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What is your role and what does it involve?

My role at ÂÒÂ×Ðã is Liaison and Recruitment Manager in the Student Recruitment team in VPEE. I am responsible for recruiting international students to ÂÒÂ×Ðã and I look after markets in East & South East Asia, the Middle East and UK International. It’s an interesting role and a typical week is often pretty varied. It might involve meeting with government sponsors, showing visitors round the campus, travelling to different parts of the country to meet prospective students, supporting my team with their priorities and attending meetings with internal and external stakeholders.

How long have you been at ÂÒÂ×Ðã and what was your previous role?Ìý

I joined ÂÒÂ×Ðã in January 2024 so I am still quite new and learning lots every day. Prior to this role, I worked for about 14 years at the University of Surrey progressing to Deputy Head of Student Recruitment. I also spent a year at the University of Brighton before joining ÂÒÂ×Ðã. Ìý

What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?Ìý

My roles haveÌýalways been very much about building relationships and seeing the fruits of those successful partnerships resulting in a growth in International Student numbers is a real privilege. It’s also been really nice to be an advocate for international students in all of the universities I have worked in and to have an impact on, or make changes to procedures and policies. So far at ÂÒÂ×Ðã I was really proud to plan and deliver our first trip out to Pakistan for Student Recruitment. I am really excited about the potential for ÂÒÂ×Ðã in this market. I also enjoyed being part of a big team delivering a big institutional visit to China where we were able to engage with over 1,000 offer holders. Seeing my team deliver on the student recruitment events that were part of this trip was great.

Tell us about a project you are working on now which is top of your to-do listÌý

Whilst there are some great parts to this role, it’s not all fun and games. My To Do list at the moment includes: working on a funding agreement for a new sponsor, completing a data protection impact assessment and planning for a busy autumn of recruitment activity.ÌýÌý Ìý

What is your favourite album, film and novel?Ìý

This is probably the hardest of all of these questions and I don’t know if I can choose just one favourite, so I think I will be greedy and give a selection.

Albums: Mozart - The Marriage of Figaro, Abbey RoadÌý- The BeatlesÌýÌý Ìý

Film: Shawshank Redemption, Withnail & I, Inception

Book: I found The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah incredibly moving. Paths of Glory (about George Malory’s attempts on Everest) by Jeffrey Archer really stuck with me and, more recently, The Wager by David Grann is excellent maritime history brought to life. Ultra Processed People by Chris Van Tulleken is brilliant.ÌýÌý

What is your favourite joke (pre-watershed)?Ìý

The balloon family are in bed and Mum and Dad have been trying for ages to get baby balloon to stay in his own bed through the night. During the night there's a thunderstorm and baby balloon is scared so he goes to his parents' room and tries to squeeze in their bed. There isn’t much room so he lets some air out of his dad but still can't get in. Then he lets some air out of his mum – still he can't get in. Desperate, he lets some air out of himself and then fits in. In the morning his dad is exasperated.Ìý He says "Son you've let me down, you've let your mum down, but worst of all, you've let yourself down."Ìý

Who would be your dream dinner guests?

Paul McCartney for the stories, Larry David for the laughs, Claire Balding & Laura Kuenssberg for the conversation & Rick Stein to cook up some seafood.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Reach for the stars, follow your heart's desire. Ìý

What would it surprise people to know about you?Ìý

In 2022 I was skiing off piste with friends in Switzerland when I was buried in an avalanche. It was terrifying and I was lucky to survive.Ìý Ìý

What is your favourite place?  Ìý

Despite the above, for me,Ìýthe mountains are my happy place so I have to say the Jungfrau region, in Bernese Oberland Swiss Alps. The scenery and skiing are spectacular.ÌýÌý