MEET THE TEAM
OUR
PRINCIPAL
Graeme Kinkead
I spent my formative years growing up in a beautiful coastal village in Northern Ireland before moving to England to study and graduate from Sheffield Hallam University. Prior to working at Muna, I have been privileged to hold teaching and leadership roles in schools in England, Kuwait and The UAE.
Since arriving at Muna in September 2020, I have overseen the development of our pastoral care programme and have ensured that high quality teaching is taking place throughout the school. Throughout my time here, I have always been passionate about ensuring that school is a safe and welcoming place where children enjoy coming. It was a great honour to be appointed principal of this wonderful school in January 2024 and I look forward to leading us into our next chapter on Saadiyat Island.
The opening of our first ever Year 7 cohort is a an opportunity I am relishing. No longer having to say goodbye to our students as they finish Year 6 means we can continue to shape our student’s lives through challenging teenage years. Combining a dedicated team of primary and secondary teachers will ensure that Muna’s reputation of delivering outstanding education lasts long into the future.
Outside of school, I spend my free time with my wife and three children. At the weekend I enjoy watching my favourite football team play and when time permits it, playing squash and hockey. Over the coming months and years, I look forward to developing positive relations and getting to know all of the students, their families and the wider Muna British Academy community.
Janine Johnston
Vice Principal
Originally from Northern Ireland, I moved to Dubai in 2008 and proceeded to stay for 15 years. Teaching and leading in three outstanding schools during this time provided me with a wealth of experience working with exceptional students and educators. I began my career as a class teacher with experience of teaching across primary. I quickly progressed into leadership roles due to my passion for helping others and bringing about positive changes for students and the whole school community. Subsequently my leadership journey began in the role as Head of Year progressing to Head of Assessment, Assistant Head and finally Deputy Head prior to my new position of Vice Principal at Muna British Academy.
Providing the best educational experiences for all students is one of my key drivers alongside ensuring all children feel safe, valued and happy while at school. In previous school settings I have had the pleasure of leading on areas including learning and teaching, assessment and curriculum design. I obtained my BA Hons degree from Queens University, Belfast. I also achieved a Masters degree in Educational leadership and management from the University of Leicester, UK. I am a firm believer in the importance of lifelong learning, and I continuously aim to learn more, improve, and develop as a teacher and leader.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my first year at Muna British Academy, where I have had the privilege of working alongside a dedicated team of educators who are deeply committed to fostering a culture of excellence. It has been incredibly rewarding to collaborate with staff, students, and parents to drive meaningful improvements in learning, teaching, and overall student well-being.
As Vice Principal, my focus remains on ensuring that every child receives the highest quality education in a nurturing and inspiring environment. I am passionate about empowering both students and teachers to reach their full potential, fostering a culture of curiosity, resilience, and lifelong learning.
I look forward to continuing this journey at Muna British Academy in state of the art new facilities on Saadiyat Lagoons where we will further strengthen our commitment to innovation, inclusion, and outstanding educational experiences for all.
Avalon Orr
Assistant Principal
I graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2005 with a MA (Hons) in Psychology; while studying for this degree, I found I had a particular interest in Developmental and Educational Psychology and decided to go on and study Primary Education.
I completed my PGDE in Primary Education from the University of Strathclyde in 2006. I worked in inner-city primary schools in Glasgow before embarking on a wonderful experience of travelling in Asia and Australia for a year. On my return to Scotland, I decided to combine my passion for teaching and travel and move to the UAE in 2010.
I have been a proud member of the Aldar Academies family over for fourteen years, working at Yasmina British Academy and Muna British Academy. Since arriving at Muna in 2020, I have overseen our assessment programme. I am passionate in ensuring that data becomes impactful and shapes the individual education journeys of children. I believe that the children should be central to everything we do; teachers should see the learning through the eyes of their students, setting challenging goals and facilitating the students’ learning journeys so they can reach their full potential, with no cap on expectations.
I am proud to be part of the Muna British Academy community as Assistant Principal and look forward to the school’s next chapter as we move from our current site to our new home on Saadiyat Island.
Luke Jameson
Assistant Principal
I grew up in the town of Middlesbrough in England. I have always had a passion for sport and acting and moved to Liverpool for a number of years while completing my BA(Hons) Degree in Drama. I then returned to Middlesbrough to complete a teaching course and began my teaching career there.
Before moving to the UAE, I worked across KS2 and held several different leadership roles across two very different schools in Middlesbrough. Previously, I led PE and English subjects across the school as well as teaching from Y3 to Y6.
In 2018, I then moved to the UAE and began teaching and leading at Pearl British Academy as Head of Year 5. Following three years there, I joined Muna British Academy and have been proud to move from UKS2 Phase Leader into my current role of Assistant Principal at the beginning of 2024/25 academic year.
As pastoral lead, I am passionate about ensuring the safety and happiness of all children in school. I want all children to reach their potential and ensure they go on to lead happy and healthy lives, achieving success in all they do.
I am incredibly proud to work at Muna British Academy, thanks to the amazing children, staff, and parents we have which creates a strong community feel. As we move to our new home on Saadiyat Island, I will be ensuring that community remains at the heart of everything we do. I look forward to working alongside my secondary pastoral colleagues to ensure that children are able to flourish all the way from 3-18 at Muna British Academy.
Emma Gaskell
Head of Inclusion
Growing up in the beautiful city of Bath in the South West of England, I moved to Manchester to further my studies. Having completed a Bsc in Business I worked for the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK for many years, before retraining to be a Primary School Teacher.
With over a decade of experience in specialist schools catering to students with additional needs. I have had the privellige of engaging with pupils from diverse backgrounds, each with distinct needs requiring specialised provisions and interventions.
My commitment to inclusive education motivated me to pursue a Master’s degree in Special and Additional Learning Needs at East London University, complemented by the National SENCO award from Middlesex University.
For the past few years, I’ve proudly served as an Inclusion teacher within one of the Aldar Academies . Now, I’m excited to embrace a new challenge at Muna British Academy, a school dedicated to promoting and celebrating neurodiversity.
In my role as Head of Inclusion, I will be overseeing the development of an inclusive curriculum, conducting staff training, and implementing best teaching practices. My focus remains steadfast on prioritising student needs and fostering collaboration among parents, teachers, and specialists to ensure optimal learning outcomes. My aim is to contribute to making Muna British Academy a beacon of inclusion and excellence.
Beyond work, I am a parent to three teenagers. I find joy in travel, meeting new people, and exploring the restaurants and coffee shops that Abu Dhabi has to offer.
I am thrilled about this new chapter at Muna British Academy and look forward to contributing to its vibrant community and commitment to inclusive education.
Muna Abu Safi
Head of MOE
I have over 20 years of teaching experience teaching both primary and secondary students Arabic and Islamic Studies. Throughout my teaching journey in both Jordan and The UAE, I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching both native and non-native students.
I am proud to be a member of the Aldar Academies family for 16 years. Working for Aldar Academies has given me the opportunity to achieve a high-level teaching career, enabling me to achieve both personally and professionally. My approach is very simple happy children flourish and happy children learn. Our greatest responsibility as teachers, and leaders is to create an environment where our children feel safe, valued, and listened to. I always aim to create opportunities for children to be excited and truly engaged in MOE Subjects, which I believe leads naturally to excellent academic progress.
I am delighted that we will be moving into new facilities on Saadiyat Island. Bespoke Arabic and Islamic rooms will allow us to develop our learning environments to ensure that all children develop a fluency for Arabic and a love for the language of the country we are so lucky to call home.
Sirash Sidhiq
Manager – Operations and Support Services
With over 17 years of experience in various industries, including 13 years in the educational sector, my unwavering focus on safety and well-being encompasses a commitment to creating exceptional learning environments that prioritise quality education . As a trusted member of the executive leadership team, I play a critical role in creating the necessary environment for an outstanding school.
Over the past 13 years, I have had the opportunity to collaborate with wider educational groups, which has given me high levels of confidence and knowledge in delivering operational excellence. I was a founding member of a Sustainable School in Dubai, located in Sustainable City.
I hold a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in economics. Additionally, I am certified in various health and safety and Safeguarding courses. I am passionate about health and safety, sustainability, and project management.
I am incredibly proud to work at Muna British Academy and look forward to working with our construction partners to ensure the new building is built and equipped with the very best resources to ensure our hardworking teachers can continue to deliver outstanding education in our new home.