BSD School Leadership

Principal, BSD

Simon is from West Wales in the United Kingdom and has a longstanding connection with Saudi Arabia, having spent his school holidays in Al Khobar during the 1980s and 1990s where his father worked for British Aerospace. He graduated from Cardiff University with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Genetics before becoming a qualified teacher and beginning a career in education. He later earned a Master of Arts in Education in Educational Leadership and Management and completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH). Simon is also a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching (FCCT).

Simon has more than 23 years of experience in international education, encompassing teaching and senior leadership roles in Thailand, China and now Saudi Arabia. He has served as Head of Secondary, Vice-Principal and Whole-School Deputy Head, leading work in curriculum development, school accreditation, quality assurance, safeguarding and professional learning. A passionate and values-driven leader, Simon is committed to developing teachers, strengthening teaching and learning, and improving outcomes for students across BSD’s diverse, multicultural community.

Primary School Assistant Principal, BSD

Dufney is originally from Carolina, South Africa and graduated with bachelor’s of education from the University of Pretoria. She has also completed her Masters of Education from the American College for Education and is currently pursuing a National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) through the Department for Education in the UK.

Dufney has taught in England, South Africa, UAE and Saudi Arabia. She joined British School Dhahran along with her family in 2015 and has fulfilled various roles within the school community.

Dufney believes in fostering a culture of risk taking, celebrating successes as well as failures as stepping stones to success. She believes that international education provides students with an incredible backdrop to experience life through a multi-dimensional lens. 

“Nobody can discover the world for somebody else. Only when we discover it for ourselves does it become common ground and a common bond and we cease to be alone.” - Wendell Berry.

Senior School Assistant Principal, BSD

Rachel Cannon is originally from Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. She graduated from the University of London with a Bachelor of Science (honors) in biology before receiving her teaching certificate and taking up a post at a large comprehensive school in Milton Keynes, U.K. Rachel then travelled to Botswana to teach science in a government school and subsequently discovered international school teaching. She received her master's degree in educational leadership from Buckingham University, U.K. She is currently pursuing National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH).

Rachel has taught middle and high school science in: Sandford Community School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; the Anglo American School of Sofia in Bulgaria; the International School of Tanganyika in Tanzania; and the Bavarian International School in Germany. She joined ISG as the Head of Science at BSD in 2012. As Assistant Principal of BSD (Senior School), her goal is to continue to promote effective teaching and learning among the BSD community.

Assistant Principal, Sara Village Campus

Chris is an experienced educational leader with over a decade of teaching and leadership experience across the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.

Throughout his career, Chris has held a range of leadership roles, including Phase Leader and Head of Pastoral Care. These experiences have strengthened his belief that outstanding schools are built on positive relationships, high expectations and a genuine commitment to supporting every child as an individual.

He is particularly passionate about student wellbeing, safeguarding, teaching and learning, and ensuring that all students are given the opportunities and support they need to flourish.