Our People

The Chief Executive Officer:
Philip Hurd

Philip is the Chief Executive and founder of SITSE. Following 20 years in International Education Philip has developed a passion for creating and developing opportunities within the field of Special Education Needs. He believes in facilitating exciting educational journeys for all students and staff which challenge, stimulate and exceed expectations. Out of a passionate commitment to inclusion and diversity Philip has set up a comprehensive Special Education Needs department for the International Community School in London, co-created the College of Life Skills, set up a Travel and Learn programme that has taken SEN students up the Amazon and into the Arctic and has founded this charitable trust for the advancement of opportunities within Special Education.

Philip lives in London, a city he adores, with his boyfriend and 3 cats.

The Trust Coordinator:
Sonja Adam

Sonja has been the SITSE coordinator since summer 2007 and developed the referral and consultancy service at SITSE. She has communicated extensively with families all around the globe and representatives of embassies, companies, banks, relocation agencies, local authorities, as well as with independent and state mainstream and special schools. Her ultimate goal is to help families find the most suitable school and therapy placement for their child with special educational needs.

Sonja has a professional background in mainstream and special education in Germany, Brazil, Mozambique and England. She is passionate about inclusive education and appreciates the value of specialised educational settings and the knowledge they can provide. She is strongly committed to equal opportunities in differentiated learning environments in which students can reach their personal potentials. In her free-time, Sonja is currently undertaking an MA in Psychology of Special Education.

The Trustees:

• Alan Andrew
• Andrew Darke
• Claudine Hakim-Dedeyan
• Dirk Flower
• Eunice Daniels
• Jenny Edelstein
• Jose Maria Cano
• Melanne Maddalene Randall
• Nicholas John Rees
• Stephanie Scott

Jenny Edelstein

After completing degrees in law and international relations at the University of Geneva and New York University, Jenny practiced as an international lawyer for ten years in New York and Paris.  She has also taught law at universities in France and Switzerland, and done pro bono work for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and Amnesty International. Jenny now lives in London and is the mother of three children.

Melanne Maddalene Randall

Melanne Maddalene Randall is a graduate of Auburn University and the Medical College of Georgia, resulting in degrees in both Occupational Therapy and Pediatric Neurology. She  specializes in the treatment of Sensory-Integration and Neurodevelopmental disorders.  Melanne has developed a variety of clinical practices in both the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Europe,  focusing on the treatment of premature infants; babies and toddlers in early intervention; and children in both public and private school programs.  She is the founder/director of Maximum Potential, a progressive pediatric therapy service that provides both clinical and school-based Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy services.  Additionally, Melanne conducts Sensory Integration workshops for doctors, therapists, educators and parents in the international arena.

Nicholas John Rees

Having worked since 1987 in the field of specific learning difficulty, Nick has had experience of teaching children aged between 4-14 and have led and managed not only an established school but he set up both Fairley House Upper School and Abingdon House School from the beginning. His present school has been inspected by CReSTeD valid until May 2009 and ISI, valid until April 2012. He has, therefore, become a member of ISA and his school accredited. Nick is also a CReSTeD consultant and a ‘potential’ ISI inspector having successfully completed the course but has yet to inspect his first school. He has experienced that most schools are too large and impersonal for pupils who need a more nurturing environment to succeed and develop. It is Nick’s wish that an appropriate school is found to match the requirements of each individual child.

Skola International Trust for Special Education
Governing Document - PDF

SITSE is a registered charity in England and Wales. Charity number 1112615