International Higher Education Forum 2026

Husna Ahmed is a Senior Learning Technologist at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU), specialising in transnational education (TNE) provision and the international student digital experience. Her work focuses on enabling inclusive, scalable, and high-quality digital provision that supports diverse learner cohorts across global partnerships. She has collaborated with Jisc on research into the International Student Digital Experience (ISDX), contributing to sector-wide insights on supporting students studying across different cultural and technological contexts. At RAU, Husna supports the development of resilient, future-facing TNE models that prioritise student engagement, parity of experience, accessibility, and long-term sustainability.

Elizabeth Allen is the Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor (Internationalisation) and Head of the University of Reading Global Academy. She provides strategic leadership for the University’s Internationalisation strategy, ensuring students have an excellent international experience. She also leads the Global Academy's academic provisions, including those at the University’s UK and Malaysia campuses, its Joint Institutes in China, and its partnership in Uzbekistan. Prior to joining the University of Reading in 2024, she held roles at the University of Bristol and worked in Qatar, Brunei Darussalam, Bangladesh, South Korea and Spain, for educational institutions, including Universiti Brunei Darussalam, CfBT and the British Council.

Maddalaine Ansell joined the British Council as Director Education in November 2018.  Prior to this she was Chief Executive of University Alliance, a mission group representing professional and technical universities.  Maddalaine previously worked for 15 years as a Civil Servant with stints in the Treasury, Number 10, the Home Office and the then Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.  She began her career as a corporate lawyer, working for both Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Sullivan & Cromwell. 

Jamie was appointed Director of Universities UK International (UUKi) in November 2022. Prior to taking on this role, Jamie led Universities UK’s research and innovation policy programme (2014-2017) before becoming Assistant Director for Policy Engagement at UUKi (2017-2022).  Before joining Universities UK in 2010, Jamie was a research associate and ESRC research fellow at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Education and Social Research Institute.

Fanta Aw, PhD, is the CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the world’s largest international education association, representing more than 10,000 members at over 4,000 institutions in 140+ countries. She addresses pivotal issues including geopolitics, public policy, immigration, internationalization, and educational exchange. A champion for innovation and transformation in higher education, Dr. Aw speaks on humanity coexisting with artificial intelligence and educators’ responsibility to prepare empathetic leaders. Originally from Mali, Dr. Aw has lived in East and West Africa and the United States, gaining a diverse cultural perspective and exploring more than 70 countries worldwide.

Brita Bamert is the Science and Technology Counsellor at the Mission of Switzerland to the EU in Brussels, where she advances Swiss interests in education, research and innovation. She previously worked at the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, managing instruments connected to the EU Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation. She holds a Master’s degree in International Management and Development from Lund University and a Bachelor’s in International Relations from the University of St. Gallen, complemented by studies at the Universities of Geneva and Chile and at INCAE Business School.

Diana is Director of the Finsbury Institute at City St George's, University of London, where she also serves as Professor and Assistant Vice-President (Policy & Government Affairs). She has held high-level roles in higher education and in national government, including as CEO of London Higher, Policy Advisor to three Universities and Science Ministers in the May and Johnson governments, and first Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI). Diana is an independent governor and Vice-Chair of the Board at the University of Worcester.

Sandy Bhangal is a sector‑recognised leader in English language assessment, international education standards, and graduate outcomes. With over 15 years’ experience in high‑stakes testing and regulatory alignment, she has advised governments, universities, and global bodies on the design and validation of English language qualifications used for study, work, and migration.
As Co‑Founder of the English Language Standards Advisory Authority (ELSAA), Sandy works at the intersection of assessment integrity, compliance, and employability, ensuring that language standards genuinely support academic success and long‑term graduate outcomes.
Previously Executive Director at ETS International UK, she led global strategy and institutional partnerships, strengthening trust in English language testing across diverse markets and aligning assessments with national frameworks.

Sandy also supports organisations such as ICEF, helping raise global standards in international education, agent compliance, and ethical recruitment. She is a trusted advisor to compliance teams, admissions offices, and international recruitment leaders, guiding them through evolving regulatory landscapes with clarity and confidence always with a focus on improving student success and employability.

Piyush Bhartiya is an educator, career coach, and entrepreneur focused on helping students make informed global career decisions. As the co-founder of AdmitKard, he has supported thousands of students in pursuing international education across the UK, US, Canada, and beyond. Through his YouTube channel Study Abroad with Piyush, he shares real, on-ground insights by interacting directly with students, universities, and industry leaders - bringing transparency to the study abroad journey. His work bridges the gap between aspiration and reality, with a strong focus on outcomes, employability, and long-term career success. Piyush brings a unique blend of academic and professional experience, with a background spanning the Indian Institute of Technology, Indian Institute of Management, and consulting experience at Boston Consulting Group. He is actively building initiatives at the intersection of education, technology, and employability, aimed at reshaping how students approach global careers.

Beñat Bilbao-Osorio is the Research and Innovation Counselor at the EU Delegation to the UK. Prior to this position, Dr Bilbao-Osorio worked in the European Commission's DG Research and Innovation, the Economist Intelligence Unit,  the World Economic Forum, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); and consultant at the International Trade Centre (UNCTAD/WTO) on international trade competitiveness analysis. Dr Bilbao-Osorio holds a PhD in Economic Geography from the London School of Economic and Political Science (UK), a Master in European Studies from the Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium), and a degree in Economics from the Universidad Comercial de Deusto (Spain)

Professor Boyle has been Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University since 2019. Previously, he was President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, and formerly Chief Executive of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). He has has recently completed a nine-year term as Vice-President of the European University Association, which represents over 800 universities in 48 countries and previously served as International Champion of Research Councils UK. A Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales, the British Academy and the Academy of Social Sciences, Professor Boyle currently chairs Jisc, the British Council Wales Advisory Committee and the UKSA’s Research Accreditation Panel.  

Sam leads on the strategy, development and implementation of lifelong learning for the University of London. He has been working in Higher Education for 25 years across a range of leadership roles around online and distance education, academic development, and education strategy

Dr Alexis Brown is Head of Global Insights at the British Council. Prior to that she was Director of Policy at HEPI, where she published on research security and overseas R&D investment, and a Policy Manager at the Russell Group, where she managed a portfolio of policy issues related to higher education and financial sustainability. 

Chris is responsible for the security compliance, risk and governance architectures operating across Cranfield University.  With 19 years’ experience of managing and implementing effective security frameworks Chris also Chairs a number of national sector initiatives in collaboration with government and industry, including the Higher Education Research Security Association (HERSA) and the Universities Forum which compromises the top 40 STEM intensive UK HE institutions.  In addition Chris is responsible for various commercial frameworks delivering effective routes to market and technology exploitation pathways for various industry and government organisations.

Gary Davies is Deputy Vice-Chancellor at London Metropolitan University with responsibility for recruitment, marketing, communications and collaborations. He has an MBA in Higher Education Management from the University of London and has worked in higher education student recruitment for over 25 years at institutions across the capital, including London Guildhall University (a forerunner of London Met), Institute of Education UCL, London South Bank University and Roehampton University.

Jake has over 22 years’ experience working in higher education and is currently Associate Director of International Recruitment within Global Engagement at the University of Sheffield. He began his HE career at the University of Westminster, following a period at the British Council, before joining Queen Mary University of London in 2007. At Queen Mary, Jake held a series of roles in international recruitment, culminating in his appointment as Head of International Recruitment in 2021. Jake joined the University of Sheffield in September 2025, where he oversees all international recruitment activity. 

Anouf leads UUKi’s policy and engagement work with Africa and the Middle East, supporting partnerships and initiatives that connect UK higher education with the region. Before joining UUKi, she worked at the Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara), helping Syrian academics in exile through capacity-building programs. Her work focuses on strengthening partnerships, shaping policy, and advancing opportunities in higher education across international contexts.

Irina Ferencz works as Director of the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA), the European association of national level funding organisations for international cooperation in higher education. She is professionally active in the field since 2008, with a specific expertise on student and staff mobility in the European context (data collections, trends, policies), as well as in assessing and advising on strategic internationalisation activities at institutional and national level. Her expertise is derived from working directly with HEIs, funding organisations and policymakers at national and European level, stakeholder bodies, and international data collectors, on comparative, policy-oriented initiatives, and projects, resulting in multiple publications. 

Kieron is Professor of Science and Technology Policy at Manchester Institute of Innovation Research. He has published conceptual and empirical work on a range of issues in science, technology and innovation policy, with a focus on international dimensions of national science and technology policies, and on regional and multi-level innovation policies. He's also worked with or advised international, national and regional/local policy-makers. He is an active commentator on science, technology and economic development policy and has been quoted in a range of publications. 

Angela M. Gayton is a lecturer in applied linguistics and education at the University of Glasgow, UK, where she works with linguistically and culturally diverse postgraduate student cohorts. Her research interests include language issues within the internationalisation of higher education; multilingual identity in classroom settings; and perceptions of English as a global language. Her work has been published in journals such as TESOL Quarterly; Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development; Higher Education Research and Development; and Education Sciences.

Jazreel joined the British Council in 2004, leading major UK education marketing and partnership initiatives in China. She established the Education Intelligence Unit, the first global e marketing platform for international education research, and launched Generation UK in 2013, doubling the number of British students in China. During her tenure, the UK became a leading provider of transnational education in China and initiated a pioneering multilateral collaboration platform connecting partners across the UK, China, Sub Saharan Africa, and ASEAN. Jazreel returned to Malaysia in 2020 as Director Malaysia and Head of the East Asia Insights Hub. She received an MBE in 2017 and was named a Top 50 Voice 2023 by The PIE (Australian-ASEAN).

With 28 years of experience working in the international education sector, Naresh has pioneered some of the sector’s most advanced industry engagement and quality assurance tools. He is the creator of Ascent One, the world’s first ecosystem platform helping education providers manage agent networks, admissions and marketing in one central platform. A recognised thought leader, he regularly contributes to sector discussions on compliance, strategy and sustainable international growth. His insights feature frequently in leading outlets such as The Australian, The PIE News, The Koala News and other industry media.  

Patrick Haggard is the British Academy's Vice-President for International, and a Professor at University College London.

Professor Dame Karen Holford is a leading mechanical engineer whose career spans industry and academia. She began as an undergraduate apprentice at Rolls Royce, contributing to Adour and Pegasus engine development. She later became a senior engineer at AB Electronic Products, developing automotive technologies for BMW, Jaguar, and Rover. In 1990, she joined Cardiff University, progressing to Head of Engineering, Pro Vice Chancellor, and Deputy Vice Chancellor. Her research is in acoustic emission for structural health monitoring. Since 2021, she has served as Chief Executive and Vice Chancellor of Cranfield University.

Janet Ilieva is the founder and director of Education Insight, a research consultancy specialising in international higher education. Her research expertise focuses on global student mobility, university partnerships, national policies on global engagement and sustainable development. Since founding Education Insight in 2015, she has provided strategic research and consultancy to universities, government departments, and international organisations across Europe and Asia. Janet also serves as a university trustee and an advisor to the Technical Committee for Transnational Education of the Philippine Commission on Higher Education and is a former NAFSA Senior Fellow (2020-2021). 

Melanie Jarman is Director of International Experience at the University of Worcester. With a background in language teaching and academic literacies, she has spent her career exploring how language, confidence and communication shape students’ participation and sense of belonging. Alongside leading institutional approaches to academic English and the international student experience, Mel works closely with academic and professional staff to develop shared understanding of communication with international and multilingual students, and how teaching, assessment and everyday interactions can enable fuller engagement. She is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE and brings a strongly student-centred perspective to policy and practice.

Ben Johnson is professor of practice in research and innovation policy at the University of Strathclyde, where he focuses on UK government and international policy trends for science and technology, and undertakes systems analytics for policymakers. He was formerly senior policy adviser to the UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, advising multiple science ministers and governments since 2019. Prior to that, he held a number of roles in both the civil service and in UK funding bodies. 

Professor Tim Jones was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool in January 2023.  Prior to this he was Provost and Vice-Principal at University of Birmingham following senior leadership positions at University of Warwick.   Tim is an alumnus of the University of Liverpool (both undergraduate degree and PhD). He is the UUK Policy Lead International and a member of Universities UK (UUK) Board,  a Director of the Russell Group and Chair of the N8 Research Partnership and the Liverpool Health Partners Board. He is a member of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Business & Enterprise Board, Liverpool Knowledge Quarter Board and Sciontec Board and Liverpool-Manchester Partnership Board. 

Professor David Latchman CBE is a distinguished academic, author, and philanthropist. A leading figure in UK higher education, he served as Vice-Chancellor, formally Master, of Birkbeck, University of London, for two decades and is currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of London. A Cambridge graduate with a PhD and DSc, Professor Latchman has held senior academic positions at UCL, including Chair of Human Genetics and Dean of the Institute of Child Health. His research in genetics and molecular biology led to the founding of BioVex, whose cancer therapy was later acquired by Amgen. Beyond academia, he has championed lifelong learning and serves as Chairman and Trustee of the Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation. He was appointed CBE in 2010 for services to higher education.

Li Li is Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global), providing strategic leadership for the University’s international engagement. She advances Newcastle’s vision by strengthening its global presence and ensuring that international activity aligns with institutional priorities and values. Working closely with colleagues across the institution, she leads the development and delivery of an integrated global strategy spanning education, research, and innovation. Her portfolio includes oversight of international campuses and partnerships, enhancement of international student recruitment, and strengthening the University’s global reputation. She is committed to enriching students’ global experience and fostering sustainable collaborations that deliver academic, cultural, and societal impact.

Professor Sun Sun Lim is Vice President, Partnerships & Engagement, and Lee Kong Chian Professor of Communication and Technology at Singapore Management University. A leading scholar on the social impact of technology, she has published over 100 works on digital parenting, AI ethics and the future of work, including Digital Parenting Burdens in China (2024) and Transcendent Parenting (2020). A Fellow of the International Communication Association and Singapore Computer Society, she serves on multiple national advisory panels and editorial boards. A former Nominated Member of Parliament, she is frequently featured in global media and is a recipient of major women-in-tech honours.

Professor LU Chun is Vice-President (Mainland Strategy) of CityUHK and Executive President of CityUHK (DG). He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the National University of Singapore, following degrees from Peking University and the Beijing Institute of Technology. An internationally recognised scholar in computational mechanics and high performance simulation, he has received honours including the Gold Award in the Singapore High Performance Computing Competition. Professor Lu has held senior leadership roles at institutions such as SUSTech, KAUST, and Singapore’s high performance computing centre. Having contributed to the founding of two new universities, he brings extensive expertise in building world class higher education institutions.

Rachel is the Director of Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement at IDP in the UK. Her role is to work with university partners on their student recruitment ambitions, as well as leading on government and sector stakeholder management, B2B Marketing and Global Communications. Prior to her joining IDP in early 2022,  Rachel held roles as Director of International at the University of York in the UK, Head of Recruitment at University of Strathclyde in Glasgow and roles with Navitas for seven years in both Edinburgh and Melbourne. 

Steven McGuire is Senior PVC and Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of East Anglia.  He is responsible for UEA's international activity and is also a member of UEA's Council.  He was previously at the University of Sussex, where he served as dean of the business school. 

Professor Sir Peter Mathieson (MBBS(Hons)(London), PhD(Cambridge), FRCP(London), FRCPE, FMedSci, FRSE, FRSA) assumed the office of Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh in February 2018. He was formerly the 15th President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong. Peter was knighted for services to higher education in 2023. Previous posts include: Director of Studies for Clinical Medicine, Christ’s College Cambridge; foundation Professor of Renal Medicine, University of Bristol & Honorary Consultant Nephrologist, North Bristol NHS Trust; Director of Bristol Health Partners; Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bristol. 

Professor Dame Sally Mapstone FRSE is the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews in Scotland, a position she took up in 2016. During Dame Sally’s tenure, the University attained a historic “double first”, ranking top of the two leading University league tables in the UK: the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 and the Guardian University Guide 2024. At a national and international level, Professor Mapstone has also served as President of Universities UK for the period 2023-25, the Convener of Universities Scotland, Vice-Chair of the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, and as Chair of the International Advisory Board for the University of Helsinki. She is also currently Universities Scotland’s newly created Lead Member for International, the Chair of the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) board, and a trustee of the Europaeum. Before St Andrews, Dame Sally’s career was spent at the University of Oxford, where she was latterly Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education in the University, and Professor of Older Scots Literature in its Faculty of English, as well as a Fellow of St Hilda’s College.

Anand Menon is Professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs at King’s College London. He also directs the UK in a Changing Europe project (www.ukandeu.ac.uk). His areas of research interest include the policies and institutions of the European Union, European security, and British politics. He contributes regularly to both print and broadcast media. He is co-editor of the Oxford Handbook of the European Union (OUP, 2012), and co-author of Brexit and British Politics (Polity 2018). He is a trustee of Full Fact, a member of the Strategic Council of the European Policy Centre, a Council member of the European Council on Foreign Relations and an associate fellow of Chatham House. 

Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL became Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Derby in 2015, leading operations across Derby, Buxton, and Chesterfield serving 34,000 students. Under her leadership, the University achieved Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework. Nationally, she has shaped policy through reports such as Arriving at Thriving and Empowering Innovation. Kathryn’s academic career includes research at the University of Chicago, Rockefeller Institute, and Basel’s Friedrich Meischer Institute. In 2025, Kathryn joined the University of South Wales Board of Governors, was appointed Chair of the Higher Education Access and Participation Task and Finish Group for the Department for Education and became Chair of the Mobility Advisory Group for Universities UK International.

Kym Nguyen is Chief Growth Officer at Ascent One and a senior international higher education leader with over 13 years’ experience supporting universities across the UK and globally. She works with institutional leaders to strengthen governance, manage compliance and risk, and improve international operating models through connected systems and clearer ways of working. Kym is a regular convener and speaker at sector forums, recognised for bringing leaders together around intricate, system‑level challenges. She is known for turning complexity into clarity and helping teams do the hard work well, and enjoy and celebrate the progress when it lands.

Steve Paxton, Founder of Sable International’s UK Education Corporate Services division, is a specialist in student global mobility, sponsor licence compliance, and UKVI regulations. He has positioned Sable as a trusted advisor for the Education sector and their agents navigating visa processes and compliance. Outside work, Steve is a quadruple World Cup hockey coach and player, currently playing for England Masters, and cherishes time with his family, including his grandchildren.”

Scarlett leads international recruitment and relationship management for East Asia at the University of Nottingham.She brings a wealth of experience in international higher education, with a particular focus on the China and East Asia region. Prior to joining Nottingham, Scarlett served as Senior Regional Manager at the University of Kent in 2022, following her earlier role as International Officer at Nottingham Trent University from 2015. Throughout her career, Scarlett has played a central role in shaping and delivering international recruitment strategies, fostering global partnerships, and driving regional engagement for UK universities.

Pilsbury is Oxford International’s CDO. He sits on the boards of JISC, CBBC, THE, StudyPortals, EURIE, Emirates Aviation University and Macao Millenium College. He is Secretary and member of the International Higher Education Commission. He led Coventry’s international transformation to become the 3rd largest recruiter; largest provider of programmes overseas; and host to the world’s largest global enhancement programme. He has won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, EAIE’s premiere internationalisation award and is a VTC Honorary Fellow. Pilsbury was founding CEO of WUN, HEFCE Head of Research Policy and spent several years in the City after a D.Phil at Oxford.
 

Stephanie Pitticas serves as Vice‑Principal (Internationalisation) at the University of the West of Scotland, where she leads a university-wide strategy to enhance global impact and spearheads a new Transnational Education (TNE) strategy. Previously, she was Director of Marketing, Recruitment and Admissions and Director of the London campus at Glasgow Caledonian University, overseeing international partnerships and student services. Earlier, she held the position of Head of Admissions at Regent’s University London, improving recruitment and applicant experience. With a career rooted in international student recruitment, admissions and international partnerships, Stephanie focuses on integrating internationalisation throughout the student journey and across the University.

Andy worked at 3 UK universities in international student recruitment and partnership roles for 16 years before joining QS in 2021. He leads the UK & Europe client facing team with particular expertise on delivering the right strategic decisions, informed by the right data. 

Enzo is an experienced higher education strategist with more than 25 years’ experience leading international engagement, recruitment, and transnational education initiatives.

He is the former Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) at the University of Reading and previously Director of the International Office at the University of Nottingham.

Vincenzo now advises universities, governments, and investors on sustainable international education strategies.

He has published widely on international student recruitment, the role of agents, and sustainable models of global engagement.

Lily Wednesday Rumsey is an accomplished senior leader in international higher education with nearly two decades of extensive experience shaping global engagement and transformational change agendas across leading UK universities. She has built a reputation for shaping internationalisation agendas and delivering complex, large-scale initiatives that connect global vision with operational impact. 

Lily contributes actively to the wider sector, including currently serving as Interim Executive Director for BUILA and has held several influential leadership roles for UK universities. 
A champion of inclusive leadership, and promoting authentic, values-driven leadership. As a podcast host Lily is amplifying women’s voices in the public sector promoting a narrative of women leading, unapologetically.
 

EU Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Chief of Staff to the European Union’s High Representative for foreign affairs and security policy and EC Vice President Josep Borrell Fontelles until October 2022, his previous roles include that of Deputy Secretary General for Common Security and Defence Policy and Crisis Response at the European External Action Service (EEAS) and Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy. Pedro Serrano was also the first EU Ambassador to the United Nations, in New York, after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. Born in Madrid, Spain, Pedro Serrano is married and has two daughters.

Emma Skelton is Head of Client Success for the UK and Europe at IDP. She leads a team that provides practical, actionable insight and support for universities to develop sustainable international recruitment strategies. Recently, she has led initiatives to strengthen recruitment quality and compliance at IDP globally, including aligning agent practice with evolving UK policy expectations such as the Agent Quality Framework. Previously at the British Council, Emma worked with government and sector bodies on international education policy, including student mobility, recruitment and the UK’s International Education Strategy, and coordinated global market insight on the impact of UK policy. 

Jacqui has been Minister for Skills (including apprenticeships, Further and Higher Education) since July 2024, when she joined the House of Lords.

She is also Minister for Women and Equalities, taking on lead responsibility for gender equality, women’s rights, and the UK equality framework.

As of September 2025, Jacqui’s role now spans both the Department for Education and the Department for Work and Pensions, in order to align skills policy more closely with labour market and employment reform, placing FE and training providers at the heart of the government’s growth mission.

Jacqui was previously an MP from 1997 to 2010, serving as the first female Home Secretary and in several other ministerial positions. She worked as a teacher before her entry into Parliament.

Professor Sir Steve Smith was appointed as the UK Government International Education Champion in June 2020, a role aimed at boosting global education partnerships. In October 2020, he was also appointed as the UK Government Special Representative to Saudi Arabia. His reappointment to both roles was confirmed in 2024. He holds a BSc, an MSc, and a PhD in International Relations from the University of Southampton. He served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter and held various prominent positions in the UK education sector, most notably as the President of Universities UK (UUK) and the Chair of the UCAS Board. Sir Steve is recognised internationally for his work.

I am Senior Advisor to EasyTransfer (quality service, innovation, data driven insight, student-choice). I am Managing Director of Fortis Consulting London and an Honorary Senior Visiting Fellow at Bayes Business School. I am a frequent participant at conferences contributing to a wide range of subjects, including transformational change, entrepreneurship and the need for effective communication between international business cultures. I have spoken at London Business School, Imperial College Business School, Cambridge University Judge Business School, Bayes Business School, London School of Economics, Oxford & several other universities. I am pleased to be a Women in Banking & Finance Award Winner.

Guohao develops EasyTransfer’s global presence through establishing official university partnerships around the world, and expanding EasyTransfer’s signature 1-to-1 human customer support for international student families and education agents in the source countries. Founded by international students, for international students, EasyTransfer is a leading global fintech platform simplifying cross-border education payments. Trusted by more than 800,000 students and families across 170+ countries and regions, the company processes over US$5 billion annually to thousands of universities worldwide. With strategic investors including Mastercard, Tencent, and IDG Capital, and a relentless focus on student experience, EasyTransfer is redefining what it means to move money for education.

Dr Faye Taylor is Deputy Director for International Strategy & Partnerships at the Department of Education, UK. Her team works with governments overseas to create transformative education opportunities for people, businesses and society to thrive. Previously Faye worked in government relations advocating for Higher Education, research and innovation for University Alliance and the Association of Commonwealth Universities. Before that, she researched and taught medieval European History, completing her PhD at the University of Nottingham.

Sophie Turnbull is the Director of International Recruitment at UWE Bristol, with over 14 years’ experience leading global recruitment strategies and international partnership development. She brings deep expertise across priority markets including South Asia and North America, combining market insight with a strong focus on student experience and institutional growth

Jessica Turner is CEO of QS Quacquarelli Symonds, the global authority in higher education insights and solutions. Building on QS’35+-year legacy, she leads its global expansion, positioning QS as a trusted partner to over 1,500 institutions and 75+ million learners navigating a rapidly changing world. Prior to QS, she held leadership roles at Clarivate Analytics, Thomson Reuters, and McKinsey & Company. A respected global voice in education, Jessica advises university leaders and policymakes, contributes to international media, and speaks at major forums, championing higher education as a driver of opportunity, innovation, and inclusive growth, while advancing equitable international collaboration.

Professor Abhi Veerakumarasivam is a Cambridge‑trained geneticist, educator, and science communicator, and currently Provost of Sunway University. His research focuses on regulatory pathways driving tumour recurrence and Asian genetic variations linked to disease risk and treatment response. His awards include the National Cancer Council Malaysia Cancer Research Award, the Study UK Alumni Award, the Merdeka Award Grant, and recognition in the Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow list. He was the first Asian winner of the International FameLab Finals. Abhi has led major national and regional science advisory, integrity, and STEM initiatives, and advocates interdisciplinary, humanity‑centred research and education to address global challenges.

Caroline S. Wagner is Academy Professor (Emerita) at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, USA. Between 2011 and 2021, she was the inaugural holder of the Milton & Roslyn Wolf Chair in International Affairs at Ohio State. Dr. Wagner is an expert on science, technology, and innovation and its relationship to public policy. Her books include “The New Invisible College” (2009) and “The Collaborative Era in Science” (2019). Dr. Wagner is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and editor of the journal, Science and Public Policy (Oxford University Press). 

Rachel Wolf is Founding Partner of Public First, an economics and research consultancy. She has held a number of roles within the UK government and for the Conservative Party. In past lives she also ran a division of a tech company in the US; and founded and ran a non-profit that delivered key education reforms of the 2010 UK government.

Francesca Woodward is the Global Managing Director for English at Cambridge University Press & Assessment (CUP&A). Since the merger in August 2021, Francesca has successfully built their integrated English learning and assessment business. Through her leadership, Cambridge English serves over 7 million test takers accepted by 28,000 recognising organisations, and millions of learners with courseware solutions.   They support more than 6 million learners on Cambridge One, the most used English language learning courseware platform globally, and reach over 30 million people monthly with the world’s number one dictionary website, Cambridge Dictionary Online.
Francesca is an experienced change and transformation leader, driving digital, data, and AI transformation across the English portfolio to ensure that Cambridge English is providing learners with what they need anytime, anywhere, in an adaptive and personalised way, backed by world-class research from the University of Cambridge. Before the merger, Francesca was the Chief Executive for Cambridge Assessment English from March 2019 to August 2021.
 
With a strong background in the education sector, Francesca has extensive global business expertise in curriculum, qualifications, and teaching & learning across various sectors, including English, Schools, Higher Education, and Ministries. Before joining Cambridge Assessment in 2017, she had a 16-year career with Pearson. Francesca is passionate about education and dedicated to helping learners of all ages and backgrounds achieve their ambitions, whether progressing to higher education or entering the workforce.
 
Francesca holds a BA in Business Studies from Staffordshire University, a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management from Manchester Metropolitan University, and an MA (CANTAB) from the University of Cambridge. She is an active Executive Sponsor for the Race Equality Ethnicity Balance Network and has previously been an Executive Sponsor for the Women in Leadership Network at CUP&A. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion, along with her dedication to educational excellence, continues to make a significant impact on learners and educators worldwide.
 
When she’s not working, Francesca enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter and their two Labradors in the great outdoors.
 

Mr. XIA Jianhui currently holds the position of Deputy Director-General of Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE), Ministry of Education, P. R. China. From 1993 to 2009, he worked at department of foreign affairs in Shandong University. From 2004 to 2008, he held the position of the deputy consulate of Chinese Consulate General in Vancouver. From 2009 to 2017, Mr. XIA served successively as the director of office and deputy director-general of Confucius Institute Headquarters (HANBAN),P.R China. From 2017 to the end of 2021, he was the Education Counselor in the Chinese Embassy to UK. He graduated from Shandong University in 1993 with a bachelor degree in Technical English.

Erick Yssen works for the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. Second period as Research Counsellor at the Norwegian Mission to the EU in Brussels. Was a Seconded National Expert to the Commission (DG RTD) for 3,5 years until 2021.   

Dr Naimatullah Zafary is an International Development specialist who recently completed his PhD at the University of Sussex. A 2021-22 Chevening Scholar from Afghanistan who came to the U.K. as the Taliban took control in his home country, he brings over 15 years of experience in coordination and programming, serving as National Human Development Report Coordinator for the UN in Afghanistan. Naimat bridges high-level policy with "ground-truth" implementation, successfully negotiating distance-learning scholarships for Afghan women at Sussex. A writer for HEPI and Times Higher Education, he shares his perspective as an Afghan scholar and refugee, and is a leading voice in transforming the UK sector response to global displacement.

Joanne Pagèze is a Franco-British academic with a deep passion for languages and education. After graduating in Modern and Medieval Languages from the University of Cambridge, she moved to France, where she gained the agrégation in English in 1996. She joined the University of Bordeaux in 1998, teaching in the sciences and supporting innovative, multilingual education at the Department of Languages and Cultures. Her research interest is in international education, language ecology and policy. Strongly engaged in internationalisation, she has helped shape inclusive international programmes across the university. Appointed Vice-President for Internationalisation in 2022, she became Vice-President for European affairs in February 2026 and is a board member of the EAIE.