Our Leadership Team

Peter has been a teacher for 50yrs and a school Head or Principal for 40 of those years in the UK, the Middle East, China and Asia. His vast experience of what works and what doesn’t in schools, informs and guides his nurturing and collaborative approach to leadership. Peter regards everyone in a school community as equally important in the ever-present drive to do better and raise standards. He believes that schools are about learning and growing… and that applies to everyone, not just students. Known to the community as ‘Mr Peter’, he is accessible and visible as he becomes an active member of the community, commanding a trust and respect relevant to his role. He believes that schools should be a part of life not apart from it and as such endeavours to bring life into the school and the school into real life.

He sees his job as developing the school community such that everyone wakes up in the morning and thinks ‘Great! Another school day!’. Fun should be an aspect of school life, alongside challenge, opportunity and support. Kindness is his favourite human quality and he believes that this is far more effective and influential than operating on fear. His mantra is ‘This is a dynamic learning community, where everyone is nurtured, supported and inspired to be the best they can be. We aim to produce ‘good people’. In 2018, Peter was awareded an MBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth for his services in education to British communities abroad.

Amy brings over 20 years of rich educational experience to Garden International School, having dedicated the majority of her career to senior leadership positions across both the UK and Malaysia. Since joining GIS in 2016, she has been instrumental in fostering academic growth and community development, currently serving with distinction as the Head of Secondary.

Amy is deeply passionate about developing the whole child, ensuring that every student’s unique potential is nurtured both inside and outside the classroom. Her leadership is anchored in excellence and integrity, guiding the secondary school with a vision that empowers students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

With a strong academic background in the sciences, Amy is dedicated to maintaining high-quality teaching standards that inspire critical thinking and a lifelong love for learning. Her collaborative leadership style supports a dynamic and inclusive school culture where both staff and students can excel.

Nicola has dedicated more than 32 years to education, working equally across both primary and secondary schools in the UK and internationally. Her career began as a secondary music teacher, a role she enjoyed for 16 years whilst also moving into leadership. She has been a school leader for 23 years and her career has included a range of leadership roles, from Director of Sixth Form to CEO of a multi-academy trust. Since 2019 she has proudly led the Early Years and Primary School at Garden.

At the heart of Nicola’s work is a belief that every child deserves to feel known, valued, and supported to reach their full potential. She is passionate about inclusive education and whole-child development, recognising that wellbeing, relationships, and character are just as important as academic success.

Having experienced both the rewards and challenges of leadership, Nicola brings a thoughtful and authentic perspective to conversations about resilience, ambition, and sustainable leadership. As a qualified leadership coach, she is a strong advocate for coaching and believes that great leaders continue to learn, reflect, and grow throughout their careers. She is committed to creating a positive school culture where children, staff, and families can flourish together.

Outside of school, Nicola loves travelling and discovering new places and cultures. She also enjoys strength training and can often be found in the gym lifting weights, something she values not only for physical fitness but also for the focus and balance it brings to everyday life.

Emma joined GIS in 2025 with a wealth of leadership experience, spanning 23 years, in a range of settings in Europe, the gulf region and Malaysia. Known for her high expectations of self and others, Emma is passionate about creating environments where both students and staff flourish. She believes that kindness, integrity and a growth mindset are essential ingredients for success and works to foster a culture where everyone is supported. Emma enjoys the camaraderie, challenge and joy that sport brings. She is also the proud mum of four incredible children, who continue to inspire her every day. Bringing a genuine joie de vivre to all aspects of her life and work, Emma approaches each day with energy, optimism and gratitude.

Caroline is a values-led educational leader who believes that, no matter the role, she is first and foremost a teacher. For her, the quality of classroom learning is always the utmost priority – not only to secure the best progress for her students, but because her leadership is underpinned by leading by example and authentically modeling a positive school culture.

Having successfully led teams across both primary and secondary education within the UK and Malaysia, including serving as a primary Headteacher and in senior secondary roles, she offers a unique cross-phase perspective, that focuses on the continuous, holistic development of students. At Garden International School, Caroline adds value by fostering a culture of trust and collaboration, bridging high academic standards with relational care to ensure every student is prepared to thrive in an ever-changing world.

At home, Caroline finds her greatest joy in spending quality time with her family and her 11-year-old daughter. To stay grounded and healthy, she loves nothing more than clearing her mind with a good run, enjoying a quiet afternoon horse riding, or exploring new places together.

Michael is Deputy Head at Garden International School, with responsibility for the school Curriculum. He has worked in education for over 20 years, as both a teacher and school leader, and is passionate about creating an ambitious, engaging learning environment that helps every student thrive.

He particularly enjoys working alongside colleagues to develop great teaching and learning and to make a positive difference to students’ experiences of school. Michael has been instrumental in implementing various school programmes, such as Thrive and Cultivate. What he values most about GIS is its diverse and inclusive community, and the energy, creativity and sense of possibility that students and staff bring to school every day.

Having worked in a range of roles at GIS: Head of Chemistry, Head of Year and Head of Sixth Form, Michael has a deep knowledge and understanding of the school and enjoys strong connections to the wider parent and extensive alumni community.

Outide of school, Michael enjoys playing guitar, riding motorcycles and mountain bikes – and running. In recent years, he has enjoyed the challenge of Marathon running. To add motivation for the long miles, Michael always uses these as events as opportunities to raise money to improve educational outcomes for B40 community Children in Malaysia.

With a career spanning almost three decades across three continents, Kelly brings extensive experience in teaching, leadership and school improvement within international education. Passionate about helping both students and educators become the very best versions of themselves, she has dedicated much of her career to coaching, mentoring and teacher development.

Kelly is a strong advocate for evidence-informed practice and has collaborated with leading educational organisations in the UK. She is particularly interested in translating research into practical classroom approaches that improve student progress whilst fostering agency, inquiry and creativity in learning. She believes that exceptional schools are built through strong relationships, purposeful professional growth and a culture where both staff and students are empowered to thrive.

Outside of school, Kelly is the proud parent of three unique children, each following their own path and reinforcing her belief that every individual deserves the opportunity to flourish in their own way. She loves to travel and believes that the journey is often as important as the destination—a philosophy that shapes both her personal life and her approach to leadership. Bringing curiosity, optimism and a commitment to continuous improvement to everything she does, Kelly embraces opportunities to learn from people, places and experiences.

Etienne joined GIS in 2013 as a relief teacher in Primary and has since progressed through several leadership roles, including primary class teacher, assistant head of year, head of year, and assistant head teacher. He now serves as deputy head of primary, where he is passionate about creating inclusive learning environments in which every child can thrive.

Originally from South Africa, Etienne brings more than two decades of experience in international education across Asia, with extensive expertise in teaching, curriculum development, safeguarding, and educational leadership. He holds a Master’s degree in Teacher Leadership with a specialisation in Leading Inclusion and is committed to empowering teachers through collaboration, coaching, and evidence-informed practice.

Etienne is particularly interested in developing innovative approaches to learning that promote belonging, student wellbeing, and high-quality teaching. Outside of school, he enjoys writing, exploring emerging technologies in education, and contributing to projects that expand access to quality education for underserved communities.

David Crane is the Whole School Deputy Head (Enrichment) at Garden International School. With over 20 years of experience in education across the United Kingdom and Malaysia, David has held a range of leadership positions spanning teaching, pastoral care, sport, and whole-school enrichment. He joined GIS in 2023 as Head of Co-Curricular Activities before being appointed to his current role.

Passionate about holistic education, David believes in providing every student with the tools and opportunities to become the best version of themselves. He leads the school’s enrichment programme, creating opportunities for students to discover their passions, develop new skills, and build confidence through sport, performing arts, leadership, outdoor education, and co-curricular activities.

A keen sportsman, coach and advocate for youth development, David is passionate about helping young people grow both in and beyond the classroom. He values strong relationships, teamwork, and creating inclusive environments where every student feels supported, challenged, and inspired to achieve their full potential.

Garth Sadler has been working in education for nearly 30 years. He has experience teaching in Australia, the United Kingdom and Singapore. origionally a Primary teacher, in more recent times he has been teaching middle years Humanities.

Garth has worked in middle and senior leadership since 2010, most recently as the Assistant Head (Safeguarding) at the Australian International School in Singapore. Along with managing situations to ensure that all students, staff and community members are safe, he has extensive experience in policy development, implementing systems around reporting, record keeping and also data analysis.

Garth follows a student-centric approach to decision making. He strongly believes in the values of opportunity, respect and care. He strives to create a culture of care at GIS where students want to come to school, are happy at school and feel safe at school.

Garth arrives in Kuala Lumpur with his wife and two daughters from Singapore. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends, reading (usually historical fiction) and visiting new places and having new experiences. As an Australian, he is passionate about cricket, aussie rules football and many outdoor activities, such as hiking. Garth likes to be challenged, inspired and is a life long learner.

Lucy brings over two decades of teaching and leadership experience across diverse educational settings in Europe and Asia. Her career encompasses a broad range of leadership responsibilities, spanning pastoral care, pedagogy, and curriculum development.

In her whole-school role, Lucy is committed to creating a culture grounded in connection, where every community member feels valued. She believes that school should spark joy and ignite curiosity, enabling both staff and students to flourish through innovative, evidence-informed practice and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Outside of school, Lucy is the proud mother of three children who are all thriving at GIS from Early Years through to GCSEs. A lover of travel, crosswords and puzzles, she embraces life with optimism and delights in seeking out new adventures with her family and friends.

With nearly two decades of experience in international Early Years and Primary education across China, Singapore and Malaysia, Jane brings extensive experience in school leadership, bilingual and multilingual education, and developing high-quality teaching and learning. She has spent much of her career working across languages and cultures and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. These experiences have shaped her belief in the importance of understanding each child, their identity and the different ways they make sense of the world. For Jane, exceptional schools combine high expectations with genuine joy, creating communities where children, families and staff feel they belong and are happy to walk into school each morning.

Jane is passionate about creating learning environments where children are known well, challenged appropriately and given the confidence and independence to grow into their unique selves. She believes purposeful play, inquiry, rich language and strong relationships are fundamental to how young children learn, alongside the clarity and consistency that allow both children and adults to feel secure and succeed. Jane particularly values working in partnership with parents, recognising that a strong school community should be a source of connection and support not only for children, but for the adults in their lives too.

Outside of school, Jane is a mother of two and loves travelling, spending time with family and friends, and seeking out good food wherever she goes.