Meet the Judges

Jenny Wilkinson

Pro Vice-Chancellor - Liverpool Hope University

Jenny is Pro Vice-Chancellor Marketing, Recruitment & Admissions at Liverpool Hope University. Her expertise is in international education, including education abroad and partnership management, but she also manages marketing and communications, domestic and international recruitment, widening access and outreach, admissions and graduate outcomes at her institution.

Dr. Maureen Manning

Founder & Principal - The Global Nexus Collective

Dr. Maureen Manning is the Founder and Principal of The Global Nexus Collective, a strategic advisory firm working at the intersection of public relations, strategic communications, and leadership in international education. With more than three decades of experience, she advises global organizations and senior leaders on narrative clarity, positioning, and influence during moments of growth and transition.

Erald Sula

Student Engagement Specialist - University of Groningen

Erald works as a Student Engagement Specialist in the International Marketing team of the University of Groningen, one of the Netherlands' leading research universities. He has extensive experience in CRM, student information platforms and international student recruitment and marketing across Europe, North America and Asia, helping students access high-quality education in the Netherlands.

He supports prospective students in understanding the Dutch higher education system, exploring programmes, and making confident study choices. His work combines international strategy, student engagement, and a strong belief in education with real-world impact.

Andy Howells

Independent Consultant - Higher Education Sector

Andy is an Independent Consultant in the higher education sector. He has previously worked as Chief Marketing Officer at NCUK, a private pathway provider, and Deputy Director of Universities UK International. He has also held other senior leadership roles in marketing, communications and external affairs at the University of Southampton and Royal Holloway, University of London.

He has worked in the sector for more than 15 years, leading his teams across all his recent roles to multiple awards wins for marketing, campaigning and sector advocacy projects, including a PR Week Global award, PRCA award and a CIPR Excellence Award. In 2025, he also won a career award from championing the international student voice from UKCISA.

Dirk Mulder

Founder & CEO - Koala News (ANZ)

Dirk Mulder is the CEO of Koala News, a leading education media platform serving the Australia and New Zealand markets.

Harri Suominen

Co-Founder - Edunation & AsiaExchange