Board of Directors Candidate Statements

The Board of Directors will be holding our annual Election General Meeting (EGM) via Zoom on 21 April at 18:00. We have two vacancies on the board for the 2021-22 school year. In accordance with the school’s Articles of Association, one of these vacancies must be filled by a parent who is affiliated with the U.S. government (employee or spouse). The second vacancy is open to any school parent.  We are lucky to have strong candidates for these positions. We have asked each candidate to provide a short bio, which you can read below. The school’s Articles of Association and By-Laws stipulate that parents/guardians must be present at the meeting in order to vote. You can register for the meeting here.  This meeting is open to all parents or legal guardians of students at AISL. We look forward to seeing you at the EGM on the 21st.
 
Candidate for U.S. Government-Affiliated Vacancy (one vacancy, one candidate):
 
Shawna Hirsch
 
I served as the Ambassador's Representative to the Board for the International School of Uganda (ISU) from 2018-2020. I was the Board Secretary and the Chair of the Governance Committee. During my tenure, we updated the Board Policy and Board Procedures documents to better guide our strategic planning and oversight functions. These documents supported the school as we began the process to renew our accreditation in 2019. We also oversaw several capital infrastructure projects, including an ambitious Performing Arts Center. As a Board, we dealt with several sensitive issues and appeals during my tenure and I understand the importance of maintaining confidentiality in such Board matters.
 
During my tour in Liberia I served on the school board of the American International School of Monrovia from 2013-2015. My first year on the board I was the Board Secretary and co-chaired the Accreditation Committee with several staff members during a time of rapid school growth. This entailed working with a representative group of school stakeholders to conduct a pre-accreditation assessment, develop and build consensus on student achievement milestones, and raise community awareness throughout the process. I served as the Board Chair my second year, during which time we were providing governance support throughout the school's temporary closure due to the Ebola crisis and during a challenging re-opening period.  
 
I have also been an active member of Parent Teacher Associations throughout my children's time in school (in the U.S., Kinshasa, Liberia and Ethiopia).  In a previous career I was a science teacher in both public and private schools. Having both taught and served on the board gives me insight into the need for strong governance structures in place that give community voice to educational and administrative systems and partner with the head of school, principals and teachers to ensure high-quality, inclusive educational opportunities and foster a sense of community. 
 
 
Candidates from the Parent Association At-Large (one vacancy, two candidates listed alphabetically by surname):
 
Yasmina Dakik Ahmad
 
As a mother, I took a vow to always be there for my children, educational and emotional. I always dreamed of making my children proud of the mother they have, and this is what I am currently working to achieve! They say modelling is key to a successful generation and this is what I am trying to do, to model studying, and model teaching, trying to give the best I can to be the best they can be.

Given the opportunity today to be a member of this community, in a new country we moved to recently is key for us creating a life here in Zambia, where my daughter will thrive with its system. Coming from a Reggio Emilio nursery to a Reggio Emilio Early Learning Centre has not only given me comfort as a mother but made my daughter wake up happy everyday knowing empathy is at the foundation of such a school.

My aim is to be more involved in the educational system, help improve it, and make sure that whatever I study is for the greater good of our community.
 
 
Dr. Raj Sharma
 
I am a Zambian citizen and hold a DBA in Business leadership, an MBA in Finance, a PGDip in Law and attended the OPM at Harvard Business School. As an entrepreneur, I have a contagious enthusiasm and passion for creating value. I have a proven track record in being a credible decision maker and being able to find strategic solutions to business challenges using knowledge, an extensive local network and sound principles of corporate governance.
 
In 1992, I became a founding member of a gemstone company and have over 28 years contributed to its organic growth as Zambia’s leading vertically integrated Jewelry company. Jewel Of Africa mines emeralds, cuts and polishes top quality jewels, designs and manufactures gold and silver jewelry, has several retail outlets and exports world-class jewelry, manufactured in Zambia by Zambians. I have over the past, been appointed as a core member of the National Task Force on Mining, was a founding member of the American Chamber of Commerce, Captain and President of the Lusaka Golf Club, and have served on the Boards of the Zambia Institute of Directors (Chair of Functions committee), Zambia Association of Manufacturers (Sector Representative), Zambia Emerald and Small Miners Association, and the Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone (Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee).

My daughter and nephew have been at the American International School since kindergarten and will hopefully be there until they finish high school. As a strong believer in the importance of quality education, along with a long term interest in AISL, I would like to bring my experience in business and other not-for-profit organisations to help the school chart its way forward over the next decade.