Ecolint Leadership Team

The Ecolint Leadership Team is the senior management team of the Foundation. Each member has delegated responsibility for specific aspects of the Foundation and for the operation of its seven schools, for the coordination of policies and practices, for the management of associated staff and students, for relations with parents and for planning, budgeting and expenditure.

Conrad Hughes

Director General 
 

Of Swiss, South African and British nationality, Dr Conrad Hughes holds a Masters in Comparative Literature and a Diplome d’Etudes Avancées from Montpellier, a PhD in English from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa and a Doctorate in Education (EdD) from Durham University's School of Education. He is a research assistant at the University of Geneva's School of PSychology and Education and a Senior Fellow with UNESCO's International Bureau of Education.

Following roles as lecturer and teacher in schools and universities in France, India and the Netherlands, Conrad has been at Ecolint for many years, as an English and Theory of Knowledge teacher, IB Diploma Programme Coordinator, Director of Education, as well as Campus and Secondary School Principal at La Grande Boissière. He was appointed Director General in 2023.

Conrad has published numerous peer-reviewed articles on education. In 2024 he was conferred the title of Professor in Practice by Durham University for his contributions in the field. His published books include Understanding Prejudice and Education: the Challenge for Future Generations (Routledge), Educating for the 21st Century: Seven Global Challenges (Brill) and Education and Elitism: Challenges and Opportunities (Routledge).

In 2023, Conrad was awarded the Humanism award by the International Schools Association for his "contributions, leadership, impact on international education and promotion of universal human values".

Married, with two children who both attended Ecolint, Conrad is an accomplished guitarist and singer-songwriter, and is a volunteer Sapeur Pompier in the Compagnie 101 (Dardagny-Russin). He continues to teach Theory of Knowledge.

Katrina Jihad

Head of the Institute of Learning and Teaching

Before joining Ecolint, Katrina was the Primary School Principal and PYP Coordinator at Green Hills Academy in Kigali, Rwanda. Previously she held positions as instructional coach, lead teacher and classroom teacher in schools in the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

Of American nationality, Katrina graduated with a Masters in Education from the University of Colorado Denver and holds teaching certification from Fort Lewis College, where she won two prizes for her academic achievements.

Katrina is not only a seasoned leader but an expert at teacher development. She brings a strong humanitarian vision and commitment to excellence.

Gilbert Ekotto

Head of Inclusion

Prior to his nomination as Head of Inclusion, Gilbert was serving as the Middle School Principal at La Grande Boissière campus. Previously, Gilbert was the Middle School Principal of the French American School of New York where he was also a teacher and leader for more than two decades.

Gilbert grew up in a multilingual home (French, English and the Duala language, Ewodi) and spent his early childhood in Cameroon, where he was born. His family later moved to the United States where Gilbert attended school. He pursued his university studies in France and the United States, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Quantitative Economics from the University of Minnesota. He subsequently completed graduate studies in Education at Iona College in New York, as well as school leadership training through the New York State Association of Independent Schools. Gilbert has spent several of his summers teaching and directing French Camps at Concordia College’s Language Villages in Minnesota and he has also been a Social Sciences guest lecturer at Sichuan University in Chengdu, China.

Jamie Williams

Head of Admissions and Extra-Curricular Activities 
 

Jamie Williams is a British national, with a rich experience in schools in the UK, Monaco and Geneva. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Soil & Environmental Sciences from the University of Reading and a PGCE from the University of East Anglia, Jamie is a geography specialist. Having worked closely with the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) on the development of the IB Diploma geography syllabus, Jamie was also an examination writer, team leader and workshop leader for the IBO. Jamie also previously served as Chairman of the Council for International Schools Environmental Education Committee. 

At Ecolint since 2004, Jamie was Assistant Principal at Campus des Nations before stepping into the Secondary School Principal role in 2017. Passionate about developing professional learning communities, using technology to improve learning and data to inform and monitor decision-making, Jamie has been at the heart of significant innovation and improvements at Campus des Nations. He was appointed Head of Admissions and Extra Curricular activities as of August 2024.       

Outside of school Jamie is an extremely avid cyclist, and enjoys music and reading. His daughters graduated from Campus des Nations in 2017 and 2022.

Mary Parrinello

Head of Communications

Of French and American origin, Mary was raised in a multicultural and multilingual environment both at home and while attending the international school system in France, the USA and India. She brings more than 20 years of experience in communications for educational institutions across France, Switzerland, and the UK. She is passionate about the role communication plays in the world of education in authentically shaping perceptions, fostering genuine connections, and driving innovation. Her work at Ecolint is driven by her deep commitment to the Foundation's mission.
Mary pursued her studies at Edinburgh University (UK) before earning a Master of Arts in International Public Relations with Distinction from the Cardiff School of Journalism (Cardiff University, UK).

Prior to joining Ecolint in 2020, Mary served for 12 years as the Press and Public Relations Manager at Grenoble Ecole de Management, the international business school in south-east France.
Married with two young children, Mary is passionate about theatre. During quieter periods of her life, she has both acted in several plays and taught drama to children and young adults.

Laurent Falvert

Director of Finance and Administration 
 

A graduate of the prestigious ESCP Europe business school, Laurent Falvert holds both French and Swiss nationalities.

A highly experienced financier, Laurent has worked in a wide range of finance roles up to and including Chief Financial Officer, and in industries as diverse as banking, pharmaceuticals, luxury goods and air transport.

A keen golfer, Laurent also enjoys travelling the world and has been tap-dancing since he was nine! He is the father of two adult daughters.

Laurent was appointed Director of Finance at Ecolint in 2014.

Soizic Le Clère

Director of People and Culture 
 

A French national, Soizic Le Clère joined Ecolint as Director of People and Culture in July 2022. Passionate about people and organisations’ development, she brings with her an extensive experience as Director of Human Resources in complex multinational and multicultural environments, the most recent of which was for General Mills’ operations in Switzerland, France, Spain, Greece, the United Kingdom, Germany and Australia.

Soizic’s educational background has served as a solid foundation for her professional experience, having studied Social Law and Human Resources Management early on and completed this training with an Executive Masters in Business Management from the École des hautes études commerciales de Paris. She is also a certified professional coach.

Married with two daughters attending La Châtaigneraie, Soizic enjoys spending time with family and friends, going on countryside walks, doing pilates and practising sophrology.

Alix de Mauny

Director of Development and Alumni Relations  
 

Alix de Mauny is a British and Irish dual national who joined Ecolint as Director of Development and Alumni Relations in November 2022 from the Yehudi Menuhin School in the UK, where she served as Director of External Relations. Prior to that Alix’s career saw her working across the globe, including in Israel, Rwanda, Colombia, Belgium and Kosovo, in roles spanning international relations and humanitarian roles and a spell as Development and Marketing Manager for the European Union Youth Orchestra.

Passionate about the art and science of philanthropy, and with thirteen years experience as a fundraiser, Alix is a member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, and as well as a Diploma in Fundraising holds an MA (Hons) in Italian from Edinburgh University and a Masters in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Fluent in English, French, Spanish and Italian, Alix is also a passionate musician, singing in both the Bach Choir and Damian Singers in the UK, and has a wide range of other hobbies which include cooking for friends and her French partner, walking, yoga, reading, skiing, horse riding, windsurfing and competing in triathlons! Despite this plethora of pastimes, Alix still found time to serve as a Trustee of Streetwise Opera, an award-winning arts organisation, and volunteered both as a mentor and conference organiser for the Culture Sector Network of the Institute of Fundraising. 

Mark Grace

Director of ICT 
 

After a first BSc degree in Marine Engineering Operations in his native USA, Mark Grace spent the first eight years of his career as a Shipboard Engineering Officer with the American Maritime Officers, the US Merchant Marine.

After “jumping ship”, and moving to Switzerland, Mark studied for an MBA at the University of Geneva before moving into Information and Communication Technology, joining the prestigious International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne as eBusiness manager.

After 5 years at IMD, Mark moved to Berlin, Germany, and was appointed Director of ICT at the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) in Berlin for several years, before branching out on his own as an independent software consultant.

Mark joined Ecolint in 2008 as Director of ICT and has worked to bring both the “behind the scenes” hardware and software systems into the 21st century, but also to ensure that the classroom use of technology by both teaching staff and students reflects best practice and supports optimal learning.

When he is not behind a computer screen, Mark enjoys spending time in the mountains with his Swiss wife and, when the occasion permits, his two adult daughters.

Isla Gordon

Campus and Primary School Principal - Campus des Nations 
 

Isla Gordon has been associated with Ecolint as a student, teacher, parent and alumna since 1980! Having completed her schooling at Ecolint, Isla studied at the Universities of Geneva (CH), Surrey, Oxford Brookes and Durham (all UK) and holds undergraduate qualifications in the Arts, Psychology and Education, post-graduate studies in Educational Leadership & Management and an MA in International Education. She is also a certified professional coach, holding a qualification from the International Coaching Federation. 
After teaching in both Primary and Middle Schools in the UK post-University, Isla rejoined Ecolint in 1999, spending five years as a homeroom teacher at the Pregny Rigot site, before moving to La Châtaigneraie as a homeroom teacher, Assistant Principal and then Primary Years Programme coordinator until 2014. Isla returned to Pregny in 2017 from a two and a half year assignment as Junior School Principal at the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa, Kenya, where among other achievements she was responsible for moving the school to a fully bilingual Junior School, pioneering a new translanguaging approach. Isla was appointed as Campus Principal in 2022 and took over leadership for all primary classes in 2023. She has also co-authored a number of chapters on bilingualism. Isla has been an active International Baccalaureate educator network (IBEN) member since 2007, serving as a workshop leader, school consultant, and school visitor team lead. 

Fully bilingual herself, having grown up largely in Suisse Romande, Isla holds both British and Swiss nationalities and is the mother of an adult daughter, herself an Ecolint alumna. When not indulging in her professional passions within Professional Learning Communities, Isla loves to spend her time outdoors hiking, biking, skiing and horseback riding, and is actively involved in promoting animal welfare, as well as development and environmental awareness through education.

Nunana Nyomi

Secondary School Principal – Campus des Nations

A Third-Culture Kid of Ghanaian and American heritage, Nunana is known for his passion for inclusive leadership. He has significantly contributed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism through his writing and numerous workshops.

Before joining Ecolint, Nunana steered inclusion efforts as DEIJ Coordinator at Leysin American School and provided university guidance to students. He was also a committee co-chair of the International School Anti-Discrimination Taskforce.

Previously, Nunana worked for the Council of International Schools (CIS) where he supported student transitions, promoted Global Citizenship education, and advanced Inclusion through Diversity, Equity, and Anti-Racism (I-DEA). He also directed international student admissions at Calvin University.

Married with three young children, Nunana enjoys family time and exploring intercultural connections through music and literature. He holds an MA in Lifelong Education from Michigan State University and a BA in International Relations and French from Calvin University.

Hazel Allen

Primary School Principal – La Châtaigneraie 
 

Hazel Allen, who originates from Northern Ireland, has a distinguished track record in primary school leadership: before becoming Assistant Principal at La Châtaigneraie Primary School, she was Head of Primary at the International School of Central Switzerland and Head of Studies at John F. Kennedy International School, Saanen.

Hazel has a Bachelor's degree in French and Spanish from Queen’s University Belfast and a Post-Graduate Certificate of Education from the University of Paisley, and is currently completing a Masters in Education at Oxford Brookes University and working towards a coaching certification. Fluent in English, French, Spanish, Hazel's research interests centre on bilingual education and multilingual pedagogy.

Passionate about music, Hazel enjoys playing piano and singing in La Châtaigneraie's Community Choir, and she is a keen amateur photographer.

Soraya Sayed Hassen

Campus and Secondary School Principal - La Châtaigneraie 
 

Soraya Sayed Hassen is a Mauritian national who grew up in Mauritius then moved with her family to England, where she completed her secondary education at Westminster School, London and her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in English at the University of Buckingham. She then moved to Australia where she completed her Master’s degree in English at Monash University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education at the University of Canberra. 

Prior to joining La Châtaigneraie as Secondary School Principal, Soraya was the Head of Mahindra United World College (UWC) in Pune, India, one of eighteen United World Colleges belonging to UWC movement which places deliberate emphasis on diversity and inclusion, two principles to which she is deeply committed. Before this, she was a lecturer in English and Communication to undergraduate students in Mauritius and was the Head of Humanities at the private university which is the island’s offshore partner of Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Australia.        

Having worked and trained as a teacher in English Language and Literature at schools in Australia, Mauritius and India, one of Soraya’s passions is to support and direct plays as a way to foster a love of literature in young people and to help them build self-confidence in their use of language through performance. She has teaching experience with a wide variety of curricula, from the state curriculum in Australia to the Cambridge IGCSE and A Level syllabi in addition to the International Baccalaureate.        

Soraya is particularly interested in the history and culture of different communities and spends much of her free time reading and travelling. She is fluent in English, French and Mauritian Creole and has a working knowledge of Hindi. She and her husband have two children, one attending university in the Netherlands and one currently studying for his IB Diploma. The family enjoys spending time together travelling and discovering new places, cultures and cuisines.

Mirna Hafez-Farah

Primary School Principal - La Grande Boissière 
 

A Canadian national, Mirna Hafez-Farah grew up in Lebanon before moving to France and then Canada. She came to Ecolint from TFS - Canada’s International School, where she took on the roles of teacher, Vice-Principal, Primary Principal, Middle School Principal, Interim Head of School and Advisor to the Head of School. She has also taught in public schools in Ontario. Her pedagogical specialities include language acquisition, learning through play, literacy, plurilingualism, student-centred learning and differentiated instruction.

Mirna holds a Masters in Educational Administration and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Ottawa, as well as an Advanced Leadership Certificate for International School Leadership. She is also fully trained in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, the Reggio Emilia approach and the teaching of French as a Second Language. Her expertise in pedagogy and leadership of schools has been recognised internationally, including by France’s Ordre des palmes académiques.

Fully trilingual in French, English and Arabic, mother of two adult children, Mirna enjoys travelling, world cuisine and world music, reading, countryside and city walks and watching movies.

Conan de Wilde

Middle School Principal - La Grande Boissière

Conan de Wilde is a Swiss / American dual national and fully bilingual in French and English. He will, however, speak a number of other languages badly if you give him the chance. Conan grew up on four continents, and graduated with an IB Diploma from Ecolint. He read history and English at St John's College, Oxford (BA & MA Oxon.), completed a Masters in Education at the Open University, and is currently pursuing a PhD at UCL's Institute of Education.
Dedicated to Ecolint and to the International Baccalaureate, Conan has enjoyed working in a variety of roles over the past twenty years for both organisations. He is returning to Ecolint with his wife and three children from Italy, where he directed a group of international schools near Venice.

When family and professional commitments allow, Conan enjoys adventures in nature of all kinds.

Jonathan Halden

Campus and Secondary School Principal - La Grande Boissière 
 

A Swiss and British national, Jonathan Halden joined Ecolint in 2006. He has served in multiple capacities, ranging from Economics and Business Management teacher, to CAS and IB Diploma Coordinator, Head of Year, Head of Department and Assistant Principal, at both La Châtaigneraie and La Grande Boissière.

Prior to joining Ecolint, Jon read for both his Bachelor's degree and PGCE at the University of Warwick, and holds a Masters in Education and ICT from the University of Leeds, and taught at several other schools in the local area.

A role model of sustainable living, Jon is a keen cyclist, runner and swimmer, and an avid reader, with a keen interest in politics. His teenage daughter is a student at Campus des Nations.