中中We are a diverse team of passionate educators, administrators, and professionals who bring the right balance of talent, experience, and perspective from around the globe. At Hiba, we understand what your child needs to thrive. We hire the best teachers and leaders from the US, China, and globally, and we draw on a wealth of experience throughout the Wellington College Education network.
Founder & Chairman
Joy Qiao founded Wellington College China in 2009. Under her leadership, it has become one of the most reputable international education groups in China and globally. She grew up in Shanghai and earned her BA in Computer Science at the University of Oxford. She then went on to have an extensive career in the IT industry in the UK, Germany, and China.
Married to an Englishman and the mother of two bicultural boys, Joy knows from personal experience the value of a bilingual education. She wanted to ensure that her children would enjoy a fulfilling and meaningful relationship with both sides of their family and, in turn, their mixed heritage. This was what ultimately inspired her pivot to education.
Joy believes that Hiba’s blended approach to learning will play a crucial role in promoting peace and fostering mutual understanding in the 21st century. As the world grows more interconnected and the East and West converge, skills like bilingualism, cross-cultural awareness, and global citizenship will be in high demand.
Founding School Director
Jane brings to Hiba a wealth of experience in strategic planning, large scale operations, and governance. She has led three international schools to higher levels of achievement: the French American International School in San Francisco, the United Nations International School in New York City, and the Canadian International School in Hong Kong. In each role, she developed programs, expanded campus capacity and enrollment, and brought development projects to fruition by raising capital and generating broad community interest. Her vision and execution promote cross-cultural understanding through education for a better world, always emphasizing the highest standards of academic excellence. She is excited to be working with a skilled and innovative team to bring the Wellington Education Group’s character-building traditions and forward-thinking bilingual pedagogy to the San Francisco Bay Area.
Previously, Jane has held a variety of key roles, including Trustee and Vice-Chair at the Manhattan Guild of Independent Schools, New York State Association of Independent Schools, and Council of Independent Schools (Board Chair-Elect). Additionally, she served as Vice-Chair of the International Baccalaureate Heads Council, Governor of Lycee International Winston Churchill, and Board Chair of the Bristol University Foundation, USA, where she received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws.
Jane has also been honored with the Chevalier des Palmes Academiques for promoting French education globally. She holds degrees from the University of Bristol, Sydney University, Stanford University, and a Klingenstein Fellowship from Columbia University.
Founding Head of School
Colette has an extensive background in bilingual education and inquiry-based learning. She also has a strong academic foundation from the British education system while having also gained a genuinely global mindset from her time working internationally.
Originally from Scotland, Colette was inspired to become an educator by her mother, whose care and compassion for her students left a lasting impact. Her journey has taken her around the world, including a stint at the renowned Qatar Academy, where she was involved in significant curriculum redesign as the PYP Coordinator, and a move to Awty International School in Houston, Texas, USA, where she developed her passion for bilingualism while leading the school's pedagogical shift to an inquiry-based model.
Before joining Hiba, Colette served as the Head of Elementary at Trinity School in Menlo Park, where she was instrumental in the school's strategic initiatives and has led the way in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as well as learning support programs.
Colette holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Glasgow, a Master's in International Education from the State University of New York, and a Certificate in International School Leadership. She is also a highly experienced School Accreditor, having participated in and chaired accreditation visits for organizations such as CIS, IB, CAIS, and NEASC.
Director of Marketing & Enrollment Management
Homa brings over 25 years of experience working with families in the Bay Area. She is an education professional with extensive experience in teaching, enrollment management, program development, and community building across diverse educational and cultural contexts. She was immediately drawn to Hiba Academy’s vision: a global network of bilingual schools dedicated to academic excellence, student well-being, and international-mindedness.
Her career began as a kindergarten teacher and evolved through roles in cultural program coordination, as well as English literacy and cross-cultural tutoring. For the past 15 years, Homa served as Director of Admissions at San Francisco Day School, one of the leading K-8 co-educational day schools in the city, where she led with integrity and care, developing engaging admissions processes and building meaningful connections with families and colleagues across the Bay Area.
Homa is known for her professionalism and the warm, lasting relationships she forms with families during the critical stages of their child's educational journey. A lifelong learner, she earned her MA in Educational Leadership & Administration from Columbia University in 2023.
Together with her husband, an internationally known artist, Homa raised two bilingual, globally curious children, an experience enriched by a community that valued multilingualism and cultural awareness. Raised in a globally inspired home in Iran, where education was highly valued, her upbringing has shaped her open-hearted approach to both life and work. She starts each day with yoga and a walk, ready to embrace new opportunities.
Homa is thrilled to join the Hiba Academy Bay Area founding team and help shape a leading environment that supports students and educators to be learners, connectors, and changemakers.
Director of Finance & Operation
Tariq is a strategic finance and operations professional with a career specializing in private school operations. He brings deep expertise in launching new schools, shaping financial strategies, and building sustainable operational frameworks within elite educational institutions.
Originally from Wales in the UK, Tariq worked across the Middle East before relocating to San Francisco in 2022. Most recently, he served as Director of Operational Strategy and Sustainability at a charter school in the Bay Area.
Throughout his career, Tariq has led multi-functional teams across finance, HR, procurement, facilities, and operations. He has played a key role in the development of new school projects in Qatar and Dubai. He also brings a strong interest in Learning & Development and Sustainability, completing his MBA in Sustainability Leadership in 2024.
Tariq was drawn to Hiba Academy for its pioneering vision of bilingual, values-driven education grounded in global excellence. With extensive experience launching and scaling high-performing schools internationally, Tariq is eager to develop the operational foundation that will drive Hiba’s long-term growth and ambitions. He looks forward to building systems that reflect the school’s premium positioning—ensuring financial resilience, service excellence, and a vibrant environment for students, families, and staff.
A musician and lifelong learner, Tariq values creativity, reflection, and leadership development. He is deeply committed to education as a force for equity and community building and finds joy in supporting teams that create meaningful, lasting change.
Admissions Director
Andrew Brown is a seasoned international educator who leads Marketing and Enrollment Management at Hiba Academy Bay Area.
He taught in Brazil, Spain, and the UK before serving a 30-year tenure at The International School of San Francisco. During that time, he held senior management roles such as Dean of Admissions, High School Principal, International Baccalaureate Coordinator, and Accreditation Coordinator. He has also taught Biology and Theory of Knowledge.
Andrew holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of Leeds in the UK. He also has a Master of Arts in Educational Organization and Leadership from the University of San Francisco, where he served as a Teaching Assistant for doctoral program students in philosophy and learning theory.
His passions include the frontiers of neuroscience, easel painting, playing double bass, swimming, and mountain biking. He lives with his wife and three trilingual children in Oakland, California.
Chief Academic Officer
Julian is Wellington’s most senior educational leader, with extensive experience as a teacher, High School Principal, Head of School and now as a member of the Group’s executive leadership team. As Chief Academic Officer he works across the schools in the Group to embed academic ambition, culture, ethos, and opportunities. He is fully committed to improving the life chances of young people with a first-class learning environment.
Julian has a long and impressive history with Wellington College Education, having worked for 18 years at Wellington College in England, before relocating to teach history to Senior School pupils at Wellington College Tianjin. He was eventually promoted to High School Principal, then to Whole School Vice Principal before assuming the role of Head of School. During his time in Tianjin, he put the school on the map, establishing its reputation as the city’s leading international school with an impressive track record of both academic results and prestigious university placements.
In Hiba Academy Bay Area, Julian sees an opportunity to build on the work of schools in the Wellington College Education group in China. By placing a strong emphasis on a values-led bilingual education underpinned by consistent high-quality learning and high aspirations for our pupils, he seeks to foster engaging, self-confident, and outward-facing young people, ready to be the changemakers our world needs.
Julian’s professional journey to China was shaped in large part by strong family ties. His father lived and worked in China in the early 1980s, and his love for the country proved inspire several personal holidays before deciding to relocate there. Having lived in China for over a decade now, its history and culture remain a subject of fascination for Julian.
Julian holds a BA Hons History from the University of Durham and a PGCE in Secondary History from the University of Exeter. He has also completed a program in Executive Leadership from Henley, one of the world’s top business schools.
Chief Operating Officer
Allen was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Wellington College China in March 2024. He leads the non-academic functions in the WCC central office, providing governance and support to group schools. He is also a Board Director for Hiba Academy Bay Area.
He has over 30 years of rich leadership experiences in service industries, including healthcare distribution, education, financial services, and F&B. For the majority of his career, he has worked in senior leadership roles for Fortune 50 companies including China CEO, APAC and China CFO, and Head of Strategy and M&A.
Allen holds a BS in Accounting from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He is a CPA, having earned the Elijah Watt Sells award on the 1991 US CPA exam for the highest score among over 66,000 participants.
Allen is originally from Minnesota, USA. Having lived in Asia since 1998, he is very passionate about building global bridges. Allen is married and has three bilingual and bicultural children. In his spare time, he enjoys time with his family and is also an active bicycle racer.
Chief People Officer
Rowan joined Wellington College China in 2019 as the Group Senior HR Director, leading the central HR function and driving talent strategy across the group. Now, as part of the Hiba Academy Bay Area team, she oversees all HR and people-related aspects of the school, including talent acquisition, compensation, HR operations and compliance, learning and development, and performance management.
With a wealth of experience in global new school projects, Rowan is passionate about developing leadership talent, and the US expansion presents exciting opportunities for both existing and new staff to pursue their careers globally within the Wellington / Hiba family. She takes immense pride in the group's talent development strategies and in witnessing the professional growth and internal promotions of individuals.
Wellington has become well known internationally for offering rewarding and exciting career opportunities, due to our superb working culture, commitment to employee engagement and well-being and world-class professional development. With Hiba Academy, Rowan sees huge potential to replicate this success and make Hiba Academy an employer of choice for the best educators and administrators in the Bay Area.
Rowan holds a First Class BA (Hons) from the University of Leeds and is a Chartered Member of CIPD, the UK HR professional body, as well as SHRM in the US.
Finance and Project Consultant
Aaron is a seasoned finance and operations professional with a firm belief in the transformative power of cross-cultural learning experiences. For 19 years, he served as the Chief Financial Officer and Director of Operations at the French American International School in San Francisco. In this capacity, he oversaw all aspects of financial management, strategic planning, facilities development, and operations. His leadership was instrumental in ensuring the school's long-term sustainability, enrollment growth, and the successful execution of major projects.
Aaron is excited to be part of Hiba Academy and is heavily involved in the facilities and operational aspects of the project, which will ensure that Hiba's carefully designed physical environment will support the amazing academic staff and all the students to achieve their teaching and learning goals.
Prior to his tenure at the French American International School, Aaron honed his expertise in finance and operations with leadership positions at Sun Microsystems and as a consultant and financial auditor at Coopers and Lybrand. He holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and an MSc in Management from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
