Governance

The Chairman, Mr Stuart Walker, is a partner with Afridi & Angell, a full-service Dubai law firm. Mr Walker specialises in financial-services regulation, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and employment matters. Prior to joining the firm, Mr Walker was a solicitor in the banking department of Lovells in London. Born in Scotland, he grew up in Hong Kong and has lived and worked in London, Hong Kong, New York and Dubai. He wrote for and edited various magazines, trade journals and other publications before qualifying as a lawyer. Stuart has three children, all of whom have been educated at JESS. He joined the Board in 2015 and was appointed Chair in 2016.

Dr Sapna Verma graduated from the University of Birmingham Medical School in 1994 and was awarded Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in 1998. She undertook postgraduate training in Paediatric Emergency Medicine in the UK, which included a one-year fellowship at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead in Sydney, Australia. She was appointed as a Consultant in Paediatric Emergency Medicine at Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (UK) in 2003 becoming a Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in 2005. Sapna is also a member of the Association of Paediatric Emergency Medicine (APEM). In Dubai, Sapna is now a Consultant Paediatrician at Circle Care Clinic in Jumeirah. She currently has one child at JESS. Sapna was appointed to the Board in 2015 and appointed Vice Chair in July 2021.

Ms Alison Dawson is a dedicated educationalist. She began her teaching career as a class teacher and PE Coordinator in England in 1996. She moved to Dubai to join Latifa School for Girls in 2001 where she gained valuable experience as Literacy and ICT Coordinator. Alison joined the Rashid School for Boys team in 2005 as KS2 Coordinator. In January 2014 she became Co-Head of Primary. She is a certified PENTA school inspector. Alison is married and has two children who have been with JESS Jumeirah since their foundation years. Alison was appointed to the Board in June 2017.

Mr Ali Al-Sayegh is Head of Onshore Operations with Dubai Petroleum. He has 25 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry that ranges from offshore oil and gas upstream operations, onshore gas supply operations, production engineering, safety leadership, human resources and management. He has held a number of senior positions within Dubai Petroleum Establishment, Dubai Supply Authority and Schlumberger. Ali's career has included delivering a variety of projects, leading multi-culture teams and managing large and vast departments and fields. Ali holds a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and Master of Business from the American University in Dubai. Ali is a father to seven children, all of whom attend JESS. Ali was appointed to the Board in February 2019.

Mr Christopher D’Cotta is an Associate Director in the Enforcement Division of the Dubai Financial Services Authority. He joined the DFSA in January 2009. Christopher’s responsibilities include regulating and enforcing compliance with the Law and Rules administered by the DFSA. He has extensive experience applying administrative, civil and criminal remedies in domestic and cross-border investigations. His particular areas of expertise include corporate governance, anti-money laundering, fraud, securities and financial services regulation. Prior to joining the DFSA, Christopher held a senior position at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission as an Assistant Director and Senior Specialist. He holds a Masters of Law from Sydney University and has practiced law for over 22 years after being admitted in Australia in 1991. Christopher was appointed to the Board in April 2019 and he is an independent Governor.

Mr Paul Marson is Executive Director Finance at Saudi Entertainment Ventures (PIF). Previously, Paul was Head of Finance at Majid Al Futtaim Development, and prior to that with dnata for 10 years. With over 25 years of experience in accountancy and business management, Paul has worked across the globe in countries including United States, Japan and New Zealand before moving to the Middle East. Paul holds a BSc in Accountancy and Financial Management from Loughborough and is a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). Paul is a family man with two daughters at JESS. Paul was appointed to the Board in June 2021.

Mrs Sarah Shaughnessy is the Head of Customer Intelligence and Online Marketing at Emirates Group. In her role, she is responsible for managing digital customer experience programs end-to-end. She started at the Group as a traditional marketer and, as such, remains passionate about the core principles of great marketing: understanding brands, customers and their needs. Her role as a technologist followed naturally as customer behaviour shifted toward digital channels and online experiences.

In previous lives, Sarah also worked in non-profit and educational marketing in Canada, the UK and the UAE. She has taught courses at the undergraduate level in market research, international public relations and digital marketing in Canada and the UAE.

Sarah is a parent of two children, one of whom has learning differences. She is a great believer in inclusive education and embraces the principles of celebrating diversity and the potential of all learners. Sarah was appointed to the Board in September 2022.

Mr Morten Sorensen is the Group Chief Executive Officer at 360 Holding, a local Emirati group focused on Education and Information Technology. Morten oversees all operational and business activities and has the overall responsibility of implementing the vision for the Group's development and the associated budgets. Development includes local and global expansion of operating business units.

Morten has over 15 years' experience in the GCC, mainly in the construction sector. He has practiced the vertical integration process to optimise cost and create synergy between departments to deliver projects catering for all stakeholders needs.

Morten is a family man and has one daughter attending JESS. Morten was appointed to the Board in September 2022.