English UK boards and advisory groups

English UK boards, committees and advisory groups 

Our boards and advisory groups ensure that members set the direction of their association and guide the work of the English UK team. 


The English UK Board of Trustees

The board of trustees is responsible for the association's overall strategy, policies, and activities. Its members are elected by the membership and become directors of English UK Ltd and charity trustees.

The election of new board members takes place each May ahead of the AGM. 


Shoko Doherty2 80x80

Shoko Doherty (Chair) is CEO of Celtic English Academy in Cardiff. Originally from Japan, Shoko first came to the UK as an international student and has worked in the industry for over 15 years. Shoko has been recognised as the Welsh Government's Export Exemplar and the UK Export Champion. She is also a member of the English UK Wales committee.


James Herbertson 80x80 James Herbertson (Vice Chair) is director and co-founder of Bayswater Education. Bayswater has ten year-round colleges and seven summer camps in the UK, France, Cyprus, Canada, and South Africa. James started out as a student learning Spanish, formed the study abroad agency Answer English, and co-founded the accommodation agency London Nest. He is also a member of the BETA board. 

Mary Doody Photo 80x80

Mary Doody has been the director of Kings Young Learners, part of Kings Education, since 2014. Mary trained as a school teacher in Ireland before entering the world of international education. She has worked in many different roles with young learners, from activity leader to operations manager.


Fiona Dunlop 80x80

Fiona Dunlop is the principal of Wimbledon School of English. She has worked in ELT for 35 years, first in Egypt and then Brazil, before settling in London. Fiona's career has spanned teaching and learning to academic management and now senior management at director level.


Spencer Fordham 80x80

Spencer Fordham worked in marketing and advertising in national newspapers for a decade before moving into ELT. He co-founded the Capital School of English in Bournemouth in 2003 and is now managing director. 


Francesca Giacomini 80x80

Francesca Giacomini has been director and shareholder of North West Academy of English in Northern Ireland for 15+ years.


Neil Harris 80x80 Neil Harris is the director of marketing and lead teacher trainer at CELT Cardiff. He has been involved in ELT since the mid-1990s, working as a teacher, director of studies, teacher trainer, agent, and marketing director. He is also a member of the English UK Wales committee.

Justin Quinn 80x80

Justin Quinn is CEO of Centre of English Studies (CES). CES has five UK year-round schools, two in Canada, and one in Dublin, Ireland. Justin is vice president of membership of IALC, a past chair of EAQUALS, and has served on the boards of MEI and ACELS in Ireland.


Farhan 80x80

Farhan Quraishi is CEO and co-owner of Speak Up London, which he co-founded almost ten years ago. He is also Chair of the English UK subgroup, English UK London.


Victoria Paterson 80x80

Victoria Paterson is the international business manager at Edinburgh College. Originally from New Zealand, she has worked for over a decade in international education, holding leadership roles at UK higher and further education institutions. 


Rendell Mark

Mark Rendell is the CEO of International House London. Before joining IH London in 2019, he was principal of St Giles International London Central for seven years. Mark has an MSc in ELT Management and is past Chair of English UK.


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The English UK Enterprises Board

The English UK Enterprises Board helps direct and oversee English UK's strategy and plans for StudyWorld and international promotion, including market developmentIts members are directors of English UK Enterprises Ltd, the limited company that operates all StudyWorld activities.

Board members are appointed by Shoko Doherty, the chair of the board of trustees and the chief executive, Jodie Gray.


Tregarran Percival 80x80 Tregarran Percival (Chair) is chief operating officer at UK Language Courses (UKLC). He has worked in the sector for over ten years and joined the Enterprises Board in February 2021.

 Sam Bufton Bell LinkedIn smiley 80x80 Sam Bufton is sales and marketing director at Bell. For the last decade, Sam has held senior sales and marketing roles within international education, working with and for schools worldwide. Sam joined the Enterprises Board in December 2021.

Shoko Doherty2 80x80 Shoko Doherty is CEO of Celtic English Academy in Cardiff. Originally from Japan, Shoko first came to the UK as an international student and has worked in the industry for over 15 years. Shoko has been recognised as the Welsh Government's Export Exemplar and the UK Export Champion. She is also a member of the English UK Wales committee.

Jodie Gray 80x80 Jodie Gray is chief executive of English UK.

Neil Harris 80x80 Neil Harris is the director of marketing and lead teacher trainer at CELT Cardiff. He has been involved in ELT since the mid-1990s, working as a teacher, director of studies, teacher trainer, agent, and marketing director. He is also a member of the English UK Wales committee. Neil joined the Enterprises Board in December 2021.

Peter Hayes 80x80

Peter Hayes is managing director of International House Manchester and former chairperson at International House World Organisation. Peter joined the Enterprises Board in December 2021.


Lisa James EC LinkedIn 80x80 Lisa James is managing director of young learners at EC English Language Centres. Before joining EC in 2019, Lisa was global sales and marketing director at Embassy English. Lisa joined the Enterprises Board in December 2021.

Yeliz LinkedIn 80x80

Yeliz Hussein is global sales director at Bayswater Education. Before joining Bayswater in 2019, Yeliz was head of regional business development at LAL Language Centres. Yeliz joined the Enterprises Board in January 2024. 


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Finance Panel

The finance panel oversees English UK's financial strategy and performance on behalf of the Board of Trustees. 

Appointments are proposed by the Chief Executive, approved by the English UK Board of Trustees and subject to annual review.


Jago Brown 80x80 Jago Brown (Chair) is the group commercial director at UK Language Courses (UKLC), which has ten centres across the UK. He has over 20 years of experience in senior leadership roles, often leading teams through significant change and uncertainty. He is based in Scotland and is a former chair of English UK Scotland. Jago is also head of product for Lead5050.

 Nicki Tinniswood Nicki Tinniswood is CFO at Bayswater Education and has over 25 years of experience in finance. She trained with Deloitte and spent several years lecturing in accountancy and management with The Financial Training Company before moving into the industry. Her experience has focused in recent years on the private education sector, working in apprenticeships and online tutoring before joining Bayswater.

Tim Cooke 80x80 Tim Cooke is CEO of Elac Study Vacations, a language school delivering year-round and multi-centre summer school courses for juniors for 30 years.  He worked in the industry for over 20 years and was previously treasurer of Young Learners English UK.

Neil Low Neil Harvey is the chief executive of UKCE, overseeing its businesses in the UK and Dubai. He has been in the for-profit education sector for over 30 years, working for major chains and start-ups. Neil has spent most of his time in the UK, Italy, and Canada, where he served on the board of Languages Canada.

Vimala Jayaraman 80x80

Vimala Jayaraman is a senior director in the finance practice with a global research and advisory firm. With 20+ years' experience in senior finance roles across the private and public sectors, Vimala specialises in the sustainable transformation of organisations with a particular focus on financial and commercial strategies; aligning financial performance with organisational strategy to sustain enhanced financial performance and resilience. She holds a Bachelor's in Commerce, an MBA and is a Fellow of CIMA.


Gareth Mainwaring 80x80

Gareth Mainwaring is director of operations and development for the Birmingham International Academy (BIA) at the University of Birmingham. He joined the HE sector after 12 years in government, including the Department for Education. He has operational responsibility for the growth and delivery of Foundation Pathway, presessional English and in-sessional programmes at the university. He also worked with the university to open its first international branch campus in Dubai and continues to work on other TNE initiatives.

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External Relations Advisory Group

The external relations advisory group guides English UK's campaigning activities. They aim to create an environment that will help the sector to survive, compete and thrive


Huan Japes (Chair)

English UK


Mark Allen East Sussex College 

Margie Barker English in Totnes

Jane Dancaster Wimbledon School of English

Shoko Doherty Celtic English Academy

Sue Edwards Kaplan International

Sarah Gore Edinburgh College

 Jodie Gray English UK

Kate Hargreaves Living Learning English

Val Hennessy International House, Bristol

Nicole Kennedy Studio Cambridge 

Sian Matos English Path

Neil McLoughlin BOSS

Paul Murray Foyle International 

Nigel Paramor English in Chester

Naadiya Rawat English UK

Susan Young English UK

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Representation, Inclusion, Diversity and Engagement Committee

The Representation, Inclusion, Diversity and Engagement Committee (RIDEC) is a standing committee of the board of trustees. It seeks to ensure that as many types of organisations and individuals as possible are included on the board and association committees and that members from every background are involved in association activities.

Shoko Doherty chairs the 2024 committee. Other committee members are Jodie Gray, Jago Brown, Farhan Quraishi, and Mary Doody.


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