Governance at ISA
The International School of Athens is proud to be part of Dukes Education, a family of schools and educational organisations across the UK and Europe. Each school within Dukes Education maintains its own distinctive identity and ethos, while being united by a shared commitment to delivering outstanding teaching and learning
Our Governance Structure
Governance at ISA ensures that the school is well-led, forward-thinking, and focused on the best outcomes for our students. The Governors work strategically with the Head and Senior Leadership Team to guide the long‑term strategic goals, vision and priorities of the school. Their role includes supporting and challenging leadership, monitoring educational quality, reviewing progress, and ensuring that statutory duties are fulfilled.
The Governors act as a “critical friend” - a trusted partner who offers constructive challenges while supporting the school’s continued growth and success. Operational responsibilities remain firmly with the Head and Senior Leadership Team. The Governors’ focus is on strategy, oversight, safety, wellbeing, and long‑term school improvement, reflecting the governance approach used across the Dukes Education family.
Our Governors
David Fitzgerald, CEO Dukes Education Europe, Chair of Governors
David Fitzgerald is an experienced school and system leader with over 30 years of experience in education and having previously worked for the Reserve Bank of Australia. He holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Undergraduate degrees in Education and Business. David joins Dukes from Education in Motion (EiM), the leading Asia based school group that includes the Dulwich and Green School brands. In his role with EiM, he was responsible for the educational outcomes and the quality of education provision for all EiM international curricula schools and is focused on improving education quality.
David has been a successful Head/Principal of five schools across government, private independent and international sectors. He has been involved in international education since 2006 and has worked in IB World Schools, US Curriculum schools, Indian Curriculum schools and NCfE schools. David has system leadership experience with the English Schools Foundation in Hong Kong and with GEMS Education in the UAE where he was Senior Vice President – for US and IB Schools. David is an accredited IB, CIS and WASC team visitor and Chair, and an accredited Performance Coach.
Philippe Grosskost Managing Director, Central Europe
Philippe is a senior professional, with over twenty-five years’ experience of working in training, education and general management positions, mainly in Europe and also the Middle East and North America. Philippe brings a wealth of experience across a range of different sectors including consulting, distribution, vocational training and Higher & K-12 education management.
During his career, Philippe has built, managed and motivated multicultural, international teams around the world. He has previously been Managing Director (EMEA) for ETS Global, a subsidiary of ETS, the world leader in business certification, educational testing and consultancy (known for GRE, SAT, TOEFL and TOEIC). He then joined an education start-up financed by the Varkey Foundation and lead by Jeffrey Beard, the ex-Director General of the IB. After that inspirational experience, he co-founded a business school in Geneva before joining ISP in early 2022 where he contributed to the growth of the region from 4 to 10 schools. In 2024, Philippe joined Dukes Education as Managing Director for Central and Eastern Europe, recognising that the Dukes values and its founding ethos of nurturing young people so they can achieve their full potential, resonate strongly with his own aspirations.
Philippe has a Bachelor’s degree in political science, from Sciences Po in Strasbourg and a Master of Business Administration from ICN, one of the world’s top 50 FT schools. He has completed a Harvard Business School leadership program and has been trained on case-based teaching, also by Harvard Business School.
Brought up in Alsace, in the East of France, Philippe enjoys cycling, travelling and spending his free time with his family.
Liza Humphrey, Sales and Marketing Director, Europe
Liza Humphrey has joined Dukes Education Europe as European Director of Admissions & Marketing. In this role, Liza will collaborate closely with country and school teams to design an exceptional parent experience journey while driving both organic growth and start-up expansion. Her mission includes ensuring operational excellence and delivering world-class service across marketing and admissions functions.
A graduate of the University of Leicester with a BA (Hons) in European Business & Spanish, Liza began her career teaching English before transitioning into marketing and admissions, where her passion for connecting families with educational opportunities flourished.
Throughout her career, Liza has held pivotal roles in global education markets. As Global Enrolment Management Director at Laureate International Universities from 2005 to 2013, she led enrolment strategies that drove growth and operational success. In 2014, she joined Nord Anglia Education as Regional Director of Admissions & Marketing for China, managing enrolments, launching a bilingual school brand, and spearheading market expansion efforts.
From 2019 to 2024, Liza served as Chief Marketing & Admissions Officer at Globeducate, leading group-wide strategies and working closely with operational leaders and country CEOs to foster growth and operational excellence. Her extensive international travel facilitated collaboration with school leadership teams, fostering best practices and operational efficiency.
Having lived and worked in the UK, Spain, Turkey, Switzerland, and China, Liza brings a global outlook and strategic insight to her leadership. Her passion for innovation and customer-centric approaches consistently drives impactful results in the education sector.
Christopher Durbin, External Governor
Christopher Durbin brings nearly a decade of experience in international school accreditation through his work with the Council of International Schools (CIS), most recently serving as Associate Director of School Support & Evaluation. In this role, he has partnered with schools across the world to drive continuous improvement and strengthen educational quality.
Before joining CIS, Christopher was a School Development Adviser for the English Schools Foundation (ESF) in Hong Kong, where he oversaw quality assurance, strategic curriculum development, and professional learning. He also served on several ESF governing bodies and contributed to the recruitment and support of school leaders.
Christopher’s earlier career in the UK included positions as a teacher, head of faculty, and advisory teacher for Derbyshire LEA. He later joined the BBC as an Education Officer, leading the development of the GCSE Bitesize online learning platform. He went on to work as an advisor and inspector for Staffordshire LEA, contributing to inspection frameworks, curriculum innovation, and national teacher‑networking initiatives.
A published writer and experienced presenter, Christopher has authored articles and textbooks and delivered keynotes and workshops at national and international conferences, particularly in the field of global citizenship education.
Beyond his professional life, Christopher is a lifelong environmentalist and avid cyclist. A cancer survivor, he regularly takes part in long‑distance charity rides, raising funds for myeloma and heart‑research initiatives. He is most at home in the wilderness or completing a challenging 100‑kilometre cycling route.