APP Chat with our Staff - Emma Westman, Admissions Manager

Here we chat with Emma Westman who is the Primary Admissions Manager for BIS HCMC. Although Emma is not new to the school, she is starting a new cross-campus role working alongside our fantastic admission officers so we wanted to find out how she's getting on so far.

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself? – Where you are from and how long you have lived here in Vietnam?

I was born and grew up in a very small country town in NSW Australia called Moree. I lived on a farm with my mum and dad and 5 older brothers and sisters. I graduated from high school to study nursing at university and then on graduating, I moved to Sydney to work in my chosen field. I met my husband Gordon in Sydney and in 2007 we had the amazing opportunity to move to HCMC for his work in TVC and Film Production. Gordon and I live with our best friend Grover, a small adopted Vietnamese dog!

Where were you working prior to joining BIS An Phu Primary?

Before arriving in Vietnam I was working for 11 years as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Oncology/Haematology in a big teaching hospital on Sydney’s North Shore.  After our move to HCMC I started working at BIS in 2009 at the Tu Xuong Primary Campus as their Admission Receptionist. This role I feel has given me invaluable experience with supporting BIS HCMC families and students on a daily basis.

What are your favourite things about living in Vietnam?

Ah I have so many favourite things … But most of all I love the people and the culture of Vietnam. Over the last 10 years I have made some very special friendships, and I would even say I now have an adopted Vietnamese grandfather Hao! Vietnamese food is also some of the very best in the world and I am so lucky I can eat it every day!

Use 3 words that your friends would use to describe you?

Caring, loyal and friendly!

What is your role here at APP?

My new role at BIS HCMC is actually a cross-campus one. I will be working as our Primary Admissions Manager and as such I have the pleasure of working alongside our fantastic admission officers; Ms Hanh (APP) and Ms Duong (TX) to assist all new families who wish to join our school all the way through our admission process from their very first enquiry until their child’s transition into their new class in their first few weeks at school.

Anything else you would like to add……

I just want to say that I have always felt extremely proud to be an ambassador for the BIS community but I must say I am now very excited to be starting in my new role and getting the opportunity to meet all of the students, parents and staff across both Primary Campuses. I am looking forward to getting to know as many people as possible this term!