Our Leadership Team
AMADEUS International School Vienna
Dr Jeremy G House
Head of School
Nationality: Australian
Background
Dr Jeremy House is an Australian-born educator with a deep belief in the value of international education for a more prosperous and peaceful world. He holds a Bachelor of Education with Honours, a Master of Education, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in International Business, and a Doctorate of Education in the field of Positive Psychology.
He has worked in numerous operational and key strategic leadership positions in boarding schools and has extensive experience in school growth and development. He is dedicated to student-centered learning and maintaining a personal and family-like, high-performance, school culture.
Ms Maki Nishihara
Head of Primary School
Nationality: Japanese
Background
Maki Nishihara has lived, studied, and worked in Switzerland, France, Mexico, the US, Brazil, Panama, Estonia, Germany, the Netherlands, and Japan. She received a B.A. degree in Spanish and French from Franklin & Marshall College and an M.Sc. in Multidisciplinary Studies for International Educators from the State University of New York. She has also attended the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project Institutes at Columbia University as a teacher and a coach.
She is currently working on her Certificate in School Management and Leadership created and provided by the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Harvard Business School. Her passion is to educate the younger generation to be more open-minded to the beauty of the world, but at the same time embrace and love their own culture.
Dr Karsten Plöger
Head of Secondary School
Nationality: German
Background
Karsten Plöger has held senior leadership positions in international schools in Switzerland and Germany over the past ten years. More recently, he completed a Master of Education in International Education Administration.
He thinks of schools as ‘learning communities’ and enjoys the challenge of creating environments in which deep and meaningful learning takes place. Karsten became a teacher and school leader after his first career as an academic historian. He holds a doctorate in medieval history from the University of Oxford.
Mr Graham Malkin
Head of Boarding
Nationality: British
Background
Graham Malkin has a BA Honors degree and post graduate certificate in education from Exeter University in the UK. Graham joins AMADEUS having spent the past ten years working for a leading International Group of Schools in Dubai where he was the Director of Boarding and Outdoor Education. As a qualified teacher, health and safety expert and mountain leader, Graham combines these skill sets to provide boarders with a balanced range of opportunities and experiences.
He was the founder of a leading international outdoor education company which currently operates in Sri Lanka, the UAE, Georgia, Nepal and Oman.
Graham has led students on a number of expeditions in Nepal, Borneo, Norway, Oman and the Italian Alps.
Mag Alexandra Gruber
Head of Business & Finance
Nationality: Austrian
Background
Alexandra Gruber gained her Master’s degree in Musicology and began her career in Music Libraries and Archives in Austria and England organising exhibitions and publications.
Before receiving her accountancy qualifications she worked for the Niederösterreich Government in music school Management. She, therefore, brings her passion for music education and business to AMADEUS Vienna and leads the Business Office in providing sound management and effective support services.
Ms Karin Obermann
Head of Human Resources
Nationality: Austrian
Background
Mr Ammar Alwazeh
Head of Operations
Nationality: Syrian
Background
Ammar Alwazeh holds a Bachelor degree in English Literature and began his career at British Council Damascus/Syria then moved to British council Cairo/Egypt.
After that he moved to Austria and started a new career in the Facility Management with a Facility Manager qualification from TÜV Austria and worked at Webster Vienna Private University as Senior Facility officer then Head of Facility management.
He did many related trainings as Fire officer, Safety trusted person and First Aid.
Ms Szilvia Griffin-Szabo
EY Coordinator
Nationality: Hungarian
Background
Szilvia is a Hungarian-born passionate Early Years educator. Over the course of her 12 year career, she has worked internationally in various Kindergartens in the UK and in Austria.
Szilvia earned a Social Pedagogy Bachelors Degree, as well as a Preschool Teacher Bachelor Degree with an English Language specialization. She has also completed various Austrian courses to improve her German language skills and to deepen her knowledge about Austrian Kindergarten requirements.
Szilvia’s approach to early years teaching is student-centered, with each student accepted as a unique individual and accompanied to flourish on their own Kindergarten adventure.
Mr James Elliot
Assistant Head of Primary (PYP)
Nationality: Canadian
Background
James Elliot has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Concordia University and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Education from the University of Ottawa in Canada. James is a qualified and experienced special needs educator and looks to build on his international school experience and leadership at AMADEUS having worked in the UK, Venezuela, Germany, Latvia, and Romania. He is passionate about using creative arts to inspire learning and looks to find ways to support social and emotional development at the school while modeling kindness and compassion to bring the AMADUES community closer together.
Mr Yvan Wever
Assistant Head of Secondary (MYP)
Nationality: South African
Background
Yvan Wever has a degree in Sports Science and earned his teaching qualification through Sunderland University, England. He is trained in Montessori education and has taught in international schools in both primary and secondary. Yvan has also spent the past 12 years involved as a coach educator for World Rugby.
Yvan is passionate about the MYP and its concept-based approach in teaching young people to be critical thinkers and problem-solvers. As a Physical Education teacher, he strongly believes in the positive impact that health, fitness, and an active lifestyle can have on young people’s physical, mental and social wellbeing.
Ms Alice Greenland
Assistant Head of Secondary (DP)
Nationality: British
Background
Alice Greenland has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a teaching qualification from universities in Bristol, England. As a lifelong learner, Alice is currently studying for a Masters in International Education, recently qualified as a Google Certified Trainer, and has certification from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
She has been teaching for 15 years, in schools around the world, and she aims to develop active learners and internationally-minded young people who can empathize with others and pursue lives of creativity, purpose, and meaning.
Mr Paolo Tornitore
CP Coordinator
Nationality: Italian
Background
Paolo Tornitore completed his studies at the University of Rome Tor Vergata (BA in Musicology), University of Glasgow (MLitt in Popular Music Studies) and University of Sheffield Hallam (PGCE in Secondary Education). He has taught in England, Poland and Austria. By adopting a student-centred approach to teaching and learning, Paolo is committed to developing curious and motivated lifelong learners who pursue their aspirations with joy and determination.
We welcome the opportunity for prospective students and their families to visit AMADEUS Vienna and learn more about our unique programme and inspiring school environment. Contact our Admissions team to ask your questions or schedule a tour.