LISTEN NOW
In the Where’s Your Head At? podcast, Richard Henry, James Dalziel, and James MacDonald explore a variety of issues in education around the world today by learning from educational experts and trailblazers.
In this episode, the hosts of “Where’s Your Head At?” engage in a deep and philosophical conversation with Stuart MacAlpine, an experienced international educator and consultant. The discussion moves quickly from Stuart’s diverse background, including his time at the Lego Foundation and Green School New Zealand, to profound questions about the current state and future of international education. Stuart challenges the traditional definitions of “international” schools and explores post-humanist ideas, suggesting a shift from a focus on “becoming” to a focus on “being” and “staying with the trouble” of the present moment.
Richard Henry has worked in education for 34 years, beginning his career in both the state and private sectors in Brisbane, Australia. He then worked internationally for 21 years beginning in 2020 at Global Jaya International School in Jakarta, Indonesia. He then moved to The Hague, The Netherlands in 2011 working for the International Baccalaureate (IB) as the Head of School Services for Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. In 2015, Richard moved to Washington DC, USA and was promoted to the role of Global Director of IB School Services in which he was responsible for the design and implementation of the IB’s core services of program authorization and evaluation for over 4500 schools. After a year running his own educational consultancy business, Richard moved to Singapore to become the Regional Director for GEMS Education (East Asia) and the Head of School at GEMS World Academy (Singapore), the first and only four program IB school in Singapore. In the second half of 2021, Richard returned to Brisbane to take up his current role as CEO and Executive Principal of the Moreton Bay Colleges.
Dr. James Dalziel is currently The Head of School at the NIST International School in Bangkok Thailand. He also continues to work with the Academy for International School Heads providing online and in-person workshops related to the alignment of school mission, school identity and developing an intentional school culture. James has taught in traditional and non-traditional educational settings from outdoor education centers to open custody correctional programs, reflecting his belief that education is an intricate mix of academic, dispositional, experiential, and social constructs. He worked at the Canadian International School and the United World College in Singapore and was most recently the Director of Operations in Europe for the GEMS Educational Organization.
Originally from Canada, James MacDonald has been an international educator for over 20 years, beginning his career as a classroom teacher before going on to lead two IB schools in Japan (Yokohama International School) and Thailand (NIST International School). James has also led clusters of schools, including with GEMS Education based out of Dubai. James is presently the Director of the International School of Brussels in Belgium.
