Campbell Douglas
Principal
Campbell was appointed as the Principal/CEO of GEMS Wellington Academy - Al Khail in August 2020. A graduate of the University of Auckland, Campbell holds a Bachelor of Music and a Masters in Educational Administration.
Prior to joining GEMS Wellington Academy - Al Khail, Campbell spent nine years in China where he led two schools for Dulwich College International, one in Zhuhai and one in Suzhou. At both of these schools the focus was very much on achieving outstanding academic results and ensuring placements at the world’s top universities for all students.
Prior to his roles in China, he was Deputy Principal for a large urban secondary school in New Zealand with portfolio responsibility for curriculum, assessment and reporting, and ensuring the best possible outcomes for indigenous and minority cultures.
Campbell is a firm believer in evidence-informed approaches to education and is looking forward to further enhancing the outstanding teaching and learning that already occurs in the Academy, ensuring there is a relentless focus on achievement, and that every student is able to reach their full academic and social potential.
Outside of school, Campbell enjoys music, having previously conducted New Zealand productions of Phantom of the Opera, CATS, and The Secret Garden, as well as having a research interest in Pacific Island culture, in particular, Samoa.
Campbell resides in Dubai with his wife, Marama, who is an Early Childhood teacher, daughter Holly, and son Charlie.
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Benjamin Parkes
Secondary Principal
Ben has been in the UAE since 2015, holding various executive leadership roles before becoming the Secondary Principal at GEMS Wellington Academy – Al Khail. He holds a National Professional Qualification in Headship from University College London and a degree in Management and Mathematics from the University of Essex.
Passionate about fostering independent learning, Ben is committed to ensuring students develop into lifelong learners equipped with the interpersonal skills needed to build strong, lasting relationships. A keen sportsman, he has participated in many sports and is also a certified Dive Master.
As a husband and father of two, Ben enjoys travelling with his wife and children, exploring new destinations together as a family.
At the heart of his leadership is a strong focus on relationships with parents and the wider school community. Ben values the partnerships that bring a school community together and actively engages with families through coffee mornings, school events, and community gatherings at the Academy.
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Paula Phinn
Primary Co-Principal - Curriculum & Enrichment
Paula has been at the Academy since it opened in 2013, mainly working across the Foundation and Primary stages. It has been an absolute pleasure for her to see the Academy children grow and develop over the years, becoming increasingly confident, independent and resilient in their learning. A graduate of the University of Strathclyde, Paula has a four-year honours degree in education specialising in both music and additional support for learning. She has also completed a postgraduate certificate in inclusive education.
A highly experienced practitioner in a range of settings, Paula has a broad and comprehensive understanding of child development. She believes that the best education starts with the personal, social and emotional needs of the child, ensuring that they are happy, confident and ready to learn. She believes that learning should be personalised for each student, with all children appropriately challenged and supported. She also believes children should have opportunities to learn independently and in collaboration with others. They should be encouraged to be inquisitive, creative and innovative. They should learn to see 'mistakes' as part of the learning process, helping them to challenge their thinking and solve problems in different ways.
Outside of school, Paula enjoys enjoy playing tennis, reading fiction books and cooking. She likes to think of herself as an active person but, in reality, loves nothing better than curling up on the couch to watch a movie with her husband and two cats, Harry and Voldemort.
Over the last seven years, Paula has built excellent relationships with children, parents and staff across the Academy community. Her door is always open to celebrate achievements, welcome feedback and support teaching and learning.
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Phil Waterworth
Primary Co-Principal - Student Progress, Assessment & Outcomes
Phil is thrilled to be taking on the role of Primary Assistant Principal after having taught Year 5 students for the past three years at the Academy. Phil is graduate of Leeds-Beckett University with a first-class honors degree in sport and exercise science.
Passionate about teaching young people, Phil commits himself to maximizing individual student performance, inspiring students to be enthused by their learning, and continuing his own professional development in regard to best practice around teaching and learning. In his new leadership role, Phil wants to ensure all students are engaged in active, relevant learning experiences every day and that high expectations for success are incorporated into all aspects of school life.
Outside of school, Phil has a range of interests including sport, having represented Middlesbrough Football Academy from a young age as well as being a loyal member of his local cricket club, through to music where he enjoys listening to a range of genres and styles. He is also an avid traveler and rates New Zealand as a stand-out due to its breath-taking landscapes.
Phil feels very privileged to work at the Academy for another year, with children from such a wide range of cultures and nationalities and is very much look forward to getting to know you all in the year ahead.
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Sarah Samuel
Primary Co-Principal - Teaching, Learning & Professional Development
Having been a part of the GEMS family and the Wellington Cluster since 2012, Sarah is thrilled to be appointed as the Primary Vice Principal of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum. With a strong academic background from Teesside University, Sarah brings extensive experience as both an educator and leader.
Throughout her journey, spanning over seven years in leadership roles, she has gained a profound insight into the ever-evolving educational landscape. This insight equips her to adeptly navigate the dynamic world of education.
Sarah's philosophy emphasizes continuous education shaped by the latest research and methodologies, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
Aligned with WEK's ethos, she's dedicated to creating a culture of boundless learning, empowering students to navigate life's changes with resilience.
Her passion for unlocking student potential extends beyond the school gates as she finds joy in the company of her three children. Her weekends are often filled with the excitement of watching her boys engage in rugby matches or just enjoying the sunshine by the pool or beach.
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Lisa Wareing
Secondary Vice Principal - Student Achievement & Outcomes
Jenny has been Senior Deputy Principal, and a member of the Executive Leadership Team, at GEMS Royal Dubai School in September 2020.
Originally from the northwest of England, Jenny has been a part of the GEMS family for 14 years where she has had the privilege to hold Assistant Principal and Deputy Headteacher positions in several GEMS schools across both primary and secondary phases. Prior to joining GEMS in 2011, Jenny was Head of Performing Arts at a secondary school in Greater Manchester.
Passionate about school improvement and developing a culture of high-performance, Jenny believes that children learn best through an engaging and creative curriculum. Educating the whole child and ensuring opportunity for children to succeed both within and beyond the core curriculum are critical to her role as a leader.
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Sarah Warncken
Secondary Vice Principal - Teaching & Learnin
Having spent over a decade in school Leadership in the UK, Sarah joins WEK as the Senior Vice Principal with oversight of Teaching and Learning. Sarah’s passion for shaping the lives and futures of students through delivering outstanding education is what led her to a career in teaching. Following her degree in Law at Kent University, Sarah has continued to study and completed her NPQSL and is a Lead Practitioner in teaching English - her subject specialism. During her tenure in the UK, her role was not only developing best practice in her own schools, but also to work closely with teams of staff across various specialisms to secure the best outcomes and attainment for all students.
In line with our WEK school pillars, Sarah fundamentally believes in research informed practice being at the heart of what we do in the classroom. As such her role is support our own staff to innovate in their own classrooms, to develop their own pedagogy and really push for limitless learning for all!
Outside of work, Sarah and her family can often be found exploring the great outdoors, both in the UAE and back in Europe over the summer break. Her favourite things are spending nights under the stars camping, walking through the wadis and beautiful coastlines of her home country and paddle boarding in the lakes of Europe.
Sarah joined the GEMS Wellington Academy Al Khail family this year and is excited to work with the fantastic team of leaders and teachers, and the wonderful community of families and students to ensure what happens in the classroom is at the forefront of best practice, and truly amounts to outstanding results for every student.