School
Principal
Head of
Academics
Senior
Master
Head of
Junior School
Head of
Admissions
Head of
Experience
Admissions
Manager
School
Principal
Head of
Academics
Senior
Master
Head of
Junior School
Admissions
Manager
SCHOOL CAMPUS ADDRESS
R. Maria Luísa Holstein,
1300-388 Lisboa, Portugal
Having experienced great disappointment at being rejected by the Royal Air Force for being “too tall” to fly, Martin trained as a teacher (University of London) and was pleased to discover that he could make a positive difference within the school environment. Motivated to develop this, he quickly realised that what happens outside a classroom is as important as what is taught in it, when it comes to developing a child and building their confidence and happiness. This has become the foundation for the Lisboan, as it seeks to develop well-rounded young people.
Initially a Geography teacher, Martin has taught a range of subjects including History, English, Philosophy, and has coached various sports. Over eighteen years, he has led several schools in the UK, most recently Cheam School, Berkshire.
Martin has led a variety of trips around the world, from climbing Mount Kenya to exploring the battlefield of Monte Cassino in Italy. These opportunities have enhanced students’ education experience, taking them beyond the classroom.
His love of sport continues and, since arriving in Lisbon, he’s a convert to Padel. Martin is joined in Lisbon by wife, Catherine, who works in our admissions department and helps in other areas while their two sons are at university and at work in the UK.
Originally from the UK, Gavin left school and went straight into the chemical industry, where he obtained his degree in Chemistry through the Royal Society of Chemistry. He went on to study education as a postgraduate at the University of Oxford, where he met his wife, Jane. Together they travelled to and taught in Kuwait, Bangkok and, most recently, Kuala Lumpur. During this time, Gavin obtained a Master’s in Educational Leadership and he is currently partway through a doctorate at ISCTE here in Lisbon.
He fundamentally believes that students can only flourish when they feel happy and safe, and that education needs to be fun and engaging. For Gavin, learning must be holistic and therefore needs to incorporate areas such as entrepreneurship, service learning, environmental education, and health and well-being, to help guide students to be the best version of themselves.
Gavin loves all that Lisbon has to offer – the food, scenery, weather and, of course, the kind and hospitable Portuguese people have made him feel incredibly welcomed.
For Kate, education is the ultimate superpower which should transform individuals, institutions, and societies. She believes all students learn best when educators establish positive relations and trust with them. Student agency, celebrating individuality, promoting responsibility, and encouraging the pursuit of excellence in the broadest possible sense, are her priority. As Senior Master, Kate leads on the wellbeing and pastoral development of our whole community; students, parents and staff as well as the experiential learning experience of our students, including our unique BOA Programme.
Kate has held senior positions in international schools in Korea, Hong Kong and Europe. She holds a MSc Education Management from the University of Bristol, and postgraduate certificates in Linguistics, English Literature, Leadership, Pedagogy and Positive Psychology. Kate is very familiar with the joys and challenges of raising a family in an international setting and will ensure that The Lisboan is a welcoming and inclusive learning environment where diversity and individuality is celebrated.
A keen sportsperson who loves the great outdoors, Kate’s other passion is language learning. She has studied French, Italian, Cantonese, Japanese and is looking forward to adding Portuguese to her repertoire.
With 20 years as an educator, Gillian joins us from Taipei European School where she was an assistant head teacher. Previously principal of an elementary and middle school in Los Angeles, California, she has also taught in the UK.
Gillian is committed to developing a learning community that has student safety and a sense of belonging at its core. She’s passionate about developing rigorous and relevant learning experiences that give all students opportunities to be successful, be risk-takers and emerge as change-makers. By creating opportunities for students to grow socially, emotionally and academically, she wants to give them the tools to develop habits of mind that equip them to be curious about the world and develop as problem solvers and environmental stewards.
With a BA(Hons) in Humanities and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), Gillian has continued her own learning journey with a Master’s in Educational Leadership. More recently, she became a doctoral student with a focus on curriculum and instruction.
Gillian enjoys being in nature, exploring new areas, and meeting new people. She’s joined in Lisbon with her husband, Greig, and their two Taiwanese mountain dogs. They look forward to exploring all that Portugal has to offer.
Mafalda is a dedicated professional with a genuine interest in admissions for global education. With a diverse background spanning Portugal, Brazil, and the US, Mafalda has gained valuable insights into the global education landscape. Her journey reflects a commitment to understanding diverse educational scenarios and crafting personalized admissions approaches.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Mafalda is a true cosmopolitan, drawing inspiration from various cultures and experiences. As a Lisbon native, she takes pride in introducing newcomers to the beauty of her city. Mafalda also has a passion for drawing, dancing, exploring new cuisines, and her fascination with space—marked by witnessing a rocket launch at Cape Canaveral—serves as a creative and adventurous outlet.
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Ed brings over two decades of experience in the independent school sector in the UK, including significant roles such as Director of Sport across the 3 to 18 age range. At The Lisboan, his passion lies in providing students with enriching experiences that extend beyond traditional classrooms, fostering exploration, inquisition, and challenge. His commitment to considering students’ diverse interests is evident in his approach, aiming to uncover hidden talents, cultivate lifelong passions, and develop students’ ability to articulate their emotions and passions.
One of Ed’s notable contributions is the development of a unique Experience Programme at The Lisboan, leveraging the diverse opportunities that the Lisbon area offers. From the cultural richness of Lisbon’s historical centre to the rugged beauty of the Atlantic coast, and from the enchanting National Parks to the vibrant Tejo river, the possibilities are endless. He has combined these venues with the expertise of The Lisboan staff and local partners to create a truly distinctive and exciting Experience Programme that aligns with the holistic values of BOA and The Lisboan Domains.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Ed is an avid sports enthusiast, actively participating in and watching various sports, including supporting local Liga 3 football club and partner, Atletico CP. As a secret Geography teacher, he finds joy in exploring new places, particularly those with geographical significance. Ed also cherishes quality time spent with his young family, as they together explore and enjoy the many delights that Portugal has to offer.
Admissions Manager
Catherine joins us in our admissions department at The Lisboan, but is involved in many varied aspects of life at The Lisboan. She’s worked in education for the past 20 years, running prep schools in the UK (Cheam and Sandroyd) with her husband, Martin, who is principal of our school. Catherine was involved in all areas of school life outside the classroom, including pastoral care of the children.
Her career started as a physiotherapist in London, where she specialised in Intensive Care and worked in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) for 10 years before she became involved in education.
Catherine and Martin have two grown-up boys and a dog called Dyllis. She treasures time spent with her family and friends, and enjoys exploring new places, including restaurants, walking, films and reading. She loves the beauty of Lisbon, its history and the variety of food.
Julio is an accomplished and dynamic finance and administration professional with extensive experience across accounting, tax, budgeting, credit control, treasury, as well as HR and IT-related activities.
Julio developed his career in Portugal and Africa, where he worked for local and multinational companies in financial services, integrated logistics, and oil and gas.
He is excited to be part of The Lisboan due to its unique characteristics of the school, the impact it will have on Lisbon, Portugal more widely, and on the future generations of world citizens. For Julio, it presents a one-of-a-kind experience to be involved, and he feels his diversified work experience and knowledge will contribute to its success.
Julio holds a degree in Economics from the Technical University of Lisbon / ISEG – Lisbon School of Economics and Management.
Outside of work, he likes to walk and run in the countryside, and enjoys reading and going to the cinema.
Coming from a family of teachers and researchers, Suzana spent a large part of her childhood in the UK and lived a year in France due to her parents’ academic careers. As a true Third Culture Kid, she truly understands what it is to live abroad as a child and to be an international student. Originally from Brazil, Suzana moved to Portugal six years ago to pursue her doctoral studies.
With extensive experience as a marketing and trends professional, she has worked in different industries, from law to mining, startups to fast-moving consumer goods.
She also followed in her parents’ footsteps and became a university teacher and researcher, working in Brazil and Portugal. Suzana holds a PhD degree in Culture Studies / Technology Trends, a Master’s in Linguistics / Online Advertising and a BA in Communications.
Suzana loves to walk her two whippets by the sea. Travelling is a passion, and she is always on the lookout for the next trend, in Lisbon and abroad. She is also enthusiastic about space exploration, a topic that complements her professional interests in technology trends.
