Meet our team

Mrs Emily Hopkinson brings 20 years of experience in education to her role as Principal of The English College. She has been part of the EC community now for 5 years, having served as the Head of Secondary before becoming the Principal. Originally from Yorkshire in the UK, she has a BSc in Psychology, a Masters in Educational Leadership and Management and has completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship. Mrs Hopkinson’s career has seen her teaching and leading schools in the UK, Malaysia and the UAE.

Mrs Hopkinson is passionate about safeguarding and wellbeing, focusing on mental health and ensuring that students at EC thrive. Furthermore, she is committed to ensuring that all students have the best possible learning experience, achieve the outcomes that they are capable of and develop life long skills that will enable them to succeed in the 21st Century.

Barry Chaters brings over 23 years of experience in secondary education, with 18 of those spent in leadership roles spanning both academic and pastoral domains. He has worked across all phases, from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 5, giving him a broad and holistic understanding of student development. Barry holds a degree in Physical Education and Sports Psychology from the University of Chichester and is a PENTA-accredited school inspector, with additional qualifications in safeguarding and educational leadership.

Barry is passionate about preparing students for success beyond examinations, placing strong emphasis on real-life learning, personal growth, and the development of essential life skills. He believes that a personalised approach to education is key to helping every student reach their full potential. His commitment to individualisation, wellbeing, and high-quality teaching underpins his belief that education should inspire, challenge, and empower all learners to thrive in a changing world.

Originally from London, Zak Marar has called Dubai home since 2014 and a father of three young children in Primary at  The English College. Zak runs a regional office for a global executive search firm and has been advising companies on talent strategies and leadership effectiveness since 2005. As a fairly new parent at the English College, Zak is keen to be an active member of the school community.

Nadia Benaouda, originally from New York City, has lived in Dubai since 2016. She is Partner and Head of Strategy at Our1001Stories, an ethical luxury shoe brand supporting women and children through charitable initiatives. A mother of two young children in primary school and an advocate for the arts, Nadia is passionate about community, creativity, and building an inclusive school where children thrive.

John-Paul Venner has called the UAE home since 2010. With a natural drive for problem-solving and a creative outlook, he enjoys finding smart ways to get things done while keeping life fun. A strong believer in making each day count, he values learning, new experiences, and sharing that energy with those around him. Above all, John-Paul is a proud dad to Aurora in Year 7, and is passionate about resilience, community, and helping shape a positive school environment for all families.

Dana Al Haroun has two kids at English College (Year 7 and Year 8) and has been active in school communities for years. As a landscape designer, she creates spaces that bring people together and look forward to crafting magical, fun environments for events and community connection. She will serve as an events coordinator with parent volunteers, supporting initiatives to foster a positive, welcoming atmosphere. A strong, inclusive educational environment with social opportunities helps our kids grow. She is excited to meet more parents and coordinate engaging events.

Esha Das is joining the team as Communications Lead, working alongside parent volunteers. She is a Certified SAP Consultant and Co-founder of Codec Technologies, a company specializing in AI, automation and analytics. Beyond her professional life, she has always been driven by a deep commitment to community and social responsibility. She finds this role as a wonderful opportunity to combine her professional skills with her personal passion for community building and collaboration and to ensure that communications are effective, engaging and informative.

Originally from London, Zak Marar has called Dubai home since 2014 and a father of three young children in Primary at  The English College. Zak runs a regional office for a global executive search firm and has been advising companies on talent strategies and leadership effectiveness since 2005. As a fairly new parent at the English College, Zak is keen to be an active member of the school community.

Katarina Ballinger (Kat) is a mom of two, with Lily currently in Year 9 and Alex newly joined in Year 7 at the English College.

Originally from Slovakia, she has lived in Dubai for the past 27 years. Her professional background is in travel, tourism, hospitality industry and personal concierge services. She especially enjoys the creative side of being involved in school events and community activities, always ready to help and volunteer whenever she can. In her free time, Kat loves painting, scrapbooking and spending time outdoors whether that's traveling, hiking or camping with her family.

Vanitaa Bhatia is an entrepreneur and founder of DIVAlicious, a global fashion exhibition brand. With extensive experience in organizing large-scale events, she brings strong skills in planning, creativity, and community engagement. She is also a parent who values collaboration, teamwork, and supporting initiatives that enrich the school community. Her background in leadership and event management enables her to contribute with both professionalism and enthusiasm.

Hamad Khan was born and raised in Dubai and is the Head of Emergency Medicine. A proud father of two primary school daughters and uncle to four English College students and graduates, Hamad is strongly connected to the school community. He joined the ECPC to support parents and help drive positive change within the school.

Neetu Quadros is the Parent Representative for Year 12 and Year 13. Originally from Mumbai, India and moved to Dubai in Year 2021. She has 12 years working experience in various departments of Operations for Commercial Insurance. Mother of 2 kids one is in 3rd Year of Computer Science Engineering in University of Birmingham(Dubai) and other is in Year 12 in EC. She is a new Parent to EC and is excited to connect to the Parents community.

Redza Jamil is from Malaysia and works in Emirates Airlines as a pilot. His son Walif is in year 11. Walif's older brother & sister are EC alumni and as a family have been in EC for more than 15 years.
When not flying or in school, Redza & Walif enjoy watching Formula 1 and spending time at the go-kart track.

Born in China, Carole Faure is a true global trotter who has called several countries home before moving to the UAE in 2021. A proud parent of twin boys who recently joined EC in Year 8, Carole is eager to contribute positively to the school environment and support initiatives that bring families closer together.