Shahina Ahmad OBE
Executive Principal/ CEO
Mrs Shahina Ahmad OBE brings over three decades of exceptional educational leadership to her role as Principal of GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi. Recognised nationally for her service to education, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her outstanding contribution to improving student outcomes and leading transformative change across schools in the UK.
Her career began as an English teacher in Newham, London, before moving to Waltham Forest, where she held a number of senior leadership roles, including Vice Principal at Norlington School for Boys. Her success in raising achievement led to her appointment as an English Adviser with Waltham Forest Education Authority, where she supported multiple underperforming schools.
In 2014, Mrs Ahmad became the founding Principal of Eden Girls’ School, Waltham Forest, part of the Star Academies Trust. Under her leadership, the school was rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted at its first inspection and went on to rank among the top-performing state schools in England, placing 13th nationally for pupil progress in the 2019 government league tables.
Mrs Ahmad is known for establishing ambitious, high-performing school cultures rooted in care, aspiration and integrity. She has also contributed to national school improvement strategies by mentoring other school leaders across the Star Academies network.
At GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi, Mrs Ahmad leads with a clear focus on academic excellence, student wellbeing and preparing young people to thrive in a global context.
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Vicky Martin
Head of Primary
Vicky Martin joined GEMS World Academy – Abu Dhabi as Primary Principal in 2022. Her successful career in education spans over 23 years, 16 of which have been at senior leadership level within the GEMS Education group of schools. Vicky first joined GEMS in 2005, when she took up the position as one of the founding members of the senior leadership team at GEMS Royal Dubai School – a primary school that she later went on to lead as Principal.
During her time at GEMS Royal Dubai School, Vicky successfully supported the school’s growth from an initial 60 students to over 1,000. Under her leadership, the school went on to achieve a wealth of accolades, including ‘Outstanding’ KHDA inspection status (a rating the school has maintained for the last five consecutive inspections), COBIS Membership, High Performance Learning World Class Award and Optimus awards for Wellbeing and Leading Parental Partnership.
The High Performance Learning pedagogy, a focus on wellbeing and the development of strong parental links are very much at the centre of Vicky’s education philosophy and vision to ensure student success in their lifelong learning journeys. She believes in the importance of a holistic approach, where students develop webs of information rather than merely memorizing facts. Vicky is also an advocate of a ‘balance in education’, recognising the importance of teaching core skills alongside enabling student-led enquiry, creativity and innovation.
Vicky qualified with a BA (Hons) in Primary Education with subject specialism in English from University of Winchester, UK. In 2020, Vicky completed the UK-based Headteacher qualification (NPQH) and she now has ambitions to complete a Master’s in Education in the near future.
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Sabah Rashid
Head of Lower Primary School and IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) Coordinator
Sabah Rashid is joining GEMS World Academy – Abu Dhabi as Head of Lower Primary School and IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) Coordinator. She is looking forward to forging bonds with the WAA community. Before joining WAA, Sabah focused on creating inclusive communities at Gill St. Bernard’s School, managing change at Léman Manhattan Preparatory School, and curriculum policy at Saint Andrew’s School, all along the East Coast of the United States. Sabah successfully established bilingual and environmental programming as the founding Head of the Primary School of the Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai. She speaks French and Urdu, and can read and write Arabic.
A believer in place based learning, she encourages students to partake in hands-on and minds-on learning, works with faculty, and partners with parents and local businesses to curate opportunities. As a published children's book author of “Upside Down”, an illustrated story written in rhyme, about the power of nature and perseverance, Sabah shares her stories so that others are inspired to share theirs. She is accompanied by her husband, Reza and their children, Zahi and Aziz entering Year 9 and 7. Their dog, Pasha, originally from Puerto Rico, will join them.
Sabah holds a Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary and Secondary from the University of California, Irvine, and a School Management and Leadership certificate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. As a member of the International Baccalaureate Educator Network, she leads evaluations and workshops, and is an education consultant in the Americas, AEM, and Asia Pacific regions.
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Nora Elkady
Deputy Head of Secondary, MYP Coordinator
Nora Elkady brings a wealth of educational leadership experience to her role as Deputy Head of Secondary at GEMS World Academy - Abu Dhabi. With a career spanning 14 years, Nora has worked with in various capacities, including serving as the MYP Coordinator for two years. Her dedication to curriculum excellence is evident in her work on MYP Authorization and curriculum design for a new secondary school, where she demonstrated a keen understanding of pedagogical principles and student-centered learning.
As an IBEN member and an eAssessment and Personal Project IBIS examiner, Nora’s expertise in assessment practices ensures the integrity of assessment within the IB framework and allows her to share best practices globally. Through meticulous evaluation, she enhances assessment quality both within her institution and the broader IB community, fostering academic excellence and supporting student growth.
Currently pursuing NPQSL, Nora is committed to professional growth and is planning to complete a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Curriculum Design, underscoring her commitment to advancing educational innovation and excellence.
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Mark Ryan
IB Coordinator
With a career in education spanning since 2005, Mark hold a Bachelor of Education from Queen's University in Canada and a Bachelor of Fine Art from the University of Ottawa. His professional journey has taken him across the globe, working in Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi. A significant highlight of his career was being part of the team that developed a prestigious international IB school in Abu Dhabi to achieve an Outstanding Ranking. Additionally, Mark played a pivotal role in establishing its award-winning fine arts and primary STEAM programs.
As a public speaker, he has had the privilege of speaking at prestigious events such as the IB Global Conference and the BSME conference, where Mark discussed the power of student voice and the development of the PYP exhibition. His passion for holistic education drives his belief in the importance of fostering creativity and innovation alongside core academic skills.
Outside of his professional life, he is an avid runner, having won the Hong Kong Standard Chartered 10km race in both 2009 and 2011. Mark is also a proud parent of two young girls, which further fuels his commitment to nurturing the next generation of learners.