We Believe It's The Right Time

Learning is undergoing an exciting evolution at Hong Kong international school, with head ron roukema taking it into the future.

- Anne Majumdar

NAME: Ron Roukema

COMPANY: Hong Kong International School

POSITION: Head of School

LOCATION: Hong Kong

Although renowned for its glimmering skyscrapers and vibrant city life, it is Hong Kong’s pockets of natural beauty that are the reason Ron Roukema fell in love with it. He likes to look out across the lush hills of Tai Tam down to its calm green waters where students from Hong Kong International School (HKIS), where he is Head of School, often take part in activities like kayaking.

Even though the region has been through upheaval over the past few years with the transfer of sovereignty to China and subsequent unrest, the decision to settle here is one he does not regret. After leaving North Carolina in the US in order to give their children an incredible life experience, the Roukema family lived in Shanghai for several years, then did a stint in Paris before Ron was offered the chance to join HKIS in 2014.

“I remember coming to Hong Kong to visit the school and I really just fell in love with the possibilities,” he tells The CEO Magazine. The opportunity to explore an outdoor education, thanks to the school’s stunning location, was a large part of the appeal. “We’re in the process of finding ways to do our units in real, authentic ways that make a meaningful difference to the environment and the community.”