Board & Organogram

Working as the director of a consultancy firm specialized in education, I am very pleased to be the President of the Board of Directors of Holland International School. I’ve been living in Singapore since February 2021 with my husband and our two boys Julius (2016) and Elias (2020) and I have been a member of the Board since the very beginning. With great pleasure and pride I contribute to this school, where so many children benefit from a unique educational system, a strong IPC programme combined with the cooperative learning approach, and a wonderful and dedicated team.

My name is Ernst Kaldewaij, father of 2 children, both at HIS. We moved to Singapore 3 years ago, and I have been working for FrieslandCampina as finance manager for the Asia-Pacific region since then. As a family we have really enjoyed our stay so far and this is for a large part attributable to the fact that our kids have experienced the HIS as a warm ‘bath’ from the start (they will probably only fully recognize/appreciate this when they are grown-ups!). I’m looking forward to being part of the HIS team as Board Treasurer, especially in this period of time with a renewed strategy which will be a strong foundation for the next 100 years of the HIS!

Moving to Singapore with my husband and 4 kids (Klaas 2014, Karel 2016, Peer 2018 and Pien 2021) in April 2023, excellent schooling was our top priority. We certainly found that at Holland International School! Compliments to the warm welcome and the onboarding process. What a great atmosphere and commitment to the children’s well-being. As an experienced auditor working in the Financial and IT audit & advisory groups within PwC for 20 years, I have experience with a broad range of clients, both listed and unlisted in a wide range of markets.  When the role of Secretary crossed my path, I didn’t need to think twice. It’s a privilege to bring my experience and contribute to the renewed strategy, fostering the continuity of this school. Not only for the learning environment of my children today but also for many more to come.

I admit it was my Mexican husband who was first convinced this school would be a good choice for our children; I was hesitant as we did not plan to transition them to a Dutch primary school. The school’s philosophy, great educators and small-scale, home away from home - environment quickly convinced me. Just a year later, I underscore and promote these characteristics. I’m grateful and caring for the Holland International School and look forward to supporting the school with my professional background in People and Culture Development. Outside of work, you will find me running after our two children (Lucas and Vera) or training for my next half marathon.

I’ve been calling Singapore home since 2015 together with my wife. Our daughter Evelyn (2018) is currently enjoying the English stream of Holland International School. It’s been over a decade since I last lived in the Netherlands, but Holland International School gave us the opportunity to let our daughter benefit from the Dutch education values. The presence of both a Dutch and English stream in one building brings the best of both worlds for a child growing up in an international setting. My professional life has always been one of entrepreneurship. I’m currently running our own family office and we focus on investing in and supporting other companies. I’m honoured to be a part of the Board and look forward to doing my part. My goals for the school are to preserve quality, find growth opportunities, and further stimulate entrepreneurial values within the school.

As Board member of the Holland International School, I look forward to contributing to the sustainable future of our beautiful school and community. Living in Singapore together with my wife Mirthe and our kids Boris (groep 5) and Hedwig (groep 2), the school played a big role for us in making it easy to settle in our first expat adventure! In my daily life I am responsible for the Business Consulting department of Synechron, a consultancy in the Financial Services industry.