Governance
The Vientiane International School Board of Trustees is a nine-member volunteer group of parents committed to the mission of the school which is to challenge, inspire and empower students to develop their unique potential in our changing world.
The purpose of the Board of Trustees is to ensure that the school delivers on the mission, vision, values, and destiny plans while maintaining the resources and capacity to secure long-term sustainability.
The Board helps to ensure that as a school we provide a safe, respectful, collaborative and sustainable learning environment for not only students, but the entire VIS community.
VIS Board of Trustees School Year 2022 - 2023
Sophia Cason
Board Chair
Sophia joined the VIS Board in 2020 as a member. On 2022, Sophia was elected Board Chair, with Sandra Seastedt as a Co Chair in order to ensure proper succession planning. She is currently working in Laos as the Chief of Party for the USAID Legal Aid Support Program at the Asia Foundation. She previously worked as an access to justice advisor and in a number of other positions for government and UN agencies and NGOs in Timor-Leste and Australia. In Timor-Leste she also served on the board of some local NGOs.
Sandra Seastedt
Board Co-Chair
Sandra joined the board in 2015 as Vice Chair and has held the Board Chair role since 2016. Currently, she holds the Co Chair role in transition to Sophia Cason. She is a practicing psychotherapist. Raised in Switzerland and educated in the US, she lived in Ethiopia and the Dominican Republic before arriving in Vientiane in 2014. She has enjoyed learning about good board governance and feels lucky to be surrounded by such a compassionate group of colleagues as they support the school in fulfilling its mission.
Rachel Dechaineux
Vice Chair
Rachel joined the board in 2016 and was re-elected in 2018. An Australian who dedicated her studies and research to Laos, she has extensive experience working in various development sectors and currently has owner-operated businesses in hospitality. Rachel is pleased to contribute to the VIS board with interest areas of governance, sustainability and campus development.
Christopher Dumm
US Embassy Representative
Christopher Dumm is the Management Officer at the US Embassy in Vientiane. He previously worked in Chengdu, China; New Delhi, India; Milan, Italy; and most recently in Washington DC. Prior to joining the Department of State, he worked in the non-profit world and for a member of the US House of Representatives. Chris attended the University of Virginia. He and his wife Danielle have two children who are excited to attend VIS.
Hani Tesfazghi
Board Member
Hani moved to Vientiane in August of 2018 and brings his experience as an accountant, former member of a board. He was previously a Board of Trustee member of a Church in the UK and worked closely with the Treasurer & Finance committee. As a former VIS parent he was involved with swimming events and One World Day. Currently, he works closely with the VIS Operations and Finance Manager from the UK, where he has recently relocated with his family.
Andrea Unzicker
Board Member
Andrea joined the VIS Board in 2019, having served previously on the Board’s Policy Committee. She is currently the Country Representative for the NGO, Mennonite Central Committee. Her career has been as a business lawyer and director for financial institutions. She is from the United States but has also worked in Cambodia and Botswana. She brings interest and experience in governance, having previously served as legal advisor to various boards.
Yasuo Philaphandeth
Board Member
Yasuo (Ya) Philaphandeth, a Lao national, brings a wealth of board experience with him. He is currently a board member in 4 other companies. He holds an MBA with a major in Finance from Meijo University and has been back to Laos for the past 12 years. Yasuo is the parent of 2 students at VIS.
Ariya Khamvongsa
Board Member
Ariya (Pop) Khamvongsa has a BA in accounting, and a Masters Degree in International Hospitality and Hotel Management from the University of Western Sydney. He returned to his home country of Lao, 10 years ago. He brings with him 10+ years of experience as the CEO of Naked Espresso. Pop has a child who attends VIS.
