Board of Trustees
ISO is governed by a Board of Trustees which holds the mission and values of the ISO community in trust, and adopts policy and strategic decisions to that end. It does not intervene directly in the day-to-day administration or educational programming of the school.
The Board is responsible for setting policy, approving budgets, and resolving conflict. Key among the Board’s tasks are the recruitment and supervision of the Director. The Board approves the Director’s annual objectives and evaluates his/her performance on that basis. The Director is responsible for ensuring that every ISO student receives the best education possible given the available human and financial resources.
The Board has fiduciary responsibility for the school and strives to uphold its responsibilities with transparency and integrity. The Board is beholden to the The Board Policy Manual which is an important document that guides the Board’s work and is reviewed each year. (See the link below under Core documents.).
The Board of Trustees is composed of 12 members. There are six members elected by the ISO Association, two members appointed by the Board, the faculty (ISOTTA) representative, a student representative, a U.S. Embassy representative, and the Director. All members are voting members except the ISOTTA rep, the student rep and the Director.
Regular Board meetings are usually held on the third Tuesday of each month from September to May, starting at 6:00 p.m. and ending by 8:00 p.m. The Board’s decisions are made in public, and all Association members are welcome to attend its Regular Session meetings. There are however decisions made in Executive Session, which are confidential matters such as personal, legal issues, financial assistance, or individual students, which is not open to the public.
The agenda for each monthly meeting is posted no later than the Friday before and can be found under the Meetings page (to the left). Minutes for each Board meeting can be found under Meetings within a week after the Board meeting. Each year the Board creates a minimum of two committees, but usually four to five. It is in committees where most of the Board’s work is achieved. Board meetings are a window for the ISO Association to see Board decisions and deliberations which have been well prepared in committee. Each year the Board has a work plan and objectives. Committees have more detailed work plans based on the specific area it is to address. See the Committees page for more information.
Contacting the Board:
If you have ideas or suggestions that you would like to contribute, concerns you would like to share or questions you would like to raise with regard to any aspect of the Board’s work or that of its committees, please contact the Board at isoboard@iso.bf
Core Documents
Board Members
Myna Anderson
Beli Biyen
From 1989 to 2000, I represented French companies such as Groupe Pernod Ricard in the USSR. In 2001, I founded my own company, Paradis, which specialized in representing various French brands of wine, cognac, and champagne. In 2005, I returned to Burkina Faso, where I established several companies, including Paradis des meilleures vins, Coolee Glace, and Yelhy Group.
One of my proudest achievements is the creation of the Haute Intensité de Main d’Oeuvre (HIMO) initiative. This program focuses on providing vocational training to young people in urban areas without formal education, offering them the opportunity to learn trades such as tiling, carpentry, and sanitation work.
Professionally, I am involved in the field of BTP (Bâtiments Travaux Publics), focusing on construction, infrastructure, and related services.
About My Family:
I have four children, and three of them are part of ISO family
– Nikita, who completed ISO in 2020 and is currently finishing university in Canada.
– Kevin, who has been at ISO since the first grade and graduated in 2024; he is now starting his studies at a university in London.
– Steven, who has been at ISO from preschool up until now.
My Commitment as a Board Member:
As a parent, I am truly grateful for the quality of education my children have received at ISO. The teachers and the environment have had a significant impact on their growth and development. I highly value the dedication of the educators and the positive influence they have on our children.
My goal as a board member is to ensure that this level of commitment remains consistent and that the school continues to provide a nurturing environment. I fully support the vision of the school and am ready to contribute in any way possible to help realize that vision.
Please let me know if any additional information is needed. I look forward to supporting the school’s efforts and the upcoming academic year.
Best regards,
Dr. Beli Biyen
Dharmendra Pathak
India
Dharmendra is a parent of 2 children Paarth and Pritha attending ISO for the last 8 years, Graduated as an Engineer( in Electronics & Communication ) and PGDM in Marketing from Gujarat University- India, currently heading the export division as General Manager in supply chain in Burkina Faso,He has been in Burkina Faso since 2011. As a member of the board,will prioritize the needs and interest of the students in close relations with the school and the community objectives for the benefit of the students and the overall development of the school.
Hubert Gibbs
Country of origin
Guyana
Professional Background
I am an experienced manager in the mineral processing industry, with over 30 years of dedicated service and expertise, including over 20 years in various leadership positions. I have worked in Guyana, Suriname, and Burkina Faso. Since 2015, I have been working and residing in Burkina Faso.
Educational Background
To complement my technical expertise, I pursued advanced education, earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on management and leadership. This academic achievement has equipped me with a robust understanding of business principles, strategic planning, and organizational behavior.
Personal Attributes
I am a highly driven and committed individual who is passionate about driving innovation and efficiency. My technical background, combined with years of experience and leadership, enables me to work with cross-functional teams to achieve the expected results.
Number of Children at ISO
I have 2 children who currently attend ISO and one son who successfully completed his studies at ISO and moved on to college.
How can I help as an ISO board member
I will be fully committed and utilize all my competencies to contribute to the ongoing work of ISO’s current leadership and propose new ideas. I will always be ready to lead projects or other initiatives as deemed appropriate by the other board members.
Aminata Dembele
My name is Aminata Dembele, I am an enthusiastic parent, a community member, and an advocate for the education and well-being of our children.
As a parent of a child attending ISO since 2021, I have had the privilege of being actively involved in our school community as a member of the PTA. I have experienced personally the devotion and hard work of our educators, administrators, and support staff.
I have spent a few years working in various educational roles as a classroom volunteer, a midday supervisor and PTA member in different countries such as: Mali, Congo/ Brazzaville and the UK. My commitment to education extends beyond my own children; I have actively participated in school events and initiatives aimed at improving student engagement and academic success.
I hold a degree in Interior Design from Nottingham. I am an interior designer and owner of ISIMO design. This role has equipped me with useful abilities in community engagement, strategy planning, and stakeholder collaboration.
I firmly believe that every child deserves access to a high-quality education that nurtures their potential, fosters their growth, and prepares them for a successful future.
I am committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders – parents, teachers, administrators, and community members – to make sure that every child has access to a safe, welcoming, and stimulating learning environment in our school.
Dr. Rose Drabo
Burkina Faso
Dr. Rose is a Dental Surgeon, Specialist in Public Health at the Ministry of Health in Burkina Faso. The MALAM MAMAN-DRABO Family have one child attending Upper School.
Lady Sylvie Hajjar
Hi everyone! My name is Hajjar Lady Sylvie, I’m Burkinabè and French and my husband is Lebanese. I was born in Burkina Faso and enjoy living in this beautiful country. I am a happy mother of 4 great children, 2 of them are going to university Jonathan and Stacey, and the 2 others are at ISO Lounya grade 10 and Dylan grade 4.
I am an entrepreneur, General Director of my own company for more than 12 years now.
I am also part of the Lion’s Club international association where I serve as a Zone President.
Today I am happy to join the Board and give a little of my time to ISO community for the wellbeing of our children.
Estelle Tonde
Je m’appelle Tonde Estelle Je suis la Directrice Generale du Bâtisseurs Global vision et de BTC company depuis 6ans.
Je travaille dans le domaine de la construction de la rénovation de la vente de parcelle, la décoration , la Location de matériel de construction, Le transport, de vente de groupe Électrogène , de plaques solaire etc….
Je réside au Burkina Faso actuellement , j’ai eu la chance de connaître les USA ,La France , la Suisse et Monaco, et j’espère apporter au conseil d’administration mon expertise en matière de gestion immobilière et d’implémentation de plans de construction d’aménagements et de réaménagements
María Vazquez Dodero
María Vázquez-Dodero, Master of Direction and Management of NGOs from ESADE Business School (Barcelona), is patron-founder and manager director in Burkina Faso, where she lives since 2011, of the Amigos the Rimkieta (FAR) foundation.