Team Category: School Advisory Board

Fiona Carroll joins DBSEH as the Advisory Governor for Community & Connection, bringing over 15 years of experience in brand leadership, marketing strategy, community engagement, and storytelling across global consumer brands. Her career includes senior roles shaping internationally recognised campaigns, building meaningful partnerships, and leading creative teams for household‑name organisations. Alongside her professional work, Fiona is also an accomplished photographer, known for capturing authentic human connection and the stories that sit beneath it.

What She Brings to DBSEH
Fiona brings a uniquely valuable dual perspective: she is both a highly experienced marketing and communications professional and a parent of four children currently attending DBSEH. This gives her rich, lived insight into the school community across multiple year groups, and a deep understanding of how different families connect with the school. Her ability to communicate with clarity, empathy, and authenticity makes her ideally placed to strengthen engagement across students, staff, parents, partners, and alumni.

Role as Advisory Governor
As the Advisory Governor for Community & Connection, Fiona will support DBSEH in nurturing a strong sense of belonging and developing the partnerships that enhance student opportunities. She will help guide strategies that expand the school’s community network, elevate parent and alumni engagement, and unlock new avenues for student experience, enrichment, and future pathways.

Professional Background
Fiona’s professional journey spans global marketing leadership roles—including Marketing Director, Brand Manager, and Senior Communications Executive—where she drove award‑winning campaigns, shaped cross‑market strategies, and nurtured relationships with creators, partners, and media. Her work includes building brand communities, leading major sponsorships, driving digital transformation, and establishing a successful photography business centred on connection and storytelling.

What Inspires Her
Fiona is passionate about people—their stories, their motivations, and the connections that help them thrive. She believes a school’s greatest strength is its community, and she is excited to help DBSEH build even deeper ties that support student wellbeing, opportunity, and belonging.

About Houda
Dr. Houda Boulahbel joins DBSEH as an Advisory Governor with a strong connection to the wider DBS family of schools. Recently arrived from the UK, Houda brings more than a decade of experience in learning design, professional education, and systems thinking. Her career spans scientific research, senior leadership roles in medical education, and the design of impactful learning programmes for complex, real‑world environments.

What She Brings to DBSEH
Houda is deeply passionate about systems thinking—an approach that helps learners see connections, understand complexity, and respond creatively to challenges. Having introduced these ideas across international education and professional sectors, she believes now is the perfect moment to share this passion with DBSEH as the school continues to innovate its curriculum and grow its focus on future‑ready learner assets.

Role as Advisory Governor
As the Advisory Governor for Curriculum Innovation & Learner Assets, Houda will guide DBSEH in embedding future‑focused capabilities—including critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, resilience, and wellbeing—across every stage of learning. She supports the school in developing innovative assessment approaches and in designing learning experiences that prepare students not just for exams, but for life.

Professional Background
Houda has extensive experience designing and directing high‑impact learning programmes, supporting multidisciplinary teams, and translating complex ideas into engaging, human‑centred educational models. Her work includes leadership in continuous medical education, digital learning, systems‑based analysis, and organisational consultancy. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and brings rich cross‑sector insight to her advisory role.

What Inspires Her
Houda is driven by a belief that students learn best when they understand the systems they’re part of and when their learning reflects authentic, real‑world experiences. She is energised by the opportunity to help DBSEH shape learners who are confident, curious, and equipped to navigate the world they will inherit.

Connect With Houda
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/houdaboulahbel/

President – Equitus International

James has two daughters attending DBSEH and is a nearby resident within the community. With a Business Degree in Information Systems and an MBA, James brings significant expertise in the practical, ethical, financial and operational use of AI in many forms. James’ experiences have given him firsthand insight into the rapid advancements in AI and its implications across various organisational sectors. Bearing witness to the challenges facing his daughters as they navigate the changing landscape, particularly how AI influences learning and research, it is clear to James that a robust understanding of AI is essential for students to succeed in an increasingly digital world.

Head of Future Ready – WSP

As a parent of two sons attending DBS, Sophia brings 16 years of experience in architecture, sustainability, and green building certifications, with a strong emphasis on health and wellbeing at her core. As Head of Future Ready at WSP, Sophia is at the forefront of implementing Design for Hidden Disabilities, particularly addressing neurodiversity and creating inclusive spaces for all.

Sophia has an extensive background in global design studios, overseeing projects from concept to completion. She has successfully managed large-scale and complex projects, incorporating sustainability strategies with key stakeholders, driving green innovation, managing sustainability rating systems, and overseeing comprehensive project management. We look forward to Sophia’s guidance and practical experience as we look to reduce our footprint and turn our school into a living laboratory for our children.

Client Manager – Exclusive Links Real Estate An experienced school advisory board member, Georgia has previously advised within the areas of Early Years provision, as well as Inclusion, Health and Safety and Learning, Teaching and Attainment. In addition to her practical experience as an Advisory Board member, Georgia has worked in the finance sector with… Continue reading Ms Georgia Fleming

Senior Executive Officer of The Bank of New York’s Dubai Office and Head of Investment
Management (IM) for MEACA region

Imad has a daughter attending DBSEH and is a resident within the community. He also has a son who is studying Chemistry at the University of Birmingham in the UK.

Imad is the Senior Executive Officer of The Bank of New York’s Dubai Office. Imad’s educational background is an MSc in Shipping, Trade and Finance from BAYES Business School at City University; MSc in Ocean Engineering from UCL and, also has a BSc Mechanical Engineering. Imad worked in the City of London for a number of years before moving to the UAE with his family and have been living in the UAE for the last 16 years.