February 2014
37
Tracey:
Thanks for taking the time
to sit down with me today. You’ve
been in your new role since September
and I’m sure you’re still busy getting
up to speed on your new job and
home. How are you finding things?
How does life in Hong Kong compare
to your previous posts in Scotland and
Abu Dhabi?
Belinda:
Scotland and Hong Kong
couldn’t be farther apart. It’s more
than just the 6,000 miles; the Hong
Kong pace of life is faster, spaces seem
to be smaller, with more people. But
I’m loving the city and what it has to
offer.
T:
You’ve been an educator for more
than 30 years. I understand that your
kids are grown and your husband –
also an educator – has just retired.
This seems like a huge, challenging
position to take on when you’ve
certainly earned the right to slow
down. What compelled you to take on
this job?
B:
Well, I suppose I’m not the kind of
person who slows down – apart from
my marathon running! I’ve run five
marathons and I’m managing to get
slower each time. (Laughs.) But, I like
to be busy, and I came into education
genuinely to make a difference,
especially for children. The work I
was doing in Scotland was at a very
high level. I’d been in Stirling for
four years and had to consider either
moving to a bigger authority, with
more children but doing the same job,
or here was an ideal opportunity to
go back overseas and do a similar job,
but different, with different challenges,
which suits my personality. I like to
feel challenged.
T:
The big ESF issue that everyone’s
talking about is the phasing out of the
government subvention. ESF has won
favour for being a more cost-effective
alternative for both expatriate and
local parents whose children are
best suited for an English-language
education. When the fees inevitably
rise, how will ESF be different from
other international schools?
B:
ESF has a very proud tradition that
we don’t want to lose, and, therefore,
we don’t want to become just a group
of international schools. I think the
strength of Hong Kong is having the
variety and choice. I’m interested in
looking at the international schools,
local schools and ESF almost as three
different pillars. ESF doesn’t fit into
the international schools and I don’t
want it to. I think we are unique, from
our past, but more importantly, for
what we can contribute to the future.
So I will be looking to work in closer
partnership with the local system and
There’s a new sheriff in town.
Playtimes
editor-in-chief
Tracey Starr
sat down with ESF’s
new CEO to hear what she’s got planned.
Meet
Belinda Greer
