Dr Helen Kelly - What Do You Need?

Helen Kelly is a researcher, writer and consultant in the field of school wellbeing. Between 2006 and 2020 she led international schools in Bangkok, Berlin and Hong Kong. Prior to this Helen was member of the English legal profession, representing workers in the area of health and safety at work.

Helen is most known for her work on school leader stress and wellbeing. She was awarded an Ed.D from the University of Birmingham, UK in 2017 with a thesis entitled “International Schools as Emotional Arenas: Facing the Leadership Challenges in a German Context”. She also holds a Masters in Educational Leadership and a Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology.

Helen is well-known on the conference circuit in Asia. She has consulted with schools and delivered professional development workshops on both school leader and teacher wellbeing across three continents. She also advises a number of UK organisations that support school leaders and governors. Helen writes for several well-known educational publications and is a regular guest blogger and podcaster. Through her work as The Positive Principal, Helen aims to provide practical support to teachers, school leaders and those responsible for running and supporting schools to enhance wellbeing and maximise the potential of the whole school community.

Helen is a qualified yoga teacher and has taught on 200 hour yoga teacher training courses. She has travelled hundreds of thousands of miles in over 50 countries on a motorbike with her husband. Helen retired from her work in schools in June 2020 and is currently based in beautiful North Wales.