SCHOOL BOARD

Aisha is a Maldivian citizen and parent of two children at OSC, currently serving the School Board since March 2020 as an elected director. She is a co-founder of Avahteri Gallery, a social business promoting art and culture. Aisha brings her governance expertise and collaborative leadership skills through her previous experiences governing non-profit institutions that constituted to high regulations and standards. She has served the Board of Maldives Pension Administration Office as an independent director for almost 3 years, and the Board of Maldives Inland Revenue Authority for a 5-year term on its inception. Aisha developed her finance/investment literacy through her work at the Maldives Stock Exchange and Care Ratings Maldives (Indian Rating Agency). She was also a part time lecturer at the Faculty of Management and Computing, Maldives. She holds a BA (Hons) Business Management (Finance) from the University of Westminster, London.

Aisha looks to support the Board in ensuring that OSC delivers excellence in education for students from a diverse set of countries and backgrounds, and stays true to its mission, vision and values.

Aminath is a Maldivian citizen and the parent of a child at OSC who is actively involved in the School Community Network, working as Treasurer since 2017. Aminath has worked in a family-owned businesses in Maldives and Sri Lanka and in the Maldives Monetary Authority with responsibilities in the areas of Bank Supervision and Public Debt. Aminath holds a Bachelor Degree in Business from Monash University, Australia and a Master of Commerce Degree from the University of New South Wales, Australia. Aminath brings to the Board a financial background and international experience helping her understand the OSC’s focus on unity in diversity. She looks to support the Board in prioritising the needs and interests of our student environment to ensure that OSC functions effectively and efficiently in achieving our shared vision.

Peter hails from Canada. He works with the Canadian High Commission in Colombo in a management capacity. He arrived in Sri Lanka in 2020. Peter is married and he and his wife have three children, two of which attend OSC. Peter has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and a Master’s Degree in adult education and human resource management. He has worked in many different countries and has spent 19 out of the last 22 years working in Asia. He has a keen interest in education and embraces the lifelong learner idea. Peter hopes his experience in education, management and multicultural environments will help the OSC Board achieve its vision.

Ari is an American citizen and parent of two children at OSC currently working at the United States Embassy. Prior to joining the State Department, he worked for the United Nations in a regional seas programme, and as legal counsel for the pacific island nation of Palau. Ari has a Law Degree and a PhD in International Relations. Ari brings to the Board almost four years on the School Board at the Lincoln School in Kathmandu – during which time the school completely upgraded its infrastructure, significantly modernised its governance policies, and choose a new head of school. He appreciates that serving on a school board is a great privilege that allows one to support the children of the OSC community in reaching their full potential. Moving forward, he looks to work to ensure that: OSC continues to provide an outstanding international education, that OSC’s physical infrastructure is upgraded, and that OSC’s governance structure and practice is fully aligned with parents’ needs and concerns.

An American citizen, Heidi Hattenbach leads the Public Affairs Section at the United States Embassy in Sri Lanka. She joined the Board in 2022 after arriving in Sri Lanka in late 2021. Heidi is married and has three children, two currently at OSC and one at university after attending four different international schools. An experienced advocate for international education, Heidi is committed to supporting OSC towards continued success as a diverse and inclusive community that encourages young learners to embrace curiosity and excellence. Heidi also serves as the Chairperson of the United States - Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission, a binational commission which works to promote understanding between the United States and Sri Lanka through mutual educational and professional exchanges

Romesh de Silva is a British Sri Lankan dual citizen and is a parent of two boys. He has one child in OSC MYP and an older child who is currently studying at the University of California, Berkeley. Romesh is engaged as a Business Development Advisor to a US Silicon Valley IT company called Array Networks Inc and a Singaporean cybersecurity software company called CySecurity Pte. He is a Board Director of a leading value-added IT distributor in Sri Lanka called Connex IT. In addition to these three advisory roles, he also runs his own sourcing and exporting company called Global Trading Point Pvt Ltd. He obtained a First-Class Joint Honours Degree in Maths and Computer Science from Kings College London and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales. He has worked with Coopers & Lybrand London and Sri Lanka offices. Romesh specialises in import export and in developing IT business in South East Asian region. Romesh captained the King’s College First XI cricket team and his school chess team, enjoys playing tennis and table tennis and is a hands-on parent to his boys and a dog named Bruno

Ana is a Spanish citizen and parent of two children, the oldest attending OSC. She moved with her family to Colombo in August 2021. Ana works as an independent public health consultant for international organisations and academia. She has a Bachelor’s and postgraduate Degree in Business Administration from Oviedo University and the Copenhagen Business School; two Master’s Degrees in development and cooperation agents from the Basque Country University, and in public health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; and a doctorate degree in public health from the National Institute of Public Health in Mexico. Ana has written three children’s books addressing discrimination, nutritional habits and gender equality published in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Ana brings to the Board management, analytical and problem-solving skills after having worked internationally in management and technical positions in the private sector and international and civil society organisations for the past 20 years. She looks forward to supporting the school governance and school community and social commitment to ensuring that OSC meets its mission and vision.

A Dutch/Canadian national, Dr Michelle Kleiss has built an international school career for the past 27 years. She started her Headship at OSC in July 2019, after 10 years as Head of School in Cyprus – another CIS/MSA and IB authorised school. Prior to Cyprus, she was a Head of School in Saudi Arabia, and an Early Childhood Principal as well as Middle School Principal in Cairo – Egypt. She has worked as a classroom teacher in Munich – Germany, in São Paulo – Brazil, and in the Dominican Republic. She has an Undergraduate Degree in Education from The American University in Washington DC – USA, a Master’s Degree in Education in School Administration and Instructional Supervision from Bowie State University, Maryland – USA, and a Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University, Pennsylvania – USA