Malcolm McKenzie brings a remarkable breadth and depth of global leadership experience to CS&A, having spent almost four decades shaping and stewarding exceptional schools across four continents. A lifelong educator with an unwavering commitment to service, Malcolm has held headships in the United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Botswana, and Nigeria, with each post reflecting his passion for transformational leadership, intercultural understanding, and the power of education to change lives.
Most recently, Malcolm served as Interim Superintendent at the American International School of Lagos and prior to that, as Interim Head of School at UWC ISAK Japan. In both roles, he brought clarity of purpose and steady leadership during pivotal periods of transition, leading institutional healing and implementing strategic priorities to foster community, continuity, and renewed momentum.
From 2013 to 2022, Malcolm served as the Founding Head of Keystone Academy in Beijing, a visionary bilingual school that blends Eastern, Western, and International traditions. Under his leadership, Keystone gained global recognition for its unique academic program, emphasis on Confucian values, and deep engagement with Chinese culture and identity.
Previously, Malcolm served as Head of School at The Hotchkiss School (CT), where he worked to expand the school’s global reach and environmental ethos, and as Principal of Atlantic College in Wales, the founding institution of the United World Colleges movement. There, he led a student body representing over 100 countries, many on financial aid, and strengthened the school’s historic commitment to service, peacebuilding, and global citizenship.
Earlier in his career, Malcolm was Principal of Maru-a-Pula School in Botswana, a pioneering school with a strong service orientation, and served as the school’s Head of English before becoming its Principal. He also spent several years teaching English and training teachers at the university level in apartheid-era South Africa before relocating due to potential danger stemming from his anti-apartheid activities.
Malcolm earned his B.A. in English and Philosophy from the University of Cape Town, a First-Class Honors B.A./M.A. in English from the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, and a Master’s in Linguistics for English Language Teaching from the University of Lancaster. He has been the recipient of numerous academic honors, in addition to the Rhodes Scholarship.
Outside of his professional life, Malcolm is very committed to his family and has two adult children. He is a voracious learner who delights in literature, language, and the arts. Malcolm is deeply interested in environmental and conservation issues. He is a global citizen who has called many parts of the world home.