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.”

ESCP Business School, Germany. Frank Jacob has taken up his position as the new rector of ESCP Business School in Berlin. He succeeds Professor Véronique Tran, who became ESCP’s executive VP for executive education and corporate relations on 1 July 2023. Frank Jacob was appointed professor of marketing at ESCP in 2002 and has been a member of the European Department of Marketing ever since. Frank was elected by the School’s Academic Senate and appointed rector by professor Léon Laulusa, executive president and dean of ESCP. In this role, he will strengthen ESCP’s outstanding position and excellence in teaching and research, and further develop its unique multicultural and multidisciplinary approach. “I feel honoured and grateful for the trust placed in me by the entire ESCP community. We want to further develop ESCP’s Berlin campus as a centre for management studies with the greatest cultural diversity in Germany. I am particularly keen to raise awareness among our students of the ethical standards of our European value system and to share these with our international graduates in all regions of the world.”

Orbital Education, Spain. Ana was recently appointed as head of integration at Orbital Education. She completed her BA(Hons) in International Business and French at Kingston University, London in 2013. Over the course of her career, Ana has played a pivotal role in the establishment and expansion of companies worldwide, bringing her expertise to bear in various regions, including Spain, Singapore, the UK, the USA, and Ghana. In recent years, she held the prestigious position of managing director at The British School of Cordoba, a renowned British school in Spain, where she not only upheld but significantly enhanced its reputation for academic excellence and student success. Ana’s professional trajectory serves as a testament to her visionary approach and outstanding leadership qualities, consistently transforming concepts into thriving businesses and propelling teams to achieve remarkable success in both corporate and educational settings. Her global perspective, combined with a commitment to excellence, has made her a standout figure in the dynamic and competitive landscape of international business and education.

NexPay, Australia. NexPay, a global payment solutions provider specialising in educational sector transactions, has appointed David Johnstone as its new non-executive chair. David, who is also chair of Envirosuite (ASX:EVS), brings more than 35 years of experience in financial services and emerging technologies, with extensive merger & acquisition and IPO experience in the UK and Australia. His previous stints include Cooper Investors, Kepa Financial Services, GPS Wealth, Pacific Environment, and Centrepoint Alliance (ASX:CAF). David said: “I am honoured to take on the role of Chair at such a pivotal moment in NexPay’s strong growth trajectory. The road ahead is laden with opportunities, and I am committed to steering NexPay towards a future of global recognition and enhanced service delivery.”

Duolingo English Test, Global. Michael Lynas joins the Duolingo English Test team as UK country lead. He was previously serving as VP of strategic initiatives at INTO University Partnerships. Michael is an experienced leader with a track record of founding and growing impactful new ventures. As well as INTO, he’s worked across all three sectors – for Bain in the private sector, for No10 in the public sector, and in the not-for-profit sector he founded National Citizen Service (NCS). Under his leadership NCS grew into a national institution enshrined in legislation and by Royal Charter that has created billions of pounds of social value by supporting 600,000 young people. He continues to serve NCS as a Patron and sits on the Boards of the John Browne Charitable Trust and City Year UK. He has degrees in politics and public policy from Cambridge and Harvard.

Universities Australia, Australia. The Universities Australia Board has appointed Luke Sheehy as the body’s new chief executive for a five-year term. Luke has more than 20 years’ experience shaping the agenda of higher education and has led the Australian Technology Network of Universities for almost five years. He has held key education roles in government, along with working as an education and strategy consultant for the Asian Development Bank and also held senior management roles at Swinburne University. “As the first member of my family to graduate from university, I know first-hand the power of education to transform lives and I am driven to ensure that opportunity is provided to as many people as possible,” Luke said. “Australia’s success is intrinsically linked to a strong pipeline of skills delivered by our world-class universities. With 2024 set to be a year of big reform, I will bring the energy and enthusiasm necessary to ensure we come up with meaningful change and advance the interests of UA’s members.”

English Australia, Australia. English Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Aird as the new Chief Executive Officer for English Australia. Ian brings over 20 years’ experience in the ELICOS sector and is widely-recognised in the international education community. His professional journey spans various colleges in Australia, Europe and Asia, and he has accumulated comprehensive expertise ranging from executive management, marketing, teaching and CELTA training to admissions, finance and IT. Ian also successfully operated a strategy and management consultancy focused on the international education sector for five years. With a robust background in corporate governance and eight years of experience as a board director, including serving as a director and Deputy Chair for the English Australia Board, Ian is well-equipped to lead English Australia to continued success.

Oxford Brookes University, UK. Francis Glover has recently take up the post of director of global at Oxford Brookes University. He comes from having served over two years as the deputy director for international at De Montfort University, Leicester. Before his time there, he was director of international recruitment at the University of Greenwich in London. He also serves as an executive member and mentor of BUILA, a post he’s had since July 2023. Of his new role, Francis said on LinkedIn: “Brookes is an amazing place, in an amazing city. A modern university in one of the cities for education. I am delighted to work with the team in defining the next chapter of international recruitment at this university.”

EducationUSA, US. EducationUSA has announced Charles Hornstra will join the Europe & Eurasia team as REAC: regional manager for West & Northern Europe. He is based in the Hague in the Netherlands. Having worked as the REAC: regional manager in East Asia & the Pacific for more than six years and in educational diplomacy for more than a decade, Charles Hornstra boasts a wealth of experience collaborating with the U.S. higher education community. His focus includes international student mobility issues, innovative regional recruitment strategies, and the creation of impactful engagement opportunities. Charles is dedicated to promoting U.S. higher education and fostering meaningful connections that transcend borders. He is a proud Fulbright alumnus and graduate of Rutgers University. As REAC, Charles will oversee EducationUSA’s advising and outreach activities in Belgium, Bermuda, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

GlobalEd Consult, UK. Beverley Orr-Ewing has recently launched a brand new business venture as director of GlobalEd Consult. Drawing on her extensive experience in international student mobility and recruitment GlobalEd Consult will provide support, advice and project management to institutions and organisations across the HE sector both in the UK and further afield. Beverley was most recently director of the Centre for Study Abroad at the University of Bristol leading on short-term student mobility and summer programmes. She was responsible for an ambitious and creative mobility strategy achieving significant growth in student numbers. She has a particular understanding of how mobility can be strategically embedded to support wider internationalisation aims. Beverley said:” I’m thrilled to launch my new consultancy and to work with universities to support their student mobility and recruitment ambitions using my 20 years of experience in the field.”

ECE, UK.  Margaret Wenger has been in the field of international credential evaluation since 1990, having previously worked in Togo and Japan. After many years at Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE) as an evaluator, senior evaluator, and senior director of evaluation, she is now ECE’s senior director of information and knowledge. In her new role Margaret will focus on providing international education professionals with resources and up-to-date information on evaluation methods, trends, and processes. She is the author of ECE Presents: The Educational System of Tunisia and The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Its Educational System and Methods of Evaluation, and has contributed to other publications. She leads TAICEP’s (The Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals) Digital Student Data initiatives and serves on the board of directors of the Groningen Declaration Network. “As international education changes, I am excited to find new ways to share ECE’s expertise and knowledge with others in international education, and work with colleagues around the world to further the possibilities of technology, cooperation, and outreach to support international learner mobility.”

GEMS Education Group, Global. Chris Goodbourn has been appointed as the director – university partnerships at GEMS Education Group, situated within the GEMS For Life team. Drawing on his extensive 14-year background in education, Chris will cultivate meaningful partnerships with higher education Institutions & organisations, to enhance the value and career opportunities for GEMS senior and graduating students each year. Chris brings a wealth of experience, having previously served as the regional director for Asia at Amerigo Education, a leading provider of high school programs for international students in the USA and Canada and with 12 years at global pathway provider Navitas, where Chris held a variety of roles including Director of Marketing and Admissions, BCUIC and Regional Manager, Southeast Asia. He said of his new role “I’m very excited to be working with HE institutions globally to build best-fit opportunities for all GEMS Alumni, and to continue to celebrate the amazing work the GEMS Schools do every year”.

Globeducate, Global. Clara Hawking was recently appointed as Globeducate’s first official head of artificial intelligence Clara holds a Master of Computer Science from the University of Stockholm with a focus on inclusion inLearning Management Systems and machine learning, then further specialising in AI at Master Level, which has equipped her with a keen understanding of the ethical implications of AI technology in education. She also holds a Master ́s degree in Practical Philosophy and Applied Ethics, a Master of Theology in Peace and Conflict Resolution, and a PhD candidacy in Political Philosophy and Psychology. Clara also holds an executive certificate in accelerating digital innovation from the Stockholm School of Economics. She has a passion for volunteering, which is evident through her role a voluntary director of ICT and digitalisation at an educational organisation in Kenya. Clara ́s appointment reinforces Globeducate ́s unwavering commitment to holding a position and will lead on all educational policies, programmes, guidance, training, and curricula initiatives for AI, as the group demonstrates its commitment to navigating the frontier of AI in education.

OTHM Qualifications, UK. The OFQUAL Awarding Organisation OTHM has appointed Andrew Rennie to the role of head of partnerships – leading on the business development activities and strategy of the organisation. Andrew brings over 20 years of experience from the international education sector, with a passion for trans-national education. He has a track record in opening new markets and forming strategic alliances and collaborations in the pursuit of taking British education to learners abroad. Previously, he has worked for the Awarding Organisation NCC Education, and two UK universities within an international capacity. The university experience involved International Student Recruitment, which are skills that he says often come in useful when supporting and growing partner institutions abroad. “OTHM is an outstanding, ambitious organisation with a strong focus on having a continuously expanding portfolio of relevant courses, high quality, and growth. I am honoured and excited to join a fantastic team and to have the opportunity to help drive the business development activities during this exciting period.”