Meet the judges

CEO, Council of British International Schools (COBIS) 

Colin Bell is CEO of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS), the leading global association for British international schools. Since 2010, he has driven significant international growth, representing over 350 schools across 88 countries. Under his leadership, COBIS has strengthened its globally recognised quality assurance and accreditation framework, securing recognition from education authorities in Japan, Saudi Arabia and Thailand. Colin serves on the UK Government’s International Education Sector Advisory Group and several international education boards. A passionate advocate for high-quality, inclusive education, he champions school improvement, safeguarding and international collaboration to improve outcomes for children worldwide. 

Debra Forsyth has spent more than three decades shaping international education across the Middle East, including a long tenure as Principal of Dubai's Latifa School for Girls, recognised with a UAE Golden Visa for her contribution to Emirati education. 

As CEO and Director of BSME, she leads a network of more than 180 member schools, working to raise standards, strengthen safeguarding, and build the collaborative connections that help schools and leaders to thrive.  

Debra's work extends to sector-level advocacy and partnership: engaging with the UK and local Governments and key education organisations to ensure schools and students in the region are properly understood, represented and served and that policy decisions are made with proper understanding of the local context. 

Principal, The British Vietnamese International School, HCMC, Vietnam.

Deirdre is an experienced international school principal having worked for over 30 years in education including  time in Kuwait, South Korea, Malaysia and Vietnam. Throughout her career, she has taught and led within varied school communities, gaining a deep understanding of how excellent teaching can transform a child’s experience of school. She has extensive experience of working alongside teachers to strengthen classroom practice, develop confidence, and improve learning. Now based in Ho Chi Minh City, she is committed to high-quality teaching and the wellbeing of the whole school community, where students and teachers can thrive.  

Helen Morgan is Head of Leadership Development and Learning at ECIS, a not-for-profit global membership body for international schools, where she leads learning strategy, design and delivery across a network of schools in more than 80 countries.  

Over three decades in education, she has led on Key Stage 3 National Strategies, served as Lead Training Consultant at Cambridge International, and held an Associate Director role at High Performance Learning. She holds an MEd in English Language and Literature, the NPQH, and is an experienced EMCC Accredited Senior Practitioner Coach (L7).  

James McDonald is Chairman of the Association of British Schools Overseas (AoBSO) and Principal of GEMS Wesgreen International School in Sharjah, a Department for Education-accredited British School Overseas. An experienced international education leader, James is committed to delivering high-quality British education and ensuring that pupils flourish academically, personally and socially. Through his leadership of AoBSO, he champions the interests of accredited British schools worldwide, promotes collaboration between school leaders and strengthens relationships with government and sector partners. He is a passionate advocate for educational excellence, professional development, safeguarding and the continued growth of the global British education community overseas today. 

With over 30 years of leadership experience across schools in the UK, France and the UAE, Joanna serves as the Principal of Wales International School and contributes to global school improvement as a Lead Improvement Partner for the Council of British International Schools. She is the author of the best‑selling book Kind Leadership (Crown House, 2026), which introduces the influential CHASE framework. Joanna was named Tes International School Principal of the Year 2024/25 and recognised by ISC Research as an Edruptor Education Influencer in 2025, reflecting her growing impact on international educational leadership.  

John Gwyn Jones MBE has dedicated 50 years to education, including 40 years in British international schools across Asia. A proud Welshman, John began teaching in Carmarthenshire in 1976 before moving to Hong Kong in 1986, beginning a remarkable career spanning Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos and Thailand. He has led and developed schools, supported school leaders and championed professional excellence across the region. 

A founding member and inaugural Chair of FOBISIA, John now serves as CEO, leading a federation of nearly 110 British international schools across Asia. Awarded an MBE in 2020 for services to British education overseas, John remains passionate about collaboration, leadership and the transformative power of education. 

Liz Free is Principal of Oxford International College Brighton and an internationally recognised educational leader, author and speaker. She has worked across the UK, Europe, Asia and the USA, leading schools, developing leaders and supporting educational improvement at an international level. Formerly CEO and Director of the International School Rheintal in Switzerland, she has also held global leadership roles with Oxford University Press and the International Leadership Academy. A Founding Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching and founding trustee of WomenEd, Liz writes and speaks widely on leadership, inclusion, academic excellence and the future of education 

Natasha Hilton is Principal of Nord Anglia International School New York, bringing more than two decades of experience in education and school leadership across the UK, Middle East and now the United States. 

Before moving to New York, Natasha was Vice Principal and Head of Primary at Park House English School in Doha, where she led significant developments in teaching and learning, safeguarding, inclusion, school improvement and community engagement. 

Alongside her school leadership, Natasha contributes extensively to the wider international education sector. She is a COBIS Board Member, where she chairs work in safeguarding and DEIJ, a Strategic Lead for WomenEd, and has supported the development and coaching of school leaders through a range of national professional qualifications. 

Natasha is passionate about creating ambitious, inclusive schools where high expectations are matched by high levels of support. She believes education should develop not only strong academic outcomes, but confident, adaptable and globally minded young people who are prepared to make a positive contribution to the world around them.

Loic Tallon is the Chief Digital & Data Officer at the International Baccalaureate. He is responsible for the IB's digital and data transformation across its global ecosystem by defining strategy, leading innovation and ensuring scalable, high-impact outcomes across the organization, our IB World Schools and the larger IB ecosystem. 

Prior to becoming Chief Digital Officer in September 2024, he served as the IB’s Director of Digital Transformation. Loic brings more than 20 years of experience as a digital leader, helping social sector organizations leverage digital to transform and scale their impact. 

He previously was the Chief Digital Officer for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and has consulted on digital strategy for institutions across Europe, North America and the Middle East, both for his own firm and as an associate partner with McKinsey & Company. Loic holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nottingham and a Master of Arts from the Courtauld Institute of Art. He is based in The Hague Global Centre. 

Mark Leppard MBE is headmaster of The British School Al Khubairat in the United Arab Emirates. He is also a member of HMC, sitting on their Safeguarding Committee, and currently Chairman of BSME, a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teachers and a British Schools Overseas (BSO) Lead Inspector. 

Mark sits on the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund Advisory & Decision Committee, supporting entrepreneurs to establish and grow their business ideas in the UAE. 

Mark was awarded an MBE for his services to education and has an M.Ed in Educational Leadership. Mark is very happily married and has three children of adult age. 

Rob Ford is an accomplished international & UK education leader with extensive experience in international school leadership, governance, and educational development. Rob currently serves as the Principal of the British International School Ukraine. He previously served as CEO & Director of Heritage International School, Moldova from 2019 until 2025 and also as Executive Headteacher of PHBS Prague. Rob serves on a number of UK and international school boards. He is a long serving British Council Ambassador, an advisor and keynote speaker at many international conferences and serves on the Varkey/UNESCO/TTF2030 Global Leaders Network. Rob is a member of the editorial board for International Schools Today, and a frequent contributor to their magazine as well as writing for the Tes Magazine. Rob is also an international schools' leadership advisor for Cambridge Assessment and is an active member of the International Schools Network. Rob was shortlisted for the inaugural Tes International Awards for the Headteacher/Principal award. Rob has served as a panel judge since the awards started in 2024.  

Rob Millar was appointed Principal of Shrewsbury International School Riverside, Bangkok in 2022, having joined the school in 2010 with his family, and previously served as Assistant Principal (Academic) and Vice Principal (Head of Senior). In his time the school has grown from a visionary institution into one of Southeast Asia's premier international schools. 

Prior to his move to Thailand, Rob spent 13 years working across three large state schools in the UK. He holds a degree from Cambridge University and a Master’s degree from Oxford. His wife is Head of History at Shrewsbury, where their children are also educated.

Ruth Sanderson is Head of International Member Services at HMC (The Heads’ Conference), where she leads HMC’s work with its growing international community of schools and Heads. A former HMC Head, Ruth was previously Principal of The British School of Amsterdam and has nearly three decades’ experience in international education across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, including leadership and teaching roles in Malaysia, Brunei, South Korea and Qatar. She holds an MBA in International Education and was a member of the TES Global Advisory Group from 2019 to 2025. She is passionate about connecting and supporting international school leaders. 

Vanita Uppal OBE is the Director of The British School New Delhi and an international educator with 40 years of experience. She received the prestigious Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her outstanding contribution to British education globally. She is the Chair of the Executive Board of FOBISIA and serves on the IE University Advisory Board for High Schools. Ms. Uppal serves as a Trustee on the Round Square Board and is also the Chair of the Presidential Forum for IC3.  She has served on the IB Heads Council and is currently the Vice President of the Heads Association of India and South Asia.