ABOUT OBS
Leadership
Senior Leadership
Nick Sellers
Headmaster
Born in Porto, Nick Sellers attended OBS until he was 9, before continuing his education in the UK. After graduating from Oxford University, Nick worked briefly in commerce and marketing before deciding that his true vocation was in the world of education. Nick began his teaching career at The King’s School, Canterbury before moving to Eton College, where for 25 years he enjoyed a number of leadership roles including running languages departments and the Boat Club during a period of significant change and its preparation for the London Olympic bid. Nick was the senior rowing coach at Eton, coaching the school’s 1st VIII and senior squad as well as medal-winning international crews for the Great Britain junior team at the World Championships. More recently, he was a house master for 12 years, before taking on the role of Director of Admissions. Nick chaired various committees within the Eton framework, including groups associated with marketing, capital development projects and pastoral provision. He has also been a governor and Chair of the pastoral committee at a leading U.K. independent boarding and day prep school, as well as overseas governor at OBS, chairing the Education Committee and the Pastoral Subcommittee. A return to Portugal in 2021 represents a long-term commitment to OBS and its future for Nick and his wife Anna, who have three grown up children. Nick spends his free time wishing his garden would mow, prune and water itself.
Marta Luiz
Business Manager
Marta started her career in investment banking (corporate finance/M&A) and has worked in strategy, business development and strategic planning and control before she became the CFO of the renewable energy and metallic construction divisions of a Portuguese listed company. She earned a BA (1st Class Hons) in managment from Universidade Católica Portuguesa and a MSc. in Accounting and Finance from Lancaster University. Marta became the Business Manager at OBS in September 2020. She is also a Member of the Finance and General Purposes Committee at Lancaster University and a Lecturer in Accounting & Finance in Católica Porto Business School. Marta lived in the UK for seven years until 2019, when she decided to move back to Portugal. During this period, she held the position of Financial Director in the Diocese of Westminster, helping to define the organization’s strategy and managing the accounting, financial, treasury and internal audit teams. She was also a Governor and Member of the Finance Committee at Westminster Cathedral Choir School, an independent school for boys in central London. Marta has one son and one daughter. She enjoys travelling and spending time outdoors with friends and family.
Jonathan Bridges
Head of Co-Curriculum and Accreditation Coordinator
A teacher of long standing at OBS, Jonathan Bridges is married with three children. He was born in the UK but completed his secondary and university education in Australia, attending Newington College and the University of Wollongong. Before joining OBS in 2003, Jonathan taught in both England and Australia, taking on management roles such as Personal Social & Health Education (PSHE) lead in London and IT Coordinator in Sydney. Jonathan has held numerous positions at OBS: he was appointed Head of Pastoral in 2018 and served the school in 2020-21 as School Board Coordinator (Acting Head). Jonathan is now the school’s first Head of Co-Curriculum, with the specific remit of further developing and improving all aspects of the school’s exciting co-curricular offering. Jonathan is an experienced Accreditation Team Member for the Council of International Schools (CIS) and has carried out multiple accreditation visits across Europe. Jonathan loves living in Porto and embraces the wonderful outdoor lifestyle that the school’s location affords. A dedicated life-long surfer, Jonathan can be seen catching waves at any one of the many local surf spots. He is a keen cyclist and camper as well as an avid reader. When he is not out and about with his children or bobbing up and down on the waves, Jonathan loves nothing more than spending a few restful hours with a good book.
Stacey Howard
HEAD OF Primary
Stacey Howard is originally from England and brings with her extensive experience of education and educational leadership from around the world, including expertise with the British National Curriculum and the IB Primary Years Programme. Before working at OBS, Stacey was a Headteacher in Switzerland, a Curriculum Coordinator, school inspector, and Head of Key Stage One. Stacey has worked in England, Dubai, Switzerland and Singapore. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Primary Education with Honours from Swansea Metropolitan University with a double specialism in Key Stage One and English. She also has a master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Stacey is a strong believer in building trust within teams to ensure the highest standards of teaching and learning are met. She believes that this is integral to providing an education that develops a love of learning within the whole child. Stacey is an avid reader, book clubber, and cyclist.
Chris Payne
HEAD OF SECONDARY
Chris is a Bachelor of Science with Qualified Teacher Status having completed his teacher training with Greenwich University.Originally from Australia, Chris Payne started his career as a Tradesperson with Australian Defence Industries, building and maintaining Minehunters for the Royal Australian Navy. He has also worked on other major projects in the rail industry in both Australia and the UK. He is currently working on an Applied Masters programme with the University of London in partnership with UCL. Prior to joining OBS, Chris worked in education in a variety of leadership roles in the UK, Spain, and Australia. He has a passion for education and is a strong advocate for ‘lifelong learning’. Chris enjoys travelling, cooking and exploring the beautiful Portuguese countryside.
Board of Governors
Maria João Carrapato
Chair of the Board
Maria João Carrapato was re-elected to the Board of Governors in November 2021, having previously been Chair of the Board from 2014 to 2020. Director of Investor Relations and Sustainability at NOS SGPS since 2020, Maria João led the Investor Relations team of NOS since 2007 and prior to that was responsible for Investor Relations at two other Portuguese PSI20 companies, Sonae Indústria and Sonaecom between 2000 and 2007. She started her career as a financial analyst at Banco Português do Atlântico (1994-1995) and later moved onto the equity sales team at Banco Português de Investimento (1995-2000). Maria João was a founding member and the first Chairman of the Portuguese Investor Relations Society, founded in 2009 and in 2020 was elected President of the Executive Committee of the Oporto Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club. Maria João has a degree in Business Management from Universidade Católica Portuguesa (1994) and an MBA from the University of Oporto Business School (2004). The daughter of a British mother and Portuguese father, and herself with dual nationality, Maria João spent her early school years in the UK, until the age of 13, when she returned with her family to live in Oporto in 1984. Maria João has two children, both of whom completed primary schooling at OBS. Maria João has been awarded an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen on the 2021 New Year’s Honors list, for services provided to British Education in Portugal.
Isabel Barros
Isabel Barros is CHRO, Executive Board Member at Sonae MC and Non-Executive Board Member at Sonae Indústria.
She is Chair of APED (Portuguese Association of Retail Companies), Vice-Chair of CIP (Confederation of Portuguese Business) and also Chair of Sonae’s Sustainability Advisory Group.
In 2019, she was appointed Vice-Chair of BCSD (Business Council for Sustainable Development), a non-profit association that aggregates and represents more than 90 leading companies in Portugal, which are actively committed to the transition to Sustainability.
Also, in 2019, Isabel was awarded by the WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable Development) in the category ‘Excellence’ of the Leading Women Awards, focused on the recognition of women leaders with a differentiated contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In 2015, she was nominated a member of the Executive Board of Junior Achievement Portugal (JAP), the Portuguese counterpart of the largest and oldest non-profit organization for education in entrepreneurship in the world.
With a degree in Psychology from the University of Porto and an MBA from EADA Business School Barcelona and Nagoya International School Japan, Isabel Barros is often a speaker and guest teacher in forums on Talent Management, Development and Leadership, sharing her knowledge and more than 20 years of experience in these areas, in a national and international context.
Euan Mackay
Born in France of British parents in 1965, Euan was educated in England completing his studies at Birmingham University. Euan joined the wine trade in 1987 working for Tanners Wines before beginning his association with the Symington Family in 1990 with John E Fells & Sons. During this period, he continued his studies achieving his WSET Diploma and the Chartered Institute of Marketing Diploma.
He joined Symington Family Estates in 1996, as their Business Development Manager responsible for sales and marketing for France, the Benelux and Asia. In 2008, having moved to Portugal with his wife and two children a couple of years before, Euan was appointed to the board as Sales Director. He is now the Commercial Director responsible for the sales and marketing of all Symington Port and Wine brands worldwide.
In 2010 he was responsible for setting up together with the Fladgate Partnership, the Vintage Port Academy. The main purpose of this association is to promote the appreciation and knowledge of Vintage Port across Asia. The Academy is now in its 10th year with over 1000 members of the wine and spirit trade having attended its workshops.
He is also involved in various other associations including the Factory House in Oporto where he was the Treasurer in 2015 and the Oporto British School, where was Chairman of the Statutory Audit Board.
Euan’s two children attended OBS before going to Boarding schools in the UK.
Paul Symington
Paul Symington was born in Oporto, Portugal in 1953. He has dual nationality, holding Portuguese and British citizenship. Educated at the Oporto British School and then at the Oratory School in Berkshire, England, he studied French at the Université de Neuchâtel in Switzerland before obtaining a BA in Business Studies at Central London Polytechnic. Paul was Vice President of the Conselho Geral of the Universidade do Porto and Coordenador of the Comissão de Governação UP from 2013 – 2017. From 2003 to 2018 Paul was Chairman of Symington Family Estates. Paul’s father and grandfather also attended OBS, as did his four children.
Paul’s current responsibilities: Chairman of John E. Fells & Sons, Curador (Trustee) of the University of Porto; Chairman of Primum Familiae Vini, Honorary Chairman of the Wine and Spirit Educational Trust and Chair of CDP committee. Paul has received the following awards: Ordem de Mérito Português – 2015; Doutor Honoris Causa Universidade de Vila Real UTAD – 2019; Lifetime Achievement Award – Institute of Masters of Wine – 2019; Personalidade do Ano – Prémio Nacional de Agricultura – Ministro de Agricultura – 2018; Troféu Anual – Senhor do Vinho – Grandes Escolhas – 2018; Prémio de Homenagem – Revista de Vinhos – 2018; Decanter Man of the Year – 2012.
Maria Antónia Torres
Maria Antónia has worked at PwC since 1997 and she is the Partner that leads the M&A Tax practice in Portugal, Angola and Cabo Verde. She is also Diversity & Inclusion Leader and Net Zero Leader of the three territories managed by PwC Portugal.
Maria started her career in an investment bank. She has significant experience in working with national and multinational groups in different tax areas, in structuring investment into Portugal and in setting-up and restructuring international corporate structures. She has been involved in a large number of transactions over the years, in different activity sectors.
Maria cooperates with several business publications and is responsible for tax related subjects in University executive training, namely at Portuguese Catholic University. She also has experience in soft skills training (leadership and coaching) acting as a tutor in international and national training for PwC Partners and staff. She is also a judge in the Portuguese Fiscal Arbitral Court and she is a board member of an international non-profit organization (Professional Women Network).
Maria has a degree in Law by Portuguese Catholic University, a Post graduate degree in Spanish Taxation by Santiago de Compostela University, an MBA in Management, from the Portuguese Catholic University and an Advanced MBA by Kellogg University, in Chicago. Maria is Vice-chair of the Board of Governors and Chair of the Finance committee and has two children, one of which is currently attending the secondary school.
Natasha Bridge
Natasha was born in February 1963, educated in Oporto at the OBS until the age of 13, followed by Boarding school and Exeter University in the UK.
With executive roles in PR and Marketing in UK wine trade until 1994, Natasha returned to Oporto in 1994 to work for the family company, The Fladgate Partnership and was a Head blender for the group until 2013. She continues as Non Executive Director for The Fladgate Partnership.
Natasha trained as yoga instructor in 2014/15, Master in 2018 and was a yoga teacher at OBS for both children and staff from 2015-2019.
Natasha’s three children were born in Porto and educated at OBS and in the UK.
Álvaro Nascimento
Álvaro Nascimento is Professor of Economics and Finance at Católica Porto Business School – former dean from 2008 to 2013 – member of the board of Católica Luanda Business School. Currently, he is non- executive director on several boards: president of the Board of the Auditing and Finance Committee of SonaeMC, non-executive director at NORS, president of the Auditing Boards of Novabase and Vallis SCR, member of the Auditing Committee of Unicer, president of the Advisory Board of the Portuguese Regulatory Authority for Water and Waste (ERSAR), and board member of FAE (Portuguese Association of Corporate Managers).
In the past he served as Chairman of Caixa Geral de Depósitos, president of the Auditing Committee at Banco Carregosa, independent director of Euronext Lisbon, and the Portuguese Institute for Corporate Governance (IPCG).Álvaro holds a PhD in Banking and Finance – Cass Business School (London) –and a MSc in Internal Trade and Finance –University of Lancaster (UK). He was a research fellow at London Business School on regulation and competition, and has research and publications in finance, telecommunications, and competition and regulation. Advisor on competition and regulation to private organisations and government agencies. Regularly invited to address seminars and conferences to professional audiences in subjects related to asset valuation, risk management, corporate governance, and regulation of the financial and telecommunications sectors.
Álvaro is the Chair of Education Committee and his daughter was a student at OBS.
Student Leadership
Head Boy and Girl | Primary and Secondary
