New Parent Governors Announced

Organization Chart

1. Dominic Myers, Chairman, Board of Governors 

As a parent and Governor I have enjoyed association with the School since 1998 and been fortunate enough to serve as Chairman since 2000.  As Chairman and as a Board of Governors we seek to constructively challenge and support the Leadership Team.  We monitor for the standards and progress throughout the School searching for evidence of positive outcomes for students.  Through the various committees, we seek to assist with the quality of resource provision.  In the School Improvement Committee, which I chair, we review the School Development Plan with the Principal which provides us our direction on the Road to Outstanding. 
 
Outside BSM I am CEO of Enhance Operating Companies (part of the W J Towell Group), the leading grocery, wholesale and convenience store retailer in Oman and many of you will also be enjoying the Dunkin Donuts franchise we introduced last year.  My wife, Sharon plays an active role in administration of the Omanoil Football School and MCFL events.  We have two children at BSM and our eldest daughter after 10 successful years at BSM is now at School in the UK.  Those of you who know me a little will be aware of my enthusiasm for Liverpool Football Club.

2. Ravneet Chowdhury, Vice Chairman, Principal Performance Management, Personnel and Curriculum

Ravneet Chowdhury is the CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Oman. He is a career Banker and has worked in India, Botswana, Kenya and Oman. Prior to Standard Chartered Bank, he worked with ABN Amro Bank and American Express Bank. Ravneet graduated from Delhi University and is a chartered accountant and Ravneet joined the school as a Governor on October 2006 and was appointed as the Vice Chairman in October 2007. He is also a parent with one daughter still in the British School. Ravneet is a keen golfer and loves to travel. He is an avid reader and a keen investor. He is married with two daughters.

3. Ewan Stirling, Head of Finance ,Heads of Schools’ Performance Management Statements

Chief Executive of HSBC in Oman and Dad to Olivia (in Reception at school) and Findlay (starting September 2010), Ewan is the Treasurer of the British School.

Ewan was formerly Treasurer to the International Community School in Jordan and has served with HSBC in Bahrain, Dubai, Jordan, Qatar and Hong Kong.

Ewan is also a founder member of Outward Bound in Oman. He is always happy to discuss any aspect of the school with parents and supporters.

4. Giles Cunningham 

Giles started work with Kleinwort Benson before moving to Lloyds Banking Group where he spent 17 years which included roles in Brazil and the UAE. 

In January 2008 Giles moved to Oman to join The Zubair Corporation as Chief Executive Officer.Giles is a mathematics graduate, an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, holds an MBA and is an active Harvard Business School alumnus.

Giles is married with 3 children - Harley (18), Giles Junior (4) and Oliver (2).  Giles Junior attends BSM and Oliver will follow in 2010. Giles’ wife, Joanna, also works at BSM as an assistant teacher in Nursery. Giles speaks “excellent” Portuguese, according to Joanna, who is from Rio de Janeiro! When not working, Giles likes to spend time with his family and keep fit.  He is a keen reader of leadership theory and autobiographies.

5. Chris Holmes, School Improvement Committee, Finance Committee

I have been a parent at the school since arriving in Oman in 2005, and have represented Petroleum Development Oman on the Board of Governors for the last 2 years. 

I am an accountant by profession, and have worked for Royal Dutch Shell in the Oil & Gas business for almost 20 years in a variety of commercial and finance management positions in Australia, Europe and the Middle East. 

My wife Jeni and I have two children – our daughter is at BSM and our son has recently returned to Australia to study.I love sports of all varieties, and have a particular passion for Australian Rules Football.

6. Gorvinder Pannu, Personnel, Pupil Discipline and Appeals Committee

Gorvinder is a solicitor with Trowers & Hamlins and is based in the Muscat office. Gorvinder specialises in employment law and practiced in London, England for 9 years prior to her arrival in Oman in February 2006.

Trowers & Hamlins is a subscribing company and selected Gorvinder to be its Governor representative in April 2009. Gorvinder also has two children in BSM's Primary School.

Gorvinder enjoys travelling, having extensively travelled to parts of the Far East, Africa, the Americas and Europe; snorkelling, skiing and reading. Gorvinder also has an interest in other cultures, particularly Islamic and Chinese cultures.

7. Sarah Whitelaw , Parent Governor, Premises and Pupil Discipline 

Sarah has lived in Muscat for nearly nine years with a break of 18 months when she moved to  New Zealand. Sarah is a Physics Graduate from Edinburgh University and is a Chartered Electrical Engineer.  She has spent 10 years working as a  Systems Analyst mainly implementing Finance systems. She recently worked  at Auckland University  as a Process Improvement Analyst. 

Sarah is married to Bob and has 3 children – Fraser (Year 8) Lewis (Year 7) and Jordan (Year 4). Before moving to New Zealand, Sarah kept busy making evening wear and since her return to Muscat  has started teaching a few mums the basics of computing and hopes to continue this year. She also does voluntary work at the recently opened Outward Bound Office in Muscat. 

Sarah enjoys playing squash and has been involved in setting up a league system and web site to promote squash in Muscat. She enjoys most sports and recently learnt to snowboard to keep up with her three boys! 

8. Julie Towler, Parent Governor, Premises, School Improvement, Curriculum and Health, Safety and Security Committees

Qualified teacher and Chartered Accountant but now non-working spouse with 3 children at BSM: Florence in Year11, Edwin Year 8 and Constance Year 6.

I have been a Parent Governor at the school since 2007, and will now be acting as a section leader looking at Leadership and Management within the school. I also sit on the Senior School Parents’ Panel as a link between parents and the Board.

Away from school I am secretary of the PDO amateur dramatics society and have made regular stage appearances (including flying on a wire as the fairy godmother!). I am also a former Vice President of the Women’s Guild in Oman and currently Treasurer for the annual Crystal Ball organised by the Guild, and member of an active book group. I enjoy swimming, tennis and learning to play the piano.

9. Nick Smith – Coopted Governor, Sub Committee – Premises

I was until recently CEO of The Wave Muscat and I am now looking for a new challenge in Muscat. I am married to Charlotte, our daughter Georgie is in Year 12 and we have two older children, Nicholas and Anna, who live and work in West Sussex, England.

Oman is the first country out of the UK that we have lived in, so we are enjoying the challenge! I have worked in housing development for most of my life; I am a qualified town planner and urban designer. I hope to be able to help the school with its plans to develop over the next few years.

I like to follow most sports, particularly tennis, football (lifelong Spurs fan) and golf. I try not to play tennis with my wife and daughter as they run me around too much. We have a small boat here, like to go to Dubai, and enjoy going out and entertaining. We take our summer break in Spain each year and have two dogs, Wispa in England and Billy in Muscat.

10. Jan Vossen, Section Leader “Outcomes”,Marketing and SDP Section-1

In 2008 I had the opportunity to join the Board of Governors on behalf of Shell Development Oman LLC. I am a member of the Marketing Committee, and on behalf of the Board I am leading Section-1 “Outcomes” of the School Development Plan. In this role I am responsible for monitoring and supporting the school towards achieving its improvement plans. 

I am Dutch and have been working for Shell for over 30 years in various locations around the world. Mid 2007 I came to Muscat with my wife Truus, and daughter Frederique who is also at the BSM. I am currently working in PDO as a Shell secondee in the role of Production Manager. After work I enjoy exploring the beautiful nature of Oman, making many waddi trips and digging out my car from the sand during the Wahiba desert challenges. 

11. Mr Ian Pugh-Cooke ,Presidents' Representative