Our people
Emily O'Callaghan
Chief Executive Officer
With over two decades in international education, Emily has worked across policy, advocacy and research in higher education, engaging with government, institutions and industry stakeholders worldwide.
She has advised universities, EdTech firms, education agents and peak bodies. She is an Asialink Leaders Program alumna, a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), and an International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) Senior Fellow.
Emily is on the Executive Board of the Climate Action Network for International Educators (CANIE) and co-authored the IEAA Learning Abroad in Australian Universities White Paper.
Greg Gawinowski Ph.D.
Director of Technology and Analysis
Greg is a dynamic and ambitious professional with a background in data analysis, project management and software engineering. He has over 16 years of experience and specializes in designing and developing automated reporting systems. He has extensive expertise in business intelligence tools like Tableau, along with programming skills in Python, SQL and VBA across various platforms.
His strong analytical abilities and interpersonal skills have enabled him to excel in data analysis and team management roles. Greg has a PhD in Theoretical Information Technology and has worked with organizations in education research, an award-winning AI start-up and a globally recognized stock brokerage.
Peter Muntz
Communications Director
Peter is a communications and marketing specialist with 20 years experience in education. He started out at the British Council, while living in the UK on a working holiday visa, and hasn’t looked back. He has worked across NGOs, membership associations, higher education institutions and in the schools sector. As Communications Manager at the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), Peter led the association’s brand and content strategy and the implementation of IEAA’s Fellowship program.
Peter’s specialist skills include content strategy, writing and editing, design and layout. He has a Master of Global Media Communication (The University of Melbourne) and a Bachelor of Arts – Professional Writing (Deakin University).
Our advisory council
Cara Bonnington
Associate Director, Sydney Global Mobility, The University of Sydney (Australia)
Cara leads Sydney Global Mobility, managing inbound and outbound student mobility and international agreements. In this role she collaborates with faculties and partner universities to expand student mobility opportunities across cohorts. Cara has been an active member of IEAA, and is a co-founder of STAMP: Study Tour for Academics and Mobility Professionals. Previously, Cara held roles at the University of Pennsylvania's Penn Global and holds a Master in Intercultural Communication from UPenn. She is currently pursuing a PhD at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. Her passion and extensive experience in international education stem from her own transformative study abroad experiences in London and Rome.
Professor Elspeth Jones
Emerita Professor, Internationalisation of Higher Education, Leeds Beckett University (UK)
Elspeth is founding editor of the influential book series, Internationalization in Higher Education (Routledge). She has published widely and was awarded the inaugural 'North Star Medal of Lifetime Achievement in Transnational Research' (Noam Chomsky Global Connections Awards) and the 'EAIE Tony Adams Award for Excellence in Research'. She has worked with a range of organizations, universities, ministries and other bodies across six continents, including UNESCO, European Commission, European Parliament, British Council, International Association of Universities, DAAD, COIMBRA group, NAFSA and IEAA.
Vannessa Kramer
Assistant Dean, Global Programs, The University of Arizona (US)
As Assistant Dean for Global Programs at the University of Arizona's Eller College of Management, Vannessa leads efforts to provide students with transformative global business experiences. She oversees a range of international programs, including faculty-led initiatives, internships, study tours, and service learning, while managing dual degree and micro-campus partnerships. Committed to creating innovative global opportunities, Vannessa also teaches courses within the Global Business Program. Her work fosters student engagement in international business through experiential learning and innovative programming. She is currently pursuing her PhD in International Education, with a focus on experiential learning.
Professor Betty Leask
Professor Emeritus, Internationalization of HE; Chair, Council on Australia Latin America Relations (Australia)
Betty is a researcher and global thought leader in the internationalization of higher education. She is Professor Emerita at La Trobe University Australia, Co-Chief Editor of the Journal of Studies in International Education (JSIE) and an honorary Research Fellow at the Center for International Higher Education (CIHE) at Boston College and the Centre for Higher Education Internationalisation (CHEI) at Universitá Cattolica del Sacre Cuore in Milan. Her seminal work on internationalization of the curriculum has been used globally in universities and schools to inform research, policy and practice. She is a life member of IEAA and holds awards from international education associations in Europe and the US.
Dr Anthony Manning
Dean for Global and Lifelong Learning, The University of Kent (UK)
Anthony is a committed higher education leader and manager in comprehensive internationalization and lifelong learning. He thrives on identifying and realizing opportunities for global education, online learning and the development of pathways to university study for both home and international students. He has strong academic credentials through a BA, MA and Doctoral degrees, as well as a Postgraduate Certificates in Education (PGCE) and Higher Education (PGCHE). He is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA) and a National Teaching Fellow. Dr Manning has worked in education across five countries and has experience leading international partnership development across the globe.
Vernon D. Miller Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Management and Department of Communication, Michigan State University (US)
Vernon is a Professor in the Department of Management and Department of Communication at Michigan State University. His journal publications explore the communicative aspects of the employment interview, organizational socialization, role negotiation, team and organization-wide coordination, and organizational change processes. His latest book is the Handbook of Organizational Communication Theory and Research (DeGruyter). He has served as an international internship coordinator, co-led a study abroad program in Paris, and is planning a study abroad program in London for Summer 2025.
Gretchen Neisler Ph.D.
Vice Provost for International Affairs Director, Center for Global Engagement, The University of Tennessee (US)
Gretchen is the senior international officer at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she started as Vice Provost of International Affairs and Director of the Center for Global Engagement in 2018. She has focussed on expanding the university’s global impact through intentional partnerships, global citizenship and upholding the values of a land-grant university. Gretchen has lived in Egypt and Pakistan and spent seven years working in Africa. She studied in Australia and New Zealand while working on her master degree, while her PhD research focused on organizational development and university partnerships with the Federal foreign aid agency – USAID.
Dr Steve Nerlich
Director, International Research and Analysis Unit, Department of Education, Australian Government (Australia)
Steve is Director of the International Analysis team in the Australian Government Department of Education. The team is responsible for producing Australia’s monthly international student enrolment data and a range of other data products which support Australia’s international education sector. Dr Nerlich was awarded a PhD from the Australian National University in 2020 on the basis of in-depth research undertaken on the value proposition of encouraging Australian students to study abroad, including six peer-reviewed publications on the topic.
Our founding partners
