Back row from left: David Dowdles, Jeff Aitken, Siva Kumari, Luke Thomson, Peter Derby‐Crook, Andy Davies, Sarah Osborne-James Front row from left: Peter Murphy, Karin Henrekson Ahlberg, Mark Exton, Dianne Drew
We welcome five new members to our IB Heads Council: Andy Davies, Caroline Jacoby, Karin Henrekson Ahlberg, Peter Derby-Crook, Peter Murphy.
Peter Murphy
Peter Murphy started his teaching career in 1979 working initially in the prison service, followed by 14 years in the UK secondary school state education where his last role was as a deputy head teacher in a large urban comprehensive school. In 1993, having moved to Germany to become a stay-at-home dad, he joined the German Development Ministry with responsibility for teaching adults sustainable change for developing world settings. In 1997, he was asked to join the founding leadership team of Bonn International School as director of studies, and coordinator for the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). He became the secondary school principal in 1999 the director in 2003.
After 13 years establishing a thriving three-IB-programme international school, he moved to Vienna International School as the Director in 2010. During the last four years in Germany, Peter served as the Board Chair of the Association of German International Schools (AGIS) establishing a strong regional association with the IB, and the German International Schools Sports Tournament (GISST). Peter has represented the region of Africa, Europe and Middle East (AEM) on the IB Curriculum and Assessment Executive from 1999 to 2001. He chaired the AEM Regional Council until 2016 and has been one of the founding members of the Association of Central European Schools (ACES). Peter also continues to provide support in school accreditation for the Council of International Schools (CIS).
Andy Davies
Andy Davies has lived, worked and studied in the UK, Australia and Thailand and is currently the Head of School at the International School Bangkok. Andy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Philosophy from the University of Keele, a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Sydney and an EdD in International Education from the University of Bath. Andy’s interests include rugby, improving learning and developing international-mindedness. Andy has had a long and proud association with the IB as a Diploma Programme (DP) English teacher, extended essay advisor, assistant examiner, and as an administrator for 18 years at an IB World School. Andy’s family also has a strong IB connection; his wife Gaby teaches DP Spanish and has worked as an assistant examiner while all four children are DP graduates.
Karin Henrekson Ahlberg
Karin started her teaching career in 1982 and worked for 15 years in the Swedish upper secondary education system. She later began working as a specialist in the development of pedagogy for upper secondary school for the municipality of Stockholm. In 1999, Karin was asked to join the establishing of the IB Diploma Programme (DP) at the IB School South in Stockholm, becoming the DP coordinator in 2002 and the Head of School in 2006. Since 2009, Karin joined and was elected as chairwoman of the Association of Swedish IB Schools (ASIB) and fervently worked with them towards the recognition of IB programmes by the Swedish Council for Higher Education.
During her recognition work, Karin began demonstrating the need for a continuum international school for a growing expat community in the heart of Stockholm. Working with international companies such as Ericsson and Ikea, this resulted in the opening of The International School of the Stockholm Region in 2012, a publicly-run continuum school catering to international families. During this time Karin worked with other publicly run international schools in Sweden towards changing the law in recognizing the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP). Her continued work with the government and local politicians as well international companies has led to the changes and greater understanding for the need of International Education within Sweden.
Peter Derby-Crook
Peter Derby-Crook is the CEO of Tanglin Trust School, a large international, not-for-profit school that offers the IB Diploma Programme (DP) in Singapore. The school was established in 1925, providing British-based education from nursery through to sixth form. As CEO, Peter leads three schools within the Tanglin organization on one site and is proud that each school has achieved the award of Outstanding in its UK BSO inspections. Peter is a passionate and dynamic leader with significant international experience and excellent business, leadership and management skills. After two UK headships, Peter moved to the Middle East and then Asia. He has worked in leadership positions in Dubai, Oman, Tokyo and Jakarta, before moving to Singapore and the Tanglin Trust School in 2010. Peter is also a member of FOBISIA and HMC.
Caroline Jacoby
Caroline Jacoby has worked as a teacher and administrator in international schools for the last 23 years. After growing up in Melbourne, Australia where she studied Primary Education and taught for five years, she headed overseas to combine her love of travel with her teaching career. She later completed a Masters of International Education at the University of Bath. She has taught all elementary grade levels during her teaching career as well as physical education and art. Caroline is an experienced Primary Years Programme (PYP) teacher and coordinator, workshop leader and school visitor. Caroline has worked in Italy, Spain, Vietnam, Japan, Zambia, Bangladesh and Mali. She is currently the Head of School at the International School of Uganda, which offers the IB Primary, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes.