QS, Global. Matteo Quacquarelli has joined the QS Executive Leadership Team as vice president of Strategy and Analytics. Matteo Quacquarelli brings his professional experience across Corporate Finance M&A and Management Consulting, supporting the development of growth strategies, as well as leading digital and data transformation projects in both the private and public sectors. “I look forward to us driving forward the strategic vision and transformation of QS into an insight-led strategic partner to higher education,” Matteo said. “QS is a globally trusted brand across the sector. A trust built from our roots as a family-owned, mission-led partner.” Matteo is a graduate of the University of Bristol and holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Management. “I look forward to working with my colleagues and with leaders across the sector through this next phase of growth for QS, as we continue to support motivated individuals all over the world to fulfil their potential through educational achievement, international mobility and career development,” he added.

QS, Global. Kym Nguyen has been appointed vice president for Student Recruitment at QS. Kym is embarking on her 12th year at QS and in her new role, she will be responsible for the continued growth and transformation of QS student recruitment partnerships with institutions around the world. She has extensive experience in the global higher education sector and has proudly worked with institutions across Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the UK to plan, deliver and achieve their student recruitment and retention goals. Kym’s appointment will “strengthen our end-to-end international recruitment service for our university partners globally”, CEO of QS, Jessica Turner, said. Kym added, “I am delighted to join the student recruitment leadership team at QS. I look forward to bringing together the wealth and breadth of everything we offer at QS to position our partners for success as they navigate their place in the ever-evolving landscape of international student recruitment.”

Educatius Group, Global. Kyu Kim has joined the Educatius team at as its new VP of Asia. He comes from a two-year stint as the global sales director for FirstPoint USA based in Vietnam. Kyu was born in Brazil and raised in Korea, Portugal, Peru, Washington DC, New York, France, Malta & Vietnam for a total of 25 years abroad. He has a background of 12 years in B2B & B2C sales experience in edtech and the education management industry across four different sectors in secondary and higher education, global language schools and young learners. He said of the new role: “I am very excited to join Educatius to help lead our efforts in Asia. There are a plethora of secondary programs and flexibility for international students and our objective is to simply let them know that there’s these programs right in their footsteps that they could take advantage of. Within the process, we look forward to bringing a high level of standard, performance and service to our teams and partners in respective regions.”

AEMG Education, Australia. After seven years at the University of Auckland, Ainslie Moore has joined the team at Australian Education Management Group in Melbourne as an executive officer. Ainslie will be working in her new role to support the board, focusing on strategic planning, policy development, and ensuring compliance within the dynamic landscape of international education. Ainslie was most recently deputy director international at the University of Auckland, and has also been policy director for international and student services at Universities Australia. She is also currently the global chair for the Climate Action Network of International Educators. Ainslie said of her new role:  “There is nothing quite like AEMG anywhere in the world of international education. The heart of the work is partnerships and global connection – two drivers for me personally. I’m really looking forward to joining this global team, and enjoying the relocation to the fabulous city of Melbourne.”

Curtin University, Australia/UAE. Curtin University has appointed Professor Ammar Kaka as its new PVC and resident of its Dubai campus. Ammar brings extensive experience in international higher education to the role — including in
Dubai. He is a professor of Construction Economics and Management and has an international reputation for
research on planning, management and control of construction projects. Ammar spent nine years in senior positions at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland before going on to lead Heriot-Watt Dubai as Provost and Vice-Principal. Most recently, he was president of Applied Science University in Bahrain. With 15 years of experience working in the UAE and the broader region, Ammar said he was honoured and excited to join Curtin Dubai.“Curtin University’s global reputation for excellence sets a strong foundation and my vision is to unlock its full potential to make a lasting impact in the region. With its cutting-edge programs, renowned faculty, and commitment to innovation, Curtin Dubai is poised to become a driving force in shaping the future of education.”

The Alice Smith School, Malaysia. Katy Christie was recently appointed to the role of head of brand and communications at the Alice Smith School in Kuala Lumpur. Katy is a seasoned professional renowned for her adeptness in driving sales and marketing initiatives across diverse industries. Before her role at The Alice Smith School, Katy held the pivotal position of head of marketing at Gemini Worktops, where she orchestrated disruptive digital marketing strategies that fueled remarkable growth within the competitive home renovation market. Her innovative marketing approach was instrumental in the company’s success, cementing her reputation as a dynamic leader in the field. With extensive experience in higher education through roles at NCUK and the Oxbridge Formula, as well as involvement in brand transformation initiatives at Nord Anglia Education during a period of growth and acquisition, Katy possesses comprehensive insight into international tertiary and K-12 education challenges. “My time at The Alice Smith School has been incredibly dynamic so far—just three months in, but already immersed in a fantastic team and a warm school community!”

American Councils for International Education, US. The American Councils’ board has announced that it has chosen Lisa Choate to become American Councils’ fourth, and first female, president and CEO. Lisa joined American Councils in 1987, a time when the organization employed fewer than ten staff and focused its efforts almost exclusively on language programming between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. She worked with the organisation’s founder Dan Davidson to establish American Councils offices in Washington DC and as an early leader of the organization has strongly influenced its tremendous expansion to an organization that now counts over 650 staff, 38 offices, and 100,000 students, teachers, and professionals in over 140 countries as its alumni. Outgoing CEO David Patton said: “I have no doubt that Lisa’s unique skills, vast global experience, dedication to the mission, and remarkable professionalism will ensure continued organizational growth and expanded impact for years to come.”

University for the Creative Arts, UK. Fiona Conlan has been appointed director of UCA Global, with responsibility for developing and delivering a global strategy which optimises UCA’s international student recruitment, admissions, international partnerships, and global development functions. Fiona joins from the University of Southampton where she was deputy director of Global Recruitment and Admissions and associate director international. In this role, she led a restructure of the International Office, exceeded international student number plans at all levels of study and quadrupled Turing Scheme funding. Prior to this, Fiona spent seven years in global engagement at LSE, five years at the University of Greenwich as international partnerships director where she oversaw one of the largest TNE portfolios in the UK, and held other international-facing roles at Kent, UEL and the University of California. In relation to her new role, Fiona remarked: “I am excited to work with the UCA community to lead our global vision and strategy, and to have the opportunity to support a forward-thinking beacon of creative excellence that embraces innovation, fosters creativity, and celebrates diversity.”

BISU, Ukraine. Pamela Farah recently took up the role of the international academic director at The British International School, Ukraine. A seasoned educational leader, Pamela boasts 20 years’ successful international leadership and teaching experience across a range of multilingual private and public K-12 schools. She is well-versed in British, American and Irish curriculum and assessment management and development, and familiar with education in the Western Countries and Middle East context. Pamela worked with 75+ nationalities from a range of diverse backgrounds. In her new role at BISU, she will contribute to Ukraine’s recovery, while developing an innovative education model and nurturing motivated lifelong learners – the nation’s next generation – armed with knowledge and skills for life and eager to make a positive impact on the world. Becoming part of BISU in challenging times for Ukraine, she says: “It is a privilege and honour to join such an amazing team and work alongside my Ukrainian and international colleagues who show such perseverance, dedication and resilience in the face of adversity on a daily basis.” 

Studyportals, Global. Amy VanSurksum has joined Studyportals as senior VP of Business Development – North America. Studyportals´results-based channels support universities with digital marketing, analytics, and international student recruitment, enabling them to reach a global audience and diversify their student population. In this role, Amy will support US higher education institutions with their international student marketing and enrolment strategies. Amy has worked in international enrolment management for more than 25 years at US, UK, and Australian institutions, and most recently at ApplyBoard. Throughout her career, she has been an active volunteer-leader with NAFSA, AIRC, TAICEP, and various state and regional organisations. Amy strives to make the world a better place through global student mobility, and is thrilled to have joined Studyportals to support its mission to empower the world to choose education.

Pearson, Global. Omar Abbosh has begun his role as Pearson’s new chief executive officer and executive director. Omar is succeeding Andy Bird, who has decided to retire as CEO of Pearson. Omar Abbosh is a highly regarded global leader with over 30 years of experience in enterprise technology driving substantial growth, strategy and transformation for leading multinational companies. He has a deep understanding of the dynamic business and technology landscape having helped to shape and execute successful strategies in a world of disruption. Omar was president of Microsoft’s Industry Solutions business with direct responsibility for driving sales, service and solutions across Microsoft’s largest global customers. Prior to Microsoft, he spent three decades at Accenture in numerous senior leadership roles, including Chief Strategy Officer and ultimately as Chief Executive of the global Communications, Technology and Media business. “The Company is at an exciting stage of its growth journey in markets that are increasingly digital. I look forward to building on the strategic growth opportunities, along with the leadership team, placing Pearson in the vanguard of lifelong learning,” said Omar.

BrandEd Holdings, US. Brandon Busteed has been named the CEO of BrandEd, a family-owned education company which delivers experiential courses taught by industry experts from the world’s best brands including Sotheby’s, Conde Nast, The New York Times and City Football. Brandon is a mission-driven education and workforce development leader who has been part of successful runs as an entrepreneur of an EdTech company and an executive at two large, well-known organisations. He is a huge champion of work-integrated, experiential learning who believes the future won’t distinguish between places of learning and places of work. Prior to BrandEd, Busteed served as Chief Partnership Officer and Global Head of Learn-Work Innovation
at Kaplan where he led all of Kaplan’s work serving universities and companies, leveraging the organisation’s highly-diversified, global educational offerings and insights. An internationally known speaker and author on education and workforce development, he has published more than 300 articles and keynoted more than 200 conferences. He is a LinkedIn “Top Voice” and frequent contributor to Forbes.com.

Acumen, Global. Acumen are pleased to announce the appointment of Roger Brindley as president North America. Roger brings a wealth of experience and an impressive track record of leadership in academia and international relations to the Acumen team. Previously serving as the vice provost for Global Programmes at Penn State since 2020, Roger oversaw a substantial team of professionals managing education abroad programmes, advising international students and scholars, and fostering global partnerships. Before joining Penn State, Roger held the position of Vice President of USF World at the University of South Florida (USF). During his tenure, he managed global engagement and international student success initiatives, including an eight-year partnership with Sannam S4 and Acumen. Roger stated: “I am delighted to be joining the world-class team at Acumen. Acumen has an exciting future at a time of extraordinary change in global higher education and is well-placed to lead innovative thought leadership… for positive change.”

ETS, Global. Andy has recently been appointed by ETS International UK as business development director. With over 15 years’ experience working for examination boards and test providers, Andy has held roles with Trinity College London, LanguageCert and, latterly, as senior director of recognition at PSI. He has been part of – and led – teams across operations, recognition, marketing and sales functions, focusing predominantly on the UK and Irish language school and higher education markets, and related government requirements. In his new role, Andy will continue to develop TOEFL as the academic English test of choice for receiving institutions and students alike, leveraging the new technologies and advancements in high-stakes testing ETS is known and respected for. Of his new role, Andy said, “I am delighted to be joining ETS at such an important time for the business in the UK and Ireland, and very much looking forward to working with both established and new partners across the sector.”

upGrad, India. upGrad has announced the appointment of C.P. Gurnani to its Board of Directors. C.P. will serve as an independent non-executive director while it continues to ramp up its domestic and global operations. Under his 19 years of leadership as Tech Mahindra’s CEO & managing director, the company scaled up significantly, both in terms of operations/innovations and topline, retaining its position among the Top 5 Indian IT marquee players. He retired from his post last month and served on the Board of Mahindra & Mahindra for over three decades. Before Tech Mahindra, C.P. held leadership roles at HCL Perot JV as the founder and CEO. C.P. said, “As an independent director, I will prioritise the global expansion of the company, leveraging its strong credentials… It’s interesting to observe how upGrad is reversing the pyramid, empowering millions, and addressing the rising demand for upskilling, particularly in times of AI… I intend to work with the Board and mentor the management to set audacious goals that align with positioning upGrad as the global smart content factory.”

insendi, Global. Sarah Grant has joined insendi as the academic director, bringing extensive pedagogical expertise from her role as director of the IDEA Lab at Imperial College Business School. At Imperial, Sarah was instrumental in shaping the digital education strategy, leading the development of online programmes, and integrating cutting-edge technology and data analytics to enhance learning and teaching.  In her new role at insendi, Sarah leads the management of partner relationships and contributes to developing the company’s strategy and product portfolio. Sarah’s thought leadership and passion for pedagogical innovation is key to delivering insendi’s mission to transform the digital learning landscape. Sarah continues to share her expertise through her teaching in the EFMD’s Online Teaching Academy and the DBA in Higher Education Leadership and Management at Luiss Business School. Sarah comments, “Joining insendi presents an exciting opportunity to advance digital education globally. I’m eager to collaborate with partners and colleagues to create impactful learning experiences that resonate in today’s dynamic educational environment.”

Global Village, Canada. Cam Harvey has (re)joined Global Village as co-managing partner. Cam was GV’s Sales and Marketing leader between 1997-2005. Since leaving GV, Cam has led recruitment teams in all the segments of our markets: higher education, high school, and summer camps. Cam offers, “I am genuinely excited to be returning to the organisation that kicked off my career in this industry. I aim to use the various roles and experiences I have had in the industry over the last 18 years to help plot a new course for growth for GV.” This transition also marks the official retirement of John Taplin from GV and from the industry. John contributed enormously not just to GV but the industry through his tireless efforts at Languages Canada. Enjoy your well earned retirement, John!

Greenwich International Education, UK. Yifan is thrilled to embark on her new journey with Greenwich International Education as a marketing executive. With a solid foundation in International Business from her undergraduate studies, Yifan discovered a profound interest in marketing, leading her to pursue a masters degree in International Marketing, where she honed her expertise in marketing strategy and digital marketing. Her professional journey is marked by notable experience in marketing and sales in the luxury watch industry. Additionally, her experience at a creative agency enriched her ability to orchestrate successful brand launch campaigns and develop impactful branding strategies. Yifan’s unique blend of academic knowledge and diverse industry experience positions her as a valuable asset to the GIE team. She is enthusiastic about leveraging her skills and insights to contribute to the company’s success and growth.

Duolingo English Test, Global. Former English Australia CEO Brett Blacker has joined the team at Duolingo English Test as the company’s new managing director of Australia and New Zealand. In his new position, Brett will be responsible for driving significant growth and impact across the Australian market. Brett brings a wealth of experience in the higher education and assessment sectors, and his appointment signifies a crucial turning point for Duolingo and our stakeholders in the higher education sector, setting the stage for substantial impact and growth in the Australian market and beyond. He had held the post of CEO at English Australia since August 2015, and served as president of IEAA for a term in 2015. Upon leaving his post, he said: “I want to extend my sincere thanks to our members, industry partners, government colleagues, and the English Australia Board. Your incredible support over the past [eight] years has been instrumental in our shared success.”