TNE unbound: bold, locally-embedded models for a new era

David Pilsbury is Chief Development Officer for Oxford International. He sits on the boards of JISC, CBBC, Times Higher Education, StudyPortals, EURIE, Emirates Aviation University and Macao Millenium College.  He is a member of the International Higher Education Commission (IHEC).  He led Coventry’s international transformation to become the third largest recruiter; largest provider of TNE programmes overseas; and host to the world’s largest global enhancement programme.  He has won a Queen’s Award, EAIE’s premiere 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.

Ben Matthews leads international collaborations and strategic partnerships to amplify the University of Glasgow’ s global impact and accelerate its internationalisation ambitions. Previously, Ben held a leadership role at Lancaster University, where he focused on developing transnational education (TNE) across partner campuses in Asia, Europe, and Africa. Through these campuses, one-third of all students studied via TNE, contributing to the institution's growing reputation for teaching and in research. As a former Students’ Union Deputy Chief Executive, Ben combines commercial acumen with a people-focused approach. He is committed to fostering global citizenship, advancing responsible internationalisation, and shaping partnerships that deliver meaningful, measurable change worldwide.

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, 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).

Delia Heneghan is currently Interim Director for Global Engagement at Ulster University, with an extensive independent consultancy practice.  She brings over 30 years’ senior leadership experience in higher education, specialising in internationalisation strategy and delivery across student recruitment, transnational education, and global partnerships. Delia has held roles including Dean, Executive Director of International, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement at UK and international universities, establishing operations in key markets including India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Nigeria, Ghana, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), China with a diversified global strategy covering USA and the rest of the Americas, Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and SEA. She has also worked extensively with governments including Education in Ireland, ENZ, British Council, Education USA, Austrade, GOI and Trade Commission Canada as well as the private sector, including developing integrated global international education strategies in India and beyond.  Notably, Delia was closely involved in the establishment of the University of Southampton’s New Delhi campus in partnership with Oxford International.

Professor Richard Follett leads the development and delivery of the University’s Global Strategy and has oversight of the University’s global activities, including student recruitment, global experiences for staff and students, establishing and leading the University’s relationships with key global partners, and engaging alumni around the world.

An elected Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, Richard is also Professor of American History and a specialist on the history of African American slavery. Richard joined Exeter in January 2023 from the University of Sussex where he worked for 23 years, latterly as Associate Vice-President (International) and Professor of US History. He is a graduate of the University of Wales, the University of London, and the University of Illinois. He obtained his doctorate from Louisiana State University where he was a Fulbright scholar. 

Richard’s remit is captured in Exeter’s new Global Strategy, which lays out Exeter’s vision to be a truly global institution by extending our presence, reach and impact around the world. It seeks to realise Exeter’s ambitions to be an internationally recognised leader in human health and wellbeing, sustainability, and social justice; to grow our mutually beneficial partnerships; to diversify our international student community; and to provide an inclusive and world-class staff and student experience. In his role Richard works with Exeter’s leading international partners, including University of Queensland, Duke University, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and Tsinghua University. This year, Exeter also joined the prestigious Worldwide Universities Network.

Richard has lived in Spain, Ireland, the US, and worked in more than 30 countries, including visiting appointments at the Universities of Lagos, Nanjing, Peking and Heidelberg, and the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He was Chair of Universities UK Africa and Middle East Network from 2020-2023.