He is also a member of the senior executive leadership team and supports Principals, Boards and school leaders across the Ariston Education network.

Prior to joining the head office team, nine years ago, Michael served as Principal, Headmaster and Housemaster in the Middle East, Europe and the UK. He has also worked as an educational adviser and consultant specialising in accreditation, inspection, governance, strategic planning and professional development.

Michael is a recognised leader in safeguarding, governance, inspection and international school improvement. He has served as a Board member, governor, senior inspector and accreditation team chair and is an accredited trainer in safeguarding, health and safety and mental health.

Outside of work, Michael enjoys travelling, history, walking his dogs, sport and spending time with family and friends. He is passionate about helping young people develop the knowledge, character and confidence to thrive in an ever changing world.

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?

The first time I set foot in Hungary was in February this year. I came with the purpose of visiting this school to look at the condition of the buildingsand whether there was room for enhancement of the infrastructure.

So that was my first stay here, I was only here for two days, so it was a whirlwind trip. On the first evening, I did 26,000 steps on a walking tour with a former colleague who is Hungarian, as she was aware of my interest in history, art and culture. My legs did hurt the next day.

We started from the Pest side where I was staying near Blaha Square, which is a very interesting area by the way. We walked from there all the way through Pest, through the Jewish Quarter, past the synagogue, to the Basilica. Then we walked along the quayside near the Parliament building and saw the very moving Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial. Then we walked across Chain Bridge, up to Buda Castle and along the back of the castle. Next, we walked down Ostrom Street to Széll Kálmán Square, then all the way to Margaret Island.

I returned to Budapest on the 14th of August to take up this post, so I have been living here since then.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?

Yes, my wife and I left England when our first child was six weeks old and we went to live in in Porto, Portugal. We lived there for six years before moving on to live in the United Arab Emirates.

Then we went back to the UK, as my eldest child started secondary school. For the last nine years, in my role as Director of Education, I have travelled to visit schools in the group regularly - probably every other month - to as far afield as Ecuador in South America, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, and then closer to home, Spain.

The group also has a school in Ljubljana, Slovenia and in Tirana, Albania. Anyway, the expat postings were Portugal and the UAE with my family. All together, we were out of the UK for almost 10 years.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?

I have been bowled over by the knowledge, passion and pride of Hungarians in their national culture and history. Yesterday, I met a friend and we went to a lovely Hungarian wine cellar - it was his recommendation.

There we met two Hungarians who are passionate about their wine, and we so we all did some wine tasting in the afternoon. They showed such passion about wines from Balaton and Tokaj and more regions. It was very good to hear things like, "Forget if you like French wines, we have better ones here."

So, I have been impressed with the depth and pride of knowledge of Hungarians about their own culture, history and also cuisine.

I am still getting to grips with the prices in shops for food. You get good meals in restaurants at relatively reasonable prices, when comparing it with the UK or Austria. But I have been surprised at the price of meat and other things in supermarkets - people here have told me inflation over the last few years has rocketed.

Also, I noticed people keep themselves to themselves on the bus here, but it is nice to see that people still read books and papers. While there is a school car, I regularly take the bus. For me, it gives me a nice bit of time to switch off, or read a book - although I was so engrossed last week, I missed the bus stop. Luckily, I only had to walk back downhill, not up. Anyway, when you're sat in an office for most of the day, it is good to have a walk. Similarly, at the end of the day, I like just to walk down the hill and catch the bus.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do? 

Well, bearing in mind my limited experience, I would say - weather dependent, obviously - an evening with a coffee or a glass of wine overlooking the Danube. That's beautiful.

One of the first things I did here is take out an annual membership to the National Gallery, as I really appreciate art. On the first floor there on the left, as you go up the staircase, there's a beautiful terrace. Nine times out of ten, there's hardly anyone there and it has the most beautiful views.

I have been there half a dozen times already. I do a couple of hours looking around the gallery and I break it up by having a drink on that terrace overlooking the Danube and Pest, with the Parliament on the left. I balance that with either writing postcards and notes or reading a book.

So the National Gallery would be one I recommend to visiting friends. To walk by the Danube. Up in the Castle and that whole area. Then down onto Ostrom Street, where on the left, there's a Michelin guide recommended restaurant. I am waiting for my eldest sister to arrive to take her there.

Then take the 4-6 tram, look at the main synagogue and the Basilica and then finish up in the Jewish Quarter for food. Third time lucky that I got into Mama Goulash recently, you know the local eatery there. I could not believe the queues. On reflection, with hindsight, you have to get in there before half past five. Otherwise, the queues go out the door and down the street. From about half past five until seven, it is a 45-minute wait.

There is only about half a dozen things on the menu, but what is there is really fresh. Surprise, surprise, what did I order? Goulash,with a bowl of cucumber salad on the side. Oh, that was great. So was the music, it's not overpowering. It's a mixture of Hungarian rhapsody-type music and I think because of the proximity of the synagogues and that area, there's also a blend of Yiddish / Jewish music too. It seems to me there was an 18th/19th-century style of music, which was very relaxing.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?

I have not tried that many dishes yet. As well as the Goulash, I've had the chicken paprikash. I preferred the Hungarian goulash, simple yet very flavourful, as was that cucumber salad. I've not tried lángos yet. The other thing which I really like here are the pickled round peppers stuffed with cabbage.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?

Milk, for tea.

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?

Köszönöm and I am working on egészségedre!

8. What do you miss most from home? 

My wife, my children, my dogs and the long walks in the countryside near the canal and the river near my house.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?

A historical researcher, or, as I stared out training as a Barrister, I would love to be a Judge. 

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?

Something which excludes people, or interacting with people, sitting behind a desk focussed on administrative or bureaucratic issues.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?

In the UK and Ireland.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?

A short trip to Spain for my nephews’ wedding. A longer holiday will be a three-week trip around Hungary, Austria and Croatia.

13. Apart from temptation what can't you resist?

The opportunity of a walk in the nature. In the UK, I am out with our dogs on weekends from 6.30am until midday.

14. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?

Big bands, like the Glen Miller Band, Count Basie and the bands of the 40’s 50’s. Also, classical music, pieces by Liszt for example. For  singers, I would say Neil Diamond, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitgerald

Film: King Kong, Star Wars, and The Mission - a film with Jeremy Irons and Robert de Niro, about Jesuit missionaries defending a Guaraní community in 18th-century South America - it also has a beautiful soundtrack.

Hobby: I used to make and paint lead soldiers.

15. Red or white wine?

Red. Languedoc, and Bordeaux, for example.

16. Book or movie?

Books, I have three on the go at the moment. I’m rereading the ‘Odyssey’, reading ‘Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill’, and also reading ‘Of Mice and Men’ byJohn Steinbeck.

17. Morning or night person?

Morning, I usually get up around 5 am.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?

Poverty. I pass by Blaha Square on my way to St Michael’s Church, where I regularly attend a Latin Mass. I see different generations, all in poverty and with substance abuse issues. It makes me think how lucky most of us are, and I hope that the situation there makes people think about what can be done to resolve such poverty.

19. Buda or Pest side?

Both. Pest for its fifth and seventh districts. Buda for the Castle District, the National Gallery and its terrace.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?

Carpe Diem - Seize the day.