Global University Systems, Canada. Nosika Janbandhu has joined GUS as its representative for the GISMA University of Applied Sciences in Germany. Nosika previously worked at KC Overseas Education, where her innate ability to connect with people paved the way for success. The foundation and self-assurance she gained have now led her to her new role, which entails spearheading market development in Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and South East Asia. Of her new role, Nosika said: “Admittedly, stepping into the world of student recruitment feels exhilarating yet nerve-wracking. My nearly 3-year journey with KC Overseas has been nothing short of remarkable. As a trailblazer in establishing the international market, I’ve nurtured invaluable relationships that have shaped my passion for the overseas education realm. However, the support of my incredible GUS team has eased this transition, making it an opportunity to eagerly embrace challenges that lie ahead. With enthusiasm and determination, I’m all set to conquer new milestones on this journey with GUS.”

RMIT University, Australia. Zach recently joined the team at RMIT in Melbourne as an advisor for international partnerships – supporting RMIT’s TNE in markets like Hong Kong, China, Singapore, India and more. In a varied and exciting role, Zach splits his time with the Asia Impact team who work on key RMIT projects, the Asia Trade and Innovation Hub, the Australia Vietnam Policy Institute as well as RMIT’s International MOU delivery and Asia policy support. Prior to this role, Zach led projects and events for the Australia China Business Council nationally, and in Victoria. While there he worked closely with government and the over 3,000 member organisations connected with the council around Australia and in China to drive constructive bilateral economic engagement. Of his new role, he said: “It’s a thrill to be able to put my Asia literacy to use in the international education space at RMIT. All while supporting the uni’s genuine commitment to the region, including its prominent Vietnam campus and diverse international footprint and impact.”

Regent Group, UK. Part of the wider Regent Group, Sean Buckley has recently joined Regent Independent College as its new principal. Sean graduated from Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford (MA Oxon, English Language and Literature) and has a PhD from the University of London (19th Century Irish Writers). He has a wealth of teaching and academic leadership experience, having held several senior positions in a range of schools, including being the principal of an independent sixth-form college. Sean has also been a senior examiner for several examination boards for many years. Sean joined Regent as principal in August 2023 and is delighted to be part of the college and The Regent Group.

Infinite Group, Global. Rebecca Hill has joined Infinite Group as director of partnerships (UK, Australia, and Europe) to support universities looking to establish an in-country presence in India and the UAE through Infinite University Centre.
Rebecca was previously head of international student recruitment for the University of Exeter (Business School), where she achieved ambitious growth targets ahead of schedule; much of this growth was powered by a data-driven student recruitment strategy. The Business School was previously highly reliant on China. While working at Exeter, she worked closely with senior managers to establish the South East Asia Office in Malaysia. Much of her work in the last three years has been working with the newly expanded India Office to achieve a 900% PGT growth rate in two years. Rebecca knows how significant an in-country office presence can be to achieving targets and brings this expertise to the Infinite Group family.

TAFE Queensland, Australia. The board of TAFE Queensland has appointed John Tucker as the chief executive officer of TAFE Queensland. John brings a wealth of experience to the position, having undertaken a number of senior educational and management roles within the VET sector, including his role of general manager, TAFE Queensland SkillsTech. John will also be the Queensland representative on the TDA board. On LinkedIn, TDA extended its congratulations to John on his appointment, which also follows the retirement of former CEO, Mary Campbell, in June. On his profile, John said: “As CEO at TAFE Queensland – I am proud to be leading our great organisation and it’s dedicated people. I am focussed on ensuring our organisation provides the most industry-relevant, flexible and productive training that benefits our students and the industries we serve.”

Arden University, UK. Professor Yang (Lucy) Lu has been appointed as Arden University’s new provost. She will be supporting the delivery of Arden University’s vision and mission to give all people equal opportunities for higher education and increase access to higher education through digital technology and innovation. She will also be helping to consolidate Arden University’s distinctive academic portfolio and expand the global footprint of the university. With over 20 years of professional experience in global higher education, she has held several senior academic leadership posts and international development leadership roles in several UK universities. Commenting on her appointment, Lu said: “I am thrilled to be joining the team at Arden University and helping them to drive towards further accomplishments along the way. In a short space of time, Arden University has achieved so much, all while sticking true to its values of ensuring access to higher education is open for all. I am looking forward to working alongside our VC and the Board to explore the innovative ways we can expand and change higher education for the better.”

Housemates, UK. Student accommodation veteran David Tymms has joined the board at Manchester firm Housemates. David, who has more than 25 years experience in the sector, is now an independent non-executive director at the instant booking student accommodation marketplace. After initially working as chief operating officer at IQ Student Accommodation, he later became commercial director and strategic advisor during a 15-year spell. David had previously worked as head of student accommodation services at the University of Central Lancashire and as director of residential services at the London School of Economics. Looking forward to being part of Housemates’ boardroom team, led by chief executive Lydia Jones, David said: “The Housemates platform is a proven model that is now engaging in a rapid growth trajectory. I’m looking forward to working with Lydia and the rest of the board, sharing insights and ultimately helping the company to realise its massive potential.”

UKEC, UK. Deaglan McArdle has been appointed to the position of head of partnerships and overseas market operations at UKEC. Since joining in 2022, his vast experience of 18 years working within the industry has been central to helping the company develop new recruitment strategies with partners and grow student recruitment markets internationally. This role will see Deaglan taking the strategic lead on the growth of UKEC outside of the UK, including the development of new recruitment markets for students; and collaborating with partners to develop integrated individual recruitment plans aimed at continuing the diversification of students. He will lead on the international marketing strategies, and office expansion globally too. Speaking of his new role he said: “I love being part of the team at UKEC, and am extremely excited about this next step within the company. The company values and ethos mean a lot to me, our partners and our students. We have been operating and innovating for 24 years, and yet I feel as if we are just getting started!”

University of Salford Business School, UK. University of Salford Business School has announced the appointment of Dr Gordon Fletcher as its new associate dean: research and innovation. Gordon holds a PhD from Griffith University in Cultural Studies and his research predominantly focuses on digital business, digital transformation, innovation, change and information systems. Having served as the director of marketing since 2006 and the director of business 4.0 since 2019, his experience uniquely positions him for this leadership role. His research has consistently focused on the intersection of digital business, culture, and practice. His published works explore a diverse range of subjects including online finance community conflicts, virtual game world economies, and online grieving practices. Gordon said: “The time I’ve spent at the University of Salford is now a significant part of my professional career that has already been filled with the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences. No day is ever the same, and our community, our students, and colleagues never fail to surprise, entertain and teach me new things on a regular basis.”

THINK Global School, US. Andy Wood has been appointed the new principal of THINK Global School. Andy brings a wealth of international experience to the role, having led schools in Dubai, Cape Town, and the Bahamas during his seventeen-year career. He joins following his time as the founding principal of Green School South Africa, a pioneering institution recognised for its forward-thinking, child-centred education delivered through a sustainability lens. As the new head of school, Andy strikes a balance between robust experience, innovative practices, and a readiness to tackle the exciting challenge of guiding THINK Global School through its next phase of development. Commenting on his new role, Andy shared: “I am excited to lead a school that is innovative and bold in its thinking and seeks to inspire its students to think ambitiously about how they will make the world a better place.”

Forward College, Europe. Phil Allmendinger is the newly appointed chief academic officer at Forward College. Previously he was deputy vice chancellor at the University of Bath and prior to that professor of land economy at the University of Cambridge, where he was also dean of humanities and social Sciences. Phil will lead on the delivery of the College’s teaching, learning and research across its three campuses whilst also helping develop the strategy for growth in Europe and beyond. Phil said the role will be opportunity to build something new and different in higher education for students and academics: “The Forward model is one where students combine their undergraduate degrees with a fully international experience across three cities, real-life projects, and a personal development programme. The aim is to empower the next generation of students with the relevant skills, knowledge, and mindset to shape global challenges, to create leaders who are able not only to understand complex challenges and opportunities but also to reach out to and engage people across different fields of expertise, cultures, and social backgrounds for a shared purpose.”

Forward College, Europe. Spencer has joined Forward College as the founding campus manager for its new location in Berlin. He joins the dynamic start-up university after more than ten years of varied experience in international higher education, leadership development, and global mobility. Spencer got his start with the University of Cincinnati as an intern at the Beijing rep office then opened the rep office in Ho Chi Minh City. He then moved to Germany and researched business models for international education disruption as an MBA student before launching the Berlin campus for the Grenoble Ecole de Management at GISMA Business School. Afterwards, he shifted gears to managing leadership developing programs in the corporate sector and training coaches. Now, Spencer is excited to return to the international higher education sector as Forward College’s first undergraduate students are bound for Germany’s capital this fall. “I am excited to be joining the innovative team at Forward College and bringing together the community of its pioneering first cohort, academic fellows, and leaders of the robust local start-up scene.”

Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK. Rebecca Lever has recently been appointed as director of marketing, communications and student recruitment at Cardiff Metropolitan University, in Wales in the UK. Rebecca has worked in UK higher education since 2003, with 14 years at the University of South Wales, followed by six years at Swansea University, holding the role of interim director of marketing, recruitment and international for the last year. Previous positions include associate director for marketing and student recruitment at Swansea, and digital marketing manager at USW. Rebecca’s passions are brand, digital and producing storytelling content, particularly for international and UK student recruitment campaigns. Rebecca said of her new role: “I’m delighted to be joining such a dynamic university, and l look forward to working with new colleagues to tell the next part of the CMU story.”

Oxford International Education Group, UK. Brian Blake, president of George State University, has been appointed to Oxford International Education Group’s advisory board. His expertise will be invaluable as he joins other industry leaders in advising OIEG on its strategic direction in the region. With 26 years in academic faculty positions across the US, Dr. Blake brings extensive experience in teaching, research and administration to the position. In his current role, Brian leads one of the most ethnically and socioeconomically diverse research universities in the United States. His leadership spans 6 campuses and a community of nearly 53,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff members. Brian said of his new appointment: “With my own institution’s current strategic focus on enhancing our pathways and offering opportunities to students from all corners of the globe, serving in partnership on OIEG’s advisory board is ideal. I look forward to working alongside OIEG as they continue to forge pathways for student success throughout North America making education more accessible and institutions more diverse.”

BridgeU, Global. BridgeU has announced that it is appointing Patrick Whitfield as its new chief commercial officer. Patrick joins BridgeU having served as CCO at Adventus since 2021. Patrick also brings a wealth of experience from his work with other globally recognised international education and student recruitment companies. Patrick’s career in international education spans over 11 years and includes sales and leadership positions at Hobsons and QS Enrolment Solutions. More recently Patrick was group commercial director at IDP Connect, where he was responsible for IDP’s university go-to-market strategy across multiple regions and revenue lines. Commenting on this next step in his career, Patrick said: “I am thrilled to be joining BridgeU at such an exciting time for the company. International recruitment strategies for globally minded universities need to focus on efficiency, diversity and sustainability; establishing a data-driven approach to undergraduate recruitment is absolutely fundamental to this and I am excited to help build the next generation of solutions for BridgeU to lead the way in this space.”

LSE IDEAS, UK. Ivan Lidarev has been named the 2023/24 Mladena and Dianko Sotirov visiting fellow at LSE IDEAS, The London School of Economics’ foreign policy think tank. He recently completed his PhD at Kings College London in International Relations and Political Science. Ivan received his MA in International Affairs, with a concentration in Asia, from the Elliott School of International Affairs (ESIA), George Washington University and BA in History, Asian Studies and Global and International Studies from Bard College. He boasts a rich think tank experience and between 2014 and 2017, served as advisor at Bulgaria’s National Assembly. Of his new role, he said: “I am very excited to be selected for the Sotirov fellowship and grateful to LSE IDEAS and the Sotirov family. For me, this is a great opportunity to research an important but often underappreciated topic in the intellectually stimulating environment of LSE IDEAS.’’

Universities Canada, Canada. Universities Canada has announced that Philip Landon is assuming the role of interim president and CEO. Former president and CEO, Paul Davidson, informed the membership earlier this year that he would be leaving the role at the end of June, after leading the organisation for fourteen years. Having served as chief operating officer for the organisation since 2020, and with over 30 years’ experience in the education, international development and post-secondary sectors, Philip is well-suited to lead the organisation with the support of its strong, diverse and dynamic senior leadership team. “Canada’s universities have benefitted tremendously from Paul’s exceptional vision, leadership and drive,” said Meric Gertler, president of the University of Toronto and Universities Canada’s board chair. “Paul leaves behind an outstanding record of accomplishment that will benefit students, researchers and Canadians for years to come.”

Goodnotes, Global. Daniel Emmerson has been appointed as the academic affairs lead at Goodnotes. Daniel worked in the UK independent sector for 14 years – his work has always been guided by the impact that he can have on providing young people form diverse backgrounds with opportunities to create, collaborate and learn from each other. He sees cross-cultural collaboration as an essential skill that school communities need to focus on, and through working with international schools and recruitment partners across 40 countries around the world, he was able to achieve this for over 4,000 students during his tenure at Felsted School. At GoodNotes, Daniel is responsible for exploring the impact that artificial intelligence is having on education today and will continue to have in the future. He is currently collaborating with practitioners, experts, educators and students from all over the world, analysing everything from homework and assessment to the impact of AI on global education, life and work beyond school.

Kaplan International Pathways, Global.  Hannah Drover recently relocated from Melbourne to Vancouver Island, Canada, and from her new base she provides a senior level of executive support on the ground for Kaplan’s new partners and ventures in the region, working closely with colleagues in the UK, USA, and Australia. Hannah has been with Kaplan since late 2019, working across a range of strategic priorities for both the ANZ and global businesses. Some of these include university partnerships, conversion and retention programs, employability and student career outcomes, and overseeing Kaplan’s collaboration with charity Kindness Factory. Hannah said of life on Vancouver Island “I feel incredibly lucky to not only be able to live in such a beautiful part of the world, but to be on the ground working arm in arm with partners to create some really exciting opportunities for students from all around the world.” Prior to joining Kaplan, Hannah oversaw an internship business that placed upward of 7,000 international students into internships every year in organisations all over Australia.

Global American University, Global. The Global American University, Schiller has appointed Sanja Stevic as its new
campus director in Germany. Sanja has previously held several senior roles at The Global American University, Schiller, for the last decade.Sanja very much looks forward to her new role and is committed to providing new impulses for the current and future orientation of the Schiller International University in Heidelberg Campus. She will head the university’s administration, providing leadership across all levels and be responsible for business development and corporate relations. Of her new role, she said: “Together with my dedicated and diverse team of employees, faculty and our partners, we will ensure that we offer study and further education programs that enable young people to be prepared for the challenges of a complex professional world and to face the future with knowledge, values and a global mindset.”