Faria China Connect

Dr. Addie Loy, an experienced educator from Michigan, USA. She serves as ISNS's Program Development Director for many years before she started the role as Head of School. She started her career as a Kentucky school teacher for nine years before transitioning to post-secondary education. With a Master's in English language development, she ventured to China. She's a Harvard-certified educational leader and nearing completion of her doctoral studies in comparative international education. Addie champions real-world education, emphasizing inquiry, problem-solving, and collaboration. As an IB workshop leader and school visit team member, she shares expertise with fellow educators. Addie's leadership has elevated ISNS to a frontrunner in Shenzhen, ensuring our rigorous, holistic academic programs thrive within the IB framework.

Dr. Sally Hewat is an alumnus of University Sydney, Australia with a degree in applied science, speech pathology and PhD. She is a certified practicing speech-language pathologist and A/Professor at the University of Newcastle, Australia. With a 30-year career that has impacted a variety of clinical and educational settings across many countries including Australia, Canada and North America, Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Fiji and mainland China, she has worked within public health, private healthcare, not-for profit and non-government and government organisations and universities. Sally’s clinical interest and expertise is focused on the development and evaluation of novel approaches to support people across the lifespan with communication difficulties. She has published over 60 peer-review research papers, received more than $4M research funding and won numerous national and international awards. She is also a founding co-director of an innovative rehabilitation clinic using virtual reality to support people with acquired neurological disorders, Autism, ADHD and learning difficulties. In addition to her clinical and research work, Sally is recognised internationally as a leader in curriculum development and professional practice education in allied health. She serves as an accreditor for university programs, an actively supports the work of Speech Pathology Australia, American Speech & hearing Association, IALP (International Association for Communication Sciences and Disorders, and recently accepted a role on the Workforce Stream of the World Health organization Rehabilitation Alliance. Sally believes in the transformative power of human connection that is enabled through one’s ability to communicate. She is a passionate, creative, a big picture forward thinker, who loves a challenge and creating new pathways. Sally is currently Vice President at OST Therapy and living in China with her husband and youngest daughter.

Angelica has worked at the intersection of education and technology since the early 2000's, holding roles at several edtech ventures around the world. She has a strong commitment to customer service, a passion for building quality software, and a keen interest in supporting the growth of international education. She is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and has lived abroad since 2010. She was educated at Phillips Exeter Academy, Harvard College, and Oxford University.

With over 15 years of experience in the education sector, Joris leads with a hands-on, project-driven approach to technology leadership. As Director of Technology, he has successfully spearheaded many initiatives, from developing strategic tech roadmaps for new school openings to overhauling legacy IT systems for existing institutions. Joris combines his background in Business Management with a deep understanding of infrastructure design to deliver solutions that enhance both learning environments and operational efficiency. Known for fostering collaboration and driving innovation, Joris is passionate about preparing students for the future and equipping educators with the tools they need to succeed. His project work has consistently delivered measurable impact, improving teaching outcomes, streamlining support systems, and ensuring schools stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Kaisy has been working as the Activities Coordinator at ISNS for four years.She has eight years of sales experieces in foreign trade. After working in education for the past five years, Kaisy has discovered she is passionate about education. Kaisy is a firm believer in lifelong learning, creativity and leadership ,which are the core components for developing students to be global citizens.She is proud to be part of the ISNS team.

Zhang Yu (CXO, AWIL Group Limited), primarily responsible for the development of mental health education services. Zhang Yu has over a decade of experience in social psychological intervention research, management, and teaching. She completed her doctoral studies at the School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and previously obtained a master's degree in Applied Sociology from City University of Hong Kong. ZHANG Yu is also active in social services. ZHANG Yu is not just a member of the working group of the Mental Health Collaboration Platform in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area contributing to the mental health cause within the region, she is also the Vice Convener of the Youth Development Committee of the Unleash Foundation, providing services to the youth population.

Susan Bivens, a dedicated Grade 2 homeroom teacher as ISNS, hails from Alaska, USA. She earned her Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Portland, Oregon, in 2007. Susan began her career with Portland Public Schools, primarily serving high language acquisition needs. In 2018, she embarked on her international teaching journey, moving to Beijing to work at a bilingual school pursing IB accreditation. A strong proponent of inquiry-based learning, Susan believes in fostering curious and critical thinkers in today’s educational landscape. In 2020, Susan moved to Thailand to teach at a school focused on Project-Based Learning. She was thrilled to move to Shenzhen, joining an established IB school to continue her teaching journey. Beyond her career as an education, Susan is a loving mom to two students at ISNS and is excited for them to thrive in the IB setting. Outside the classroom, she enjoys experimenting with recipes in her kitchen and exploring Shenzhen’s green spaces and trials with her family, as long as the trails are spider-free.