Principal’s Welcome
Welcome from Aaron Wise
Welcome to Australian International School Malaysia. AISM has developed a first-rate reputation for enabling its students to gain acceptance into the best universities around the world. Its provision of a well-balanced and progressive Australian educational program that offers diverse opportunities for its students to excel is unmatched in Asia. We are proud of the academic, cultural and sporting performances that we have achieved. Represented by nationalities from around the world, our community offers a rich cultural base that encourages us all to be globally aware, responsible and responsive.
leadership
Meet Our Leadership Team
Mr Aaron Wise
Principal
Bachelor of Commerce (University of Tasmania), Bachelor of Teaching with Honours (University of Tasmania), Master of Education (Morling College), Executive MBA (Quantic School of Business and Technology)
Aaron joins the Australian International School Malaysia with extensive experience in leading schools throughout Australia, Hong Kong, China and Vietnam.
Aaron firmly believes that education is a transformative journey, extending beyond the acquisition of knowledge to encompass the development of well-rounded individuals. Emphasising a commitment to holistic growth, Aaron advocates for an educational environment that fosters critical thinking, creativity, and a passion for continuous learning. Recognizing the dynamic nature of the global landscape, Aaron places paramount importance on instilling values of empathy, resilience, and integrity. With a focus on personalized learning, community building, and the celebration of diversity, Aaron is dedicated to empowering students to not only excel academically but also to become responsible, compassionate, and innovative leaders poised for success in the future.
Aaron is a keen sportsman who particularly enjoys swimming, cycling and running. He has represented Australia in the sport of triathlon and still enjoys training for and competing in Ironman triathlon events.
Mr Aaron Wise
Principal
Miss Michelle Chaplin
Head of Junior School
Bachelor of Education, Diploma in Teaching (Australian Catholic University), GERRIC Certificate in Gifted Education (University of NSW)
Michelle is a passionate educator who strongly believes in facilitating programs for individualising learning to ensure each student achieves to the best of their ability. As a head of Junior School in two leading Sydney schools she dedicates her energy to building the very best learning environment for students and teachers – creating strong teaching teams and programs that link with the visible learning framework and a culture of mindfulness.
Drawing from her close links with the Harvard Visible Thinking program, Stephen Covey Leader in Me philosophy and strong Australian Curriculum based inquiry learning Michelle strives to create a sense of positive energy to drive a strong learning community.
Michelle is a keen traveller – walker, reader – lover of the outdoors, sports – particularly netball and time at the beach or near water. An Australian country girl here for a true Malaysian experience.
Miss Michelle Chaplin
Head of Junior School
Dr Nicholas Duggan
Head of Middle & Senior School
Bachelor of Arts (Leeds Conservatoire), Master of Arts (Thames Valley University), Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Management Education (Morling College), Executive MBA (Quantic School of Business and Technology)
Nick joins the Australian International School Malaysia with extensive experience in leading schools throughout Asia and Europe.
Nick firmly believes that education is about the whole child, emphasising breadth of learning experiences both in the classroom and outside. The rationale behind this approach is to prepare our students for an exponentially changing world, which means developing students to be resilient and responsible citizens with relevant future skills.
Nick strongly supports a Middle and Senior School culture where students interact within and across Year Groups, nurture positive relationships, and are provided with opportunities to develop as compassionate leaders.
Nick is a keen musician, both as a performer and a composer, and has performed in venues as varied as The Royal Albert Hall and Wembley Stadium. He keeps active with a number of water sports and has for over 30 years been a practitioner of Tai Chi Chuan.
Dr Nicholas Duggan
Head of Middle & Senior School
Ms Leigh Janett
Deputy Head of Junior School
Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Teaching (Australian Catholic University)
Leigh is a visible learner who radiates passion and pride towards the Australian International School Malaysia (AISM). Having been a member of the community for many years, Leigh knows the importance of developing positive relationships with students, parents and staff. She is proud to be part of a team that delivers a rigorous and modern curriculum, prioritising the learning growth of each individual at AISM.
An experienced educational leader and teacher, Leigh believes that the cornerstones of educational excellence are curiosity, creativity and resilience. As a qualified Mindfulness Coach at AISM, she strives to equip all students with a positive mindset and higher order thinking skills to empower them to thrive in life.
Ms Leigh Janett
Deputy Head of Junior School
Mr James Unsworth J.P. (Qual.)
Deputy Head of Middle & Senior School, Year 12 Homeroom Teacher
Master of Human Science, Graduate Diploma of Education, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Social Science, Graduate Certificate in TESL, Graduate Certificate in Visible Thinking Routines
James has taught and led learning at schools in Malaysia and Australia, across a range of curriculums, including HSC, ACARA, IGCSE, IBDP, QCA and BSSS. This includes a previous nine-year tenure at AISM from 2007 to 2016. James is a Visible Learning enthusiast and he also has a passion for World Scholar’s Cup and Model United Nations. James places relationships at the centre of his practice and has a keen interest in the pastoral care and development of every student. For his previous work in international affairs, James was acknowledged with the award of Young Australian of the Year 2003 (QLD) and Gold Coast Young Citizen of the Year 2002.
Mr James Unsworth J.P. (Qual.)
Deputy Head of Middle & Senior School, Year 12 Homeroom Teacher
Board Members
Board of Governors
Australian International School Malaysia’s Board of Governors has the overall responsibility of advising, managing and monitoring the activities of our school in accordance with the Education Act 1996. The responsibilities of the Board include approving major changes to the curriculum which affect the nature of what is taught in the school, ensuring the quality of teaching and learning in the school meets the expectations of the Mission and Purpose Statement, and to set and adopt a long-term developmental plan for the school.
Our board members' are as follow:
- Tan Sri Dato Hj Alimuddin bin Hj Md Dom
- Chairman
- Mr BK Gan
- Mr Andy Low Chin Seng
- Ms Audrey Ang
- Ms Angelina Tee
- Mr Aaron Wise
- (Ex-Officio)