Direct marketing to students and international education contracts are among two new initiatives to be developed by English UK for members in the coming months.

Our new Head of Market Development arrived this week - industry marketing expert Jodie Gray, who worked for English UK for seven years up until early 2014, before leaving to join start-up international education business The Intern Group as Head of Global Agency Relationships and University Relations for the Asia Pacific region based in Sydney and Bangkok.

Jodie is delighted to be back in the English UK office in a very different and more strategic role. "My job at The Intern Group gave me a lot of very useful experiences - I was working with agents and universities, negotiating deals and learning much more about how that part of the industry worked.

"This new post at English UK is not only a fantastic job which will really utilise all my skills and experience, but the staff are the most brilliant team of people I have ever worked with.

"I feel very lucky to have this chance to develop something new for a great organisation, and am looking forward to catching up with members and partners over the coming weeks and months."

Annie Wright, Deputy Chief Executive (Business Services) said: "We had a really strong field of applicants to be our first Head of Marketing Development and we were really pleased that Jodie was available to join them. Her industry knowledge and contacts are impressive, and we are really looking forward to working with her again."

In her previous role at English UK, Jodie created and organised the English UK Fairs, led on scoping new markets and trade missions, and helped to oversee the work of the International Team, including StudyWorld, the partner agency scheme and all marketing initiatives.

Find out more about Jodie's role and meet the whole English UK team.