Julian Whiteley

Julian is one of the leading international school Heads of his generation and has more than 20 years’ school leadership experience in the UK, South America and Asia. He is also currently on the board of two schools, one here in the UK, the other in Thailand.

Since joining RSAcademics as Senior Advisor in 2017, Julian has advised schools around the world on a variety of projects, including the appraisal of school leaders and senior staff and the provision of coaching for a number of international school heads. He has also supported our clients on the search and selection of international school leaders.

His consultancy work also includes providing advice and on-the-ground consultancy support for strategic planning and school development for a number of our international clients, particularly whole school reviews.

In 2014, Julian became the founding Head of UWC Thailand. Prior to that, Julian was Head of College at United World College of South East Asia in Singapore for nine years, one of the world’s most-respected and best-known international schools (and, now with over 5,000 students on two campuses, one of the largest).

Beginning his career as an engineer in the Royal Navy, Julian subsequently obtained a postgraduate teaching qualification at Cambridge University before taking up teaching posts at Sherborne School and Rugby School. Thereafter he took up the deputy headship of a school in Sao Paulo (and completed an MBA at Nottingham University) before returning to England to become the Head of Taunton School in 1997.

In addition to his extensive experience of leading schools, Julian has served on the Board of the East Asia Regional Council of Schools, was a member of the International Baccalaureate Heads’ Council and the United World Colleges Council. He has been involved in the inspection, accreditation and governance of schools as well as the recruitment of senior leaders.