Our Team

Ms Ruth Whymark is currently the Associate Director of Education at AISL Group, providing academic guidance and oversight across the Group’s 15 AISL Harrow Schools in Asia. She graduated with First Class Honours (BA) in Teaching Studies with English Literature from Roehampton Institute, University of Surrey, with QTS. Over two decades of experience in international education and school leadership in England, China, and the Middle East, holding the UK NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headship). Previously served as Senior Vice Principal and Head of Primary at Doha College (a global top 100 school in the Spear’s Index, alongside Harrow Hong Kong), and Head of Junior School at Dulwich College Suzhou.

Ruth has been deeply committed to continuing Harrow Guangzhou’s founding vision and upholding the highest educational standards of AISL Group, empowering the School with her deep insight into the best of British and international education. She believes that genuine educational excellence is achieved when each member of the school community aims to reach their personal best and become the best version of themselves.

Beyond her professional life, Ruth has three of her own children – Luke aged 17, Grace aged 15 and Noah aged 14 as well as two beloved dogs Lola and Lottie.

Mr Jack Benstead graduated from Bishop Grosseteste University with a degree in Primary Education with QTS and holds the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH). He has extensive leadership experience within the AISL Harrow family of schools, most recently as a founding member of staff and leader at Harrow Hengqin, where he combined curriculum innovation with a strong focus on early language development for young learners. ​​​

A trained facilitator for the UCL Institute of Education National Professional Qualifications, Jack is passionate about staff professional development and building capacity within teaching teams. His leadership across AISL Harrow schools has included curriculum innovation, cross-campus collaboration, and the design of forward-looking approaches that combine academic rigour with holistic student growth.​​

 ​​In August 2026, Jack will take up the role of Founding Head of Lower School at Harrow Guangzhou, where he is committed to establishing a world-class, future-focused school that provides an outstanding foundation for learning, firmly rooted in Harrow’s values of Courage, Honour, Humility, and Fellowship.​

 ​​Beyond his professional life, Jack enjoys travelling and exploring new cultures. He also takes every opportunity to pursue his favourite sport of skiing, which reflects his love of adventure and the outdoors.  ​​ ​

Mr Douglas Bridges joins Harrow International School Guangzhou as Founding Deputy Head (Academic), bringing over two decades of educational leadership experience across the UK, the Middle East, and Asia.​​

A graduate of the University of Brighton, Douglas holds a degree in Education with QTS. He began his career as a Mathematics teacher before progressing into senior leadership, developing a reputation for strategic academic vision and a collaborative approach to school improvement.​​

He has previously served within the AISL Harrow family as the Founding Head of Upper School at Harrow Zhuhai and played a key role in the establishment of King’s School Hove in the UK. Douglas joins Harrow Guangzhou from a leading British international school in Cairo, where he led teaching, learning, and assessment, contributing to the school’s Outstanding inspection in 2025. A trained international school inspector, he brings extensive experience in evaluating and enhancing school performance across a range of contexts.​​

Dr. Tracy holds a Doctorate in Education (EdD) from the University of Dundee, Scotland, specialising in supporting teachers and school leaders in designing professional development pathways for effective technology integration within international schools. She brings over 15 years of experience to her roles, having served as an accomplished senior school leader within high-achieving International and UK Independent Schools. ​​
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Dr. Tracy holds the UK National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) and Post Graduate Diplomas in both Education and Educational Leadership from the University of Strathclyde, Scotland. Her expertise is formally recognised by her Fellowship Status (FCCT) with The Chartered College of Teaching, UK. Known for her visible presence and commitment to equality, excellence, and high expectations, she consistently fosters a collaborative approach with the wider school community. ​​
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Dr. Tracy prioritises the delivery of exceptional pastoral care and the promotion of holistic student education and well-being. ​​​

As a product of both the British education system (including IB), culminating in graduation from the University of Oxford, and a Shanghai international school following the AP curriculum, she is deeply familiar with international curricula and pathways. More importantly, she represents the educational outcome that many international school parents aspire for their children to achieve.​

Born to a mother with a doctorate, she feels that education “chose” her just as much as she chose it. Her relationship—or even yuanfen (缘分)—with English teaching began during her IB years, when she taught ESL to immigrant children with no prior English knowledge as part of the IB CAS programme. Through dedication and hard work, the student she taught made such remarkable progress that both teacher and student were interviewed by BBC News at the time.​

To date, she has accumulated 15 years of experience in ESL teaching, 10 years in international education and university counselling, and almost 8 years in education management, curriculum design, and implementation.​

She is currently the Co-founder and Deputy Head of a small school of approximately 100 students in her parents’ hometown of Liyang, which she co-founded in 2018. The school is the only institution in the city legally licensed to teach English and employ foreign teachers. Its students are widely recognised for possessing the strongest and most natural English proficiency in the city, with learners ranging from Early Years to IELTS candidates and adult learners.​

Andrew Monk is an experienced executive leader and educator who has worked across some of Australia’s most prestigious independent boarding schools, leading boarding operations and overseeing student wellbeing in executive roles. Having served as Director of Boarding and Head of Health and Physical Education Faculty, he was known for his relational leadership style, high standards, and commitment to continual improvement. Andrew has successfully led whole-school initiatives, embedded wellbeing and coaching programs, and guided teams through complex strategic and compliance processes, including government accreditation and child safety frameworks. ​