The Board of Governors is overseeing the strategic direction of GESS. All Board members are non-executive, working on an honorary basis. The Board has ten members, eight of whom are elected by the members of the Association at the Annual General Meeting, and two of whom are appointed by the Board.
Professional Experience
Rachel Ward has been an active member of the School Community for several years serving in many voluntary roles. She has a good understanding of the operational (non-pedagogical) functions of the school, and has worked closely with the Principal and many members of the senior management team and staff. Her professional background is in the areas of Strategic Business Development, Marketing and Communications and she has both a Commerce Degree and a Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Science.
Originally from Australia, Rachel Ward has lived in Singapore since late 2001.
GESS Subcommittees
• Admissions & Marketing - Chairperson
• Human Resources
Number of Children at GESS: 3
Professional Experience
Jürgen Seitz has a Master in Information Engineering (Dipl.Ing.(FH)), Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications as well as a Master in Production and Material Economics. With his educational background and experience in organisational change management processes, Mr. Seitz brings a new dimension to the GESS Board. He is Managing Director for Pepperl & Fuchs Mfg. Pte.Ltd in Singapore and South East Asia, looking after three operational production units in the region, which account for more than 80% of the company’s manufacturing. He is also responsible for the construction of an additional building in Singapore and in Vietnam.
GESS Subcommittees
• Project Management Team
Number of children at GESS: 1
Professional Experience
Verena Desai has a Masters in Technical Mathematics and is originally from Vienna, Austria. She spent her professional career in investment banking, working in Vienna, Frankfurt and London in Emerging Markets Fixed Income trading and sales (RZB, Dresdner Kleinwort and Jefferies).
After moving to Singapore with her family in 2010 she gave up her job and decided to focus on her family.
Number of children at GESS: 3
Professional Experience
Florian is the founder and CEO of an investment management company focused on emerging markets. He currently serves on the committee of the Stanford GSB alumni association in Singapore and is a non-executive director and chairman of the audit committee of a shipping company listed on the New York stock exchange. Florian holds degrees in business studies and environmental science.
Florian and his family have been living in Singapore since 2011 and been members of the GESS community since 2013.
GESS Subcommittee
• Finance
• Investment
• To Be Determined
Number of Children at GESS: 2
Professional Experience
Roger van Baal has a Master in Business Economics and has been living in Singapore with his family since end 2007. Roger van Baal has a strong finance and project management background as well as people management experience. Roger is currently COO (including overall financial responsibility) of a Singapore-based international company and sits on the boards of various petrochemical, ship-owner, education provider and aquaculture companies. Roger is used to dealing with Singapore government departments such as EDB and IE and has had various positions on the finance and IT subcommittees of the Tanglin Club for the last 3 years.
GESS Subcommittees
• Finance
• Information Technology
Number of Children at GESS: 1
Professional Experience
Anne-Ev Jütte-Enzmann is an independent consultant focusing on marketing and professional training and development. She is also an ExCo Member of the INSEAD Alumni Association in Singapore. Previously, she was a Member of the Executive Committee of Big C Supercenter, in charge of marketing and communications. Prior to Big C, she worked for almost 10 years for Tesco, among other roles as Marketing Director and Marketing Strategy Director. She started her career with A.T. Kearney in management consulting, working on a wide range of projects and sectors, including administrative reform at two German universities.
Anne-Ev has lived in Asia since 2005 and is a Singapore PR.
GESS Subcommittees
• Admissions & Marketing
• GESS Fund Board
Number of Children at GESS: 2
Professional Experience
Ekkehard Pracht has been living in Singapore with his family since 2011. As an aero-space engineer, he is in charge of the after sales and customer service activities of his employer in the Asia-Pacific region.
GESS Subcommittees
• Information Technology
• Facilities & Operations
Number of Children at GESS: 5
Professional Experience
Thomas Pressentin is currently the Finance Director for HPE Financial Services’ Asia Pacific & Japan (APJ) region. Based in Singapore, he is responsible for Finance, Controlling, Compliance, Governance and overall execution of the business within the region.
He and his family have been living in Singapore since 2007.
GESS Subcommittees
• Finance
• Project Management Team
Number of Children at GESS: 1
Professional Experience
Markus Helms is a business economist and he holds Master Degrees in Business Administration from France, UK and Germany. He has worked in industry, with multinational consumer goods companies as well as with a global management consulting and services firm, where he is currently employed as Senior Principal.
GESS Subcommittee
• Governance and Audit
• Board Development
Number of Children at GESS: 2
Professional Experience
Elke has a Masters degree in Computer Science and an Executive Master in Business Administration. With her 20 years of experience in information technology, strategy, leadership, consultancy, software development and innovation while living in Germany, USA, China, South Africa and Singapore, she brings new aspects to the GESS Boards. She has been in the IT-Sector for 15 years in various roles. Currently she is coaching software developers and product managers on launching new business models and new products to the market.
Elke and her family have been living in Singapore since 2017.
GESS Subcommittee
• School Development
• IT
Number of Children at GESS: 3
