Introduce your self in three phrases or phrases.
Somebody lately described me as calm, resilient, and quietly decided.
What do you want most about your job?
For the previous 20 years, I’ve had the unbelievable privilege of working with British Council groups and companions throughout the Americas, the Center East, Sub-Saharan Africa, China, and the UK.
Being a part of such a dynamic international community means embracing fixed change in worldwide training – a problem I completely thrive on. In my present position with British Council IELTS, I’m obsessed with upholding the very best requirements for our test-takers and recognising organisations, and am immensely proud to play an element in delivering a service that transforms lives world wide.
Finest work journey/Worst work journey?
Typically you expertise the very best and worst of journey throughout the identical journey. As a brand new regional examination companies director in Sub-Saharan Africa, I used to be thrilled to go to Harare for a regional staff assembly. It was my first time in Zimbabwe, and I couldn’t wait to fulfill colleagues from throughout the area.
However our journey coincided with the removing of President Mugabe, leaving us hotel-bound for 3 days. Whereas I loved connecting with my new staff, my expertise of Zimbabwe ended up being simply the airport, a few taxi rides, and a lodge room.
In case you might study a language immediately, which might you decide and why?
I’d like to be fluent in Mandarin Chinese language. It’s a captivating language, probably the most vital for the UK’s future, and the British Council is a part of some superb initiatives, just like the Mandarin Excellence Programme, which has helped 1000’s of UK college pupils on the way in which to fluency.
Till 2023, I lived in Beijing because the British Council’s director of examination companies, however regardless of my greatest efforts, my Mandarin didn’t progress as a lot as I’d hoped. Having the ability to totally join with China’s wealthy tradition and astound my buddies and colleagues there with good Mandarin? That will be a dream come true!
What makes you stand up within the morning?
I thrive on challenges and work that feels significant and has function. This month, the British Council is celebrating 90 years of constructing connections and belief between the UK and international locations worldwide – a mission that conjures up me every day. Supporting younger folks to realize their worldwide training targets is a big motivator. On the IELTS entrance, I’m particularly excited a few groundbreaking partnership with the UNHCR. For the primary time, displaced people can have free entry to the world’s most trusted English language take a look at – one thing I’m extremely proud to be a part of.
Finest worldwide ed convention and why?
I nominate the British Council’s flagship language testing and evaluation convention, New Instructions in English Language Evaluation. New Instructions is an impressive convention that brings collectively regional and worldwide policymakers, instructional professionals, lecturers, academics, and evaluation practitioners. It supplies a platform for interplay, info change, and staying up to date with the most recent improvements and developments within the area. Since its institution in 2013, New Instructions has change into an establishment, and I’m sure it would proceed to develop from power to power.
Worst convention meals/beverage expertise
I’ll be diplomatic and chorus from naming and shaming particular conferences however suffice to say I’ve skilled my fair proportion of curled-up sandwiches, cardboard biscuits, and cups of tepid, weak tea alongside the way in which!
Ebook or podcast suggestion for others within the sector?
I’ve simply completed Yuval Noah Harari’s newest e-book, Nexus, which explores info networks and energy all through historical past, in addition to the way forward for AI. It was a really thought-provoking learn, delving into the advantages and dangers of AI. This matter is especially related given the continuing debates concerning the future position of AI in training and evaluation. We’ve lately launched some analysis on AI in English Language Instructing, which I might additionally extremely advocate studying.
Describe a venture or initiative you’re presently engaged on that excites you.
Along with the numerous exiting tasks in my position with the British Council IELTS staff, I’m working in the direction of to a credential with the Worldwide Teaching Federation (ICF). I’ve a long-standing curiosity in management teaching, and I skilled formally as an govt coach a few years in the past. As the subsequent step, I’m hoping to realize an ICF credential in 2025.
