Board of
Trustees
AIS is a non-profit organisation in the form of an association under Belgian law. The association is composed of prominent Belgians and a dedicated Board of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees is a self-perpetuating body whose members are approved by the association during the annual October meeting. The group is financially and legally responsible for the school and for determining major policies. Members are constantly striving to improve the quality of education for AIS students. The Head of School serves as an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees.
Board Members 2022-2023
| Niels Schillewaert, President |
| Niels Schillewaert, PhD, is Partner at Human8 – one of the world’s leading strategic consumer insights agencies. Niels combined entrepreneurship and commercial research with academia throughout his career. He has a strong academic background as a Professor of Marketing (2000-2012) and an Adjunct Professor (2019 – Present) at the Vlerick Business School. He obtained a PhD in Applied Economic Sciences from Ghent University and was an award winning ISBM Research Fellow at Penn State University (U.S.A.). His research was awarded several times and published in leading scientific journals. As the son of devoted school teachers he believes that high quality education is groundbreaking for the future growth of society as well as individuals. Niels is Belgian and moved to the Antwerp area with his spouse and three kids after having lived and worked in the U.S.A.. He joined the Board of Trustees in 2020. |
| Edgar Mulder, Vice-President |
| Edgar Mulder is a member of the Management Board of Amerborgh, a family owned management company with investments and participations in companies in the field of asset management, cross-media publications, IT development, hotels, property development and activities related to the art and culture. Previously he worked at Unique International and as an independent entrepreneur on a variety of projects for various clients. In 2012 Edgar moved from the Netherlands to Belgium with his wife and four children. |
| Dirk Jan Storm, Treasurer |
| Dirk Jan Storm is Regional CFO for the EuroMed region with PSA International, the largest global container terminal operator with headquarters in Singapore and responsible for the vast majority of container handling in the port of Antwerp. Prior to that he held several senior leadership positions predominantly in the Steel and Aluminium industry in countries across Europe and the Middle East. Dirk Jan holds a Masters degree in Business Economics and a CPA from the Erasmus University in Rotterdam as well as an Executive MBA from IMD in Lausanne. Lived and worked in Belgium from 1996 to 2007 and returned back to Antwerp in 2019 after a stint of 11 years in Dubai. Living in Antwerp with his wife and daughter, who was born and raised in Dubai and attended an international school until moving to Belgium. Joined the AIS Board in 2023. |
| Els De Cremer, Secretary |
| Els De Cremer holds a Master in Psychology from the University of Ghent and a Master in Business Administration from the Vlerick School of Management. She is the co-founder and Managing Director of Borderless Executive Search. Els started her career with The Dow Chemical Company holding a variety of positions in Human Resources and Business Management. Els has lived and worked in Belgium, The Netherlands and Switzerland. Both her children have graduated from AIS. She joined the AIS Board in 2021 and now lives in Antwerp with her family. |
| Christi Sexton |
| Christi Sexton joined the AIS Board of Trustees in May 2023. Christi and her family relocated to the Netherlands in the Summer of 2022 from New Orleans, Louisiana USA when her husband accepted a position with Dow, Inc. in Terneuzen. Christi holds Bachelor’s Degrees in Biology and Chemistry, a professional degree in Clinical Laboratory Sciences from the University of Tennessee system and a Master Teacher certification in the State of Texas. Christi has 15 years' experience as a secondary science teacher writing grants and curriculum for the Fort Bend Independent School District, teaching Advanced Placement sciences, and coaching multiple sports. She spent the last five years as the owner-operator of a private tutoring business in New Orleans, Louisiana. Christi’s son, Jackson, is a DP program student at AIS. |
| Koen Palinckx |
| Koen Palinckx has been the District Mayor of Ekeren since 2013 and was re-elected in 2018. Before that, he was alderman for culture, heritage and mobility. He is also a member of the Provincial Council for Antwerp. Koen holds a Master in History from Ghent University. In his professional career, Koen held positions in the public sector, working for the Flemish government, the City of Antwerp and Brasschaat. He is also chairperson of the Board for the Federal War Heritage Institute. He joined the AIS Board in 2019. |
| Ravi Bhansali |
| Ravi Bhansali is CEO & Managing Director of Rosy Blue NV, one of the largest companies in the international diamond trade, with activities ranging from rough & polished diamond trading, cutting & polishing, and jewellery manufacturing & distribution. He is a 3rd generation Indian in Belgium, born and raised in Antwerp. Both he and his wife are alumni of AIS. Ravi received his Bachelor’s degree in International Business and Marketing from Regent’s University London. Ravi has lived in Antwerp, London, Mumbai, Sri Lanka & Thailand, and finally returned to Antwerp where he lives with his wife and 2 kids. Ravi is also passionate about contemporary art, and spends much of his time pursuing this interest. |
| Barbara Oberreuther |
| Barbara Oberreuther joined the AIS Board of Trustees in 2022. She holds a degree in Architecture and is an accredited coach with the International Coach Federation. Barbara worked and lived in Germany, Belgium and Hong Kong. In 2021 she returned to Belgium as a trailing spouse. Both kids are currently attending AIS. |
| Shweta Mehta |
| More info coming soon. |
| Joost Derickx |
| Joost Derickx holds a Master in Business and Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam. In his international career, he worked in various financial and operational positions in The Netherlands, Germany, China and Belgium. Currently, he is CEO of ERIKS Belgium and Luxemburg. ERIKS is Belgium's leading industrial service provider and part of the Dutch-based ERIKS Group. Designing, (Co-) producing and supplying state-of-the-art industrial goods (MRO and OEM) to make industries work better is the mission of ERIKS. Joost lives with his wife and 2 children, of which 1 attends Antwerp International School. He joined the AIS Board of Trustees in October 2023. |
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