University College Dublin, Ireland. Carl Casey has been appointed to senior manager – Greater Middle East and Africa at University College Dublin. Carl leaves his role leading outreach and recruitment at Zayed University after two highly successful years. Carl has been in the UAE since 2017 having additionally worked for a top tier American university branch campus, and one of the world’s leading school providers; he joins UCD’s Global Hub based in Dubai. From here, he will be focused on further developing the University’s internationalisation goals; embedding growth strategies in new markets within the territory; optimising school engagement strategies; partnership initiation; and developing community-based activities.

White Bridge Education, India. White Bridge Education has appointed Palak Chugh as its new senior manager. Palak brings extensive experience from her previous roles in strategic university relationship management, educational outreach, student counselling and global applications processing, enhancing our operational excellence and global educational footprint. She will be pivotal in managing and improving our systems to meet world-class standards in international student recruitment and enrollment. Palak has also had roles at Acumen, where she was most recently senior manager for customer experience, and was previously at Mozaik Play.

University of Waikato, New Zealand. Ben Levy has taken the voluntary position as a co-director of the Centre for Global Studies in Education at the University of Waikato. The centre’s work focuses on the global studies in education, a specialisation which builds upon the traditions of comparative and international education programmes to explore the global dimensions of education. It provides opportunities to address themes such as globalisation, internationalisation, bicultural, multicultural and intercultural education, policy, popular cultures, inequalities and global citizenship. Ben said about his new role on LinkedIn: “I’m happy to share I’ve taken up [this role]… a shared position with Pablo Del Monte (lead), Janina Suppers and Katrina McChesney.”

CIEE, US. Carolyn Sanderson is one of three women who have joined the Council on International Educational Exchange’s board of directors. As co-founder of the Copper Beech Group at Morgan Stanley in Princeton, New Jersey, Carolyn specialises in offering high-net-worth families and not-for-profits a comprehensive range of financial planning, investment management, tax and estate planning strategies, and lending solutions. Carolyn’s financial acumen and leadership on boards like the McCarter Theater and the Princeton Area Community Foundation will be instrumental in supporting CIEE’s growth.

Duolingo English Test, Global. On the five-year anniversary of his joining Duolingo English Test as a sales development intern, Mark Pavic has been promoted to the role of senior marketing manager. Based out of Pittsburgh in the US, Mark has been in various roles at DET, beginning as an intern then moving through as marketing and engagement co-ordinator, marketing associate, and most recently as marketing manager. Speaking on LinkedIn, Mark said of his new role: “I’m lucky to have seen the growth and positive disruption that the DET’s accomplished in that time: 500 to 5,000 accepting programs, having the largest and most accessible test fee waiver program in industry, and most simply, reaching students everywhere (not as common as you’d expect!)”

Educatius, Global. Anders Ljungdahl has been appointed as the chief financial officer for international student exchange provider Educatius. Anders brings over 20 years of experience in senior finance roles at multinational companies, including Espresso House Group, EF Education First, and Hult International Business School, where he played a key role in driving international growth. In his new role, Anders will be responsible for overseeing Educatius’ global financial strategy and operations as the company continues to expand its reach and impact around the world. His expertise in international finance and education will be invaluable as Educatius works to fulfill its mission of providing transformative educational experiences to students globally. Educatius CEO John Cedergårdh said: “Anders’ proven track record of driving growth and financial excellence at leading global organisations makes him the ideal candidate to help us capitalize on the opportunities ahead.

University of Notre Dame, US. Brigitta Richmond has been appointed the role of senior associate director of summer study abroad programs as Notre Dame’s International division becomes Notre Dame Global. Brigitta is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in international education and program management. In her position, she plays a pivotal role in shaping transformative educational experiences.  She is responsible for implementing the strategy and operations plan of Notre Dame Global’s Summer Study Abroad programs. In her role she oversees the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the summer study abroad programs, ensuring academic excellence, cultural immersion, and logistical efficiency. She collaborates closely with faculty, staff, and international partners to develop innovative curricula and experiential learning opportunities that resonate with students’ academic and personal goals. She advocates for underrepresented students in study abroad; as a first-generation college student herself, she prioritised providing opportunities for students to share their stories through the student lens.

Cranfield University, UK. Steve Guy has announced he started a new position as international operations manager at Cranfield University, in Bedford, UK. The position follows on from his previous role at the university as an admissions officer. Prior to his time at Cranfield, Steve was in graduate admissions at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Steve has over 20 years of experience in HE, with particular expertise and interest in admissions, international recruitment, foundation and university pathway programmes, student records and the applicant experience. He’s also worked with customer service, mentorship, cultural diversity and admissions systems, policy and procedure.

CIEE, US. Cheryl Donnelly is one of three women who have joined the Council on International Educational Exchange’s board of directors. Cheryl has dedicated her career to safeguarding lives through vaccination and enhancing the lives of individuals battling cancer worldwide. Currently serving as the VP of Global Vaccines Strategy & New Products at Merck & Co., Inc., Cheryl leads the strategic initiatives that enable vaccines to have a profound impact on public health both currently and in the future. Her contributions to the advancement of medicine, patient care, and equity have earned her recognition as a 2024 Luminary by the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association underscoring her commitment to making a positive difference in her field and her dedication to the betterment of society.

ITECA, Australia. Mark McKenzie has been appointed as the independent board chair for the International Tertiary Education Council of Australia. Bringing with him a wealth of business experience, Mark has served on the Australian Government’s vocational education and training reform transition advisory group, which provided the framework for the ten new Jobs and Skills Councils (JSCs) responsible for workforce planning and qualifications development. His experience also spans higher education research through his work with the Australian Research Council (ARC). “It’s great to be working with the ITECA Board and the ITECA Chief Executive, Troy Williams, at a time when its strong governance arrangements and relationships with members, industry stakeholders, and government allow it to be a respected and effective voice for independent skills training and higher education providers,” Mark said.

Janison, Australia. Sujata Stead, who spent 11 years as the founding CEO of the Occupational English Test, has joined Janison, which creates online assessment and learning platforms for educators, corporations and governments in a “scalable” way. Sujata also has over 25 years’ experience in education and assessments, both in Australia and internationally, and she is acknowledged as a global leader in the application of technology in education and specifically assessment. Speaking of her new role, Sujata said: “I am excited to be joining Janison, another great Australian organisation in the assessment sector as its CEO. As an education technology pioneer who has been supporting organisations globally for over 20 years improve how we educate and learn, I am looking forward to continuing with the pioneering spirit and keep innovating how we use technology to create greater impact for learners globally.”

AUSCO, Global. AUCSO (Association of University Chief Security Officers) has announced that Figen Murray OBE is the organisation’s first Patron. Figen Murray OBE is the mother of Martyn Hett, one 22 innocent people killed in the Manchester Arena terrorist attack on 22 May 2017, and is the driving force behind proposed counter terrorism legislation, known as Martyn’s Law. In the past five years, Figen has successfully worked with Prime Minister’s, cross-party politicians, security industry experts, and academics to create draft legislation that will make venues safer for the public. Martyn’s Law, otherwise known as the Protect Duty, will require venues with a capacity of 100 and more to improve their preparedness for, and protection from, a terrorist attack by implementing proportionate security measures. Figen said: “I am honoured to be AUCSO’s first ever Patron, as it celebrates its 40th anniversary, and I look forward to working with them as its members deliver the best standards of security on university campuses across 22 countries.”

Department for Business and Trade, UK. Krishna Joshi has been promoted to the role of interim head of international education at the UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade, where she is seeking to grow the UK’s commercial education sector in the UK and overseas. This involves advising UK education companies and universities to build mutually beneficial partnerships – Krishna enjoys understanding overseas contexts and cultures to do so. Krishna is passionate about collaborating across the private and public sectors to solve problems – particularly in the spheres of education, business/trade and international development. Previously a manager in Public Sector Consulting at PwC Strategy&, Krishna advised and worked within 8 UK government departments and enjoyed forming solutions across trade and aid areas. Krishna has a MSc from the Social Policy department at LSE, where she focused on cities and development in South Asia – and she has volunteered at Magic Bus, an Education NGO in Mumbai.

CIEE, US. Roslyn Artis is one of three women who have joined the Council on International Educational Exchange’s board of directors. Roslyn brings a distinguished career in higher education leadership to CIEE. As the 14th and first female president of Benedict College, Roslyn is a champion of equity and access in education. A stalwart advocate for underrepresented communities in higher education, under her leadership, Benedict College received the 2019 ACE Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation and was named the 2019 Historically Black College and University of the Year. Roslyn’s commitment to fostering inclusive academic environments aligns perfectly with CIEE’s mission.

Rubicon, UK. Liam McGrath launched Rubicon in February 2024 to bring a fresh and disruptive approach to the international student recruitment industry. Rubicon plans a focused effort with a select group of partner institutions in each market to ensure satisfaction for all parties involved, replacing the common problem of agent overpromising and underperforming. Rubicon works directly with students and recruitment partners alike, while remaining totally transparent and compliant. Its upcoming app to be launched in Summer 2024 is set to empower everyone in the education space, removing bias, eliminating compliance issues, and bringing the very best of education to the world. Rubicon is expanding from both Hong Kong (China) and India, to Egypt, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, and the U.A.E., followed by Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. It looks forward to entering the LATAM, EU, and Home student markets in the near future.

UCD English Language Academy, Ireland. Volkan Okutkan has been appointed to the role of sales executive at UCD’s English Language Academy in Dublin. He joins UCD from his previous role at ATC Language Schools, where he was a marketing executive and most recently its senior sales executive. Speaking on LinkedIn about his new role, Volkan said: “I’m excited to be part of this wonderful team. With a focus on both B2C sales and partnership management, I’m eager to drive growth and cultivate meaningful collaborations. Grateful for this opportunity, I can’t wait to collaborate with the team. Here’s to new beginnings and exciting ventures ahead!”

Lead5050, UK. Farhan Quraishi has taken on a new role as director at Lead5050, which specialises in helping companies identify their gender pay gap with data and research, and how to help close it. The role will be alongside his current positions as CEO of English language school SpeakUp London, and as chair of ELT association English UK. Speaking on LinkedIn after the role was announced, Farhan said: “After successfully implementing a fantastic accreditation software – I was hooked! Their mission is something which resonates with me and the team are just a dream to work with. It’s a really exciting step towards the future and I can 100000% say that Lead5050 is seriously going to be on the map! (even more than it is now!) A huge thank you to Ella Tyler, Leanne Linacre, Jago Brown and Zara Nanu MBE for having the trust in me and to let me join their exciting journey.”

World Education Services, Global. Bryce Loo has become WES’ associate director of higher education research. It follows from his various previous roles, including as research manager, then most recently as associate director of research. Bryce has been at WES since 2015, where he began his career as a research associate. He also worked as a research intern at the Institute of International Education in the US. Upon the announcement of his new role, Bryce said on LinkedIn: “I will be leading research initiatives in international higher education for WES and am looking forward to connecting with scholars and practitioners around the world.”

OET, Global. COO Jaime Cortes has stepped up to the role of interim CEO at OET. Within just a few months’ time as COO, Jaime has already made a significant impact within the organisation. He brings to OET extensive global experience, with 23+ years in the testing industry, and his time as COO has been marked by a relentless commitment to excellence and innovation. Jaime has quickly demonstrated an innate ability to grasp the intricacies of OET’s operations, implementing strategies that streamline processes, drive key initiatives and empower staff. As interim CEO, Jaime’s blend of strong business acumen and strategic insight will be instrumental in maintaining the momentum of OET’s ongoing projects and initiatives during this transitional phase. On his appointment as interim CEO, Jaime shared: “I am honoured to be entrusted with ensuring OET’s continued success and progress towards our strategic goals. Under Sujata’s leadership for the past 11 years, we’ve seen remarkable growth and transformation. I’m fully committed to ensuring stability and supporting our steady progress to the next phase of OET’s transformation.”

Studyportals, Global. Isabela Santa Roza dos Santos has begun the new role of events & campaigns manager at Studyportals. With a strong foundation in event management and a passion for leveraging technology to enhance interactions, she orchestrates seamless and impactful gatherings that leave a lasting impression. Isabela’s expertise in computer science seamlessly integrates with her creativity, allowing innovation in the future of event planning. As a leader, she excels in bringing teams together, fostering collaboration and excellence. With a dedication to lifelong learning, Isabela is shaping the future of higher education events, one immersive experience at a time.