Our Management
- Home
- Our Management
Message From Our Founder
Education is about more than imparting knowledge. It is about building character and empowering each individual to be an enthusiastic life-long learner and a global citizen of the future.
As said by Ms Ho Ching, wife of Singapore’s Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong in the Forward of EtonHouse 1996 Year Book.
“The key to education is building character and developing capability.
Without character, society will degenerate. Without capacity, society will likewise fade.
A child at seven is set for life. The early years form the basic foundation, shaping both the child’s character and his or her desire to learn. More than intellectual stimulation, children must learn to live and socialise with their fellow human beings as part of a considerate and mutually supportive community. In this role, schools carry an important responsibility to complement the care and support provided by parents and family.
As the Chinese say: “tian sheng wo cai bi you yong” （天生我才必有用） everyone has a talent to contribute to society. However, this potential needs to be cultivated and nurtured, in order for it to blossom. A supportive family combined with a stimulating group learning opportunity provides one of the best environments for a child to grow and take his or her place in this world.”
EtonHouse is committed to the pursuit of excellence and leadership in education and making a difference in the lives of children and in turn society in general. The curriculum is based upon leading pedagogical models from around the world and designed to develop students holistically. All learning at EtonHouse is built upon proven research-based best practice.
Classroom learning is inquiry-based and student-centric. Teachers seek to work collaboratively with the children, respecting the unique abilities that each learner brings into the learning environment. EtonHouse also looks to work in close partnership with all members of its parent community.
The educational philosophies practised in EtonHouse schools include the early years Inquire-Think-Learn approach inspired by the Reggio Emilia Project of Northern Italy and the International Baccalaureate programme in the primary and high school years.
EtonHouse seeks to graduate internationally minded students with the confidence and character to become active, responsible members of their immediate communities and potentially, as leaders to shape the future of our planet.
Dr Ng Gim Choo
Founder and Chairwoman
Global Management Team
Ng Gim Choo
Founder and Chairwoman
Prior to setting up The EtonHouse Group in 1995, Dr Ng worked as an audit manager at Ernst & Young and then as a partner in an audit firm. When she was living in the UK, she experienced first hand how her children were happy, engaged, and stimulated at school. Motivated to pioneer a similarly enriching educational environment in Singapore, she gave up her career in auditing to enter the education sector.
In EtonHouse, she provides strategic leadership to the Group — she successfully spearheaded the expansion of EtonHouse across Asia and is dedicated to constantly raising new standards of excellence in international education.
Her efforts have been recognised over the years. In 2009, she became the first Singaporean woman to receive the Freedom of the City of London, one of the oldest awards in the UK for her contribution to international education. In 2011, she received the Jiangsu Friendship Award, the highest award that the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government has established for foreign experts. Recently in 2019, she won the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Education category for her contributions to Singapore’s economy and society.
Dr Ng has also been featured in the Forbes 2021 ‘Asia’s Power Businesswomen’ list of twenty outstanding business leaders in Asia. She is one of the three Singaporean women on this prestigious list for 2021 that commemorates leaders who have adapted and thrived, seizing opportunities amid challenges. This recognition is especially significant after two years of the pandemic, which has caused unprecedented changes to our lives. She has also been named Her World’s Woman of the Year 2022, an award that recognises and celebrates inspirational women who have made outstanding contributions in their field and to society. In addition, Dr Ng is also an honouree of Tatler Asia’s Most Influential 2022; this award recognises 100 influential leaders and changemakers who drive positive changes in the sphere of their influence in the region and beyond.
Apart from being a successful businesswoman, Dr Ng is a philanthropist. She raised over $110,000 for various charities as part of EtonHouse’s 10th Year Anniversary celebration. She also donated her cash prize of $10,000 for scoring a hole-in-one at the Warren Golf Club Charity Open to Pathlight School in Singapore. She continues to lead the way for all charity initiatives under the EtonHouse Community Fund, an independent IPC charity dedicated to reaching out to children and adults through education.
Ultimately, her pride and joy are her three children. Her daughter has completed her post-doctorate and her older son is pursuing his PhD. Her younger son who started his career in banking has joined EtonHouse and is leading the group successfully as the Group Chief Executive Officer of the company.
Gallery
Ng Yi-Xian
Group Chief Executive Officer
Mr Ng took over the reins as Group Chief Executive Officer of EtonHouse International Education Group in 2020, leading a team of over 5,000 staff and providing education to more than 25,000 students across over 100 schools in nine countries. Catering to both local and expatriate families, EtonHouse offers programmes from infant care to high school in both premium and affordable spaces. As a second-generation entrepreneur and son of founder Dr Ng Gim Choo, he is dedicated to taking the group to greater heights. Under his leadership, the brand has expanded, with the creation of Middleton International School, providing affordable international education, and The Eton Academy, which offers high-quality academic enrichment for students from preschool to primary. He is also the driving force behind EtonHouse’s digital transformation, positioning it as a digital-first organisation with innovation at its core. Mr Ng’s achievements have earned him recognition as one of the winners of The Next ICON Awards 2024 by ICON Singapore, celebrating his outstanding impact on the education landscape.
Before joining EtonHouse, Mr Ng worked in the finance sector in the United States, starting his career as an investment banking analyst at Credit Suisse’s New York Global Industrials Group, where he specialised in mergers, acquisitions, and financial strategy. He then joined North Run Capital, a hedge fund in Boston, where he gained further expertise in investment sourcing, research, and execution.
In his personal life, he enjoys outdoor activities, adventure sports, and is a strong advocate for mindfulness, a value he actively promotes within the organisation. As a father of twin boys and a daughter, Yi-Xian navigates the joys and challenges of parenthood while overseeing the education and well-being of over 25,000 students in EtonHouse schools worldwide.
Our Leadership team
Shaqeel Said
CEO KSA
Shaqeel was previously CEO at Tadrees Ltd which owns and operates K12 schools in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. There he led a portfolio of schools in Riyadh which combined both international and local curricula and had a total student population of over 6 thousand students across 3 schools.
He is passionate about developing educational institutions that get learners to become the best versions of themselves and about constantly innovating to keep pace with the rapidly changing needs of the world and to meet the challenges students will face. He is also a firm believer in the importance of education systems that link learners with the real world and industry from as early as possible and is convinced about the immense potential of students to achieve much more than they currently do in traditional education systems, when supported and given the opportunity to pursue their interests.
Prior to Tadrees, he served as CFO of Obeikan Education which delivered national curricula development projects for multiple ministries of education in the Gulf. In partnership with Laureate Education, Obeikan also operated 8 vocational colleges across the Kingdom in addition to having the largest commercial printer in the Gulf.
Other positions Shaqeel has held include roles in a listed FMCG company and private investment offices in Saudi Arabia. Currently a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, Shaqeel started his professional career as an auditor at Price Waterhouse, London.
Having been educated in Singapore’s top schools and receiving the Prime Minister’s Book Prize at age 13, he completed his A Levels in a UK boarding school and went on to read Law at UCL before qualifying as a chartered accountant. He believes his early exposure to vastly different education systems and cultures, kindled in him a lifelong interest in education, and throughout the various roles he had taken on in his career, he has always maintained links with education engaging in teaching stints including for Leicester University’s MBA programme.
Outside of work, Shaqeel is passionate about horses having represented Singapore internationally in equestrian events, and is curious about most things, enjoying reading, travelling and being inspired by great thinkers in every sector.
Connor-Scahill Elizabeth Denise
Principal, EtonHouse International Pre-School Granada
Elizabeth has been a successful EtonHouse school leader having led an EtonHouse campus in Singapore. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the market in the Middle East as well as a strong understanding of the EtonHouse teaching and learning approach—something that inspires confidence in her local and international experience.
Elizabeth is dedicated towards providing the highest standards of care and education for children. She thoroughly enjoys working alongside teachers, parents and children to promote best practices in early childhood, drawing on her U.K. based experiences and International Educational expertise built in the Gulf and Singapore. Elizabeth is an innovative leader and enjoys planning for the school community needs. She has a strong reputation for leading new schools through to success with a solid reputation.
Elizabeth views young children as capable, curious, social explorers. She strongly advocates for play and inquiry. Elizabeth believes all curriculum decisions and programme designs should centre around understanding how children learn best. She celebrates the power of an international school as she is able to draw on diverse perspectives, experiences and talent in the staff and parent community. Elizabeth advocates for parents as partners and truly feels they understand their child best as the first educator.
Vildana Dupanovic
Principal, EtonHouse International School Granada
Vildana holds a Bachelor of Elementary Education from West Chester University and a Master of Education with Principal Certification from Cabrini College. She began her professional career in Philadelphia, USA, bringing over 20 years of American Curriculum teaching and leadership experience across the United States and the GCC. For the past ten years, she has had the privilege of serving in various executive senior leadership roles in the UAE, where she developed a deep understanding and appreciation of Islamic culture and values.
Vildana is honored to join as the Principal of EtonHouse International School Granada, Riyadh Campus. As a dedicated and visionary leader, her practice is deeply aligned with the EtonHouse image of the child as a curious, capable, and confident learner. She is passionate about enhancing the quality of education for all students by fostering an inquiry-based approach where children are empowered to ask questions, think critically, and take ownership of their learning journey . She has led diverse school communities in ensuring high standards of teaching, learning, and assessment, always viewing the environment as a “third teacher;” a space intentionally designed to inspire exploration, collaboration, and creativity . Her commitment to excellence is evident in her track record of driving positive change and consistently leading schools to improved student learning outcomes as well as enhanced inspection results.
At the core of Vildana’s educational philosophy is the belief that education unlocks doors of opportunity. She champions the Reggio Emilia principle of “the hundred languages,” honoring the myriad ways children express themselves through art, movement, music, and play . She is passionate about cultivating a school culture that respects every voice, fosters inclusivity, and builds a collaborative community where children, families, and teachers co-construct the learning experience . This belief guides her work as Principal, tirelessly creating educational experiences that honor individuality and empower every child not just to learn, but to flourish.