Wesley in the world

From the laneways of Melbourne to the beaches of Mozambique, from research labs in London to studios in Tokyo, OWs are making their mark across the globe. We’ve always been an outward-looking school, and our extended community reaches far beyond the College gates, across continents, cultures and careers.

OWs are living and working in all corners of the world, contributing to fields as varied as the arts, medicine, technology, education, humanitarian work, law, hospitality and entrepreneurship. Some are volunteering in remote communities, some are leading corporations, others are pioneering research, building start-ups or creating films. Their stories reflect a shared spirit of Wesley daring – to be curious, to be active, to make a difference.

This global network of OWs is as dynamic as it is inspiring. While their journeys may be vastly different, they remain connected by a common thread: the values, friendships and formative experiences of their time at Wesley.

In this feature, we take a closer look at how our OWs are shaping their worlds, and celebrate the richness and reach of the OW diaspora. Wherever you go in the world, there’s a good chance another OW is just around the corner.

Simon Head (OW1984)

Jiangsu province, China

Based in China since 2021, Simon is Head of School at UWC Changshu, part of a global education movement for peace and sustainability. He has led and taught in IB schools across five continents and is a strong advocate for the transformative power of education. Elected to the IB Heads Council in 2019 and re-elected in 2024, he represents schools worldwide and contributes regularly to global forums on innovation and leadership.

Andrea Biden (OW1993)

Jangamo Bay, Mozambique

For the past decade, Andrea has co-directed Love The Oceans, a marine conservation charity in rural Mozambique. Under her leadership, Jangamo Bay became a Mission Blue Hope Spot, and her team received the Gender Just Climate Solutions Award at COP29. Building the organisation from the ground up, Andrea has led a holistic approach to conservation, combining marine research with education, gender equity, and alternative livelihoods in a region facing extreme poverty. Love The Oceans has produced world-first data, taught over 3,000 children to swim, reached 1,500+ with ocean literacy, and helped train the first female swim instructors and lifeguards in the region.

Dr Sandro Demaio (OW2003)

Seoul, South Korea

Former VicHealth CEO, Sandro led the agency through the COVID-19 pandemic, launched a 10-year health strategy, and served as Deputy Public Health Commander for Victoria. He now heads the WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health, driving regional efforts across 37 countries to address the links between climate, environment, and health. At WHO Geneva, he helped shape the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition, led the Lancet Series on the Double Burden of Malnutrition, and contributed to WHO’s 13th Global Programme of Work. Sandro also advises Pictet’s Nutrition Fund, government taskforces, and UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children 2019 report.

Isobel Hymer (OW2014)

Brisbane, Australia

Isobel was named the 2023 CPMEC Queensland Junior Doctor of the Year at the Australia and New Zealand Prevocational Medical Education Forum, recognising her outstanding contribution to education and training. While a Junior House Officer at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, she also served as President of the Junior Doctor Society. She recently completed a Masters of Public Health and now works as a PHO in General Surgery at Redcliffe Hospital.

Asher Lessels (OW1997)

Paris, France

Asher works for the United Nations, where he leads a team that supports developing countries across Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe on initiatives that promote sustainable, low-emission development and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Key projects focus on areas such as electric mobility, sustainable cities, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable cooling. Asher has been with the United Nations since 2012, with previous assignments in Germany and Brazil.

Alia Papageorgiou (OW1994)

Brussels, Belgium

Alia is Vice President of the Association of European Journalists and President of the Press Club, Brussels, Europe. After studying European Law in the UK, her career took her to Athens and then Brussels in 2008, where she reported on the economic crisis. She later served as press officer for the EU Delegation to Australia in Canberra. Alia has run in both European and local Brussels elections. In 2022, she founded the Writers Festival of Belgium, which she plans to tour across cities until 2029 before returning it to Brussels.

Claire Chu (OW2006)

Hong Kong

After graduating from Wesley College, Claire completed a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at the University of Melbourne, then worked as a veterinarian in Hong Kong until she became a full-time mum. Three children later, Claire rekindled her love for soccer and joined the Hong Kong Football Club Women's Team in 2018. At 35 years old, Claire transferred to Kitchee SC, the top women's team in Hong Kong, and made her semi-professional debut, starting both games at the 2024 AFC Women's Champions League Preliminaries in Bhutan.

Jason Tabalujan-Chong (OW1998)

Jakarta, Indonesia

A private equity fund manager by trade, Jason is the owner and co-founder of Celestia, a 45-metre luxury yacht he fully funded and commissioned in June 2023. He discovered his love for sailing at Wesley, sparking a lifelong passion for the outdoors. Built during the pandemic in collaboration with his sister, New York fashion designer Jasmine Chong, Celestia blends traditional Indonesian craftsmanship with modern luxury and offers bespoke voyages through Indonesia’s archipelago. The yacht features seven staterooms for up to 14 guests and has welcomed many of Hollywood’s finest. It was named one of TIME’s World’s Greatest Places of 2025 and featured in the Golden Globes gift bags in 2024 and 2025.

Andrew Stone (OW2002)

New York, USA

Andrew is Chief Brand & Culture (CMO & CPO) at Bluestone Lane, an Australian café and specialty coffee roaster with 65+ locations across the USA. He also works alongside brother Nick (OW1999) on Old Mates, a proper Aussie pub that opened in Manhattan earlier this year. After nearly a decade in New York City, Andrew has recently moved to Long Island with wife Ashleigh (founder of Poolside NY) and three young kids (with #4 on the way!) As well as growing three businesses, he is also training for his fifth New York City Marathon.

Lucy Richards (OW2006)

Castlemaine, Victoria

Lucy is passionate about the intersection of mental health, the environment, technology, and social justice. She runs The Regenerative Leader, a business focused on designing restorative approaches to leadership and organisational culture. Aiming to counter the extractive nature of traditional capitalism, her work brings energy, resilience and renewal to leaders and the systems they influence. She is about to launch a six-month program for non-profit CEOs, guiding them through a learning journey titled Inner Work for Outer Action.

David Dickson (OW1996)

San Francisco, USA

Until recently, David was Senior Vice President of AI at Sage, where he built and led a global team of 70+ experts and helped position the company as a leader in finance AI. He previously led engineering and data science at a San Francisco startup. Now launching his next AI venture, David is focused on creating software that combines technical excellence with human-centred design.

Yebeen Ysabelle Boo

London, United Kingdom

Ysabelle is a Real-World Evidence Manager at AstraZeneca, using health data to support public health and the development of new medicines. With a background in epidemiology and project management, she recently completed a PhD at Oxford, where she developed a model to improve maternal and newborn care in India. Her passion for epidemiology began at Wesley, sparked by her love of maths, human geography, and biology. She is committed to building stronger health systems and advancing public health around the world.

See where our OWs are around the world!

Return to magazine