Meet The Team

Central to Pauline’s role is connecting ISS more closely with the international school community it serves. Drawing on 30 years of global experience in recruitment, leadership, client services and strategic advisory work, she brings direct market insight into organisational decision making, identifying emerging needs and opportunities and helping shape how ISS develops its services, partnerships and market presence. Her role provides a commercial thread across the organisation, connecting what ISS hears from schools and leaders worldwide with where and how it invests for future growth.

Pauline joined ISS in 2020 following a career spanning international education and executive recruitment. Before joining ISS, she held a senior role at the Council of International Schools (CIS), where her work focused on strengthening and professionalising international recruitment practices globally. Earlier in her career, she worked in international corporate recruitment, recruiting senior executives and specialist talent across a range of industries, including the pharmaceutical sector.

Throughout her career, Pauline’s remit has been truly global. She has led multicultural teams, developed competency based recruitment strategies and leadership programmes, built strategic partnerships, and advised international school leaders and boards around the world. Her work has taken her into more than 150 international schools worldwide, giving her first hand exposure to a remarkable range of school communities, leadership models and cultural contexts. Combined with thousands of leadership and executive interviews, this experience has given her deep insight into the priorities, challenges and opportunities shaping international education globally.

Pauline is an experienced facilitator, coach and keynote speaker. She has delivered leadership and recruitment training for school leadership teams and boards worldwide and regularly contributes to international conferences and professional learning programmes on leadership, governance, recruitment and organisational development.

A longstanding advocate for ethical, equitable and safer recruitment, Pauline has served on the International Task Force on Child Protection (ITFCP), where she chaired the Recruitment, Regulations and Reporting Committee. Through this work, she has contributed to the development and promotion of safer recruitment practices across the international school sector. She has also contributed to the AISA Child Protection Handbook, authoring a chapter focused on safer recruitment and selection practices.

Advancing women in leadership is another significant focus of Pauline’s work. She chairs the ECIS Women in Education Special Interest Group and is actively involved in initiatives including WomenEd, WISE and the Mary Anne Haas Women’s Symposium+. Her work focuses on increasing visibility, opportunity and pathways for women to progress into senior leadership roles. A regular international speaker and facilitator on women and leadership, Pauline is also a published contributor, with chapters featured in Raise Her Up and 10% Braver.

Pauline has previously served on the boards of Women’s Business Initiative International and ACCESS in the Netherlands and currently serves on the boards of Eblana Learning and Shekou International School.

Originally from Ireland and based in the Netherlands, Pauline has pursued studies in management, business and public relations. Her international career and experience working across cultures have shaped a global perspective and a strong understanding of how relationships, leadership and organisational context influence sustainable growth.

Contact Pauline