Planning Committee
Michaela Seeger
Michaela Seeger is the Director of Community Relations at Zurich International School. She has extensive experience in the for-profit and non-profit environment and has served as a member of the CASE Europe Board (2011 – 2017) and as Chair of the ECIS (The Educational Collaborative for International Schools) Advancement Committee (2008 – 2017). Michaela is also a recipient of the CASE European School Engagement Award and one of our Laureates for her distinguished work in advancement for international schools. Michaela holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Mount Holyoke College, a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from City University of Seattle, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Northwestern University.
Emma Jones
Emma Jones started working in alumni relations in 2006, managing the alumni team at Imperial College London.
In 2011, she returned to her native Sweden to advance the alumni relations programme at KTH Royal Institute of Technology and to set up its first annual fund.
Emma has experience from a wide range of advancement programmes, working with volunteers and donors and with developing international networks.
In October 2018, Emma was appointed the first advancement director at Stockholm International School (SIS), tasked with setting up and developing a new department for external relations at SIS. Her role covers all aspects of advancement (student recruitment and marketing, admissions, communications, and public relations, alumni engagement and fundraising).
With a passion for learning and sharing best practice, Emma has been widely engaged as a speaker on different aspects of advancement. Emma has been a Faculty member of the CASE Alumni Relations Institute twice, received the CASE Circle of Excellence Silver Medal in 2008 and she is a member of the CASE Council for Europe.
Sandy Mateus
A triple British-Portuguese-American citizen and native of San Francisco, California, Sandy is the Director of Giving and Engagement at the American School in London (ASL). Sandy has over 20 years of advancement experience in the areas of development, parent and alumni engagement, and communications at pre-K-12 and single-sex schools. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara with a BA in Political Science and Portuguese and an MBA in International Business from St. Mary's College in Moraga, California, Sandy thoroughly enjoys working in a day school environment interacting with members of the global community that exists at ASL.
Michelle Collin
An Australian who was raised on the international circuit, Michelle joined the American School of Barcelona in 2020 as Director of Development and Alumni Relations after many years of working in China at two other international schools. Her experience covers alumni relations, community engagement, and strategic fundraising within the non-profit international school sector. She enjoys the complexity of her role and always strives to deliver best experiences for the school's international and diverse community. Michelle was also a member of the planning committee for the CASE International Schools European Forum 2023 in Geneva.
Bill Volchok
Bill grew up in a large family in New Jersey and went on to study physics and Image Science at Rochester Institute of Technology in upstate New York. After receiving his Master's degree in Science he worked in Silicon Valley for a few years and ended up doing research and development on holographic imaging at the Polaroid Corporation. A few experiences with volunteer teaching led Bill to make a career change and move into education. He began as a math/science teacher in the Middle school and soon took on the leadership role of Secondary Principal at his second international school in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. He has taught High school physics and Theory of Knowledge and is passionate about the IB Diploma program and the broad range of opportunities it offers students. As the Secondary Principal for 17 years at the American school of Barcelona (ASB) he has led the transitions into the world of educational technology and instructional refinements around standards-based learning, authentic learning experiences and service learning. For the last 7 years, Bill has taken on the role of Assistant Director at ASB, coordinating the operational areas (admissions, marketing, communications, alumni, development, human resources and extracurricular programs) that support the learning environment throughout the school. He fully enjoys supporting his two children as they navigate their university years and activities like mountain biking, scuba diving and juggling, from time to time.
Deborah Eleftheriou
Deborah Eleftheriou is the Head of Development at St Catherine’s British School in Greece and a member of the Senior Leadership Team. With 16 years of dedicated service at St Catherine's, Deborah has held key roles, including Alumni Relations Manager, where she played a pivotal part in establishing the school’s Development Office. Her career began in Public Relations with the British Royal Family and later transitioned into a unique role as a Cruise Director on the seas, experiences that have provided her with a diverse background in International Education, Governance, PR, Communications, and Event Management.
Since January 2020, Deborah has led the Development Office, overseeing Fundraising, Communications, Marketing, and Alumni Engagement. Under her leadership, the school advanced its first Capital Campaign and is set to launch an annual fund this year, driving significant progress in its development goals, including plans for a new Lower School and Sports Complex. She also contributed to the broader advancement community as a member of the planning committee for the CASE International Schools European Forum 2023 in Geneva. Passionate about fostering strong connections, Deborah is dedicated to linking the St Catherine’s community across generations and ensuring a lasting impact.