Alexandre is president of BELTA, the Brazilian Educational & Language Travel Association, since 2024. His professional experience with international education goes back to 1994. He is the CEO and founding partner of Travelmate Intercâmbio since 2002. His academic background is in Brazil, he graduated in Foreign Trade from the Federal University of Paraná, and has a postgraduate degree in Customs Law and Foreign Trade from Univali – Santa Catarina, MBA in Business Management and Marketing from ISAE/FGV – Getúlio Vargas Foundation.  Alexandre was a former high school exchange student in the US.  He is married and the father of Mell, a future exchange student!

Dr. Andrés González is a political scientist based in Quito-Ecuador. He obtained his PhD in Political Science and International Relations at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich and has taught in several universities and high schools in Germany and Ecuador. He is currently the President and Academic Director of POLITIKUM, an independent education corporation based in Quito and Berlin. The work of POLITIKUM is focused on citizenship and political education, as well as on academic and professional coaching for high school and university students. He is also the author of the book “Governance for the 21st Century: The Fight Against Corruption in Latin America (LIT Verlag).

Andy runs EvolveCareers, https://evolvecareers.io/, a newly launched EdTech powerhouse committed to easing the transition for young people between education and work. Armed with a track record of innovation, Andy is collaborating with a global network of 1,000 employers, ensuring that EvolveCareers' digital learning experiences are at forefront of industry demands. Simultaneously, he's working closely with educators and young individuals, addressing critical pain points and barriers to career success. Before launching EvolveCareers, Andy left a mark as CEO at Common Purpose Student Experiences, where they won the 2018 PIEoneer Championing Diversity Awards.

Annie Wright is Marketing Communications Director at English UK, the UK’s national association of accredited English language teaching centres. She has worked in the international education sector for over 25 years and is currently a member of English UK’s senior leadership team. Her work involves promoting the UK as a study destination for ELT, enhancing the association's work and services through communications, and working with sector stakeholders including the British Council and the Department for Business and Trade. Annie lives in London. She holds a BA in fine art from the University of Northumbria in Newcastle and an MA in arts policy and management from Birkbeck, University of London. She is committed to supporting education locally and served as a governor of two inner London primary schools for seven years.

Arturo Varona has 20 years of experience in international education. He spent 18 years in China, of which 12 were focused on managing international programs for providers like ACT Education Solutions and Kaplan International Pathways. He has also led EU international education projects like the EIT Digital Master School. Arturo holds a Bachelor´s degree in Computer Engineering and Master´s degrees in Information Technology and Education (e-learning), as well as an Executive MBA from IE Business School. He is currently based in Madrid, Spain, where he is the Director of International Relations at the Comillas Pontifical University.

Bobby has worked in higher education since August 1999 when he began working in the Access and Admission Department at the University of Luton (now University of Bedfordshire). He moved to the International Office at Luton in December 2000 and remained there until August 2002 when he moved to Wales as an International Recruitment Officer at the University of Glamorgan, now the University of South Wales. In his time at the University of South Wales, he has held a number of positions including Deputy Head of International Recruitment, Head of International & Business Development in the Faculty of Business and Society, Acting Director of the International Office, Head of Student Recruitment and Head of Enquiries & Admissions and International & EU Recruitment. In April 2017, Bobby was appointed to the post of International Director at the University of Portsmouth and in August 2021 Bobby’s role was re-designated to Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) to reflect his expanded responsibilities for global engagement and in August 2023, Bobby's was appointed to the role of Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) where Bobby now has strategic responsibility for the University of Portsmouth Global Engagement work and he is responsible for overseeing all the University’s global operations. Outside the University of Portsmouth, Bobby has held numerous voluntary roles on varies sector wide groups, boards and association across the UK and is a former member of the Executive Committee of the British Universities' International Liaison Association (BUILA) were he served for 15 years and recently stepped down as Chair of the Association after 4 years. Currently Bobby is serving as an advisory capacity on various advisory groups and boards and is an active member of the UUKi Pro Vice-Chancellor International Network. In his spare time Bobby also serves as a Trust Governor at a local secondary school in Hampshire where he is the Safeguarding Lead Governor.

I have enjoyed three decades working in international education. I source and support diverse international education connections, positive relationships, and productive student pathways around the world. Having connected on an international education project, people usually take a bigger, more diverse, and nuanced perspective on life. I delight in seeing how much better we are by learning from other cultures, valuing diversity, and realising that deep down we all have the same fundamental needs and wishes.

Carmel has significant Executive expertise in International Higher Education, in strategy design and execution. Until mid 2023, Carmel was Executive Director International at the University of Melbourne, where she delivered international student business growth and developed and led key partnership relationships. Carmel has experience as a non Executive Director of on and offshore companies, including Board membership of ETS TOEFL. Carmel is now consulting across many facets of International Higher Education.

Ceren Genc is the team leader for international student admissions at Utrecht University and the Chair of the expert community ‘Admission and Recognition’ of www.eaie.org. Over the years, Ceren has built up a strong network in international higher education and has gained expertise in different aspects of internationalisation, working both at prominent universities and in the private sector. She was awarded the EAIE Rising Star Award in 2016. Ceren was part of the team winning the PIEoneer of the Year award in 2019, when she was working for the NGO SPARK, providing higher education opportunities for refugees.

Christina Bosilo, Director of Brock International, has more than 15 years of experience in post-secondary education, including recruitment, admissions and student awards. Christina has a deep understanding of the impact that effective internationalization can have, and the importance of embedding this work throughout many academic, administrative, and student experiences. Christina re-joined Brock International after 5 years in the office of the registrar, as Director of Admissions. Prior to her role in admissions, Christina spent 11 years in international services, support services for international students, student mobility and strategic partnership experience. She received her education at Brock with a Masters in Political Science (International Relations specialization), and a Bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science.

Christopher is President and Chief Operating Officer of ILSC Education Group. He directly oversees all daily operations of its ILSC Language Schools, and Greystone College locations and supports ELS Language Centers, its US subsidiary. Christopher is an experienced senior executive in the higher education sector, having held roles at multiple vocational colleges in Canada and the United States. Christopher is an Executive Committee representative of Languages Canada, Canada’s national education association.

Delia brings 30 years of senior experience of higher education in international strategy and operations. Her experience includes serving as a PVC, a Dean and Director of International with responsibilities for the development and delivery of the internationalisation strategy, student recruitment and partnership development.She is a Chartered Marketer and Manager, sits on the advisory boards of leading HE bodies, and has worked in the private sector in India, KSA, Oman, New Zealand and Europe

Dörte is an independent consultant with 30 years of achievement in the higher education sector. She has a successful track record of creating global institutional partnerships, staff and students’ international experiences, transnational education, institutional internationalisation strategies, policy and marketing and communications. Dörte brings a strong reputation for negotiation, engagement, and customer service. Dörte works with higher education providers and organisations in the UK and abroad on a variety of assignments.

Eero Loonurm has been active in higher education internationalisation for nearly 15 years. His responsibilities in the Estonian Education and Youth Board include the development and execution of the national higher education marketing strategy for "Study in Estonia" and representing Estonia in communications-related working groups on the state level and European level. He is the marketing and communications expert in promoting Europe as a study destination for the European Commission project “Study in Europe”.

Elizabeth (Beth) Drake is the Vice President of Global Marketing at Amerigo Education. Amerigo delivers homestay and residential secondary programs in the US and in Canada. She leads a global team to execute the marketing functions and deliver the sales goals for the organization. Beth has extensive experience in international education, having started her career with CIEE and then moving on to Study Group and then UTP High Schools as COO. Beth is passionate about international education and is grateful for the opportunity to impact young minds and lives all around the world.

Enda Carroll is Associate Director at UCD Global where she provides strategic leadership for Learning Abroad, manages relationships with key global partners and collaborates on program development. She established UCD's first Global Centre in New York. She has over two decades of experience in international education and is an active contributor to strategy, initiatives, and committees in Ireland at the national level. Recently, she served as chair of The Forum on Education Abroad board.

Florian Hummel is Vice-Rector for International Affairs at IU International University, Germany’s largest university, where he holds a professorship (strategy). Having graduated from the University of Brighton and Cranfield University, Prof. Hummel began his professional career in a multi-national company before moving into higher education. He pursued a Doctor of Education at The University of Sheffield, and for the past 20 years, he has worked at various universities - as faculty member, dean, vice-president, and CEO. He has been an external examiner at several UK universities. His area of interest lies in international highered collaboration, dual degrees, articulations & pathways.

Francis is Director of Global at Oxford Brookes University. Prior to this, he has led internationalisation and international student recruitment at De Montfort University, University of Greenwich, and London South Bank University. In addition to his day job, he has completed a master’s in Education Policy at King’s College London, and was elected to the BUILA Executive in 2023. He was one of the inaugural finalists for the Rising Star award at last year’s PIEoneers.

Dr. Geron is the Director of Partnerships, Innovation, and Communications at the University of Miami Hemispheric & Global Affairs where she develops strategies and key initiatives to build and/or enhance global partnerships consistent with the University’s strategic plan. She is also part of the Hemispheric University Consortium Secretariat where she coordinates different initiatives in education and innovation and is responsible for the consortium’s communications and operations. Dr. Gabriela Geron has over 25 years of experience in higher education. She holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration with a focus on IT Management in Higher Education Institutions from Universidad de Cantabria, Spain. In 2022, Dr. Gerón was recognized by the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) as one of its Rising Stars.

Gavin has had 30 years of experience in education with the last 10 years being dedicated to the international space. He has held numerous leadership roles with the New Zealand education system, with particular reference to the High School environment. He has also worked in the non-profit sector as Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters in New Zealand. Currently as International Director at Nayland College, Gavin is responsible for the marketing, recruitment and pastoral care of the international students attending the College from various countries around the world. Gavin is passionate about international globalisation and providing opportunities for students to experience different cultures.

Harri from Finland is a co-founder and President of Asia Exchange, the most international study abroad provider in the world. He’s also a co-founder of Edunation. Harri’s passion is to enable studying abroad in desired destinations affordably. He aims that all students would realize their life-changing opportunities. Harri is an edupreneur who found his personal and professional love because of studying abroad. He likes to say: “The further you go, the more you grow.”

Dr. Huajing Maske, Assistant Vice President for International Partnerships at Wayne State University, holds a DPhil in Art History from Oxford University and an MA from Peking University. With 20+ years in international education, she excels in fostering global partnerships, enhancing faculty and student mobility, and advancing comprehensive internationalization. Maske, recognized for her success in international student recruitment, champions academic and social success for international students in the U.S. Her impactful program designs offer transformative experiences, emphasizing diversity and inclusion for both international and domestic students.

Isaac Garcia-Sitton is the Executive Director of International Student Enrolment, Education & Inclusion at Toronto Metropolitan University, leading policy and operations to create and sustain a learning ecosystem that understands and advocates for international student needs. Prior to joining Toronto Metropolitan University, he held senior leadership positions at York University and McGill University, and served as diplomat for Panama, working at the consulates in New Orleans and Montreal. A respected leader in the higher education sector with over 20 years of experience in international relations and business development, Isaac has been actively involved in promoting policy measures to enhance international student support, particularly as a board director for the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE). Since 2020, he has served the international network of the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) in a leadership capacity, working with public and private colleges and universities across North America.

Janaka Ruwanpura, a recipient of the Top25 Canadian Immigrant Award (2022) is the vice-provost and associate vice-president research (International) and Professor of Engineering at the University of Calgary. His leadership has been credited with the university winning multiple international awards, including the Platinum Institutional Award for Global Learning, research, and Engagement (APLU) and the Innovation Award in Internationalization (AIEA). Janaka received many national and international awards, including CBIE’s Board of Directors Leadership Award. He is a fellow of the US National Academy of Construction and the Canadian Academy of Engineering. He was the first Canadian to chair the Commission of International Initiatives of APLU.

Jessica founded United Media Solution, a full-service digital marketing agency, in 2011. Working between Australia, China and New Zealand, Jessica leads a cross-culture team of experts, focusing on leading overseas brands and businesses to succeed in the challenging Chinese and rest of Asia market. UMS has worked to promote many education organisations across Australia, China, Europe and NZ and over the last 13 years and has offices in Auckland, Melbourne, Ningbo, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Sydney.

Dr. Jewell Green Winn has over thirty-five years of experience in education. She provides leadership to the office of international affairs at Tennessee State University as the Senior International Officer, and Chief Diversity Officer. Dr. Winn holds the Doctorate of Education, Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Business Administration degrees. Her research interests include the intersection of diversity and international affairs, global strategies for minority serving institutions, cultural competence in theory and practice, and the acculturation of international students. She has authored and co-authored articles and book chapters relative to diversity and internationalization efforts at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. She is the president of the Association of International Education Administrators; serves on the American Council on Education Women’s Network Advisory Council, the Association of Public Land Grant Universities Commission on International Initiatives, the Tennessee Diversity Consortium, and Alignment Nashville. 

Jill Blondin, associate vice provost for global initiatives at VCU, received her B.A. in art history from Indiana University, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in art history from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has served as a Fulbright Specialist to Brazil (2018), as a speaker with the U.S. Department of State Study Abroad Engagement Grant Program and Fulbright Portugal (2019) and as an Expert Speaker on U.S. Study Abroad with the U.S. Embassy Guyana (2022). She serves on the Board of AIEA as chair-elect of the Member Outreach and Awards committee.

Jogvan is the current Director, Future Students at The University of Queensland. A native of the Faroe Islands and Iceland, he lived and worked in Denmark before moving to Australia where he has worked in multiple universities, including at Director level at RMIT and Swinburne before moving to Queensland. He spent three years as the inaugural Director, International at RMIT Vietnam based in Saigon. He is the current Chair of the Australian International Directors Forum.

As the CEO of a leading group travel company, Lingo Tours Inc, Johan Schersten, orchestrates unforgettable journeys for American adult and school groups exploring the globe. With a passion for crafting personalized tours, Lingo Tours seamlessly blends cultural enrichment and adventure, ensuring each expedition transcends expectations. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to excellence, Mr. Schersten spearheads a team dedicated to creating unparalleled travel experiences, making every trip a harmonious blend of education, exploration, and camaraderie.

Dr. Lucas draws upon 25 years of international education experience to lead the world’s largest exchange and study abroad consortia. He is the current Board chair of the Forum on Education Abroad, serves on World Learning’s Global Advisory Council, and is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. Prior to joining ISEP, he held senior leadership positions at the School for International Training, IES Abroad, and CIEE. Dr. Lucas is fluent in Spanish, Catalan, and French.

Jon Stauff is Assistant Vice President for International Affairs at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota, USA. He provides leadership in international student services, education abroad, ESL, and international student recruitment. Stauff taught modern European history at St. Ambrose University and transitioned into international education administration full time. He has also worked as the senior international officer at Monmouth University, The College of New Jersey, and Radford University. Stauff has served on the NAFSA EAKC leadership team as well as the NAFSA Region X team. He is a graduate of William & Mary and the University at Buffalo, where he received a PhD in modern European history.

Dr. Jonah M. Otto is a scholar-practitioner in IHE at Universität Augsburg's Faculty of Business & Economics. His prior appointments include Indiana University, the Center for International Higher Education at Boston College, & the US Consulate General in Scotland. His research concerns the intersections of IHE with international relations, geopolitics, diplomacy & public policy.

As Director Marketing and Recruitment at Lancaster University Leipzig, Kamila leads the strategic direction, management and growth of marketing, student recruitment and admissions activities. Originally from Poland, Kamila has worked in the international education industry for over 10 years and held various leadership and student recruitment roles. She has got multifaceted strategic sales and marketing experience, including extensive channel management from multiple countries. During her last post as the Navitas Regional Manager for Africa she worked and lived in Lagos, Nigeria, where she headed the regional office.

Kasia, an education leader with over two decades of experience in international higher education management, serves as Director of Education Pathways Development at Oxford International Education Group. She leads strategic initiatives for pathway partnerships and develops new pathway colleges. With a rich background covering transnational education, collaborative research, mobility programs, and quality assurance on multiple continents and in various sectors, Kasia’s expertise spans the global HE landscape showcasing a distinct understanding of the dynamic global higher education landscape.

Katrin Klodt-Bussmann is CEO of Chamber of Commerce Hochrhein-Bodensee and Professor for International Business Law, World Trade Law, Dispute Resolution and Contract Drafting and Negotiation in HTWG Hochschule Konstanz – UAS Konstanz, Germany . She is also a visiting professor for World Trade Law at University of Technology (UTS) in Sydney, Australia. Katrin is convinced that valuable global higher education is crucial for societies, politics and global economics to cope with current and future global challenges.

Kylie is currently responsible for designing and implementing strategic initiatives, business planning and operations for the University of Nottingham Malaysia. She is an executive member of the UK Overseas Branch Campus Network and Board of Edutech Asia. Kylie has worked in higher education for more than 20 years specialising in co-designing and implementing values-based strategies with broad stakeholder groups.

Having established Australia’s only private for-profit university in 2014, Linda Brown has built it to be Australia’s fastest growing university, with a mission to provide tertiary education as a fundamental human right. In 2020 Linda achieved another first by managing the sale of Torrens University to global education group Strategic Education Inc. for almost A$1bn. A committed change maker and disrupter focussed on student centricity and industry partnerships, Linda was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year Australia in 2021.

Dr. Lucia Brajkovic is an education specialist with the Education Global Practice at the World Bank. She is also the executive director of the Higher Education Initiative for southeastern Europe and serves on boards and committees of several international education organizations. Prior to joining the World Bank she worked as a senior research specialist for the American Council of Education in Washington, DC. Lucia holds a Ph.D. from the Institute of Higher Education, University of Georgia, USA, where she was a Fulbright Fellow, and an MA in philosophy and sociology from the University of Zagreb, Croatia. Her research focuses on higher education internationalization and global engagement; political economy and higher education systems in post-socialist countries of Central and Eastern Europe; higher education finance; and education and skills development in lagging regions.

Marie is the Director Insights for Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao. Marie leads the research and market analysis to provide insights that underpin ENZ’s work. This includes student experience, brand health and social licence. She is a returning New Zealander, having spent the last 15 years in the United Kingdom, working in a range of insights, marketing, and communications roles in higher education. Her most recent UK role was at Independent Higher Education, the representative and lobbying body for independent higher education, professional training and international pathway providers. Previously she worked for a policy communications consultancy, Hobsons, now QS Enrolment Solutions, and The PIE (!).

Martha Johnson is the Executive Vice President and Provost for CEA CAPA, a global education abroad provider. She has worked in education abroad since 1991, most recently as the Assistant Dean for Learning Abroad at the University of Minnesota. Martha holds a PhD in American Studies from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, and regularly presents at international conferences. She previously served in leadership roles, and has been active in, NAFSA, the Forum on Education Abroad, Diversity Abroad, the Global Leadership League, and the Fund for Education Abroad. She is currently serving a term on the Board of Directors for the Forum.

With over 30+ years of experience in the applied comparative education and marketing fields, Marybeth Gruenewald is a seasoned international education specialist who presents at international conferences and served in leadership roles for EAIE and NAFSA. Her highlight and expertise continue to be her ability to bring together diverse professionals so that others can gain insight and understanding in the varied procedures, policies, and trends in our global community of international educators.

Namita is pivotal in driving business growth and establishing strategic sales partnerships at The Red Pen. Her role encompasses diverse responsibilities, including active participation in global educational conferences, collaboration with school counsellors, engaging in panel discussions, and building relationships with admissions officers of prestigious institutions worldwide. These efforts aim to expand the company's footprint and increase its impact. Her strategic vision and proficiency in business development play a pivotal role in driving the organisation's overall success. She also specialises in counselling applicants for the Oxbridge application and interview process. She has helped several students secure admissions to the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge for medicine, economics, chemical engineering, engineering, architecture, physics, English and more. Her list of successful admissions encompasses every prestigious university worldwide, including Ivy League colleges. Before The Red Pen, Namita established and led the University Guidance Counseling Department at B.D. Somani International School, Mumbai. As a thought leader, Namita has spoken on several panels, including those organised by HSBC, Ashoka University, O.P. Jindal Global University, International Career & College Counselling (IC3) Network and more. She shares her expertise through a column in the Mid-Day and has been a featured writer for ET Panache, Hindustan Times, The Mint, Mumbai Mirror, HT Brunch, Indian Express, The Tribune, Businessworld and others. She was recently invited to sit on the advisory board of The Outreach Collective, a community for higher education professionals.

Rooted in over a decade of international education experience across the private and public sectors, Natasha joined the University of Guelph as the Manager, Global Engagement and Partnerships in 2021. Her work is focused on partnership development with institutions and organizations abroad while integrating the university’s vision for global engagement. Natasha holds an honours Bachelor’s degree in international development studies from the University of Guelph and a certificate in adult education from George Brown College.

My name is Nathan Lusseau, 26 years old, and I am the Liaison Officer of ESN International in charge of the relations with a platform called the European Youth Forum. There, I represent the interests of young people on the topics of international education and learning mobility. As a support to the president of ESN International, I also carry out various representation duties.

Dr Pii-Tuulia Nikula is an Associate Professor at Eastern Institute of Technology in New Zealand, where she lectures on sustainable organisations, global strategies in business, and research methods. Pii-Tuulia has over twenty years of experience in international education, encompassing both practitioner and academic roles. Most of Pii-Tuulia's research focuses on education agents, climate mitigation, and international students. She has published a number of academic journal articles and co-edited two books 'Sustainable Education Abroad: Striving for Change' and ‘Student Recruitment Agents in International Higher Education’. Pii-Tuulia is a co-founder of Climate Action Network for International Educators (CANIE).

Ravi Lochan Singh is the Managing Director of Global Reach, representing leading universities from around the world for more than 30 years. An alumnus of India's The Doon School and having completed an MBA from Bond University, Australia; he founded the company in 1991. Ravi has been working with various international bodies in the development of the self-regulatory structures for the industry. His role with AAERI has earned him recognition as a stakeholder in the education export industry. Ravi has been awarded for his contributions over the years including by Australian Government (Australian Alumni of the year in 2012) and in 2019 received the AIRC award for his contribution towards introduction of commission based recruitment in USA. The PIE included him amongst  50 voices on International Education from Australia and his company was also the winner of the Education Agency of the year at the inaugural PIEoneer Awards.

Rishen is the Director: Global Recruitment and Engagement at the University of South Australia (UniSA). A former international student himself, Rishen has worked across the international education sector for over 17 years in public universities, TAFE, private RTO, accommodations services (PBSA) and education technology. He is an elected board member of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), Executive Member of the Australian Universities International Directors' Forum (AUIDF) and an invited member of IDP Connect ANZ Advisory Panel.

Selcuk is the vice general manager of EgitimAL Education Counselling Services, a well-known and one of the most prestigious international education agencies in Turkey. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Physics Engineering from Ankara University. Selcuk has over 10 years of management experience in the field of international education. He has worked across different levels of the international education field from agency management to regional sales and marketing specialist for the global education providers. As vice general manager of EgitimAL Education Counselling Services, he is responsible for the general coordination of the company, external relations, event organizations and student recruitment from Turkey with insider knowledge and expertise.

Shane is the Senior Marketing Manager Global at Auckland University of Technology. Shane’s career in international education began with a CELTA course and a one-way ticket to Bogota in the mid 1990’s. Since then he has worked in international colleges, technical institutes and universities in South America and New Zealand, in a wide range of marketing and business development roles. Shane’s area of expertise is in higher education marketing with a special interest in digital and brand.

Sonya is the president of AAERI Australia Chapter since 2018, as well as Founder and Managing Director of SIEC Education, an international student recruitment agency based out of India and Australia with 26 Branch offices across India , Pakistan , Bangladesh , Nepal , Canada and the UK.  95% of the SIEC Team is comprised of young , motivated women and I have helped create training and mentoring programs that would empower them with life skills at both professional and personal level. I have regularly presented at AIRC and hosted a number of events for AAERI Australia chapter. International Education is my passion and we are now advising the next generation of students and parents who challenge us to become better at what we do on a daily basis. I founded SIEC Migration , SIEC Internships , SIEC Test Prep and ACCT ( Associate College of Career Training ) to support our students through their journey of tertiary education in India or overseas. 

Stacy McKay Benander is Vice President of Institutional Relations - East at CEA CAPA where she leads a team supporting partners and students across the eastern region of the US. Prior to this role, she served for 15 years as the Founder and President of Athena Study Abroad. She received the Enlightened Employer Award at the Women in International Education (WIE) Awards in Berlin, Germany, has been named twice to the Forty Under 40 list for business professionals and was chosen as the recipient of NAFSA Region VI's esteemed Leo Dowling Award of Excellence.

Stuart Rennie is a Sub-Saharan African in-country specialist and international education consultant with over twenty years’ experience. Stuart is the Managing Director for SJRennie Consulting and AfaraEd, which specialises in providing on the ground infrastructure and support for global universities in Sub-Saharan Africa. He has worked as a director of successful, target driven international offices at leading UK universities and has business development experience in the private sector with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). SJRennie Consulting delivers consultancy services to the further, higher, and commercial education sectors and can deliver solutions that will improve the international position of education providers, maximising revenue in this area and building sustainable partnerships across Sub – Saharan Africa. 

Teresa’s two passions – assessment and educational business development, have led to roles with leading professional awarding organisations and highly successful UK/International private HE providers. Teresa is currently Executive Director – Learning with International Skill Development Corporation (ISDC). The role involves creating HE programmes and developing progression partnerships with international universities and awarding organisation, to achieve cost effective UK educational solutions in India and beyond. Teresa was a judge and member of the board of eAA for 6 years.

Vern Granger is Director of Admissions at the University of Connecticut (UConn). In his current role, he works on UConn’s worldwide outreach to high-achieving and diverse students, its selection process, development of the university admission process and practices, the transition of new students, and the advancement of UConn’s position as one of the preeminent institutions in the country. Vern is also Chair of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). He received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and his master’s degree from North Carolina State University.

Wendy is an experienced senior executive who designs organisational wide strategies and innovative solutions for learning within complex education and industry environments. She is adept at understanding and responding to disruption in an environment where the lines between formal and informal learning are blurring and where learners and industry are looking for new solutions. Her collaborative approach for influencing and implementing change has enabled her to deliver proven results across the higher ed sector.

A former management consultant and economist by training, Yara Vasina has been working in the international education industry since 2014, developing strategies and leading teams in business and partnership development, student recruitment, global mobility, marketing, and policy. She has obtained extensive professional and academic experience in leading Australian universities and state government. A passionate supporter of the personal and professional growth achieved by international students, Yara's work has a strong focus on equity, social justice, and inclusion of diverse cohorts of students. In 2020 she pivoted inaugural virtual global programs in Australia and was awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship to expand her knowledge in this area. A regular speaker at international conferences, Yara has been an active contributor to the industry by serving as a board member, industry volunteer and students’ mentor.  Masters qualified, Yara is fluent in Russian and French.

Dr. Yuhang Rong served as the Associate Vice President for Global Affairs for the University of Connecticut (UConn) from 2014 to 2022. Prior, he was the Assistant Dean for UConn's Neag School of Education. In July 2022, he officially retired from state service after almost 29 years in Connecticut and the UConn Board of Trustees honored him with the Emeritus title. Currently he also serves as the Chair for the Board of Directors at the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation in Washington, DC.