Introduce yourself in three words or phrases.
Vertically-gifted hype man.
What do you like most about your job?
Our customers are young, gutsy people who are looking to change their lives. Name a better customer group than that? I also love that I work with smart, kind people all around the world.
Best work trip/Worst work trip?
Best – surely, I have to say AIEC Melbourne 2024 right?
Worst – The worst trips were the times when there were no trips at all. Trying to come together across time zones during the pandemic for online conferences reminded us of the power of face-to-face connection and how important events like AIEC are. Online engagement is brilliant, but the sweet spot is when we have the best of both options.
If you could learn a language instantly, which would you pick and why?
I spend many of my days in Madrid, so I have been slowly mastering Spanish for close to 15 years. If I could instantly nail Spanish, that would make life much easier.
What makes you get up in the morning?
Sounds corny, but I am driven by IDP’s purpose. I know there are challenges in the industry at the moment, but it makes what we do more important. We help young people transform their lives through international education. When the days are tough, and they do happen, this is what keeps us going.
Champion/cheerleader which we should all follow and why?
I know we all know him, but you can’t go past Sir Steve Smith. He works so tirelessly for our sector, our students and our wider communities.
Best international ed conference and why
Haha, see question three!
Worst conference food/beverage experience
I don’t want to say anything as I want to keep getting invited to things! I am always up for trying new foods.
Book or podcast recommendation for others in the sector?
I am going to plug Real Talk, a podcast by my talented colleague and former international student Prachi.
She interviews other international students and people who have real, practical, relatable advice about navigating life in a new country.
Describe a project or initiative you’re currently working on that excites you.
Our new brand! We all know it is tough out there for international students and institutions. We want to show students we are in their corner, and we are the trusted partner for the international education community.
I am proud of the work our team has delivered to refresh our brand in a way that is insightful, empowering, yet still caring. We all know a good brand is a promise kept, so beyond the brand refresh, we continue to innovate our services to make sure our customers go on to achieve their big global goals.
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