School Leadership

Ning Tian, Associate Professor, has extensive educational management theory and practical experience. Before serving as Chinese Founding Headmaster of Wycombe Abbey School Nanjing, Mr Tian was involved in teaching and educational management at XiaoZhuang University for 39 years. During that period, he also served as Headmaster of Nanjing Experimental International School, overseeing the successful running of all phases of the school from Kindergarten through to Lower School and Upper School. During his tenure as Headmaster, the school underwent tremendous growth and development. Mr Tian is well known among Nanjing society for his educational achievements. He is the Vice President and Executive Vice President of the Nanjing Private Education Association, a position he has held for 20 years.

Matthew holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Birmingham and an Executive MBA from the University of East London. His distinguished career includes serving as Interim Headmaster at Sherborne School, Assistant Head at Brighton College, and Housemaster at Bedford School in the UK, where he has made outstanding achievements in boarding school management and holistic education practice. As an educational leader, he places special emphasis on balancing academic development with comprehensive student growth. An enthusiastic participant in extracurricular activities, he is closely interested in current affairs and business theory, and enjoys opera and classical music. He is a long-distance runner, a former junior international hockey player, and enjoys team activities, once leading a team of 50 on an expedition to Everest Base Camp. These diverse personal experiences and passions fully demonstrate his commitment to holistic education principles.

Mr Engelke holds a Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Management from Keele University, UK, with 5 years of experience in teaching and management in primary and secondary schools. He formerly taught at Hangzhou Foreign Language School and served as the Housemaster. He also has extensive experience in teaching extracurricular activities such as rugby.

Peter Malan holds a Bachelor of Psychology from the University of South Africa and a Master of Educational Management from the University of Dundee, UK, with 18 years of experience in education. He has worked as the head of design, STEAM and computer departments in many well-known international schools in China. He has rich teaching experience in mathematics, psychology, environmental science and other disciplines. Peter has also been Head of Outdoor Education and has extensive experience with the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme.

Before joining WASNJ, Mr Qiang Yuan was Executive Head for Upper School at Nanjing Experimental International School. He has undertaken various leadership roles in his 30 years of professional experience. Mr Yuan has been known for encouraging his students always to pursue down-to-earth activities as part of their learning process. Mr Yuan believes that education is the conversation between two souls. He expects to contribute at WASNJ and is ready to witness the growth of every student here.

Mr Smale holds a Bachelor's degree in Education Studies from the United Kingdom, with 18 years of international teaching and management experience in China, Kuwait, Malaysia, and other countries. He is an expert in theme-based learning, science, and English instruction in primary school. He also has rich management experience in pastoral care within the House System. Before joining WASNJ, Mr Smale was the Head of Department and Housemaster at a renowned international school in Beijing.

Ms Yu holds a Master's degree in Education Studies from the United Kingdom, with 9 years of teaching and management experience in international schools in China, Thailand, and Qatar. Before joining WASNJ, she served as Head of Section, homeroom teacher, and residential tutor at another well-known international school in Hangzhou. Outside of teaching, she is also passionate about swimming, badminton, cycling, and reading.

Mrs Li has been committed to education for 40 years, 22 years of which she has devoted to front-line teaching and 12 years to kindergarten management. Institutions under her leadership have earned high public and government praise. She enjoys her time with kids very much. As the founding Chinese Head of Kindergarten, Mrs Li aims to build a safe, happy, but challenging environment for every child there.

Bachelor's degree in Anthropology, Master's degree in Applied Linguistics, with over 20 years of teaching experience in kindergartens and through-train schools in China and the United States. She has served as a lead teacher in several international schools and kindergartens in Nanjing and as the Head of the Department of English Language and Literature. She has extensive experience and unique insights in kindergarten curriculum design and evaluation and early childhood bilingual language development.