International Student Recruitment and Experience Conference

Anne Marie joined UKCISA in 2019 from the Association of Commonwealth Universities, where she was Director of Chevening, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s flagship global scholarship scheme. Prior to that, Anne Marie led on a range of educational programmes and projects promoting international mobility and intercultural exchange. At Universities UK International, she developed the first government-funded UK Strategy for Outward Mobility, and established the Go International programme to build capacity and influence institutional change in UK universities to increase the proportion of UK-domiciled students with international experience.

At the National Centre for Languages, she directed the development of new national occupational standards in translation and interpreting in conjunction with language service practitioners and employers, and led on the National Networks for Translation and Interpreting for the Routes into Languages programme. Before moving into the education sector, Anne Marie spent several years in the language services industry managing high-profile accounts with multinational engineering and pharmaceutical companies.

Anne Marie is a linguist, with a first degree in modern languages from Anglia Ruskin University and a postgraduate translation qualification from University of Westminster. She continues to support the professional standards in the language professions and is a member of the Qualifications and Standards Committee of the National Register of Public Service Interpreters.

Harry Anderson is Deputy Director for Policy and Global Engagement at Universities UK International (UUKi), the body which represents the UK’s higher education sector and supports universities with their global engagement. As Deputy Director, Harry oversees UUKi’s work across a range of policy areas, including Global Research & Innovation, International Mobility, and Transnational Education (TNE). Prior to his current role, Harry led UUK’s policy work related to immigration as well as free speech and academic freedom, and previously worked on education and skills policy for the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

Emily is the Senior Research and Content Officer at London Higher, where she leads on research and longer form writing. Her particular areas of focus are the student experience and international higher education. She is the author of the Living and Learning in London report and coauthor of the International Education Strategy for London and Beyond Borders report. She works closely with our policy, strategy and comms staff. Before starting in this role, Emily spent three years in our AccessHE division focusing on widening participation and the work of the seven action forums. She has also worked in the Shakespeare’s Globe education office and as a teacher of English literature to international secondary-age students. Emily is also studying for an MA in Medieval Studies at Birkbeck.

Andrew provides strategic leadership for developing, championing and implementing the University strategies for Recruitment, Reputation, Internationalisation and Communication.  His responsibilities include ensuring the University’s strategic planning structure meets the needs of all stakeholders across the Institution to deliver plans that fully align with the University mission and strategy.

With over 20 years’ experience in higher education marketing, communications and recruitment Andrew is passionate about the role that education has in supporting positive change at an individual, institutional and regional level.

Having previously worked at Oxford Brookes University, the University of Southampton and Bournemouth University, while also representing the higher education sector on a range of Boards and Advisory Groups, Andrew has a proven track record of creating impactful solutions aligned to each organisation’s strategic objectives.

Haleema has been a Policy Adviser at UCAS since 2022. In this role, she has produced research and insights to shape the understanding of international students in the UK, including her recent report, ‘Global Insights: what are the experiences of Chinese students in the UK’. As a former international student herself, Haleema has experienced the full spectrum of benefits international study offers. She is also a strong advocate of the individuality of international students and hopes to continue demonstrating that through her work

Jacqui is the Global Programme Lead for International Student Mobility at the British Council. She leads how the British Council works with those that influence prospective international students including agents, counsellors, pathway providers and sponsors. She oversees a global network of colleagues in the 40 countries. Jacqui launched the UK’s agent and counsellor training and engagement platform in December 2022, which has become an integral part of the UK’s Agent Quality Framework. Jacqui has had an extensive career at the British Council and has been instrumental is setting up Going Global conference (2004-13), the global Study UK Alumni Awards (2013-17) and she was the education adviser the UK’s Government GREAT Britain Campaign in Number 10 (2016-19).

Andrew provides strategic leadership for developing, championing and implementing the University strategies for Recruitment, Reputation, Internationalisation and Communication.  His responsibilities include ensuring the University’s strategic planning structure meets the needs of all stakeholders across the Institution to deliver plans that fully align with the University mission and strategy.

With over 20 years’ experience in higher education marketing, communications and recruitment Andrew is passionate about the role that education has in supporting positive change at an individual, institutional and regional level.

Having previously worked at Oxford Brookes University, the University of Southampton and Bournemouth University, while also representing the higher education sector on a range of Boards and Advisory Groups, Andrew has a proven track record of creating impactful solutions aligned to each organisation’s strategic objectives.

Jake Duffin has been an integral part of the Global Engagement Office at Queen Mary University of London since 2012. With nearly 20 years of experience in higher education, Jake has previously worked at the University of Westminster and the British Council, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his current role.

As the Head of International Student Recruitment, Jake oversees a diverse team based in London, Beijing, Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Lahore, and Wisconsin. His role encompasses a wide scope of strategic responsibilities, including the development and review of recruitment strategies that align with international, sector, and government policy developments. Jake is an elected member of the BUILA Executive where he leads on BUILAs work with the British Council and has responsibility for working with UCAS and the implementation of the Agent Quality Framework. Jake also sits on the Advisory Board for Adventus and has a particular professional interest in enhancing the relationship between universities and agents

With extensive experience in implementing CRM and CMS systems for student recruitment marketing, Joyce specialises in integrating marketing technologies to enhance cross-border, multi- channel campaign management. Before joining the university, she worked on the agency side,

leading successful marketing communications campaigns across diverse sectors such as transport, healthcare, and membership platforms.

Barry joined the OIA in 2010 as an Assistant Adjudicator. He took up his current role as Student Liaison Officer in June 2017. Barry previously worked as an Investigator at the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman and as a Case Manager at the Healthcare Commission.

Karen Blackney has 30 years of experience of international education with a career spanning three UK universities; Middlesex, Brunel, and the University of East Anglia.  She is currently Associate Director of UEA Global, managing teams based in the UK, China, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, MENA, USA and Nigeria.  Her remit encompasses international recruitment, mobility, summer programmes, and partnership development. She is an Executive member of the British Universities Liaison Association (BUILA),  Chair of BUILA’s transnational education Regional Interest Group and the lead for BUILA’s HE and FE sector links.   Karen holds a Bachelors degree in Theatre with English and a Masters in Human Resource Management from Middlesex University.

James Gardiner Associate Professor in Marketing and Management, Director of Employability, Enterprise and Placement at Norwich Business School, University of East Anglia.

James Gardiner is an Associate Professor within the Marketing Research Group and teaches marketing and management on UG, PG and ExecEd programmes. He is also Director of Employability, Enterprise and Placement overseeing all professional development across the business school and engaging with external employers and partners. James is also a co-founder of the ExecEd and EdTech, firm Studious Digital Education Ltd, creators of the award-winning Ryze app.

He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Chartered Management Institute and Higher Education Academy (HEA) and an external examiner for at the University of Arts London.

Educated in Holland at an international school, James previously worked in financial in the City of London as a Lloyd’s of London broker with Willis Towers Watson Plc and then as an Insurance Underwriter working for US firm, Chubb Inc. working within the international energy and casualty markets. James then joining an Anglo/Dutch software company as Marketing Manager (EMEA) before joining an international technology-focused management consultancy of which he was first Marketing Director and then Managing Director for 15 years. He has started 4 businesses and worked as a management consultant supporting other businesses to scale.

James is passionate about supporting the development of management and leadership skills within firms and students and giving all professionals the skills to manage their own success.

Dr Neil Hart is an experienced academic and international education professional with over two decades of expertise in higher education, partnership development, and quality assurance. Currently serving as the Associate Director of Transnational Education at De Montfort University, he manages global partnerships and leads initiatives to expand and enhance TNE provision worldwide, including campuses in Dubai, Kazakhstan, and Cambodia, as well as franchise and dual provision programs in several countries. His career spans roles in university management, quality assurance, and teaching, with previous positions at two other HEIs with extensive TNE provision. In recent years he has worked as a QAA Reviewer, as an Assessor for the OfS and in 2025 was appointed as a Specialist for the HKCAAVQ.

Anne Marie joined UKCISA in 2019 from the Association of Commonwealth Universities, where she was Director of Chevening, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s flagship global scholarship scheme. Prior to that, Anne Marie led on a range of educational programmes and projects promoting international mobility and intercultural exchange. At Universities UK International, she developed the first government-funded UK Strategy for Outward Mobility, and established the Go International programme to build capacity and influence institutional change in UK universities to increase the proportion of UK-domiciled students with international experience.

At the National Centre for Languages, she directed the development of new national occupational standards in translation and interpreting in conjunction with language service practitioners and employers, and led on the National Networks for Translation and Interpreting for the Routes into Languages programme. Before moving into the education sector, Anne Marie spent several years in the language services industry managing high-profile accounts with multinational engineering and pharmaceutical companies.

Anne Marie is a linguist, with a first degree in modern languages from Anglia Ruskin University and a postgraduate translation qualification from University of Westminster. She continues to support the professional standards in the language professions and is a member of the Qualifications and Standards Committee of the National Register of Public Service Interpreters.