Meet our leadership team

Stephen Blackburn is an experienced international educator and school leader whose career spans teaching, curriculum development and educational leadership across Australia, England and Portugal.

He studied at Queensland University of Technology and James Cook University in Australia before beginning his teaching career. His professional experience includes primary education, physical education, humanities within the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme and Theory of Knowledge within the IB Diploma Programme.

His connection with Portugal began through his involvement in rugby coaching. In 2005, he joined St. Dominic’s International School, where he subsequently progressed through several academic and leadership positions.

As Principal, Blackburn brings together classroom teaching experience, curriculum knowledge and whole-school leadership within an international educational environment.

With a Scottish family background and a childhood spent in Australia, the USA, and Norway, Fiona Kemp has always had a global outlook influenced by different cultures and experiences. After completing an MA in Psychology and a PGCE in Primary Education in Scotland, she began an international teaching career in the UK, Malaysia, and Brazil, later completing an MSc in Educational Leadership before continuing her career in Portugal.

Fiona joined SDIS nine years ago as a Grade 4 teacher and has served as PYP Coordinator and Head of Junior School. With over 30 years of experience in education, she is passionate about inquiry-based learning, student and teacher agency, and fostering collaborative school cultures. She speaks English, Norwegian, and Portuguese, and is currently learning French.

Born and raised in Greater Manchester, UK, Michael Dumbell has been a mathematics teacher for over 30 years. He has worked in senior leadership roles for 20 years and completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship in the UK before starting his international career.

Michael worked in a variety of IB schools in South America and Spain before joining St Dominic’s in 2018 as Head of Secondary. He is passionate about teaching and learning and, in particular, the science of learning. He has extensive experience of working with teachers to support them to improve their skills so that they can have a high impact on all students.

Sofia Monteiro is a qualified Early Years educator with 26 years of experience. Raised in Portugal with Indian roots and a family heritage spanning South Africa and Mozambique, she developed an early appreciation for different cultures and perspectives. This led her to complete her teaching internship in a multicultural school in the UK before beginning her career in Portuguese education and later moving into a British setting. Since joining St. Dominic’s in 2018, Sofia has developed a deep commitment to the IB philosophy and its emphasis on inquiry, agency and international-mindedness. As Early Years Coordinator, she is passionate about creating inclusive, nurturing learning environments where young students develop curiosity, confidence and independence through play, exploration and meaningful relationships.

Originally from Connecticut, USA, Ed Burt has been part of the SDIS community since 2019, first as an EAL teacher and now as PYP Coordinator. Alongside coordinating the Primary Years Programme, he leads Multilingualism and teaches Drama in Grades 4 and 5.

Ed has lived in Portugal since 2013 and previously in Kraków, Düsseldorf and Madrid, experiences that deepened his passion for languages and international education. He holds degrees in Spanish Literature and Linguistics, Applied Linguistics and Education, is a certified IB Workshop Leader, and speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Polish. One of his lifelong goals is to learn Basque.

Passionate about multilingualism and the IB mission, Ed is committed to fostering international mindedness, belonging and empowerment.

Portuguese by background, Frederico Seco has always had a strong passion for science, which led him to qualify as a Biotechnology Engineer before transitioning into education. His enthusiasm for learning brought him to the IB curriculum and to Saint Dominic’s International School in 2017. Since joining the school, he has worked as a Science teacher and Grade 10 Grade Level Leader, and has served as MYP Coordinator since 2024. He is passionate about the IB mission, student agency, curriculum development and assessment, with a particular interest in interdisciplinary learning and the transfer of skills across subjects and contexts.

Born and raised in rural Australia, Mick Italiano is an experienced IB educator and leader who has worked across international schools in Australia, Singapore, and Portugal. He has been teaching for over 20 years, part of the IB community for over 12 years as a teacher and 16 years in leadership roles, developing extensive expertise in the Diploma Programme.

Mick is an IB-certified Workshop Leader and has a strong track record of leading curriculum implementation, building high-performing teams, and achieving results that exceed world averages.

Passionate about inquiry-driven, concept-based learning and the IB mission, Mick is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where all students feel welcome, valued, and supported. He is committed to fostering a culture of belonging, collaboration, and academic excellence.

Mafalda Rocha has over 10 years of experience in admissions across international education, higher education and school start-up environments. She began her career supporting students through applications to international universities, particularly in the United States, before moving fully into school admissions. Having worked with families from many different cultural and educational backgrounds, Mafalda is especially interested in helping families navigate important educational decisions with greater clarity and confidence. As Head of Admissions at St Dominic’s International School, she works closely with prospective families throughout the admissions process and their introduction to the school community.

With a Scottish family background and a childhood spent in Australia, the USA, and Norway, Fiona Kemp has always had a global outlook influenced by different cultures and experiences. After completing an MA in Psychology and a PGCE in Primary Education in Scotland, she began an international teaching career in the UK, Malaysia, and Brazil, later completing an MSc in Educational Leadership before continuing her career in Portugal.

Fiona joined SDIS nine years ago as a Grade 4 teacher and has served as PYP Coordinator and Head of Junior School. With over 30 years of experience in education, she is passionate about inquiry-based learning, student and teacher agency, and fostering collaborative school cultures. She speaks English, Norwegian, and Portuguese, and is currently learning French.

Born and raised in Greater Manchester, UK, Michael Dumbell has been a mathematics teacher for over 30 years. He has worked in senior leadership roles for 20 years and completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship in the UK before starting his international career.

Michael worked in a variety of IB schools in South America and Spain before joining St Dominic’s in 2018 as Head of Secondary. He is passionate about teaching and learning and, in particular, the science of learning. He has extensive experience of working with teachers to support them to improve their skills so that they can have a high impact on all students.