Introduce yourself in three words or phrases.
Results-oriented, pioneer and problem solver.
What do you like most about your job?
What I enjoy most is the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on our customers’ experience – especially the students we accommodate. Knowing that we’re helping create a safe and comfortable environment for them is incredibly rewarding. I take great pride in the trust that families place in our team, and when they share positive feedback, it really reinforces why I love what I do.
Best work trip/Worst work trip?
One of the most memorable work trips for me was opening a new office in China. It was an incredible experience – being involved in launching operations in a new country, working closely with international colleagues, and seeing everything come together successfully was both professionally and personally rewarding.
On the flip side, one of the more challenging trips was traveling from Japan to Korea. I overlooked the online visa requirement for Korea and was denied entry upon arrival, which meant spending the night at the airport.
It was definitely a learning experience in preparation and double-checking travel requirements – one I’ve never forgotten!
If you could learn a language instantly, which would you pick and why?
I would choose Chinese. It’s a complex and sophisticated language, which makes it challenging to learn – but that also makes it all the more rewarding.
Given that China is one of our key markets, being able to communicate fluently would strengthen relationships, enhance collaboration, and deepen my cultural understanding, which is incredibly valuable in our line of work.
What makes you get up in the morning?
What motivates me each morning is my vision and goals, along with the excitement of tackling new challenges at work. I’m driven by the opportunity to grow, learn, and make a meaningful impact through trying innovative approaches every day.
Champion/cheerleader which we should all follow and why?
I admire sir James Dyson primarily for his business style. His sharp business acumen, strong work ethic, and entrepreneurial mindset are truly impressive. I respect his appetite for calculated risks and his innovative approach to building successful companies.
Best international ed conference and why
The ICEF Higher Education Conference in Berlin stands out as the best international education conference I’ve attended.
It provides a unique opportunity to connect with all of our education agent partners from around the world in one place. This centralised setting makes it incredibly efficient to build relationships, exchange insights, and strengthen our global network.
Worst conference food/beverage experience
At a recent conference, the organisers hired an external barista to provide high-quality coffee, which was a great idea in theory.
However, they didn’t provide any standard coffee options on the tables, resulting in a long queue of around 200 attendees waiting for their coffee. This created unnecessary delays during an event designed for networking.
Book or podcast recommendation for others in the sector?
I highly recommend Housed: The Shared Living Podcast, which can be found on Spotify as well.
What’s great about this podcast is that it provides insights across all stakeholders view to our industry. Presenters are consultants within the industry, which allows them to access the information that necessarily not available on the public domain.
Describe a project or initiative you’re currently working on that excites you.
Right now, I’m really excited about working on acquiring new Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) properties for our new brand, Stuhomes. It’s a great opportunity to help grow our portfolio and create better living spaces for students. Being part of this project means I get to help shape something meaningful that directly improves the student experience, which is really rewarding.
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