Harrie Thomson
After earning a degree in Sports and Exercise Science from Liverpool John Moores University, I had the opportunity to return to Charters School, a former sports college and my alma mater, as a teaching assistant in Physical Education. For a year, I worked to make PE accessible for students needing additional support. Following this, I completed the Graduate Teacher Programme at the same school, finished my NQT year, and accepted a two-year contract in Malaysia. This initial contract evolved into 12 incredible years, primarily as the Director of PE & Sport at The British International School of Kuala Lumpur. During this time, I collaborated with exceptional colleagues on the FOBISIA Executive Committee, focusing on professional learning and conference design. In 2021, I relocated to the American School of Dhahran, where I served as the Athletic Director for two years. Although I was very content there, the opportunity presented by the British International School of Riyadh, Al Hamra, was too compelling to pass up. BISR, a rapidly growing non-profit organization, is set to expand to seven schools by 2024/25. Saudi Arabia is undergoing rapid changes, and with its exponential growth, it is an exciting and fast-moving journey to be involved.