GOVERNANCE


Schools in Abu Dhabi, including the Italian International School, have a governance structure that includes parents, staff, students, and the community as a whole. Their actions should be guided by good faith and in accordance with their school's mission. The responsibilities of the Board of Governors include, but are not limited to, the following:

Adherence
Ensuring that the school’s conduct and operation adhere to the Council’s regulations, policies, and requirements.

Accountability
Ensuring accountability for the school’s approved plans and policies, in addition to overseeing the implementations in accordance to its mission and values.

Identification
Identifying, supervising, and approving the school’s financial needs and operating budgets, as it is one of the top Abu Dhabi schools.

Commitment
Ensuring that the school meets its commitment to parents and community and fulfills its duties as one of the international Abu Dhabi schools.

Evaluation
Evaluating achievement and personal development of all students and staff and implementing action plans when needed.




BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Aref Al Khoori

Aref Al Khoori holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from California and an MBA in Business Administration and Accounting from Colorado, USA. He also enjoys a vast experience of over 18 years in investment, banking and Islamic Finance.

Aref Al Khoori has extensive experience in the banking and insurance fields and was among the pioneers who established and promoted Islamic banking practices in the UAE.

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He has a track record of solid achievements throughout his career and adopted a holistic view of the local business market, including the real estate sector, with a wide network of local and regional relationships in the business field.

He started his career in 1990 working for Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and later moved to Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) in 1998, where he was designated various top-level positions. In September 2017, he worked as Managing Director of Abu Dhabi National Islamic Finance (ADNIF), the Islamic banking arm of National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD). He left ADNIF in May 2012 devoting himself to chair and manage his own growing business including Sama Emirates Properties and its group of companies, as well as chair – being a founder partner – Reportage Properties and its group of companies and subsidiaries.

He previously held board membership of Manazel Real Estate Company, Khalifa Support Fund for Small and Medium and Small Enterprise (Bedaya) in Abu Dhabi, National Health Insurance Co. (Daman), Burooj Properties (subsidiary of ADIB), Abu Dhabi Islamic Financial Service Company (subsidiary of ADIB) and Abu Dhabi National Properties, ADNP (subsidiary of NBAD).


Ismaeil Al Khoori

Ismaeil Al Khoori is a highly accomplished and recognized human resources leader with a demonstrated experience in strategic talent management and training development.

Ismaeil brings years of experience in senior leadership roles across the HR and business functions.

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He led the talent management function across the ADWEA group companies, where he was a strong advocate for employee learning and development and was credited for transforming the company culture into a vibrant place to work. He managed to attract and retain the best talent available in the market by implementing an integrated talent management program.

One of Ismaeil’s major contribution has been the opening of a dialogue between ADWEA headquarter and the foreign shareholders (IWPP) through the establishment of the Emiratization office. Under his leadership a comprehensive framework was designed and agreed and served as the foundation for meeting government targets. This has resulted in greater accountability, transparency, stronger collaboration, and increased effectiveness in meeting Emiratization KPIs and reinforcing ADWEA position as the nation leading employer for UAE Nationals.

Ismaeil earned a bachelor’s degree in Business and Public Administration – -California State University, and a Master’s degree in Mergers and Acquisitions from the UAEU University. He is currently completing a Doctorate in the area of Leadership and PHD Candidates of 2022 from UAE University.

Ismaeil is a member of several professional bodies. He achieved a world class international organizer certificate, also he obtained many positions such us Executive Manager of Abu Dhabi Chess Club. he is recently a appointed head of many different committees in different organizations.

John Dennehy

John Dennehy is the Secretary General of the Bussola Institute. Before joining the Institute, he served as Secretary General of Ireland’s Ministry of Education and Skills from 1999 to 2007. He initially qualified as a primary teacher and then went on to study for a BA in Education and an MSc in educational management.

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He also completed the Leadership for the 21st Century program at the John F Kennedy School of Government in Harvard. Before his appointment as Secretary General, Mr Dennehy held many key senior positions within the ministry.

He served as Assistant Secretary General with special responsibility for European and International Affairs, Assistant Chief Inspector of schools, prior to which he was a teacher and a school principal. Mr Dennehy led Ireland’s Education Presidency of the European Union in 2004.

From 1999 to 2006, Mr Dennehy was Chairman of the Education Committee of the OECD in Paris. He served as Director of International Development Ireland’s (IDI) Educational Services Division from 2007 until 2012. During this period, he worked as an education and public policy advisor with Ministers and Ministries in many countries across the Middle East. From 2012 until 2016, he worked with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) as Senior Advisor to the Director General and Head of the Office of Planning and Strategic Affairs (OPSA).

Dr. Mohamed Baka

Dr Mohamed Baka is an accomplished C-Level executive with extensive academic and industry experience. He is currently the CEO of the Centre of Excellence for Applied Research & Training (CERT), the commercial arm of the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT). In this role he oversees the growth and positioning of CERT as a national powerhouse in capacity building and an incubator of 4th industrial generation technologies in Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things and Blockchain.

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Prior to joining CERT, Dr Baka served as a CIO for the Energy sector in Abu Dhabi where he led multiple digital transformation programs and directed cross-government initiatives such as the Smart-Grid and Cyber-Resilience. During this time, he occupied additional Executive roles including the position of Senior Advisor to the Chairman of the Board.

Dr Baka has authored numerous scholarly publications during his (7) years tenure at Imperial College (London) after which he played a key role in the European Strategic Program in Information Technology (ESPRIT) between 1992- 1999.

He serves on several international boards including, Henley Business School (UK), Jönköping Business School (Sweden), NYU Engineering Board (Abu Dhabi). He was appointed Chairman of the Emirates Center for Innovation at the UAE University, where he cultivated international partnerships with global innovation centers. Dr Baka also served on the editorial board of the “Springer” book series on Technology and Knowledge Management. He was later appointed a “Fellow” of the Institute of Directors (UK).

Dr Baka completed his PhD in Computer Engineering at Bristol University and attended several executive education programs at MIT Sloan and Harvard Business School. He was recognized by IDC as the Middle East most prominent CIO.

Dr. Tayeb Kamali

Dr Tayeb A Kamali is the Director General for Education Training Development at the UAE Ministry of Interior. He is also the former founding Chairman of Emirates Driving Company and former Vice Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) – the United Arab Emirates’ largest higher education institution with 17 campuses throughout the UAE catering for 20,000 male and female students.

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For three decades Dr Kamali has spearheaded education, training, research and applied technology programmes in the UAE and Middle East regions. This has been achieved by establishing and leveraging relationships with global leaders in academia, business and government. Dr Kamali founded the Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT) in 1996, the commercial, research and training arm of HCT. Dr. Kamali was a Fellow at the Pembroke College in UK; a founding Board Member of the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP); a member of the World Economic Forum’s Regional Agenda Council on the Middle East & North Africa; a 2012 Rolex Awards for Young Laureates Jury member, and a member of the Cleveland Clinic International Advisory Board. Dr Kamali is a board member of a number of institutions including the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government, the Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi School of Management, Gulf Medical University, The Boston Initiative, Outward Bound

UAE, and the Emirates Cricket Board. He also chairs the Academic Committee for the MBR School of Government, as well as the Selection Committee for Emirates Cricket. He is a NonExecutive Board Member at the Gulf Islamic Investments, and NIMAI Capital.

Dr Kamali holds a Doctorate in Engineering from George Washington University, USA and an honorary Doctorate in Engineering from the University of Waterloo, Canada. He also holds a number of qualifications from the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, USA, including an MBA (concentration in Aviation), a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Aircraft Engineering. He has received many education and leadership awards throughout his career including France’s highest award for education, the Ordres des Palmes Académiques in 2006 and the Human Resource Leadership Award from the World Human Resource Development Congress in 2006 and 2009

Major General TP Toyne Sewell

Tim Toyne Sewell was born on 7 July 1941 and educated at Bedford School and The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. postgraduate He was commissioned in 1961 and served in Aden, first as ADC to the Governor and later in the Radfan Campaign on the Yemen border. He was an Army helicopter pilot before returning to his regiment for more senior appointments.

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He instructed at Sandhurst and then, on promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, served on the personal staff of Admiral of the Fleet Lord Lewin, then Chief of Defence Staff, from 1979-81.

In 1991 he was promoted to Major General and appointed Commandant of The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He was responsible for designing a completely new course and was responsible for integrating women into the main stream of the Academy. He resigned from the Army in 1994 to take up the appointment of Director (the equivalent of Principal) of Goodenough College, a college for 650 international postgraduates in London. After 12 years he moved to become Chairman of United World Colleges, a group of 12 international schools stretching from Costa Rica to Hong Kong.

General Toyne Sewell became the Founding Chairman of the Benjamin Britten International Violin Competition in 2002. He was also Chairman of the Kyiv Festival for several years. He is a Vice President of Haileybury and was chairman of Lambrook Haileybury School until 2008. He was on the Board of the British International School in Casablanca from 2017-2020.

He was on the Council of Queen Mary, University of London from 1996-2004 and Chairman of the executive committee of Disability Sport England from 1999-2000. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London in 2000 and granted the Freedom of the City in 2006.

In his spare time he leads expeditions for Lewis Pugh, the extreme swimmer and environmentalist, and has taken expeditions to, amongst other places, Norway, The Maldives and Everest

Tim Toyne Sewell is married to Jenny and they have two adult children. He is a keen sportsman, and enjoys fly fishing, music and painting. He lives in Hampshire.

Nicola Bettio

Nicola Bettio is the Executive Director of Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Higher Colleges of Technology. He oversees the operations of the HCT’s incubators, the startup development activities and the institution’s applied research thrust.

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Before joining HCT, at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, he established and led the KAUST Innovation Fund, the venture fund supporting the university’s pipeline of technology based startup projects and investing in high-profile international technology companies.

For over a decade, Nicola co-led EonTech Ventures, an independent Luxembourg-based venture capital fund focused on European early-stage technology companies, as Founder and Managing Partner. He has also spent a substantial portion of his career as a management consultant at Arthur D. Little, in the Paris and Milan office, where he was a member of the Global TIME (Telecommunication, Information, Media & Electronics) practice. In 2011, as co-founder, he participated in the establishment of a venture capital fund in Russia.

Along his career, he has served as a member of the Board of Directors of QD Solar (Canada), NOMADD (KSA), FalconViz (KSA), Advestigo (France), Astron Fiamm Safety (Italy, France), Cezanne Software (UK,Italy) and LSP (France).

Nicola holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Business Administration and Economics MS from Università L. Bocconi.

Prof. Manlio Del Giudice

Manlio Del Giudice is Full Professor of Management at the University of Rome “Link Campus”, where he serves as Deputy Chancellor of the LCU Campus of Naples and Director of the CERMES Research Centre.

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He holds a PhD in Management at the University of Milano-Bicocca and he did build up his academic and scientific career outside of Italy for more than 10 years, in a number of worldwide renewed universities, prior to coming back to Italy on 2014, having won the National Scientific Qualification.

He serves as Editor in Chief of the Journal of Knowledge Management (ISI WoS: Q1, #3 Information Science, #31 Management, Impact Factor 2018: 4.604) and he holds key editorial positions in several international mainstream scientific journals on management. His scholar profile shows about 100 peer-reviewed articles, about 50 of them ranked in the highest “A Class” within the Italian ANVUR rankings, and 12 international monographs by flagship publishers like Springer, Palgrave Macmillan, Elsevier.

Yousef Ahmed Baselaib

Executive Director, Strategy & Corporate Development Masdar

Yousef Ahmed Baselaib is the Executive Director of Masdar’s Strategy & Corporate Development division, where he oversees the strategic direction of Masdar, ensures the continuity and safety of business operations and helps to manage the company’s asset portfolio. Baselaib was previously Executive Director for Masdar’s Sustainable Real Estate division, and was responsible for the development of its flagship project and sustainable urban community, Masdar City, during its busiest period of growth.

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He also served as Senior Advisor to the CEO of Masdar, advising on the company’s strategic alignment with its mandate to support the economic diversification of Abu Dhabi and the UAE. Prior to that, he was seconded from Masdar to the UAE-Egypt Task Force (ETF), where he worked with the UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology HE Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber to execute numerous development and infrastructure projects in the country. Before joining Masdar in 2008, Baselaib was a senior manager with Dubai Properties.

Earlier, he was Head of Registration at Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Ltd (GASCO). He has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Higher Colleges of Technology in Dubai.

HE Dr Arif Sultan Al Hammadi

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi is currently serving in Khalifa University of Science Technology as the Executive Vice President.

A member of the UAE Scientists Council, the chair of the steering committee of the UAE graduate research conference (UAE_GRC) and the chair of the scientific committee at the UAE thinkers imitative

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He is a member of the board of Sanad Aero Solutions (Sanad), a board member of UAE water Aid Foundation (Suqia), a board member of The Armed Forces Innovation Award and the Minister of Interior’s Award for Scientific Research.

Dr. Arif has chaired a number of scientific conferences and competitions and has a number of publications in scientific conferences and magazines, and has experience in teaching and research in several fields, including artificial intelligence and computer networks.

Dr. Arif is a holder of a PhD Degree in Telecommunications which he obtained from the Queen Mary, University of London (2000 and a holder of a Bachelor Degree in Telecommunications Engineering with Honors from Khalifa University (Etisalat College of Engineering) – UAE (1994).



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ADDRESS

Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Phone: +971 50 4472 466

Landline: +971 2 208 4100

Email: contact@iischool.ae

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