Foundation Board Members
MONIQUE FLICKINGER – PRESIDENT
Monique Flickinger is the Superintendent at the American Community School of Abu Dhabi (ACS). Established in 1972, ACS is a non-profit, U.S. accredited college preparatory school with an international student population of approximately 1,200 students, representing about 60 countries.
Prior to that, Ms. Flickinger was the Head of School at The Metropolitan School of Panama. The school had 860 students, 99 teachers, 61 support staff. Over her 3-year tenure, she increased enrollment by 30% and oversaw the authorization of the DP/MYP program thus becoming the first full continuum IB school in Central America. She was also responsible for the creation, planning, and oversight of the new campus design for the start in 2020.
Prior to that she was the Director of Instructional Technology at Poudre School District in Fort Collins, Colorado. This high-performing district of 26,000 students transitioned to 1:1 during her time and she oversaw the instructional training for 1800 teachers and more than 100 principals. She also became highly involved and co-led Colorado’s monthly technology CIO and tech director’s meetings.
She has served as the middle school principal at Lincoln IB World School (2007-2011) and also at Evanston Middle School in Evanston, Wyoming, and Stevens Middle School in Port Angeles, Washington. Previous to her roles as school leadership, she was a math teacher and special needs teacher in Canada, United States, and Costa Rica.
Before entering education, Monique was a newspaper publisher that included three weekly newspapers and a design firm. She was recognized for becoming one of the first digital newspapers in Canada and was awarded the Young Entrepreneur Award of Canada for leadership skills and technology improvements within the industry.
She has a Bachelors in Mathematics from Brigham Young University, an MEd in Leadership from the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and has completed her Doctoral classes in Educational Leadership from the University of Wyoming, United States.
LESLIE BELLAS – TREASURER
Leslie Bellas is the Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), representing the U.S. refining and petrochemical manufacturing industry.
Prior to joining AFPM, Ms. Bellas managed regulatory affairs for a European renewable fuels company. From 2014 through 2018, Ms. Bellas was a consultant to the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, where she helped develop environmental regulations and policy for the Emirate. Before moving to Abu Dhabi, Leslie served as a trade association executive, litigated environmental enforcement actions on behalf of the United States, and provided environmental counseling and litigation services to private industry.
Leslie resided in Abu Dhabi from 2010 through 2021, during which time her son, Alex Weiler, and daughter, Kat Weiler, attended the American Community School of Abu Dhabi (ACS), a non-profit, U.S. accredited college preparatory school serving a culturally diverse student body. With the exception of one year, Leslie served on the ACS Board of Trustees from 2011-2021, serving as Board Secretary from 2012-2013, Board Chair from 2017-2020, and an Honorary Trustee from 2020-2021. Leslie also served as a Director of AmCham Abu Dhabi.
Leslie obtained her law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center, where she currently serves on its Board of Visitors. and her undergraduate degree from Barnard College, Columbia University.
Leslie currently resides in Washington, DC with her husband, David Weiler.
BREE OLIVARI – SECRETARY
With over 15 years of category leadership across marketing, IT and supply chain at Johnson and Johnson, Bree has held roles of increasing leadership within the Procurement organization. She is currently the global category leader for the media and agencies categories with a portfolio of spend over $100M. Before joining Johnson and Johnson, Bree’s experience varied from being an Intellectual Property Paralegal to a Commodities Trader and a Human Resources professional.
Bree was a student at ACS from 1989 – 1996 where she proudly represented the school on the volleyball court, entertained families on the stage and tried out her diplomatic skills as a member of the ACS Model United Nations team. Bree received her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the College of William and Mary in 2000 and an MBA in Global Supply Chain from the Thunderbird Global School of Management in 2008. Outside of work, Bree is actively engaged as a volunteer serving at her sons’ schools, as a Board Member for her community pool and as a Committee Member for the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association. Bree currently resides in Madison, New Jersey with her husband and two sons.
LESLIE SHIVAMBER
Leslie Shivamber is the Secretary for the ACS Education Foundation. From 2017-2022, Leslie was the International Alumni Relations Coordinator for the American Community School of Abu Dhabi (ACS).
In addition to the Alumni Relations Coordinator role, Leslie held multiple school positions, including serving on the ACS Board of Trustees from 2013 to 2016 and as Board Admin Liaison. She served on the Policy, Institutional Advancement, and Finance Committees while on the Board. Leslie is a former ACS parent; her two children graduated in 2013 and 2016.
While living in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida, Leslie held leadership roles in her daughters’ elementary school community, serving as both Vice President and Treasurer of the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO). Additionally, she dedicated four years to the School Advisory Council. When she moved with her family to Abu Dhabi in 2010, Leslie quickly became involved at ACS, creating the school’s first New Family Buddy Program. In addition, she co-chaired the annual International Day events for three years and the High School Career Day for two years.
Leslie attended Indiana University and graduated with a BS in Mathematics. She and her husband currently reside in Nashville, Tennessee.
JOHN HACKWORTH
John Hackworth is a retired educator from Kentucky who received an undergraduate degree from Kenyon College, an MA from the University of Arkansas, and an administrative credential from The College of New Jersey. John was a teacher and later the elementary principal at Sayre School, an independent college preparatory school in Lexington, Kentucky. In 1979, he and his wife, Carolyn, embarked on overseas teaching careers. Their first assignment took them to the American School of Kuwait, then in 1981 to Saudi Arabian International Schools, Jubail campus, and finally in 1987 to the American Community School of Abu Dhabi (ACS). John taught at ACS for three years before becoming its first High School Principal. The high school was newly formed in 1990, whereas previously ACS Abu Dhabi had been a KG through Grade 9 school.
Returning to the US in 1999, John returned to Sayre School as an admissions officer, and eventually, he became the Director of Admissions before retiring in 2012. For the past 20 years, he has been very active in the work of the Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation, the 14th oldest preservation non-profit organization in the nation, serving as board president and chair of numerous committees. John has maintained an interest in the happenings at ACS Abu Dhabi through his contacts with teachers, parents, and alumni, and he enthusiastically supports the vibrant alumni association developed by ACS.
PENNY LOPEZ
Penny Lopez is a firm believer in the transformative power of an international education rooted in a supportive community. A ‘third-culture kid’ herself, Penny was born in Montreal to British parents and raised across the U.S., Australia, and Malaysia, where she attended ISKL. Following her time at Tufts University, where she met her husband, Jose, the couple made the intentional decision to provide their daughters with a global upbringing, driven by the belief that a multicultural perspective is a vital life asset. This path took their family from Maryland to Doha
and Abu Dhabi, affording Gabi (’18) and Allie (’20) the opportunity to attend ACS.
During her decade-long tenure as Director of Admissions at ACS, Penny served as a bridge for families entering the community, viewing the school through the dual lens of a dedicated leader and a proud parent. Since returning to the U.S. in 2021, she and Jose have settled in South Florida, where she has taken on a new challenge as Vice President of a boutique private staffing firm.
DAMON HEWLIN
Damon Hewlin is a visionary architect, global design leader, and Co-Founder of METICULOUS Design Architecture, a firm committed to uplifting humanity through meaningful, purposeful, and impactful design. With over two decades of international experience, Damon has led complex projects across the United States, Middle East, and beyond, bringing a unique blend of cultural insight, innovation, and community-centered thinking to every endeavor.
Damon’s connection to the American Community School of Abu Dhabi (ACS) extends beyond professional engagement to personal investment. From 2017 to 2020, he served on the ACS Board of Trustees, contributing as a member of the Building Committee during the design of the school’s landmark campus on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. His role helped shape a forward-thinking educational environment designed to inspire learning, creativity, and global citizenship.
His commitment to ACS is further reflected through his family. His daughters, Deanna and Gabrielle, both attended ACS, experiencing firsthand the school’s transformative academic and cultural environment. This dual perspective, as both a leader and a parent, continues to inform his passion for supporting educational excellence and student development.
Damon brings his strategic vision, design expertise, and deep belief in the power of education to his role on the ACS Education Foundation Board. He is dedicated to advancing the Foundation’s mission by helping create opportunities that empower future generations to thrive, lead, and make a meaningful impact in the world.
He has completed publishing two books for young people. One for inspiring young people to pursue the profession of architecture and another to help student-athletes develop a holistic approach to training for life, not just sport.
Mr. Hewlin obtained his architecture degree and BS degree in Environmental Design from Ball State University. He now resides with his wife (Erica), two daughters, and son (Dylan) in McDonough, Georgia.
