Introduce yourself in three words or phrases.
Someone recently described me as calm, resilient, and quietly determined.
What do you like most about your job?
For the past 20 years, I’ve had the incredible privilege of working with British Council teams and partners across the Americas, the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, China, and the UK.
Being part of such a dynamic global network means embracing constant change in international education – a challenge I absolutely thrive on. In my current role with British Council IELTS, I’m passionate about upholding the highest standards for our test-takers and recognising organisations, and am immensely proud to play a part in delivering a service that transforms lives around the world.
Best work trip/Worst work trip?
Sometimes you experience the best and worst of travel during the same trip. As a new regional examination services director in Sub-Saharan Africa, I was thrilled to visit Harare for a regional team meeting. It was my first time in Zimbabwe, and I couldn’t wait to meet colleagues from across the region.
But our trip coincided with the removal of President Mugabe, leaving us hotel-bound for three days. While I enjoyed connecting with my new team, my experience of Zimbabwe ended up being just the airport, a couple of taxi rides, and a hotel room.
If you could learn a language instantly, which would you pick and why?
I’d love to be fluent in Mandarin Chinese. It’s a fascinating language, one of the most important for the UK’s future, and the British Council is part of some amazing initiatives, like the Mandarin Excellence Programme, which has helped thousands of UK school pupils on the way to fluency.
Until 2023, I lived in Beijing as the British Council’s director of examination services, but despite my best efforts, my Mandarin didn’t progress as much as I’d hoped. Being able to fully connect with China’s rich culture and astound my friends and colleagues there with perfect Mandarin? That would be a dream come true!
What makes you get up in the morning?
I thrive on challenges and work that feels meaningful and has purpose. This month, the British Council is celebrating 90 years of building connections and trust between the UK and countries worldwide – a mission that inspires me daily. Supporting young people to achieve their international education goals is a huge motivator. On the IELTS front, I’m especially excited about a groundbreaking partnership with the UNHCR. For the first time, displaced individuals will have free access to the world’s most trusted English language test – something I’m incredibly proud to be part of.
Best international ed conference and why?
I nominate the British Council’s flagship language testing and assessment conference, New Directions in English Language Assessment. New Directions is an outstanding conference that brings together regional and international policymakers, educational professionals, academics, teachers, and assessment practitioners. It provides a platform for interaction, information exchange, and staying updated with the latest innovations and developments in the field. Since its establishment in 2013, New Directions has become an institution, and I am certain it will continue to grow from strength to strength.
Worst conference food/beverage experience
I’ll be diplomatic and refrain from naming and shaming specific conferences but suffice to say I have experienced my fair share of curled-up sandwiches, cardboard biscuits, and cups of tepid, weak tea along the way!
Book or podcast recommendation for others in the sector?
I’ve just finished Yuval Noah Harari’s latest book, Nexus, which explores information networks and power throughout history, as well as the future of AI. It was a very thought-provoking read, delving into the benefits and risks of AI. This topic is particularly relevant given the ongoing debates about the future role of AI in education and assessment. We’ve recently released some research on AI in English Language Teaching, which I would also highly recommend reading.
Describe a project or initiative you’re currently working on that excites you.
In addition to the many exiting projects in my role with the British Council IELTS team, I am working towards to a credential with the International Coaching Federation (ICF). I have a long-standing interest in leadership coaching, and I trained formally as an executive coach a couple of years ago. As the next step, I’m hoping to achieve an ICF credential in 2025.
