Governance

The VIS Association

The Vienna International School Association (“VISA”) is the organization that operates VIS. VISA is a not-for-profit association entity that was founded under Austrian law in 1977 to promote and provide education suited to the needs of the international community in Vienna. In doing so, VISA takes into account the spirit and principles embodied in the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the special character of an international education. VISA is organized under its own articles of association (the “Statutes”).

Governance Documents

Introducing the VISA Board of Governors

Mr. Ivica Pepovski (Board Chair)  is the representative of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), where he heads the Programme and Budget Section in the Budget and Finance Division. His experience (and interests) are in public finance, procurement and budgeting. Mr. Pepovski is a father of two children, one studying at VIS in Secondary School.

Mr. Felix Binggeli (Vice-Chair) brings over 40 years of leadership experience from IBM, where he held senior roles leading national and global teams across client management and business operations. For the past two decades, his work has focused on Learning & Development, specializing in leadership, communication and coaching. Felix is a certified ICT Coach and a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD). He is fluent in English and German, with working proficiency in French. He grew up in Austria and England and holds a Master’s Degree in Engineering Science from the University of Oxford.

Mr. Sasha Damjanac (Treasurer) is the representative of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), where he is the Treasurer. As a former Head of Administration and Chief of Finance in several missions of the OSCE, and Head of Contributions and Head of Coordinated Research Activities in the IAEA, Mr. Damjanac brings 27 years of long and extensive managerial experience in finance, administration, procurement, human resources, resource mobilization, partnerships, governance, and strategic management. He holds an MBA and a Master of Science in Economics degree, and he is a Chartered Management Accountant Fellow. As a former professional sportsman, he is highly passionate about sports. He has one child who graduated from VIS and one currently in the Secondary School.

Mr. Alexander Kunzelmann (Secretary) is the representative of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), where he is a legal officer with the International Trade Law Division of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs. Mr. Kunzelmann has previously practised law in both government and the private sector in Australia, specializing in constitutional, international, and commercial law. Mr. Kunzelmann has also lived and studied in Switzerland and the Netherlands. He is a keen amateur musician, playing violin and viola in orchestras in Canberra, The Hague, and Vienna. Mr. Kunzelmann has one son in Primary School.

Ms. Rana Ghoneim is the representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), where she is the Director of the Division for Energy and Climate Action. Rana has a track record of strategy development, multilateral cooperation, and funds mobilization for programmes at the intersection of sustainable energy, climate change, and industrial development.  She is an advocate for innovation, equality, and learning, all of which are central to her leadership vision. She holds a Master of Science in Environmental Economics from Imperial College.  Rana has a son who graduated from VIS and one currently in 11th grade.

Mr. Harald Schippl (elected member) is a court-certified real estate appraiser and property developer who has been successfully running his company Schippl-Haus independently for more than 30 years. He is also a certified member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS) and an active member of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Schippl is a native Viennese where he lives with his wife Andrea and his 13-year-old son Sebastian, who was born in the USA.

Ms. Norah Lynn Paddock (elected member) has a professional background in social work and public administration, with more than 20 years of experience in the Canadian government and non-profit sectors. Her public policy expertise includes topics related to healthcare, higher education, and international migration. As a social worker, she is specialized in the fields of perinatal mental health and grief support. Ms. Paddock holds a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Social Work. Prior to joining the Board, she was the Chair of the VIS Parent Teacher Association. She has two children at VIS, one in Primary school and the other in Secondary.