Governing Board

The Governing Board of the Foundation consists of twelve elected members. The Board also exercises its powers of co-option.

Elected members are chosen by an electorate that consists of parents, members of staff, former members of staff, and former students. Votes are cast either by electronic ballot or at the Consultative General Assembly of the Foundation that is held each year in May.

The Board is the guardian of the School’s mission. This stewardship involves ensuring that the Foundation has a well-developed strategy which is aligned with this mission, responsive to external conditions and to the expectations of its stakeholders, is realistically costed and will ensure the organisation’s continued success; ensuring that the necessary structure, function, policy, controls and information are in place to enable the effective, secure and sustainable operation of the Foundation; accountability for the financial well-being of the school, including capital assets, operating budgets and fundraising.

Board committees

Much of the work of the Board is conducted through committees, most of which also include parent members of the Campus Advisory Bodies and members of the teaching staff. These committees include an Executive Committee and committees responsible for Finance, Strategic Planning, Nominating and Governance (elections) and Bursaries.

Board priorities

At the beginning of each school year, the Governing Board identifies and approves its priorities for the current school year, which you can find here.

The Board will report to the 10 June 2025 Consultative General Assembly on the implementation of these priorities.

Ijeoma Aghanya

Chair (Ad Interim)

Ijeoma Aghanya is a husband to Elspeth and father of 3 boys, Benjamin, Samuel and Alistair, who have all been students at Ecolint (LGB).  He grew up in Nigeria and in Scotland where he attended school and University.  He has been in Geneva for the last 14 years, most of which was spent working within the financial services industry primarily in the Legal and Compliance sectors.  He has enjoyed professional stints in London and Bermuda, working mainly for Banks and Asset Management companies. 

Ijeoma is a qualified British Chartered Accountant with an MBA in Finance from Manchester Business School. He also holds the UK Investment Management Certificate (IMC).  He currently runs his own Geneva based companies in the Health, Beauty (Swiss Nail & Spa SA) and Commercial Property sectors (PVI Offices). He is an Executive Director at PrivateTrust Partners SA, an M&A Boutique in Private Equity and Real Estate providing independent advisory services for cross border acquisitions and divestments for the small and middle market segment. 

Ijeoma has a passion for tennis, boxing and playing the piano.  He is a co-founder of the African Professional Network Switzerland and a registered “volunteer” in his local Commune in Geneva. 

Ijeoma was elected to the Governing Board of the ECOLINT Foundation for a one-year mandate (2023-2024).  In  2023-24, he was a member of the Finance, Strategic Planning and Development committees.  In June 2024, Ijeoma was co-opted for a one-year mandate. In October 2024, he was elected for a one-year mandate (2024-2025) to replace an outgoing member (2024-2025). In November 2024, he became the Treasurer of the Governing Board, the Chair of the Finance Committee and a member of the Executive and Strategic planning Committees (ex-officio). Following the resignation of the Board Chair on 6 May 2025, he was elected Board Chair ad interim. Ijeoma was elected in June 2025 for a one-Year mandate (2025-2026).

 

Vanessa Mattar Boley

Vice-Chair (Ad interim)

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, and naturalized as Swiss in 1992, Vanessa Mattar Boley grew up in Jamaica, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. She holds a master's degree in International Relations from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva and has been working in different positions for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for over two decades. She has served in Kosovo, Bosnia Herzegovina, Afghanistan and Kenya, and continues her humanitarian commitment at Headquarters in Geneva. Her two sons are students at LGB.

Vanessa's expertise lies in program oversight and integrity, Data Protection and crisis management.

Vanessa was elected to the Governing Board for a four-year mandate (2024-2028). In 2024-2025, Vanessa was a member of  the Nominating and Governing Committee. Following the resignation of the Vice-Chair on 6 May 2025, she was elected Vice-Chair ad interim and she is a member of the Executive Committee.

Patrick Callaghan-Pace

Treasurer (Ad interim)

Patrick Callaghan‑Pace is a seasoned leader in the social impact and corporate responsibility space, currently serving as Regional Senior Director for UK & Ireland and the DACH region at Benevity, where he drives initiatives centered on tech for good and purpose-driven engagement. Before joining the Board in 2024 for a four‑year term, Patrick attended Ecolint as a student—an experience that deeply shaped his commitment to the school’s values and global mission.
He brings a strategic leadership style to his Board role, contributing actively across the Finance, Nominating & Governance, and Strategic Planning Committees. His professional expertise—spanning multinational program oversight, CSR strategy, and stakeholder engagement—perfectly complements his dedication to stewarding Ecolint’s financial health, governance excellence, and mission-aligned development.

Patrick was elected to the Governing Board for a four-year mandate (2024-2028). In 2024-2025, he was a member of the Finance, the Strategic planning and the Nomination and Governance Committees. Patrick was elected Board Treasurer ad interim to replace the Treasurer who became Board Chair ad interim following the resignation of the Board Chair on 6 May 2025. He is the new Chair of the Finance Committee and a member of the ExCom.
 

Neil Allison

Neil serves as the Head of the Education, Skills, and Learning Mission at the World Economic Forum, where he leads global efforts to advance education and skills for the future of work. The Forum is the international organization for public-Private Cooperation. It provides a global, impartial and not-for-profit platform for meaningful connection between stakeholders to establish trust, and build initiatives for cooperation and progressHe previously held leadership roles in strategy, transformation and innovation at the Adecco Group and Pearson, and advised the Gates Foundation on investments to improve postsecondary access and completion for all students.

He holds a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the College of William and Mary in the United States. 

As a dual citizen of the United States and Great Britain, he has lived in Switzerland for 3 years and attended primary school at La Grande Boissière. He is married and has two daughters who attend the Nations campus in Year 12 and Year 9. 

Neil was co-opted to the Governing Board of Ecolint in November 2024 for a two-year mandate (2024 - 2026).
 

Jill Bailey

Jill is a retired Ecolint teacher who has dedicated 41 years of service to the Foundation. She came to Geneva in September 1978 and in the same month volunteered her services at the lakeside Foundation school of Bellevue. Over the years she worked as a primary school teacher at Pregny, La Châtaigneraie, LGB and finally in the PYP programme at Nations, from where she retired in 2019.  Ecolint has been an integral part of her life throughout all these years. 

She is a British graduate from Leeds University. Her two children are alumni of La Châtaigneraie and both now live and work in the area. From the early days she was an active member of the Ecolint community, serving on the Board Nominations Committee, the LGB Campus Development Group, and as the Nations PYP representative in the Staff Association. Here she represented the Campus des Nations on the Commission Paritaire and was also a staff representative in the negotiation of the 2012 Collective Contract.  

Having worked hands on across all the Foundation’s campuses, with the various members of its community, she brings to the board over forty years insider knowledge of Ecolint’s modus operandi, unique culture and values.

Jill was nominated to the Governing Board of the Foundation by the Staff Association Committee for a two-year mandate (renewal) (2022-2024). In 2023-24, she was a member of the Strategic planning committee. Jill was renominated  for a two-year mandate (2024-2026). In 2024-2025, Jill is a member of the Strategic Planning Committee and is also the Safeguarding Child & Protection Board Representative.

Roland Carrupt

Roland Carrupt holds a Doctorate in History and brings over 30 years of experience as a dedicated educator. He currently teaches at Spiritus Sanctus in Brig and serves as Assistant Director of the Boarding School. He lives in Martigny with his wife, Gabrielle, a nurse at Martigny Hospital. They are the parents of two university students—Romain, studying at EPFL, and Julien, studying at UNIL.

Roland is Vice-President of SCIV_Le Syndicat, the leading trade union organization in Valais, where he also contributes to national advocacy efforts aimed at expanding collective bargaining agreements in Switzerland.
He also serves as Vice-President of the Foundation Board of Œuvre Saint-Justin, which manages student residences across French and German-speaking Switzerland, including one in Geneva. This role has given him substantial experience in the governance and strategic oversight of foundation boards.

Roland was elected to the Governing Board for a one-year mandate (2024-2025) to replace a resigned Board member.

Afsaneh Heyat

Afsaneh Heyat was born in Iran and left the country in 1978 at the age of nine. After a year in London, her family settled in the United States, first in Los Angeles and later in Washington, D.C., where she completed high school. She went on to earn a degree in Political Science and Economics from Princeton University, followed by an MBA in Finance, Media/Communications, and Information Technology from Columbia Business School.

From 1995 to 2009, Afsaneh built a successful career in investment banking, specializing in Debt Capital Markets in New York and London. Upon relocating to Geneva, she transitioned into private banking and subsequently held leadership roles as Chief Risk Officer, Head of Compliance, and cryptocurrency expert. She currently works with various crypto projects in capacities including Administrator, Board Member, Compliance Advisor, and CFO.

Afsaneh served as President of the Board of the Toucan Protocol Association (2022–2024) and holds ongoing roles as Administrator of Arianee SA (2022–present) and Genative SA (March–November 2024).

In addition to her professional work, she is actively engaged in the Geneva community. She serves as the Year 11 PTA representative, is a competitive member of the Tennis Club de Genève, and remains closely involved in both school and local initiatives. Afsaneh is fluent in English, French, and Farsi, and is conversant in Italian.

Afsaneh was elected to the Governing Board for a two-year mandate (2025-2027).
 

Arafat Jamal

Arafat is a senior United Nations diplomat by profession, and an internationalist by background and conviction. 

His youth was marked by series of global moves (North America, Africa, Europe), anchored by attendance at international schools.  Completing his education in the US (Cornell) and UK (Oxford), Arafat embarked on an international UN  career that has alternated between working on frontline humanitarian situations (Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, DR Congo, Lebanon, Jordan, Libya, South Sudan), and on multilateral diplomacy and partnerships in Geneva, New York and elsewhere. 

Ecolint has played a formative role in Arafat’s life.  When his parents’ international careers brought him to Switzerland at age 14, Arafat (often known as Arif at school) leveraged a passion for heavy metal into new friendships over four heady and intellectually edgy years (the friendships have, happily, outlasted the musical preference).  When Arafat and his wife Shalini themselves moved to Geneva in 2012, Ecolint was the natural choice for their two daughters, who went on to have an enriching experience at the La Châtaigneraie campus that has carried them through their university education in the UK. 

Arafat is committed to giving back to the school that has nurtured his family.  He believes that Ecolint represents a place where students can achieve without pressure; where excellence is prized over elitism; and where values are more important than status.  He is committed to helping keep Ecolint a distinct, principled, attractive and financially robust institution. 

Aafat was elected to the Governing Board  for a two-year mandate (2024-2026).

Safia Ladak

Safia has completed a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master’s in Business Administration. Her professional career spans several sectors, including: management consulting, telecommunications, global health, international development, and education. Through roles with increasing responsibility, Safia has experience in a myriad of organisational functions such as: board/complex governance, policy making, strategic and financial planning, risk analysis, change management, resource mobilisation, and general management. She has lived in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Her children attend the Primary School at La Châtaigneraie. 

Safia was elected to the Governing Board for a four-year mandate (2024-2028).  In 2024-2025, she was a member of the Strategic Planning Committee.

Pierre Lussato

Pierre Lussato is the CEO of Bayview International based in Geneva with offices in London, Luxembourg and Milan. Bayview Asset Management has over 20bn of discretionary capital that it invests in credit markets in the US and Europe. 

Since 2003, Pierre has been active in the European alternative finance markets with a focus on non-performing loans, CMBS, and private equity transactions in his roles at Lehman Brothers, TPG Credit, and Resolution Property. Pierre began his career as an Investment Banker at Robertson Stephens in San Francisco in 1998 subsequently focusing on European private capital raises for technology companies. He earned a BSc from Babson College in Boston, Summa Cum Laude, and holds an MBA from INSEAD, after also studying at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Pierre is an active board member at the Bach Archive in Leipzig, the London Symphony Orchestra and a charity helping children in Eastern Europe.

Pierre was elected to the Governing Board for a four-year mandate (2025-2029).
 

Emmanuelle Osmond

Emmanuelle Osmond is a French national who has lived in Geneva since 2016. She is the mother of two children enrolled at Ecolint—one in Primary at the Nations campus and the other in Secondary at La Grande Boissière.
She currently works for the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies as an expert in humanitarian diplomacy. With over 15 years of experience in leadership and management roles, Emmanuelle has worked with the Red Cross, the United Nations, and international NGOs in complex settings including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Colombia, Somalia, Indonesia, Sudan, and the Middle East.

Her strengths lie in navigating complex environments, managing crises, and leading strategic initiatives that drive meaningful impact. She is deeply committed to international education, diversity, and inclusion, and brings a strong understanding of multicultural contexts and the importance of fostering a global mindset in education.

Emmanuelle and her family are actively engaged in Geneva’s local life. They support community initiatives in the Pâquis and regularly attend football tournaments organized by CSI, the local football club. The family also enjoys Geneva’s vibrant cultural scene—especially dance performances—as her daughter is enrolled in the pre-professional dance curriculum at the CMPDT.

Emmanuelle was elected to the Governing Board for a four-year mandate (2025-2029).

Jürgen Rupp

Dr. Jürgen Rupp was born in Tübingen, Germany, and holds both German and Swiss citizenship. He earned a diploma in sports and a doctorate in physics from the University of Tübingen, laying the foundation for a career that bridges scientific inquiry with strategic problem-solving. Throughout his professional journey, he has advised both public and private institutions on complex challenges. Since moving to Geneva in 2008, he has been affiliated with the CERN, contributing to cutting-edge research in fundamental physics.

Beyond his scientific endeavors, Jürgen has been an active and dedicated member of the Ecolint community. As the father of two sons who graduated from La Grande Boissière in 2017 and 2024, he has a deep, personal connection to the school’s mission and values. His longstanding interest in education extends beyond his own family—he has played a hands-on role in fostering critical thinking and creativity through initiatives such as coaching school teams in the “Odyssey of the Mind” program, where his guidance has helped students develop innovative problem-solving skills.
Jürgen’s commitment to Ecolint stems from both his professional background and personal experiences. With a methodical and rational approach shaped by years of scientific research, he is passionate about ensuring that the school continues to evolve while staying true to its founding principles. His engagement in local voluntary programs and his keen interest in the history and future direction of Ecolint reflect his dedication to the school as a place of academic excellence and global citizenship.

Outside of his professional and community activities, Jürgen is an avid mountain climber and enjoys classical music and history.

Jürgen was elected to the Governing Board for a two-year mandate (2025-2027).

Nirmalya Syam

Nirmalya Syam is a lawyer specializing in international law and intellectual property law. He is a professional staff at the South Centre, a Geneva-based intergovernmental organization of developing countries. Nirmalya has been a resident in Geneva since 2008 and has two children studying at the Campus des Nations in Ecolint in the early and secondary years programmes respectively. Nirmalya is passionate about education for inclusion and celebrating diversity in schools. Before joining the Governing Board, he also served as a parent representative in the Campus Advisory Body at the Campus des Nations.

Nirmalya was elected to the Governing Board for a two-year mandate (2023-2025). In 2023-24, he was a member of the Finance, the Nominating and Governance and Strategic Planning Committees. Nirmalya was the Secretary of the Governing Board (from 1st July 2024 to 17 June 2025). In 2024-2025, Nirmalya was a member of the Executive, the Finance and the Nominating and Governance Committees. During the Board meeting on 17 June 2025, he stepped down from his role as Secretary with immediate effect.

Maria Lucia Uribe

Ms. Maria Lucia Uribe is the Executive Director of Arigatou International office in Geneva since 2013. In her role as Executive Director, she currently heads the strategic implementation and expansion of the Ethics Education for Children Initiative in more than 30 countries, ensuring that values-based education in formal and non-formal settings is integrated in programs to respond to the prevention of violence and the promotion of peace building and interfaith and intercultural learning and collaboration.

Ms. Uribe is also in charge of developing and maintaining Arigatou International’s engagement in child rights initiatives with UN agencies and child rights focused NGOs in Geneva. Ms. Uribe is currently convener of the International Consortium on Nurturing Values in Early Childhood for the Prevention of Violence, and of the Working Group on Children and Violence of Child Rights Connect. Previously she served as Coordinator of the Working Group on Education and Fragility for the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE).

Ms. Uribe holds a Master in Peace and Conflict Transformation from the University of Basel, Switzerland; a specialization in Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Finances from Externado University in Colombia.

Ms. Uribe serves in the Executive Committee of Child Rights Connect; she is a member of the G20 Interfaith Forum Working Group on Education, and from 2017 to 2021 she served in the Steering Group of the International Partnership for Religion and Sustainable Development – PaRD.
Ms. Uribe was elected to the Governing Board for a four-year mandate (2025-2029).
 

Staff observers

Management