About

I believe deeply in the power of education to change lives and create a better future for young people, communities and society.

I am an educationalist, school leader, author and speaker with experience across British and international education. I am currently Principal of Oxford International College Brighton, part of Nord Anglia Education, following five years as CEO and Director of the International School Rheintal in Switzerland.

My career has taken me from the classroom to school, system and international leadership. I have worked as Director and CEO, head teacher, and led professional learning internationally, and held senior roles including founding Director of the International Leadership Academy at the British School in the Netherlands and global leadership roles with Oxford University Press.

My work centres on educational leadership, academic excellence, belonging and human flourishing, and the future of education. I am particularly interested in how schools can combine exceptional academic outcomes with the human capabilities young people will need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

I write regularly about education and leadership and have contributed to a range of publications, including TES. I am also a judge for the TES International Schools Awards, a founding trustee of WomenEd and a Founding Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching. I have contributed chapters to the bestselling 10% Braver series and speak internationally on leadership, professional learning, school culture and the development of the global education profession.

Throughout my career, I have sought to connect ideas with practice: building ambitious schools and organisations where people belong, continue to learn and are able to do their best work.

Education remains one of the most powerful forces we have for expanding opportunity and shaping the future. This site is where I share my thinking, writing and work as that future continues to evolve.

Liz Free FCCT