Hemant Patel, President

I came to Lagos, in August 2007 for Chevron Nigeria LTD. I am Gen. Mgr of Commercial and Bus. Dev.  I have 27 years of diverse energy expertise and have had the opportunity to be affiliated with excellent companies like Texaco, Shell, Duke Energy and an opportunity to own my engineering consulting business.  I hold a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum engineering from Texas Tech University and an EMBA from Pepperdine University. I have had the opportunity to work in North and South Americas, Middle East, Europe, USA, Africa and Asia. I am committed to excellence in education of our children. Being part of the AISL team is very important to me as it enables me to help develop our children’s future. I enjoy all sports, travel and diverse cultural experiences.

Pete Brittingham, Vice President

Pete is a manager with Shell in Nigeria and is currently on his third international posing after spending 9 years in Asia. This was preceded by sixteen years working for Shell in the US. Pete obtained his undergraduate degree from Montana State University and his graduate degree from Arizona State University as a geologist. Pete and his wife Linda will have two teenagers in High School in the fall of 2011. Contributing as a member on the school board is an important way of supporting his children and the AISL School in achieving their Vision of providing an exemplary American educational experience with an international perspective.

Robin Chi Kong Cheung, Treasurer

Mr. Robin Cheung is the Group Managing Director of V-LOGIC, a logistics company with Headquarter in Hong Kong and branches in various cities in China. Mr. Cheung recently opened a sister logistics company, V-LOGIC FORWARDING & CLEARING LTD in Nigeria. Mr. Cheung was one of the original founders of V-LOGIC in the year 2000.

Mr. Cheung also has eighteen years of international banking experience; his last banking position was as Deputy Head of Foreign Exchange in Asia for HSBC with expertise in Asian economies and the emerging markets. HSBC was voted the best foreign exchange house by Asiamoney and the Greenwich Survey during Mr. Cheung's tenure at the bank. Mr. Cheung has held key positions at Barclays in Hong Kong, AIG in New York, Unibank in New York and Privatbanken in Singapore. Mr. Cheung holds a B.A. in Economics from New York University and an MBA from Northwestern University's J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Fred Armand, U.S. Ambassador Appointee, Secretary

Fred Armand is the Ambassador’s Appointee to the American International School of Lagos’ Board of Directors and was recently nominated and promoted by President Obama to the diplomatic rank of Counselor. Mr. Armand is a 25-year veteran of the Foreign Service and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, with a minor in Geology.  Additionally, he is a professional musician and is certified in Production and Recording from Berklee Music College in Boston.  His music is available at internet and retail outlets.  He and his wife Rebecca Armand, a career Foreign Commercial Officer (tandem), have two children, Alec and Avery. 

Robert Onyejekwe, Member

I am the General Manager for Drilling & Measurement, Schlumberger leading a diverse group of people based out of Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Cameroun and Equatorial Guinea focused on providing oil & gas drilling solutions in the Sub Sahara Africa region.

My background is in Petroleum Engineering and I hold an MBA from Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, Netherlands.
The majority of my 16 professional career years has been spent outside Nigeria through three continents mostly with Schlumberger; I have held positions in Operations, Business Development, Strategy, Human Resources, Training, Development and Recruiting 

Diane Lemieux, Member

Diane Lemieux is a freelance writer. She came to Nigeria with her Shell-employed husband and two teenage children. She has a BA in communications from Ottawa University, an MA in development studies (with a specialization in comparative education) from Leeds University, an MA in International Relations from Amsterdam University and a journalism diploma from Bath University. She began her career in international development, working for a Canadian NGO in Canada and China, and for the UN in Mozambique.

Throughout her international career she has experienced many national and international schools, gaining an understanding of the academic and social requirements of both international students and their parents. She firmly believes in the quality of the education provided at AISL. It is her intention to contribute to the school's progress towards achieving its goals through her communication skills and international experience.

Shawn Simmons, Exxon/Mobil Appointee

Shawn Emerson Simmons is the Environmental & Regulatory Supervisor in the Nigeria Projects Organization of Mobil Producing Nigeria.  Simmons has a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Oklahoma, a M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Rice University, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology from Texas Southern University.  Simmons arrived in Lagos in the Summer of 2007 with her husband, Philip and two children, Jonathan ( 8th grade) and Jacquelyn (4th grade).  Prior to her international assignment, Simmons was a board member of several community based organizations including Bayou Land Conservancy, Child Care Council (Chair), and United Way’s Project Blueprint.  Simmons credits AISL with helping to make the transition of an international assignment smooth for her family.  She believes that AISL provides her children with a top notch American education and helps reinforce the importance of being a good citizen of the world.  “Having an opportunity to support the continued success of AISL as a board member, is a privilege”.

Mark Troy, Member

Mark Troy is Regional General Manager for International SOS and is responsible for establishing and overseeing the day-to-day management of medical services in West Africa. With 19 years experience in the provision of medical services, Mark assists companies in assessing health risks and delivering high-level medical services to employees working in some of the most remote and difficult environments in the world.

Prior to joining International SOS in 2001, Mark founded and managed a medical services consulting company in West Africa for eight years. The company continues to provide health and social services to approximately 25,000 people.

Mark first came to West Africa as a Peace Corps Public Health Volunteer and speaks French and Spanish.

Mark and his wife Karin love Africa and are proud to be sharing their experience in Nigeria with their daughter Alexandra. Now in their second year with AISL they are proud to be a part of this vibrant community and work for the continued improvement of our school.

John White, Member

John is a Senior Commercial Manager with Chevron Nigeria Limited.  John's professional career spans over 24 years in the energy and petrochemical industries. Prior to joining Chevron Nigeria Limited, John has been on international assignments with Chevron in Singapore, India, Indonesia, United Kingdom and the United States.  John holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Western Sydney, Australia. John and his wife Michelle have two sons attending AISL. Their youngest son is in kindergarten, and their eldest son is in second grade.  Originally from Australia, John and Michelle value the broad and diverse educational experience AISL offers. As a member of the AISL board John is committed to helping ASIL achieve its long term vision and success.  John also chair's the AISL board major capital projects committee.