Dr. Clare McDermott is a member of the Executive Committee for the AmCham China, Southwest Chapter. For the past 6 years, she has been the Director at QSI International School of Chengdu, which provides education to expatriate families in Chengdu since 2002. This is her 18th year in China, having also worked in Shanghai and Shenyang. Originally from New York, USA, Clare graduated from Cornell University, with a BS in Nutritional Science, has a Master of Education from the University of Florida and earned a Doctorate at Nova Southeastern University.

After nearly 20 years in health care as a dietitian, she joined the field of education, first as a teacher, then as an administrator. She has been assisting students and their families adjust to life overseas, while supporting students' educational needs. She is passionate about education and believes that technology is a tool that can promote and enhance learning in conjunction with strong relationships at school and home, academic support and opportunities, and adequate time for learning.

In addition to her role at QSI Chengdu, she serves as the Vice President of ACAMIS, the Association of International Schools in China and Mongolia. ACAMIS works cooperatively with the several Chambers of Commerce in China to benefit the expatriate community. Having a strong system of international schools is vital for foreign investment and expansion; ACAMIS provides a unique voice in the business community.

Dr. Will Hatten serves as the Head of School at Chengdu International School (CDIS), marking his fifth school year in China. Prior to taking on his current role, he served as the Elementary Principal at Wuhan Yangtze International School for three years. Dr. Hatten has also served as both a teacher and school administrator within the North Carolina public school system in the United States. As a former computer science teacher, he is passionate about educational technology and the innovative opportunities it provides for student learning and engagement.
Dr. Will Hatten holds a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Liberty University with research focused on alternative approaches to student discipline. Will along with his wife, Leslie and son, Palmer now call Chengdu home and are always eager to explore the community and experience the exciting culture.

With nearly two decades of experience consulting for top Chinese IB schools and renowned agencies such as Capvision, Cognolink, BCC, and ACG, Mr. Luo is an experienced educator who has a deep understanding of the international education landscape and the diverse needs of Chinese students and families.

Kimi Liu is the Chengdu based Recruitment and Partnerships Manager (Southwest China) of the University of Leeds. He’s responsible for the University’s student recruitment and partnerships network developing and maintaining with university partners in the region. He’s covering recruitment work in east China and south China as well at the moment. Meanwhile, he’s working closely with colleagues to lead on the University’s social media promotions in China.

Dr. Jennifer Birdsong is an educator of over 25 years, serving in both the public school sector in the United States and in international education in China. After teaching and working in school leadership in the US for 18 years, she and her family moved to Chengdu in 2016, where she served as the Elementary Principal, Principal for Teaching and Learning, and the Head of School at Chengdu International School from 2016-2023. She now serves as the LifePlus Superintendent of Schools, overseeing school operations and academics across the seven LifePlus schools based in China and the UAE. During her career as a teacher and educational leader, Dr. Birdsong has presented at professional and educational conferences around the world, as well as, given lectures in university classrooms within the field of education. Jennifer is a member of the Executive Committee for the AmCham China, Southwest Chapter. Dr. Birdsong is married to her husband Jeff who serves as the College and Career Counselor at Chengdu International School. She has two children, Jillian and Jonah, currently living in the United States, attending Cairn University in Pennsylvania.

Victoria Gu graduated from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and has over 10 years of extensive experience in the education industry. She has worked in both Hong Kong and Singapore, where she developed a broad international perspective and deep industry knowledge. Her career spans various aspects of the education sector, including teaching, curriculum design, marketing, and business development. In the past four years, she has focused on the EdTech field, dedicating herself to integrating technology with education. Her work experience in Hong Kong and Singapore has enabled her to better understand the educational needs of different regions and to adapt to various challenges flexibly. Her passion for education, coupled with her keen insight into technology, allows her to maintain a leading professional standard in the ever-changing educational environment.