East in Kuwait and Abu Dhabi. She has been ableto add to her own professional development by working as Head of Year for Kindergarten, as a sports coach for differentsports and as a NQT mentor. Working in the Middle East has allowed her to work with families and colleagues fromdifferent cultures and backgrounds. Ms Katie is very passionate about the importance of developing the whole child andstrongly believes in expanding the social, emotional and physical wellbeing of each child alongside the academics toensure that each child meets their potential. Outside of school Ms Katie enjoys watching a variety of sportsparticularly football. She enjoys walking and reading as well as travelling and exploring new countries and cultures.

Jenny Xu

EY3 Classroom Teacher

Jenny Xu, is a Shanghai native. Jenny graduated from East China Normal University, where she studied Preschool Education. Her love of English and American literature drove her to minor in English and she passed both the Test for English Majors and Interpretation Test, making her uniquely qualified to teach in a bilingual setting. After graduation, Jenny worked in an international school. Her art skills enabled her to support pupils' participation in the International Children’s Art Exhibition. In her eight years of teaching, she has developed her own unique style that motivates pupils to explore knowledge through play, open-ended questions, performing stories, etc. She always encourages pupils to try different activities, treating them with kindness and patience. Her relationship with pupils is equal, collaborative and harmonious. In her free time, Jenny enjoys painting, photography and reading.

Norah Liu 

EY3 Classroom Teacher

Ms. Norah Liu was born in Shanghai and graduated from East China Normal University majoring in preschool education. After graduation, she taught in city model kindergartens and bilingual kindergartens. During that time, she demonstrated teaching activities many times, wrote her personal projects, and obtained the first and second level certificates of children's philosophy. She has 12 years of teaching experience.

In teaching, Ms. Norah is good at language and children's philosophy activities, encouraging every child to love thinking, express themselves boldly, and have the courage to criticize and innovate; in the day-to-day life, Ms. Norah will become friends with the children, and together they learn from playing, and make progress together!

Outside of work, she enjoys music, traveling, and likes to constantly learn new knowledge and skills.

Natalie Highton

EY3 Classroom Teacher

Natalie graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a BA(hons) in French studies with TESOL. She completed her PGCE at the same university. In 2017, she moved to China where she found her passion for Early Years education. She is passionate about languages, play and inquiry-based learning and was promoted to assistant Early Years coordinator at her previous school in Beijing. After spending 2 years working as an SEN tutor and primary languages teacher back in the UK, she is excited to return to China and be part of the Hiba Early Years team. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, live music and learning Mandarin.

Gillian Zhu 

EY3 Classroom Teacher

Miss Gillian Zhu has a bachelor's degree. This is her tenth year in education. She enjoys music and can play some instruments. She is adept at combining musical elements into her teaching and believes that good communication and co-operation will help to create a happy and inspiring learning environment for children. In her spare time, she enjoys playing and listening to music, reading and sports.

Jenny Ni

EY4 Classroom Teacher

Ms Jenny has been passionate about early childhood education since she was a child. After graduating from university, she left her hometown of Shanghai and continued her studies in Australia. Experiencing education and work in different cultural backgrounds broadened her understanding of cultural diversity. In 2018, Ms Jenny returned to Shanghai and became a Chinese teacher at a bilingual kindergarten. Her aspiration has always been to integrate both Eastern and Western educational concepts into practice, fostering the holistic development of young children.

Ms Jenny’s interests span various activities such as swimming and fitness, where she challenges herself through physical activities. Additionally, Ms Jenny has a passion for gardening, and each flower is like a child to her, bringing joy to her life. Ms Jenny hopes that through her efforts, she can contribute to the growth and education of young children.

Sarah Zhang 

EY4 Classroom Teacher

Sarah graduated from East China Normal University majoring in Language Education. She holds a certificate of Early Years Education, a TCSL certificate and a Senior Interpreter certificate. She is particularly interested in language development in early years. Sarah has gained a wealth of experience working in international schools for five years teaching early years and grade 1. This is her fourth year at Hiba Nursery. She is particularly interested in improving children’s attention and bilingual speaking abilities using methods such as picture talking and story talking. When not teaching, Sarah enjoys travelling with her daughter and son.

Emma Gomri

EY4 Classroom Teacher

Sarah Keating

EY4 Classroom Teacher

Ms Sarah is an experienced Early Years teacher from Ireland. Over the past five years, Ms Sarah has had the opportunity to teach Reception and Year 1 students across international and bilingual school in Shanghai. Ms Sarah's main experience lies in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, and she loves creating fun and engaging learning experiences for little learners. Her favourite subject area to teach is Understanding the World, STEM, literacy and phonics, especially in a bilingual learning environment, as it is incredible to see the learning capabilities of bilingual children and their journeys to read and write. Ms Sarah spends a lot of time running and playing Gaelic football, Ireland's national sport. When she moved to Shanghai in 2018, she was delighted to find a Gaelic Football Club here and continue her involvement in the sport by playing on the women's team and coaching the club's youth team. 

 Sherry Tang

EY4 Classroom Teacher

Ms Sherry Tang has been engaged in Early Years education for more than seven years and recognises the importance of establishing a good rapport with pupils. She taught in Singapore for four years, participated in the small treasure program of the Singapore Heritage Bureau and was responsible for the dissemination of the traditional culture of the four ethnic groups. Subsequently she taught in Shanghai-based bilingual schools.

Sherry believes that every pupil is unique and also believes in providing a balanced, supportive and engaging environment for pupils. Outside of teaching, she enjoys music, dance and travel.

Christopher Okea

EY4 Classroom Teacher

Christopher is an Early Years and Primary educator with extensive International and bilingual Education experience. He holds several teaching credentials in International K-12 education, certificates in school leadership, and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership (Educational Administration). Christopher has worked as an Early Years teacher, Primary teacher, Early Years Academic Coordinator, Teacher trainer, Primary school Principal and Director of Academic Management across three continents. After many years in school leadership, Christopher has decided to transition to the classroom, as teaching for him is a profoundly satisfying vocation. Christopher’s extensive understanding of child development, pedagogy, and best practices for educators stems from his vast school leadership and teaching experience. One of the most rewarding aspects of Christopher’s career has been to assist parents in becoming co-educators who actively participate in their children’s growth and development. Christopher has also felt particularly fulfilled to see children making considerable progress in their learning – both socially and academically – and to be happy, well-adjusted, and excited about attending school. In Christopher’s spare time, he loves spending time outdoors. He also loves traveling and observing the richness of different traditions, cultures, and beliefs. 

Leander Hakimi 

EY4 Classroom Teacher

Ms Leander is an educator with over ten years of experience. She studied at Chester University in England and completed her degree (BA) honours, and then continued to complete a postgraduate degree in Early Years Education. Ms Leander's expertise is focused on the developmental stages of early childhood, emphasising the importance of nurturing and creative learning environments. Ms Leander's teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that education should be accessible and engaging for every child. She is skilled in designing a curriculum that is both inclusive and stimulating, fostering an environment where young learners can thrive. Her approach is holistic, integrating strategies to support the physical, emotional and intellectual development of her pupils. Outside the classroom, Ms Leander is a mother to two young children. An avid yoga enthusiast, she also enjoys walking, and being outside with her children and partner. 

Shirley Xiao

EY4 Classroom Teacher

Shirley graduated from the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) with a postgraduate degree and has been specialising in preschool education since her undergraduate studies. During her school years, she was awarded several school scholarships and a national scholarship.

She obtained her master's degree in education in 2015 and joined a bilingual kindergarten in Shanghai in the same year. In the past six years, she has trained two classes of graduates that were highly respected and recognised by parents. She joined Hiba Nursery in 2021.

In her spare time, Shirley enjoys planning her own travels and recording her daily life through photography.

Sarah Peel

Librarian

Hailing from Canada, Sarah Peel is an early years music specialist and classroom teacher. Sarah earned her Bachelor of Arts at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, Canada. She also holds a Professional Certificate in Teaching in Early Childhood Settings from the University of California – Riverside. Sarah began her teaching career as a member of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme. After moving to Beijing in 2006, she established China’s first Kindermusik studio. In 2012, she transitioned back to the classroom full time. She has worked in both international and bilingual nursery settings and joined Hiba Academy Shanghai in 2016. A keen cook and baker, Sarah enjoys trying new recipes and exploring flavours inspired by her travels. She also practices yoga, makes music with friends, and occasionally performs as a vocalist at local venues. She is also a regular volunteer with Shanghai Mamas, a not-for-profit community organization that supports international families living in Shanghai.

Scarlett Xi

Library Officer

Ms Scarlett is an experienced teacher with 19 years teaching in both international and bilingual schools. She graduated from the Pre-Education Department of East China Normal University and holds a bachelor's degree in Chinese Language and Literature from Fudan University. She believes that creating a diverse and joyful learning environment is crucial for pupils' learning and growth. Ms Scarlett is adept at identifying the learning styles and personality of different pupils and using vivid and strategic methods to increase their interest in learning and stimulate their initiative. Ms Scarlett is a mother of two boys and enjoys cooking, reading, and exploring the world with them. She is grateful for her role of being a mother, which allows her to see pupils in a more diverse way.

Inês Oliveira

Physical Play Teacher

Inês discovered that she had a passion for teaching and coaching at age 15 when she was teaching volleyball and dance to younger children. She also dedicated most of her childhood and teenage years to playing this team sport. She then graduated from University of Coimbra, in Portugal with a degree in Sports – Physical Conditioning and began working as a personal trainer and group class teacher. Her career has taken her from her home country of Portugal to England, where she managed a health club. It was her dream to become a teacher, so moved to China in 2016 and completed the teacher training through Institute of Learning and Durham University. She has been enthusiastically teaching Physical Education since then. In her spare time, Ines loves to dance, go to the gym, play volleyball and she travels around the world at every available opportunity. She has been to more than 25 countries and loves to learn about different cultures.

Scotty Wang

Music Teacher

Scotty gained his degree in pop music performance in 2015 from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He then went on to study early childhood education at New Zealand Tertiary College and became a registered teacher in 2017. He joined Hiba Academy Shanghai in 2021 with teaching music as his main role.

Scotty loves to play music not only at work but also in his life. He is a lead singer, songwriter and guitarist in a Shanghai-based band featuring members from several different countries. He also likes to play football and is currently playing for our Hiba Football Club formed by parents and other staff. He loves to share all of his interests and experiences with children and people around him.

Joy Qiao

Founder and Chairman

Joy Qiao is the Founder and Chairman of Wellington College China. She founded the group in 2009 and, under her leadership, Wellington China has become one of the most reputable international education groups in China and globally. Joy grew up in Shanghai and earned her BA in Computer Science at the University of Oxford. Prior to her devotion to education, she had extensive experience working in the IT industry in the United Kingdom, Germany and China.

Joy is married to a British husband and they have two teenage sons. Influenced by this, Joy's vision is to create the world's leading English-Chinese bilingual schools, which combine the very best attributes of both British and Chinese education. She views such blended education as being a key contributor towards deepening understanding and appreciation between China and the rest of the world. Bilingualism, cross-cultural awareness and global citizenship will all be highly valued skills in this century when East is meeting West.  

Jacky Ni Rui Ming

Member

Jacky Ni is the Headmaster of Shanghai Pudong High School, with over 20 years of school leadership experience across six schools. He graduated from Shanghai Normal University and began his teaching career at Shanghai Jianping High School and progress his career there.  In July 1996, Jacky took up his first headship position. He studied part-time at East China Normal University and the National Training Centre for Secondary School Principals by Ministry of Education. In order to extend his professional learning beyond the education sector, Jacky also studied EMBA courses at Fudan University, the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) and Freeman Business School, Tulane University. In 2004, he took part in a Leadership program sponsored by the British Council and Shanghai Education Commission and in 2006 led Hualin Middle School successfully through an inspection by 2 HMIs. Between 2006 and 2007, Jack completed a Leadership and Self Inspection programme at the Institute of Education, London University and he also attained a Master’s Degree in Education from Towson University, USA. Jacky has undertaken more than ten research projects at national, municipal and district levels for which he has been awarded two National First Prizes and numerous other prizes. Throughout his career, Jacky’s leadership has been recognised with a wide range of honours, including the award of Excellent Teacher and Excellent Master by Shanghai Education Commission. He has also been bestowed the ‘Prominent Master Development Project’ in Shanghai and requested to deliver Advanced Master Workshop Training for High Schools nationwide organised by the Ministry of Education. Furthermore, Jacky has been invited to deliver lectures by The British Council and a wide range of universities. Jacky is motivated by finding ways to effectively integrate western and eastern education, to link the traditional and current educational approaches and is fully committed to continuous school improvement. Born in Shanghai, Jacky is married and has one child. He enjoys travelling.

Echo Jin

Member

Echo Jin is the Chief Financial Officer of Greater China Region at Microsoft. As a member of the Greater China leadership team, Echo assists Microsoft's CEO in driving the company’s long-term planning and strategic development in the region, and empower Microsoft’s customers to maximize business value more rapidly and efficiently. Before joining Microsoft, Echo was President of HPE China, overseeing the overall management and providing management support for HPE's joint ventures in China.
 

Echo has held numerous financial positions in many global enterprises. With her rich experience in financial and business management, she provides strategic guidance through market data analysis and business insights, helping enterprises to maximize their benefits in major transactions.
 

Echo holds a bachelor’s degree in international economic law from China University of Political Science and Law, and an MBA from the University of Maryland.
 

Justin Koh 

Member

Mr Koh works as Senior Vice President of AlixPartners, a global consulting firm. His focus is in the consumer, retailand private equity space, where he leads engagements in market entry strategy, retail operations andcommercial/operational due diligences. He has over 12 years of consulting experience mainly in China and Southeast Asia.

Previously he was part of L.E.K. Consulting and the lead for its Global Education Practice in China. He worked onprojects that supported strategy and investment decisions for clients across all sub-sectors of education globally, witha particular focus in China and Southeast Asia.

Justin graduated from Singapore Management University with an honours degree in Finance. He is a Singaporean nationaland has resided with his family in Shanghai since 2011.

Christopher Woolf

Member

Christopher Woolf is the newly appointed WCI International Director. He has spent more than 20 years working in a range of UK and international schools. Chris joins us from Pinner High School in Harrow where he is the founding headteacher. Opened in 2016, the school was rated 'Outstanding' by students, parents and colleagues in 2017 and judged 'Outstanding' in all categories by Ofsted in 2019. Pinner High has been the most oversubscribed schools in Harrow for the last three years.

Chris’ international experience includes five years at Dulwich College Beijing, initially as head of English, then deputy head, and then head of senior school. The school was named 'British International School of the Year' in the Independent School Awards whilst he was head of Senior School.

He trained as an English and drama teacher at Homerton College, University of Cambridge, after graduating from the University of St. Andrews with an MA (Hons.) in English literature and language. He was awarded a scholarship to the University of California, Davis, where he twice featured on the Dean's Honour List.

Chris was awarded the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) in 2012 and is now a course tutor on the UCL/IoE NPQH course for aspiring headteachers. He is a governor of a Harrow Primary School and a member of the Department for Education Star Chamber Scrutiny Board.

Helen Zhang

Member

Helen is a qualified Chinese CPA and started her career as an auditor with PwC Shanghai. Her six years of audit experience provided her with sound accounting, tax and auditing technical knowledge and practical skills and extensive experience in internal controls under the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Helen subsequently joined Johnson Controls in Shanghai where she took on diverse roles with enhanced business and management responsibilities including the Regional Lead Auditor of Asia Pacific, the Finance Controller of Power Solution Asia Headquarter and the Controller of Supply Chain Management. Helen got her Bachelor’s degree from Fudan University with the major in International Finance.  She loves traditional Chinese culture including Chinese characters (Han Zi) and Book of Songs (Shi Jing). She also enjoys travelling, reading, cooking and baking.  Helen is married and has two children.