Isabela has been a governor at Stoke Newington School since December 2021. She is originally from Brazil and first learnt English at age 9, after turning up to school as an international student surrounded by native English-speaking classmates whom she initially could not understand. She moved to London when she was 18 and has lived in North London since her early twenties.

Isabela is a corporate lawyer and has worked in a variety of organisations, including an international law firm, an investment bank, a multinational and an asset manager. She has taken up roles as a mentor at university and at various employers and has set up a mentoring scheme for female university students at her current job. She believes she can bring a fresh perspective to the governing board due to her age (she was born in the nineties), the way she accessed the role (she applied for the role through a central organisation and had no prior personal connections to the school), having no professional experience in the education sector and being a foreigner.

Some of her hobbies include food, arts (particularly literature, music and theatre) and travelling.

"I was drawn to become a governor as I think education is the main catalyst for change in society. My parents and grandmother are educators and I believe providing a good education is the best shot we have at enabling children to fulfil their potential."

Skills

  • Experience as a legal professional
  • Experience of risk management
  • Lived experience of discrimination

Roles & contributions to SNS

  • Being involved with the creative hub project (and obtaining support from her company so that they provide pro bono advice).
  • Arranged 5 work experience placements in my company.
  • Attended a stage 2 complaint panel.