At a Berlin award ceremony, co-founders Jane Gilham, Amy Baker and Clare Gossage were recognised for their contributions to the international education sector.
The Lead5050 Awards celebrate and recognise leading voices in gender equality within the education sector, honouring those driving meaningful progress toward workplace equity.
“Jane, Clare and Amy have each made transformative contributions to their field,” the team behind Lead5050 said, announcing the win.
“Together, they’ve built The PIE into a powerhouse — and in doing so, they’ve also raised the bar for inclusion, balance and innovation in the international education industry.
Lead5050 said the trio’s work is a reminder that “meaningful change often comes from embracing authentic leadership, supportive partnerships and a clear sense of purpose”.
“As working mothers, they demonstrate how professional ambition and family priorities can co-exist, not compete. As friends and co-founders, they embody teamwork, trust and shared vision — showing how business success thrives when rooted in human connection.”
Receiving the award, Jane, Clare and Amy reminisced on their journey together. What began in 2011 with operations run from Amy’s home has grown into The PIE, now headquartered in South London with a team of 32 staff working across global locations.
Today, the organisation delivers major events in destinations including the UK, Ireland, India, Australia, and North America.
The PIEoneer Awards – often described as the ‘Oscars of international education’ – have become a cornerstone of the industry calendar. The awards will celebrate their 10th anniversary in 2026, highlighting a decade of recognising excellence in global education..
They have also built a thriving community for the industry, attracting 4 million visitors to their website, with an average of 500,000 visitors each month.
Fourteen years ago, we started The PIE with an ambition to create a global media and jobs platform, and build a community for all professionals in international education
The PIE founders
The PIE founders said they are “so appreciative” to be recognised by the Lead5050 Awards.
“Fourteen years ago, we started The PIE with an ambition to create a global media and jobs platform, and build a community for all professionals in international education. We were a boot-strapped start up and launched our website hoping the news, insights and connections we shared would ultimately enable people to do their jobs better.
“This recognition is particularly meaningful to us as three female founders, as we have always championed flexible working and inclusivity. Creating a supportive and adaptable working environment for our team is central to how we operate,” they continued.
“We understand the challenges of balancing work with family and life commitments, and we are proud to offer the flexibility our staff need to thrive both professionally and personally.
“Ultimately, this award is a wonderful acknowledgment of our ongoing dedication to supporting and connecting the international education sector, and of the positive impact we hope to continue making across the industry.”
Also recognised on the night was The PIE’s Hadil El-Agami, who heads up The PIE’s Executive Search division. Hadil scooped the award for contribution to gender diversity and described the recognition as “powerful validation” for her team’s mission to seek out and champion diverse leaders and international education professionals “who make this industry what it is”.
Rachel Donnellan, The PIE’s events director, was also honoured with a nomination for outstanding departmental manager, highlighting her leadership and commitment to delivering impactful events across the sector.
