Meet the Leaders of BIS HCMC with 62 Years of Collective Educational Senior Leadership Experience in Vietnam

A great education does more than prepare children for exams. It helps them discover their strengths, think independently, build meaningful relationships and develop the resilience to embrace new challenges. In an ever-changing world, these foundations, alongside curiosity and a lifelong love of learning, help children thrive.

For almost 30 years, BIS HCMC has been preparing students not just for the next stage of their education, but for life beyond the classroom. Through an education that nurtures academic excellence, personal growth and a strong sense of character, we help young people develop the skills and mindset to shape their own futures. This commitment to excellence was recognised in our three most recent UK government-approved inspection organisation named British Schools Overseas (BSO), in 2019, 2022 and 2025, where BIS HCMC was rated ‘Outstanding in all areas’, the highest possible rating.

Behind this achievement is a team of dedicated leaders who bring decades of experience in education, a deep understanding of our local community and a shared belief in every child's potential. Together, they help ensure that BIS HCMC continues to evolve while staying true to the values that have guided our school from the beginning.

The People Behind the Promise: Our Senior Leadership Team

Preparing students for the future takes more than a strong curriculum. It takes people who understand how children learn, what helps them thrive and how to create an environment where every student can discover their strengths and reach their potential.

At BIS HCMC, our Senior Leadership Team brings together expertise across teaching, learning, student wellbeing, admissions and school operations. Working closely with teachers, support teams, students and families, they help turn our educational vision into everyday experiences that shape each child's journey.

Together, the team brings more than 130 years of experience in education, including over 90 years in senior leadership and more than 100 years of professional experience in Vietnam. This depth of experience is grounded in our Aide Memoire values: Integrity, Respect, Care, Enquiry, Perseverance and Reflection. These values guide how we learn, lead and grow as a community, helping students develop not only the knowledge to succeed, but also the character to make a positive difference.

Meet our Principal, Mr Simon Higham

32 years in education · 25 years in senior leadership · 17 years in Vietnam

Leading our team is Principal Mr Simon Higham, who has built his educational career at BIS HCMC and the British Vietnamese International School Ho Chi Minh City (BVIS HCMC). Both schools were family-owned until 2015, when they became part of the Nord Anglia Education family.

Mr Higham attended the University of Warwick, where he earned a BA (Hons) in History with Education and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). In 2008, he gained the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH), the UK’s benchmark qualification for school leaders.

He first joined BIS HCMC in 2009. He spent five years as Primary Deputy Headteacher and then four years as Primary Headteacher, leading our An Phu Primary campus. During that time he was part of the leadership team for the school’s first BSO inspection in 2013, and he led the Primary campus through further inspection success. He then spent seven years as Principal of our sister school, BVIS HCMC. In August 2025 he returned to BIS HCMC as Principal, beginning his tenth year with us.

He was selected to be part of the first cohort on the NAE Aspiring Principals Leadership Programme (APLP), graduating in 2018 and has just recently completed the NAE Operational Leadership Programme (OLP). 

Mr Higham is passionate about creative teaching and about helping both students and staff become lifelong learners. He is committed to giving every child the best possible holistic education, and he does this by building a culture of innovation and initiative grounded in respect, integrity and intercultural understanding. His leadership style is firm yet compassionate. He takes real pride in developing the leaders around him, which builds a sense of pragmatic optimism and belonging across the school. For families, this means teachers who are supported to grow, and who choose to stay.

“I have had both the pleasure and privilege to develop my leadership skills across both BIS and BVIS and look forward to the exciting future that lies ahead for our entire school community. BIS HCMC is a very special place where opportunities are created for everyone to flourish.” — Mr Simon Higham, Principal

Just three months after his return as Principal, BIS HCMC was again rated Outstanding in every category in its November 2025 BSO inspection. This was the school’s fifth BSO inspection since 2013, and the fourth in a row to receive the highest judgement in every category. Commenting on the result, Mr Higham credited the team around him:

“The strength of our entire BIS team is simply incredible, both from an academic and non academic perspective. What makes BIS HCMC outstanding, again and again and again, is our extended community that helps to both develop and build upon success across all areas of our school.”

For Mr Higham, the belief that “a collegiate and personalised approach to education” reflects the shared responsibility of helping every student thrive. At BIS HCMC, this means bringing together school leaders, teachers, families and the wider community to create an environment where children feel supported, challenged and encouraged to discover their potential. 

Meet Our Headteachers

From the Early Years through to Secondary, each stage of a student's education brings new opportunities, challenges and discoveries. Our Headteachers work closely with their teams to ensure students receive the guidance, encouragement and opportunities they need to grow, while creating learning environments where every individual is recognised and valued.

Their experiences across different educational settings bring valuable perspectives to BIS HCMC. Just as importantly, their work is grounded in understanding the needs of our students, supporting our teachers and building strong partnerships with families.

Mrs Mary McAloon, Headteacher of Early Years and Infant (EY&I) Campus 

23 years in education · 16 years in senior leadership · 11 years in Vietnam

A child's earliest years lay the foundations for how they learn, build relationships and understand the world. Mrs Mary McAloon believes that giving children the right start means nurturing the whole child, academically, socially and emotionally.

Mrs Mary's journey with BIS HCMC began in 2015, when she joined as Deputy Headteacher at our former Tu Xuong campus. She later became Deputy Headteacher across the Early Years & Infant (EY&I) campuses before taking on the role of Headteacher at our sister school, BVIS HCMC, in 2020. In August 2025, she returned to BIS HCMC as Headteacher of the EY&I Campus, bringing valuable leadership experience, a deep understanding of the school community and fresh perspectives to help every child thrive.

With a background in primary education and a Master's degree in Education, specialising in Leadership and Management, Mrs Mary champions learning experiences that encourage children to explore, discover and learn through play. Alongside developing early language, coordination and social skills, these experiences help children build curiosity, independence and confidence.

She also recognises the importance of working closely with families. By building strong relationships between home and school, Mrs Mary and her team help create the consistency and support children need to feel secure, form positive relationships and take their first steps as lifelong learners.

“It is important to me that success is viewed as individual; success and achievement look different for every child.  Every young person is unique and deserves to be understood.  Abilities and capabilities vary from child to child, and therefore learning goals and targets should be equally personalised.  It is imperative that every child's success is recognised and valued in order to nurture confidence, self-esteem and a commitment to learning.

Above all, I believe in ensuring that every child finds their “voice”. By this, I mean that every child has a place in the world, and it is the educator’s role to provide opportunities for them to experience fulfilment and discover what enables them to thrive in the ever-evolving future for which we are preparing them.” — Mrs Mary McAloon, Headteacher of EY&I Campus

Mr Ian Battersby, Headteacher of Junior Campus

36 years in education · 19 years in senior leadership · 15 years in Vietnam

Mr Ian Battersby joined BIS HCMC in 2011 as Deputy Primary Headteacher at our former Tu Xuong campus. Since then, he has built a long-standing connection with the school, bringing extensive experience in primary education and international school leadership to the BIS HCMC community.

The primary years play a formative role in shaping how children learn, think and engage with the world around them. Having worked in schools across the UK, Sudan and Turkey, Mr Battersby brings a broad international perspective to primary education. With a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Primary Education with Mathematics, he understands the importance of building strong academic foundations while nurturing children's natural curiosity and confidence.

At BIS HCMC, teaching and learning are guided by a whole-school framework that brings together three interconnected areas: what students learn, how they learn, and the environments that help them thrive. Together, these shape an approach that supports students in building knowledge, developing essential skills and taking an active role in their learning. Through this shared approach, Mr Battersby helps primary students nurture their curiosity, grow in independence and build the confidence to embrace new challenges as they progress to the next stage of their education.

His connection to the school is also deeply personal. All three of his children graduated from BIS HCMC before returning to the UK to continue their education. Having experienced the school as both an educational leader and a parent, Mr Battersby understands the trust families place in BIS HCMC and the importance of creating an environment where children feel supported throughout their educational journey.

For him, seeing his own children graduate from BIS HCMC represents a particularly meaningful connection to the school and the community he has helped shape.

"One of the most important things education can do is open doors for our children. Strong academic results give them choices, enabling them to pursue their interests at university and build careers in fields they are passionate about. What matters just as much is who they become along the way: their confidence to try something new, the resilience to cope when things do not go to plan, the friendships they build, the values they develop and the courage to find their own path. Having received their education at BIS from the primary years onwards, I have witnessed my children flourish and leave school equipped to make the most of the opportunities available to them." — Mr Ian Battersby, Headteacher of Junior Campus

Mr Stephen Kay, Headteacher of Secondary Campus

23 years in education · 12 years in senior leadership · 3 years in Vietnam

As students move into secondary education, their learning becomes more specialised and the decisions ahead can feel increasingly significant. Mr Stephen Kay helps guide students through this important stage, supporting them as they develop academically, discover their strengths and consider the possibilities beyond school.

Before joining BIS HCMC, Mr Kay led the Secondary School at International School Brunei. His international education experience spans the UK, New Zealand, Argentina and Brunei, giving him a broad perspective on the different experiences that shape young people.

At BIS HCMC, Mr Kay supports students through key academic milestones, including IGCSEs and the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP). Under his leadership, the BIS HCMC Class of 2026 achieved an impressive average IBDP score of 36.7, outperforming the global average of 30.9 by almost six points and continuing the school's strong record of academic excellence. The IGCSE Class of 2026 also excelled, with two-thirds of entries awarded A*/A grades and the proportion achieving straight A*s 15 times higher than the UK average.

While these results reflect the school's academic standards, Mr Kay believes that helping students thrive also means understanding them as individuals. By recognising each student's interests, aspirations and strengths, he helps them make informed choices about their next steps, whether they are preparing for university, exploring future career paths or discovering new passions.

Meet The Leaders Beyond Learning

A student's success depends on more than what happens in the classroom. Behind a strong educational experience is a wider team working to create an environment where students can thrive, families feel supported and the school community continues to develop.

At BIS HCMC, Ms Van Dang and Ms Cuc Doan bring complementary expertise in commercial strategy, operations, communications and community experience. Their work helps connect the school's educational ambitions with the practical foundations needed to deliver them.

Ms Van Dang, Business Director

9 years in education · 9 years in senior leadership · 19 years in Vietnam

Since joining BIS HCMC in 2017, Ms Van has made a significant contribution to the school's development, bringing two decades of corporate leadership experience to the education sector.

Having held senior roles across enterprises and the hospitality business sector in Vietnam, and Tiffany & Co. in the United States, she brings practical expertise in financial management, marketing, communications and operations. These experiences have equipped her with a broad understanding of how strong teams, thoughtful planning and consistent service contribute to a successful organisation.

At BIS HCMC, Ms Van applies this perspective to supporting a thriving school community. Her experience across different industries brings an operational and people-focused approach to the work of ensuring that the school runs effectively and that its wider community is well supported.

Her contribution reflects an important part of school leadership that families may not always see directly: the work behind the scenes that helps create a consistent, welcoming and well-supported environment for students, parents and staff.

"I believe excellence in education is supported by excellence behind the scenes. When our people, systems and planning work together effectively, it allows us to create the best possible experience for every student." — Ms Van Dang, Business Director

Mrs Cuc Doan, Director of Admissions and Marketing

8.5 years in education · 8.5 years in senior leadership · 42 years in Vietnam

With more than 20 years of marketing and commercial leadership experience across multinational organisations including Unilever, Wrigley and Mars, Mrs Cuc brings a strategic perspective to her role at BIS HCMC. Her journey in education began in 2018 at our sister school, BVIS HCMC, where she began connecting her commercial expertise with a passion for the impact education can have on young people's lives. She has since further developed her leadership skills through the Senior Leadership Program at Nord Anglia University.

As part of the Senior Leadership Team, Mrs Cuc works across marketing, admissions and customer experience, helping align these areas with the school's wider educational objectives. Her role goes beyond communicating what BIS HCMC offers. It also involves understanding the needs of prospective and current families and helping them build a meaningful connection with the school.

Driven by her belief that education can transform lives, Mrs Cuc is passionate about creating experiences and opportunities that make a lasting difference to students and families. By combining strategic thinking with a commitment to education, she helps strengthen the connection between the school's values, its community and the experience families receive.

“What I value most about working in education is the opportunity to contribute to something far more lasting. At BIS HCMC, I see every day how a great school can shape a child's confidence, ambitions and future opportunities. My hope is that every family feels not only the strength of our educational standards and heritage, but also a genuine sense of trust, belonging and partnership throughout their journey with us."— Mrs Cuc Doan, Director of Admissions and Marketing

Experience That Looks to the Future

Today, families have more educational choices than ever. Choosing the right school means looking beyond what a child can achieve today to consider how they will grow, what they will discover about themselves and how prepared they will be for the opportunities ahead.

At BIS HCMC, almost 30 years of experience have shaped an educational community built on academic ambition, personal growth and a strong set of shared values. Our SLT brings together diverse expertise and a deep understanding of education, helping ensure that our students are supported, challenged and encouraged to reach their potential.

While the world will continue to evolve, the importance of great teaching, meaningful relationships and strong foundations remains. These are the elements that help children develop the curiosity, resilience and confidence to navigate new experiences and find their own path.

Our legacy is not simply measured by the years behind us, but by how we use that experience to prepare the next generation for what lies ahead.