From Our Chair

Anthony Rowlands

FOBISIA Chair - March 2019 to present

Principal, British International School Ho Chi Minh City

It has been an exciting start to the academic year and we are pleased to see so many of our schools back to in person learning this year, it is encouraging that so many countries have opened up. However, we are aware that some schools still face challenges and urge everyone to offer support as part of the FOBISIA family.

It has been a busy Term 1, with many schools taking part in FOBISIA events and activities. There is the start of the FOBISIA Friendly Games, the upcoming CPD Conference to be held at Bangkok Patana School, and our first inperson Heads' Business meeting in 3 years, ably hosted by The British School New Delhi. I am pleased to welcome 19 new Heads this year, and one new school that joined us in October. Please be sure and extend a warm welcome to Nick Gallop (BCBK), Paul Holyome (BVISHN), Richard Bartlett (CHA), Garry Russell (DCS), David Massiah (DCSZ), Dr Stephen KendallJones (ISB), Diane Vaughan (NAIS), Palinyakone (Gift) Panyathip (PIS), Andy Edmonds (REGB), Robert Millar (SHR), Charlie Grayhurst (StAGV), John Nixon (TES), Sian May (KLASS), Mike O'Connor (BSKL), Hannah Wells (BSC), Tim Richardson (BSG), James Worland (ISP), Marc Mesich (ISPU) and our new schools Paul Friend at North London Collegiate (Singapore), Bruce Grindlay at Rugby School Thailand, André Nel at The British School of Tashkent, and Joseph Pine at Amnuay Silpa School in Bangkok.

I would like to offer my thanks to John and the team at FOBISIA HQ for supporting the Federation and ensuring we have so many opportunities to connect, to learn, to play and share practices. Our strength is in our connections and these are strong, and growing.

The last few years have been challenging and difficult for us all, but we look forward to the new “new normal” and hope that our schools that still face challenges can join us in person for our activities in the coming year.