Both Liam Cullinan and Michael Connor come from within the Nord Anglia Education group
PARTNER CONTENT: It’s a big day for the upcoming Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi (NAS Abu Dhabi).
Ahead of the school’s opening in August 2023, the school has announced two key appointments in its founding leadership team.
Coming from within the esteemed Nord Anglia Education group is Liam Cullinan, taking up the role of Executive Principal of both NAS Abu Dhabi and BISAD. Previously he also held the position of Principal at The British International School of Abu Dhabi (BISAD).
The second appointment is Michael Connor, formerly Deputy Head Teacher at Nord Anglia International School Dubai (NAS Dubai), joining as Head of Primary.
Liam Cullinan is poised to bring with him a wealth of experience in both British and international education, with a track record of delivering impressive results and transformative educational experiences.
As Principal of BISAD and previously founding Head of Secondary at NAS Dubai, Mr Cullinan enjoyed career success with both schools achieving ‘outstanding’ ratings with ADEK and KHDA respectively.
More impressively, BISAD is one of only 11 in Abu Dhabi to do so.
Mr Cullinan said, “It is a great honour to be appointed as Executive Principal at NAS Abu Dhabi. As a leader, I am passionate about empowering teams, building a strong sense of community, and nurturing a culture of academic excellence.”
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“At NAS Abu Dhabi, our ethos is very much about providing a personalised approach to education and looking to the future. I am excited to meet and build relationships with the students, parents and staff who are joining us for this exciting new era, and I am looking forward to fostering an inclusive and inspiring learning environment.”
As for Michael Connor, he comes with over a decade of international experience in teaching and leadership. This move comes from his previous position as Deputy Head Teacher at NAS Dubai for nine years.
He also completed a tenure as the Head of Year at Kings’ Dubai School from 2012 to 2015 where he demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and spearheaded multiple initiatives that culminated in three consecutive ‘Outstanding’ KHDA and BSO inspections for the school.
Mr Connor said, “I am delighted to join NAS Abu Dhabi as Head of Primary and am looking forward to creating a culture where students can feel enriched and challenged within a supportive and nurturing environment to facilitate outstanding learning outcomes. I have been part of the Nord Anglia family for some years now and am extremely passionate about curating a holistic learning experience as well as delivering whole-school initiatives so that our children can thrive.”
As the newest Nord Anglia school, NAS Abu Dhabi will offer the UK curriculum, teaching students from Early Years until graduation in Year 13. The school will also offer unrivalled A-level subject choices for Years 12 and 13 to give its students real depth of study within their subjects.
The school’s purpose-built campus boasts a capacity of 2,600 students, with an Early Years building, specialist classrooms, two sports halls, three swimming pools, and an auditorium.
The state-of-the-art campus will include more than 100 classrooms, 12 science labs, art studios, music rooms, and a large design technology and maker space.
Both Liam Cullinan and Michael Connor will be meeting enrolled and prospective families at the school’s first community event hosted at the prestigious Sorbonne University on 25 June.
With a range of engaging workshops and activities for children aged 3 to 13, this open event is designed to give families a first-hand taste of the NAS Abu Dhabi world in action. To join this interactive event, families must sign up in advance here.
For more information, or to book a school tour, email admissions@nasabudhabi.ae.
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