who's who at English UK

As Chief Executive of English UK, Tony is responsible to the Board for the association's strategy, policy and general management, and he runs the association on a day-to-day basis between Board meetings. The Board of 12 trustees is elected by and from the membership in a ballot before each AGM.

Born in Doncaster in 1951 and educated at the Grammar School there, Tony Millns taught English as a foreign language in Finland before going up to Oxford in 1969 and in the long vacations in 1970 and 1971. He was a Postmaster in English at Merton College Oxford, then lectured in Anglo-Saxon literature at the University of Cambridge and taught Middle English at Cambridge's second university before becoming Information and Marketing Officer there and moving into communications, marketing, PR and lobbying. He was director of communications/marketing/PR for Cambridgeshire County Council (1981-4), the University of London (1984-91) and the Association of County Councils (1991-3).

He moved in 1993 to be a senior civil servant, as Assistant Chief Executive of the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority (SCAA), where over the next four years he was the only person other than Ron Dearing himself to work on all three of the Dearing reviews - the review of the National Curriculum and national tests (1993-5), the review of post-16 qualifications including A levels and GNVQs (1995-6), and the review of higher education (1996-7) which led to the proposal to introduce student fees. In 1997, on the merger of SCAA with the National Council for Vocational Qualifications, he became Assistant Chief Executive of the new body, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.

In late 1999, he was appointed Chief Executive of the Association of Recognised English Language Services (ARELS) Ltd. In 2004, when ARELS and BASELT joined forces to create English UK, the world's leading language teaching association, he became English UK's first Chief Executive.

He holds a prize-winning MBA from Henley Management College and an MBA in Technology Management from Grenoble Graduate School of Business, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Association Management, Chartered Institute of Marketing, the Royal Society of Arts, the Institute of Directors, the Chartered Management Institute and the Tourism Society. In 2001 he was among the first hundred people to be admitted as a Chartered Director, the new professional standard for company directors, and in 2002 he became a Chartered Marketer. Among other unpaid posts, he was a director of the Campaign for Real Ale Ltd for ten years and National Chairman from 1982-5. He was Chairman of the Tourism Alliance in 2006, and he serves on several other national bodies. He has published books and articles on literary criticism, education policy and brewing history.

Email: tony@englishuk.com

Annie has worked in marketing and promotions in the English language teaching sector for over ten years. Prior to being appointed to the position of Deputy Chief Executive (Business Services) of English UK, Annie worked as Fairs & Events Manager of English UK (and previously ARELS) and managed the association's annual flagship trade event, StudyWorld London.

As deputy chief executive (business services), Annie leads the association's International Team. English UK's international team is responsible for all agent-facing initiatives, promotional activities and international affairs. Annie is also responsible for the association's business development activities and brand management. Annie continues to be involved in the strategic development of StudyWorld, via her management of the international team and she works closely with Jodie Gray, Senior International Manager, and with Mark Rendell, Deputy Chief Executive (Professional Services), who leads the association's work on quality assurance and professional development.

Annie has a First Class degree in Fine Art from Northumbria University and an MA in Arts Policy & Management from Birkbeck, University of London.

Email: annie@englishuk.com

Jodie joined English UK in February 2007 as Marketing Communications Manager. Appointed to the position of International Marketing Manager in 2008 and Senior International Manager in July 2011, she oversees the work of the International Team, together with Annie Wright, Deputy Chief Executive (Business Services). This team is responsible for agent-facing initiatives, promotional activities and international affairs including StudyWorld London and the English UK Fairs, as well as inward missions, outward missions, scoping visits, the partner agency scheme, market research and all marketing communications activities.

Jodie graduated with a degree in Chinese and Hindi from Cambridge University. She went on to work in the ELT sector, first as a teacher at Beihang University, Beijing and then in the administration team of a large language school in Cambridge. She has also worked as a site manager for a music and corporate events company.

Email: jodie@englishuk.com

Siobhán joined English UK in March 2007 as Fairs and Events Officer. Appointed to the position of International Events Manager in January 2008 and International Manger in July 2011, she is primarily responsible for the organisation and planning of English UK's annual flagship event, StudyWorld London. Siobhán looks after agents and exhibitors, as well as managing administration and marketing communications. She is also involved in English UK's other international and promotional activities, representing English UK at events in the UK and around the world.

Siobhán graduated in 2005 with a BA Hons in Tourism & Hospitality Management. She then went on to work in the heritage sector for an audio and multimedia guide production company, working for the sales and marketing and creative project management teams. She became interested in events having been an exhibitor herself, and also through her experience of working with organisers of trade fairs and exhibitions.

Email: siobhan@englishuk.com

Roz  joined English UK (then ARELS) in July 2003. Prior to being appointed International Marketing Officer in March 2011, she was the association's Membership Manager. Promoted to the position of International Manager in July 2011, she now works in all areas of English UK's general promotional activities, with primary responsibility for managing and organising inward missions, market scoping visits and market research.  Additionally she produces the monthly Newsflash and Partner Agency Scheme newsletters.

Roz graduated from The College of St. Mark and St. John with a BA (Hons) in Geography with Development Studies. Her career in ELT began in 1995 as an Assistant English Teacher for International Relations in Japan and then, after gaining her Cert. TESOL, she taught in private language schools in Russia and Bournemouth.

Email: roz@englishuk.com

Emma joined English UK in March 2010 as the International Events Officer, overseeing StudyWorld London's educator registrations, the coordination of StudyWorld Fam trips and assisting with StudyWorld-related administration and marketing communications. Appointed to the position of International Officer in July 2011, she now undertakes marketing communications activities, manages the market research 'core group' statistics schemes and provides support towards the English UK Fairs, outward missions, Partner Agency Scheme and inward missions.

Emma graduated from Brunel University in 2007 with a BSc Hons Degree in Media and Communications. She has been travelling in Hong Kong, Australia and Japan and became interested in events having undertaken a work placement during university as an Assistant Producer for an awards ceremony.

Before joining English UK, Emma worked as an Account Coordinator in a marketing agency and a Commercial Administrator at a global media company.

Email: emma@englishuk.com

Phoebe joined English UK in September 2011 and supports Siobhán Baccas, International Manager, with the organisation of StudyWorld London. She oversees educator registrations, the coordination of StudyWorld Fam trips and assists with administration and marketing communications.

Phoebe graduated from the University of Sussex in 2005 with BA Hons Social Psychology. She has travelled in South East Asia, Australasia and South America and also studied Spanish in Argentina. Phoebe worked as a volunteer in Bogotá for the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and the YMCA. During this time she also taught English as a foreign language to children and young people.

Phoebe has experience of working with schools, colleges and universities. She worked as an Events Coordinator on a special project for Kent County Council and as a Business Development Executive for a large college in the south east of England.

Email: phoebe@englishuk.com

Cecilia joined English UK in September 2011 as International Assistant. She will work as an intern until the end of January 2012, supporting the International team with the administration of the Partner Agency Scheme and our marketing and promotional activities.

Cecilia graduated in 2011 with a BSc in Entrepreneurship, Management and Organisation from Hanken School of Economics in Finland. She is currently studying for her Masters at the same university. Prior to her internship at English UK, Cecilia also studied French for one semester at Sorbonne in Paris and did an exchange at HEC Montreal in Canada.

Email: cecilia@englishuk.com

Geertje joined English UK at the beginning of October 2011. She takes part in the Leonardo da Vinci Programme for Graduates and will work as an intern until the end of January 2012, supporting the International team with the administration of the English UK Fair's and our marketing and promotional activities.

Geertje graduated in March 2011 with an MA in Arts in Education Science with the focus on Lifelong Learning at the University of Oldenburg in Germany. After finishing her Bachelor degree in Pedagogy and Religious Education in September 2008 she spent one semester in Spain, taking a variety of courses in cultural sciences. During her studies she worked for a travel agency as a coach for young people in France and Italy.

Email: geertje@englishuk.com

Susan started working for English UK in 2008. She is responsible for finding and writing interesting stories about English UK member centres and their students to use on the website and occasionally in targeted press releases overseas. She also does other press and communications work for the organisation, including writing a weekly UK news update for students, contributing to newsletters and covering some conferences. Susan is keen to hear from members and their students about anything potentially interesting they are doing.

Since graduating in History and English from York, Susan has had a long career in journalism and the media, specialising in education for much of that time.

She has worked for national newspapers including The Observer, The Guardian and the Daily Express, as well as organisations including non-departmental government bodies and the National Association of Head Teachers. She spent more than a decade on the Times Educational Supplement, where she was an assistant editor.

Email: susan@englishuk.com

Tom joined English UK in August 2011.  As Professional Services Manager he supports Mark Rendell, Deputy Chief Executive, in planning, organising and administering a range of English UK training events.

Tom graduated from University of East Anglia with a BA Hons in History in 2002.  Since then he has spent time teaching English in Russia, Portugal and the UK, worked in the NHS, gained an MA in Russian Studies and spent an enjoyable 6 months in 2010 volunteering for an environmental NGO in Siberia.

Returning to London in October 2010, Tom taught at Islington Centre for English in Angel, London, before joining English UK.

Email: tom@englishuk.com

Beth joined the team in September 2007. As Professional Services Officer she is responsible for administrating and organising a range of English UK training events including conferences, training days and modular courses.

Beth graduated in 2004 with a BA Hons in Sociology from the University of Exeter. Her career in ELT began in 2005 as the Welfare and Accommodation Officer in a school in Bournemouth before moving to London to join the team at English UK.

Email: training@englishuk.com

Eva joined English UK in October 2011. She takes part in the Leonardo da Vinci Programme for Graduates and will support the Professional Services team as an interm until the end of January 2012. She will assist the team with the administration of their quality professional training events. 

Eva finished her diploma thesis in 2010 in economics, political science and sociology at the University of Potsdam in Germany. Since then, she has worked as a Scientific Officer in an electoral district office in Biberach. Eva gained initial intercultural and work experience abroad, while working at the exchange office in France at the University in Lille and spending one year in Oslo, Norway.

Email: eva@englishuk.com

Alice joined English UK in August 2011 as Membership Manager.  She is responsible for leading the constant growth of the English UK membership base and delivering an efficient and customer–focused membership service. Her main responsibilities are managing, developing and maintaining all members' records and systems.

Alice decided  to move to the UK after attending an English Language Course in London in 2006 and after completing her Masters in American, European Postcolonial languages and literature at the Ca' Foscari University in Venice (2007). She worked as Administrative Assistant for Kaplan International Colleges and later as Accommodation and Welfare Manager for three and a half years.

 Email: alice@englishuk.com

Laura joined English UK in August 2011. As Customer Services Officer she is the first point of contact for phone and email enquiries coming in to English UK, and she also deals with CRB checks and student complaints.

Laura graduated in 2010 with a degree in French and Linguistics from the University of Manchester. Prior to working at English UK, Laura spent a year teaching English in Toulouse, France.

Email: info@englishuk.com

Naadiya first joined English UK in April 2004. After having worked as the Professional Services and Public Affairs Officer, she was promoted to Public Affairs, Policy and Research Manager where she assists Tony Millns, Chief Executive, in the implementation of the public affairs strategy and drawing up of policy documents. She also handles members' visa-related concerns.

Naadiya has a first degree in Human Geography and Human Resource Management from Keele University and holds an MA in Tourism, Environment and Development from King's College, London.

Email: naadiya@englishuk.com

Jing joined English UK in January 2012. She will be covering Naadiya Rawat's position as Public Affairs, Policy and Research Manager once Naadiya is on maternity leave. This involves assisting with the implementation of public affairs strategy, drawing up of policy documents and handling members' visa-related concerns.

Jing graduated from Hunan University in China with a degree in Japanese Studies, and later gained an MBA from Lancashire Business School. She worked as a PA to the Managing Director of the Japan Centre in London, followed by a spell as a Chinese and Japanese course leader at a language college in London. Prior to joining English UK, Jing taught Mandarin at various schools in Kent.

Email: jing@englishuk.com

In May 2006 Nuria joined English UK as Customer Services Officer and was promoted to Finance, Statistics and HR Officer in October 2007. Appointed as Finance and HR Manager in July 2011, Nuria is responsible for the maintenance of the association's financial records, liaising with the external accountant and the auditors of English UK and its trading subsidiary, and for administrating all HR-related matters.

Nuria moved to the UK in 2004 with the main aim of developing her professional career. After graduating in 1997 with a degree in Geography from the University of Girona, Catalonia, Nuria chose to specialise in administration, completing an Enterprise Computerised Management course at Master Studies Centre, Figueres, Catalonia. Prior to joining the association her previous job roles were all in the education and administrative field.

Email: nuria@englishuk.com

Hannah joined English UK in January 2010. Prior to being appointed IT and Facilities Officer in August 2011, she worked as IT Support and Finance Officer. Her primary responsibilities include providing technical IT support to the English UK staff, as well as assessing information security risks and implementing compliance within the organisation. As facilities officer she has taken on responsibility for managing building maintenance and repairs, liaising with suppliers of office equipment and services, and for dealing with health and safety matters.

Hannah graduated from Sheffield Hallam University with a BSc (Hons) in Computer Graphics and Visualisation with experience of language interpreting and IT helpdesk. Before joining English UK, Hannah worked as an Information Systems Assurance Consultant (IT auditing) in one of the big financial firms in the city.

Email: hannah@englishuk.com

Sarah joined English UK in 2005 and initially worked on marketing research projects. She took over the role of Marketing Manager for Business English UK (a special interest group of English UK) in January 2006 and is responsible for the overall operation of this group. Her role has been further expanded by taking over  responsibility for other special interest groups - Work Experience UK in September 2008 and Young Learners English UK in 2011.

Sarah studied and worked in China before coming to the UK to pursue her postgraduate studies. She gained her Master's degree in Education from Manchester University in 1999. Before joining English UK, she worked in a managerial position for a large international telecom company in London for four years. 

Email: sarah@englishuk.com