Cheryl Yu
Managing Director
With over 18 years of experience in international higher education across multiple UK universities (University for the Creative Arts, Birmingham City University, University of Southampton, and University of Lancaster), Dr Cheryl Yu has a strong track record of developing and delivering impactful internationalisation strategies. Her expertise spans international student recruitment and retention, curriculum internationalisation, and the design and delivery of large-scale Transnational Education partnerships. She has played a leading role in the establishment and oversight of two Joint Institutes in China, each enrolling approximately 1,200 students, as well as JEPs and proposals for IBCs, working closely with institutional leaders, regulators, and cross-border stakeholders.
Currently, Dr Yu serves as Director of Programmes and Co-Founder of TNE Institute, a specialist provider of the Level 7 Certificate in Transnational Education and other CPD programmes for academic and professional services staff. Through the Institute, she also provides strategic consultancy to universities worldwide, supporting sustainable, quality-focused, and future-ready global TNE development.
As a researcher, Dr Yu has published on the internationalisation of higher education, exploring themes from international student experience and curriculum internationalisation to critical perspectives on global higher education policy. Her recent publication includes Critical Reflection on the Internationalisation of Higher Education in the Global South, contributing to contemporary debates on equity, power, and global knowledge exchange.
David Mansfield
Educational Consultant, Advisor, Trainer and Writer
With over 17+ years of experience as a Senior Advisor to various Groups and Schools
Former Executive Headmaster Y.K.Pao School, Shanghai
Former Headmaster, Dulwich College, Beijing
David Mansfield is a respected Headmaster, educator and consultant whose experience spans a wide range of schools and educational institutions in the UK and internationally. His currently Chief Academic Officer and Senior Advisor to the Board of ISAIEG.
He has successfully led four different schools, most recently the leading Chinese international school in Shanghai, YKPao School. Before that he was headmaster of Dulwich College Beijing. Pao School was voted ‘Best International School in China’ in 2017, 2019 and 2020 (Hurun). He now writes, coaches, consults and advises widely.
Before moving to China, David led two ‘outstanding’ secondary schools in England. He has been a Syndic and Director of Cambridge Assessment, which owns Cambridge Assessment International Examinations, and been a Director of an Education NGO working in Sub-Saharan Africa. He has participated in national steering groups (SSAT, YST) and professional associations in England, and undertaken research work on school improvement and leadership for learning at Cambridge University, building his understanding of education in its widest sense. He is Freeman of the City of London.
He was the founding Dean of Buckingham International School of Education – a teacher training provider linked to the University of Buckingham. He has been Senior Advisor for Pao School and Director of Leadership at The Pao Centre for Teaching and Learning based in Hong Kong. He has served as lead consultant for British various school groups opening school in China, Japan and London, including St Peter’s York in Hainan.
David completed his undergraduate degree in history at Cambridge University, his postgraduate studies in education at Oxford University and continued his studies with an MBA in International Education Leadership. He also has a diploma in Theology and is a keen sportsman and amateur ornithologist. ational education at different universities in the UK, Dr Cheryl Yu has a proven track record of developing and implementing effective internationalisation strategies for attracting and retaining international students and developing and delivering Transnational Education with stakeholders from different countries and regions, including two joint institutes in China with 1,200 students each.
Dr Lu Hong, OBE
Expert Advisor
Deputy Director at LSE Confucius Institute for Business London and Chairman of CEDP Chinese Centre UK
Dr. Lu has studied and worked in the UK for 29 years, specialising in the fields of Chinese teaching and research, Chinese language education and promotion of Chinese business culture, and Chinese cultural studies.
In 2007Dr Lu became the first manager of Confucius Institute for Business London at London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). In this role, she has produced a series of books for London business societies. Dr. Lu was one of the editors and authors of Introduction to Chinese Business Culture (Sinolingua, London). Dr. Lu is also the head of executive training, the designer of the training courses and the principal instructor at LSE Confucius Institute for Business. She has vast experience running training sessions on topics including Chinese business culture and language, multicultural training and global business etiquette, Chinese teacher training, Sino-British business forums, amongst many other projects.
Relevant papers and studies published at international conferences and journals include: (A Changing Nation: The Effects of Globalisation on China). As one of the main organizers and referees, Dr. Lu organised and participated in the finals of the Chinese Language World University Competition 2008-2011 and 2018. Dr. Lu also served as a press conference interpreter for the Athens Olympic Organizing Committee 2004.
Dr. Lu has been widely recognized for her work in the field of China-UK cultural exchange, most notably in the form of an OBE (Order of the British Empire). This is one of the UK’s most distinguished titles and was awarded to Dr. Lu by Her Majesty the Queen, in 2015 and Freedom of London in 2022
Stephane Waller, SFHEA
International Partnership Manager
Stéphane Waller is a senior academic leader and business lecturer with over 15 years’ experience in higher education, specialising in Transnational Education and UK–China partnerships. He holds an MBA in Marketing from Birmingham City University and brings strong strategic and operational expertise across the international education landscape.
He previously served as Academic and Administrative Manager for the Birmingham Institute of Fashion and Creative Arts (BIFCA) in Wuhan, where he led academic operations and quality assurance for a large-scale TNE project supporting approximately 600 students from inception. Prior to this, he worked at the University of Southampton’s Winchester School of Art Dalian campus, managing the full student lifecycle for 700 students and promoting UK progression routes.
At the University for the Creative Arts (UCA), Stéphane served as Senior Lecturer in Business Management and Marketing, contributing to curriculum development, international student engagement, and cross-border initiatives. A Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, he combines pedagogical leadership with business acumen.
Fluent in Mandarin, French, Spanish, and English, Stéphane bridges cultural and institutional contexts to build sustainable international partnerships and drive global student success.
Jon Santangelo
External Relations Strategist
Based in China and Asia for nearly 15 years, Jon Santangelo is an experienced international education professional and educator with a career spanning both institutional practice and industry consultancy. He holds a BS in Communication from the United States and a Master’s in Education Management & Leadership (with Distinction) from the United Kingdom.
Jon currently works at a bilingual boarding school in China, where he coordinates and teaches Critical Thinking, Global Citizenship Education (GCE), Project-Based Learning (PBL), IELTS, and Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language (ESL). His expertise bridges academic instruction with strategic educational development.
Over the course of his career, Jon has helped forge hundreds of partnerships and marketing collaborations between international and education providers across China and Southeast Asia. Since 2014, he has served as an advising consultant to BOSSA, China’s study abroad service industry association. In 2023, he also began consulting for award-winning KEATH.ai, contributing to product development and global public relations strategy.
Jon is an active member of several professional learning communities, including Leading Your International School (LYIS) and AIEOU: AI in Education at Oxon, a research hub based at the University of Oxford’s Department of Education.
In addition to his academic roles, Jon is a communications expert with experience in public relations, international education, and artificial intelligence. He has been featured and quoted in major global and industry media, including The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Financial Times, Forbes, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and The PIE News, offering insights on student mobility, current events, and trends.
Dr. Stella Huili Si
China TNE Policy Advisor
Dr. Stella Huili Si is a policy analyst and researcher specialising in transnational higher education (TNHE) governance, partnership design, and quality assessment, bridging macro-level policy design with institutional implementation. She works as the Policy Analyst at the University of Manchester. She combines academic research with practice-based experience as the founder of StellaLink, translating governance insights into operational models for international talent development and cross-sector collaboration that have generated both academic and industry impact.
Professor Chris Harris
TNE expert
Professor Chris Harris, BA, PhD, SFHEA, FRSA. Former Vice-President, Academic Affairs at Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University in Suzhou, China, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the University of Liverpool (2018-2021).
Inner Board Member, Irish Research Council (Ongoing).
Now semi-retired with part-time roles in Modern Languages at Lancaster University and in local government and politics at Lancaster City Council.
Heather McClean
Expert Advisor
Pre-sessional Senior Coordinator at University College London
Former Education & Recognition Adviser at Queen Mary University of London,
Heather McClean has over 25 years’ experience of teaching English to international students and has particular expertise in teaching and supporting Chinese students in UK higher education.
She has expert knowledge of English language teaching and assessment and intercultural teaching and learning and is an external examiner for a number of UK HEIs. In addition to teaching, Heather also provides training, development, and mentorship for academic staff, and presents frequently at international teaching and learning conferences.
Professor Mengxi Yang
Expert Advisor
Mengxi (Robin) YANG is an Associate Professor and a Doctoral Supervisor at the School of Economics and Management and MOE Social Science Laboratory of Digital Economic Forecasts and Policy Simulation, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (AACSB-accredited business school).
Robin has been appointed as an Associate at Clare Hall, University of Cambridge, starting in May 2023.
He is also a Postgraduate Supervisor (Innovation Management Area) at Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research (SDC).
Charlie Connor
Expert Advisor
As a highly experienced professional with 10 years of senior experience in international higher education, edtech and charity sectors, Charlie brings a wealth of expertise in international sales, business development and strategic partnerships. With a very established network in the space, Charlie has worked with 100’s of universities worldwide to establish strategic international student recruitment campaigns, both digital and in-person events. Furthermore, Charlie's experience in the public sector has equipped him with a deep understanding of social impact and community engagement, enabling him to contribute meaningfully to initiatives that drive positive change.
