- Describe your company in three words or phrases.
Leadership. Collaboration. Global perspective.
ALTO brings together senior leaders from across international education – agencies, educators, associations and service providers – to exchange ideas, set standards and collectively shape the future of the industry. - What inspired you to join the organisation?
I joined at a pivotal moment 15 years ago when ALTO became an independent association. The board had set a bold objective: to raise the international profile of the language and educational travel sector within the global economy, and they invited me to run the association.
Having worked as an educational agent in Budapest and later for a language school group in London, I had seen first-hand how interconnected the industry is – and how valuable genuine collaboration between stakeholders can be. Joining ALTO felt like a natural opportunity to contribute to building a stronger, more professional global community within international education. - How would you describe its mission in one sentence?
Our mission is to elevate international education by fostering leadership, integrity and shared best practices across agencies, schools and global partners. - How would your team describe you as a leader?
My role is perhaps best described as the person keeping many moving parts in motion at once. Running an international association often feels like a careful juggling act, balancing the needs of members, partners, projects and events, all while keeping sight of the organisation’s long-term goals. I hope colleagues and members would say I bring structure, reliability and consistency to that process. - What’s one misconception about your sector you’d love to correct?
A common misconception is that international education is purely transactional, focused solely on student numbers and enrolments. In reality, international students bring far more than academic participation: they enrich the cultural life of their host countries, foster global understanding, and contribute significantly to local economies and communities. Beyond statistics, the sector shapes long-term social and economic impact, and supports the development of future global leaders while strengthening the institutions and networks that serve them. - What keeps you energised outside of work?
My personal life isn’t all that different from my professional one – I genuinely enjoy travelling and connecting with people, and I’m fortunate to be surrounded by family and inspiring friends.
A constant source of energy for me is capoeira, which I’ve practised for most of my adult life. The combination of movement, music and community is incredibly uplifting and keeps me balanced regardless of how busy work becomes. - What advice would you give someone entering the international education space?
Build relationships with care and listen closely to the needs of your stakeholders. Trust, transparency, and credibility are essential in this sector.
At the same time, recognise the realities of operating globally: international education is closely influenced by geopolitics, policy shifts, and economic fluctuations. Resilience, adaptability, and a long-term perspective are just as important as vision, but the rewards – seeing students thrive and contributing to stronger, more connected communities – are deeply fulfilling. - What initiatives are you rolling out in the near future?
We will continue delivering high-level professional development and meaningful opportunities for networking and idea exchange among members, including an outstanding leadership weekend in Madrid in May and expanded peer-to-peer online forums.
We are also relaunching the ALTO Pulse, a leaders’ sentiment survey that provides insight into key industry trends and priorities. Alongside this, strategic projects continue to focus on value creation, best practice guidelines, and exploring the potential introduction of a global distribution system for the sector. - If you could accomplish one big thing in the next year, what would it be?
Building on ALTO’s work in standardisation and best practice, a key ambition is to provide the sector with a clearer view of emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities. Through an “industry radar” type approach, we could aim to aggregate insights from multiple sources, helping members make better-informed strategic decisions. While this would require careful collaboration with stakeholders and input from fellow associations, even the first steps in pooling industry intelligence would be a significant contribution.
