Our team
The single most important factor in Westbourne’s success is the people. For us, this means a team that share not just a passion for the future of education, but display the drive and energy to consistently secure the very best outcomes for our students, tomorrow’s future leaders.
Executive Board
Mark Peters, Chairman
Mark has over three decades of experience in business strategy, management and operations, and has worked in the education sector since 2001. Prior to becoming Chairman of Westbourne in 2006, Mark founded and ran a strategy and private equity advisory business for seven years, during which time he worked with the BBC, the UK Government and the broader education sector to create a £300m programme to build and deliver digital learning resources to schools across the UK. He has led the development of Westbourne to make it one of the UK’s most successful schools. Mark holds an MBA from INSEAD, a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Finance & Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia (FINSIA) and a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours, 2:1) from the University of Sydney. He attended James Ruse Agricultural High School.
Marie de Tito Mount, Chief Executive Officer
Marie has over two decades of strategic leadership, entrepreneurship and business development experience. Prior to joining Westbourne in 2018, Marie founded, led and successfully exited a digital agency in the high-value travel sector. Previous roles include Managing Director, The Big Domain, Head of Proposition Development at Cendant Corp and commissioned military service in the British Army.
Gary Hughes, Chief Financial Officer
Gary has been a finance professional since 2008. Prior to joining Westbourne in 2012, Gary was in the top tier of his peer group at Deloitte LLP for four years. Whilst at Deloitte, Gary worked for a range of blue-chip clients including BP, Tata Steel, Santander, RBS and FlyBe. He has day-to-day responsibility for all finance, ICT and property matters at Montague Place, as well as project management responsibility for all strategic and business development initiatives. He is an ACA Chartered Accountant and holds a First Class Honours degree in Business Management from Cardiff University.
Ken Underhill, Executive Principal, Westbourne School
As past Principal of Westbourne UK, Ken both pioneered our IB Sixth Form and led the school to the top of the league tables. Ken further cemented his legacy in Sydney as Founding Principal, leading the inaugural cohorts to rank 1st in Australia in 2023 and 2024. Ken has also served as an Estyn inspector, ISI inspector, and Chair of the Welsh Independent Schools Council.
.Prior to WCSydney, Ken served as Principal of Westbourne School and Chair of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), Wales from 2010 to 2016, Ken has worked in independent education for over 40 years. Initially qualifying as a teacher of English and History, he went on to teach Business Studies and Information and Communication Technology. Ken holds a first-class honours bachelors' degree in Education and a Masters with distinction in Education Leadership and Management. He is a highly experienced school inspector and is a member of the Independent Schools Association (ISA) and International Baccalaureate Association (IBA).
We welcomed Ken back as Principal of Westbourne UK in early 2024
Executive team
Lisa Phillips, Academic Director, Westbourne School UK
IB Coordinator at Westbourne School since 2018, Lisa has worked in education for over 25 years. Lisa holds an Honours Bachelor’s Degree, alongside a Masters Degree, in History from Cardiff University and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). A highly experienced International Baccalaureate teacher and examiner, with over a decade of international experience, specifically teaching and mentoring students in excelling at the IB Diploma.
Dr Kristie Spence, Principal, Westbourne College Sydney
Dr Spence brings a wealth of world-class academic expertise. She holds a PhD in Laser Physics from the University of Oxford, and a BSc Honours in Physics and Chemistry from Rhodes University.
Dr Spence’s outstanding research credentials include working in the Department of Physics at Macquarie University, where she was also Master of Education Lecturer in photonics, and in the National Medical Laser Institute at University College London, where she conducted postdoctoral research into optical treatment and the detection of cancers.
Gavin Clark, Principal, Westbourne College Singapore
Gavin is a highly experienced educator and Head of School with experience leading Primary, Primary/ Middle schools, Secondary schools and whole school environments (K-12), and working with many different curricula including IGCSE and IBDP. He’s worked in many different countries, starting his career in his native Scotland, before moving to Qatar, followed by New Zealand, Malaysia, Ireland and now Singapore.
Edward Swanwick, Interim Director
A Cambridge alumnus from Corpus Christi College who has joined our community this term. Ed’s wealth of experience in pastoral, cocurricular and boarding care is shaped by Deputy Headships at Clifton College, Abingdon School and Toowoomba Anglican School Brisbane. Ed’s commitment to nurturing a supportive and enriching student experience aligns perfectly with Westbourne’s vision of fostering all-round excellence in our students, both in and beyond the classroom.
Stuart Ayres, Digital Director
With a decade’s experience as a senior leader, Stuart has led both pastoral and academic achievement in state and private sector schools. Having a master’s degree in Computing, Stuart’s chief passion is harnessing technology to improve learning and he has been recognised in the Ed Tech 50 for his pioneering work in this field and spoken in numerous forums. His focus is using ed tech to underpin pedagogy, boost achievement and enhance student well-being to create a rounded approach to learning that meets the needs of the 21st century.
Edmund Ng, Academic Director, Westbourne College Singapore
Edmund is an engineer by training with over two decades of experience in teaching, both with Singapore government schools and international IB Diploma schools.
Having previously held roles as Head of Middle and High School, and IB Diploma Coordinator, he brings his extensive teaching and management experience to Westbourne College (Singapore).
Edmund believe that each student is an unique individual and has the ability to excel in his/her studies given the necessary support.
José Cano, Associate Director, Global Development
José is an economist by training with more than 7 years of experience in business development, strategy, and management. He speaks fluently four languages and understands two others. He has worked across four continents and now leads the global expansion of Westbourne International. He holds an MBA from INSEAD, a CFA level 1, and a Diploma in Financial Management. He has also been an assistant teacher of Economics in his home university, Universidad del Pacifico for two years. José has a passion for education and particularly in making high-quality education accessible to more students across the globe.
Joanne Chinnock, Head of School, Westbourne School UK
Joanne has taught at Westbourne School for over a decade, instrumental in developing the Prep department into one of Cardiff's leading private primary schools. Having read Geography at Bristol University, taught in the US and London, Mrs Chinnock has worked with children across the Nursery, Prep and Senior Schools. With her own son currently studying at Westbourne, she is a passionate advocate of igniting young minds and developing our leaders of the future.
Susan Tester Jones, Associate Director International Admissions
Graduating from Swansea University with BA Hons, American Studies, Susan has extensive international admissions and recruitment experience at both secondary and tertiary levels. With a keen understanding of admissions processes at Top 20 UK universities and beyond, Susan holds particular expertise in working with and supporting families across East and South East Asia pursuing British education for globally-minded, academic students.
Join our team
Current vacancies are advertised via our Linked In page. We are always looking for world-class talent, to register your career interest in Westbourne International please complete the form below.